Wi-lan Inc.

Mds Qantel Corporation

Nokia Corporation

Gabor Fencsik

Hemang Mehta

Don Camacho

Greg Bathrick

Fletcher M Glenn, Ii

Gerhard Ringel

Hamang Mehta

An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for fast channel changes of media that is provided by a carrier over a local loop connection to a subscriber, where subscriber information is stored at the access node that supports the local loop connection to the subscriber, and the access node supports multicast protocols so that only one instance of a channel may be provided on the core network regardless of how many subscribers have requested access to the channel.

Method and system for authenticated fast channel change of media provided over a DSL connection

A method and system for fast channel changes of media that is provided by carriers over an xDSL connection to a home. Each customer's subscriber information is stored at the DSLAM that supports the xDSL connection to the home. Also, each DSLAM supports multicast protocols so that only one instance of a channel is provided on the core network regardless of how many customers have requested access to the channel.

A communication controller for a distributed processing system has a number of data processing stations in which messages are exchanged among the stations over a communication channel. The controller includes a communications processing unit which manages the transmission and receipt of messages. A program is provided for the communications processing unit which responds to an inbound message addressed to the associated station with its poll flag asserted to cause the station to immediately contend for use of the channel. No other station can contend for use of the channel at this time because their corresponding communication processing units responded to such inbound message as being addressed to another station. This causes a predetermined time interval to start. Each of the other units then awaits expiration of the interval before attempting to contend for use of the channel. This assures immediate use of the channel to the station which receives an inbound message addressed to it with a poll flag asserted.

Multi-processor system with communication controller using poll flags

Interface unit for handling translation of message signals between a communication channel and a communications processor. The processor and interface unit are embodied in a data processing station of which a plurality of such stations are arranged along the communication channel. The interface unit includes a microstate machine which under program control directs the operations of message transmission, message receipt, and communication channel contention.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Gabor Fencsik