Nortel Networks Corporation

James Allan McAlear

Gregory Thomas Osterhout

Mark Sosebee

A communications system includes a packet-based data network coupled to various network elements, including a gateway that provides ports to various peripheral devices. One type of peripheral device includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. A network element coupled to the data network may establish Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) sessions with the gateway. Once a SIP session is established, communications may occur between the network element and the peripheral device. SIP messaging is exchanged between the network element and the gateway. USB commands and data are exchanged between the gateway and the USB device. The gateway converts between the SIP messaging and the USB commands and data.

Method and system for communications between different types of devices

A hybrid amplifier and regenerator (HAR) device is designed for use in a communications network for carrying downstream traffic in a forward frequency band and for carrying upstream traffic in a reverse frequency band spaced from the forward frequency band and below the forward frequency band. The hybrid amplifier and regenerator (HAR) device comprises an analog amplifier for amplifying the downstream traffic and a digital regenerator. The digital regenerator comprises mapping circuitry for mapping digital upstream traffic carried in at least one ramp band which is part of the reverse frequency band to digital upstream traffic carried in at least one express band which is also part of the reverse frequency band but spaced from the at least one ramp band, and an express band transmitter for transmitting digital upstream traffic from the mapping circuitry in the at least one express band.

Hybrid amplifier-regenerator for optimizing cable network transmissions

The invention relates to local area networks typically comprising a LAN hub, a plurality of outer hub devices connected to the LAN hub via a respective plurality of LAN links and a plurality of USB devices and/or LAN computers connected to the plurality of outer hub devices via a respective plurality of USB links. The outer end hubs communicate with the USB devices and LAN computers using USB protocol having time sensitive aspects. To satisfy the requirements of the USB protocol, the outer hub devices perform the time sensitive aspects of the USB protocol. The outer end hubs communicate with the LAN hub using a LAN protocol which permits the outer hub device to be further than 5 meters from the LAN hub. The LAN protocol is typically a variant of the USB protocol.

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Stittsville, Canada

James Allan McAlear