Motorola Corporation

3com Corporation

Kurt W Steinbrenner

Timothy M Burke

Richard J Corrigan

Alan Lee Grau

Michael W Bright

Michael Russell Mannette

Douglas Newlin

Dawn M Galecki

Camille Louise Dozier

Michael R Mannette

Scott Chu

David Ingham

George D Rojas

Rich Corrigan

Arvind P Rao

Emanuel G Owoye

Srinivasan Anand

Rachel Baumann

An apparatus, method and system are provided for multimedia access network channel management, such as channel management in a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network, for voice (telephony), video, fax and data transmission. The preferred system embodiment includes a plurality of cable telephony modems (CTMs), for such voice (telephony), video, fax and data transmission, and includes a cable modem termination system (CMTS). For upstream communication from the CTMs to the CMTS, the network provides a plurality of channels, formed by a combination of FDM and TDMA. When a CMTS receives an multimedia network access message having a comparative priority from a CTM, the CMTS determines whether there is a first channel which is available from the plurality of channels, and if so, assigns a first transmission corresponding to the multimedia network access message to the first channel. When there is no available first channel, the CMTS determines whether there is a second transmission on a second channel which is moveable to a third channel, and if so, reassigns the second transmission to the third channel and assigns the first transmission corresponding to the multimedia network access message to the second channel. When there is no available first channel and no second transmission which is moveable, the CMTS determines whether there is a third transmission on an assigned channel having a lower comparative priority than the comparative priority of the multimedia network access message, and when there is a third transmission, the CMTS removes the third transmission from the assigned channel to form a vacated channel, and assigns the transmission corresponding to the multimedia network access message to the vacated channel.

Apparatus, method and system for multimedia access network channel management

An apparatus for providing diagnostic information to at least one telephone includes a telephony interface device operatively coupled to at least one telephone through a telephone line. The telephony interface device is operatively coupled to a network. The telephony interface device transmits diagnostic information to the at least one telephone. The diagnostic information may include, for example, diagnostic information concerning the network, the telephony interface device itself, and the telephone line.

Telephony interface device for providing diagnostic information to a telephone

A telephony system having automatic timing adjustment for diverse routing of HFC systems has a signal stream routing through a signal line loop between a head-end and at least one communication unit. If a fault occurs within the signal line loop, recognized by the head-end when a short uplink burst from the communication unit does not align within a predetermined timing window, the head-end will cycle through predetermined delay parameters corresponding to various alternate signal line loops made up of redundant signal lines. Once the predetermined delay parameter corresponding to the current alternate signal line loop is determined, normal operation of the system resumes.

Automatic timing adjustment for diverse routing of HFC systems

A method for assigning communication resources includes assigning communication resources (,) in the nature of bandwidth according to various selection schemes based upon the type of communication service being provided, and based upon the nature of the service area (,) and subscriber premises (,).

Method for assigning communication resources in a communication system

A method and apparatus in a communication system (100) for allocating and controlling data transmissions to and from communications unit (134) in communications system (100). The communication systems (100) includes a cable distribution network (106) with a base communications unit (102) and a number of downstream communications units (134) all connected to the cable distribution network (106). A plurality of channels are used to transmit data transmissions between the base communications unit (100) and the downstream communications unit (134). Uplink and downlink channels are monitored to determine channel quality for each of the channels in communications system (100). The determined channel quality is used to both initiate transfers of communications links to other frequencies and for assigning channels to various communications units (134).

Channel quality management in a cable telephony system

A cable telephony system (100) including a plurality of subscriber units (142) connected to a cable control unit (102) by a cable distribution network (106) in which the cable control unit (102) detects events associated with connections occurring in the cable telephony system. Information describing these events is placed into connection event reports and sent to a traffic analysis and planning system (116) as the events are detected by the cable control unit (102). These reports are used to manage the cable telephony system (100).

Connection event reporting in a cable telephony system

A method and apparatus for controlling data transmissions from a first communications unit (202) to a second communications unit (210). Data transmissions received from the first communications unit (202) at the second communications unit (210) are processed to determine a power level of the data transmission. In response to a determination that the power level is not within a desired range or operating window (400), an adjustment value indicating the amount of change needed in the power level of the data transmission from the first communications unit (202) to fall within the desired range or operating window (400) is determined. This adjustment value is sent to the first communications unit (202). In response to receiving an adjustment value from the second communications unit (210), the first communications unit (202) adjusts the power level of its data transmissions. The first communications unit (202) and second communications unit (210) form a closed loop system providing for automatic gain control of the power level of data transmissions from the first communications unit (202).

Method and apparatus for adaptive RF power control of cable access units

A data link control method including receiving a message (30) for transmission over a cable communications system. The method determines a number of octets in the message (30). When the number of octets is less than or equal to a predetermined number of octets, the method sets a frame length (44) equal to the number of octets and transmits a frame (180) containing the message (30). When the number of octets is greater than the predetermined number, the messages (30) is segmented (32-42), each segment being identified in order with respect to the other segments. The method thereby provides for graceful communications resumption when the transmission of a message is interrupted before completion.

Data link control method

This key management system effectively solves the key distribution problems of distance, time, operator error, and security risk by transferring encryption keys with appropriate system information between a key management controller (101) and a remote keyloader (109). The keyloader (109) is then coupled to a communication device to transfer (327) the keys and receive (329) identification information from the communication device. The keyloader (109) then sends (323) the information to the key management controller (101) that controls the distribution of the encryption keys and collection of the communication device identifications.

Growing community of inventors

Bartlett, IL, United States of America

Kurt W Steinbrenner