General Instrument Corporation

Google Inc.

Future Wei Technologies, Inc.

Arris Technology, Inc.

Huawei Technologies Co., Limited

Motorola Mobility LLC

Arris Enterprises LLC

Google Technology Holdings LLC

Arris International IP Ltd

Marc L Morrissette

Li Zhang

Xiaolong Zhang

Liming Fang

Michael Jaimie Cooper

Robert J Thompson

Charles Sidney Moore

John L Moran

John L Moran, Iii

Brian K Thibeault

Wei-Hung Hui

Jim Chen

Karl E Moerder

John L Moran Iii

John Leo Iii Moran

Charles S Moore

A coaxial cable tap comprises a housing, and a faceplate coupled to the housing. The faceplate comprises a first directional tap port, and a diagnostic reverse (DR) port configured to receive a first upstream signal originating downstream from the coaxial cable tap, and inject a downstream test signal in a downstream direction. A hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network comprises a headend, a first amplifier coupled to the headend, and a tap coupled to the first amplifier, configured to couple to a plurality of cable modems (CMs), and comprising a diagnostic forward (DF) port configured to receive a downstream signal originating from the first amplifier, and inject an upstream test signal in an upstream direction for reception at the headend.

Reverse-direction tap (RDT), remote diagnostic management tool (RDMT), and analyses using the RDT and the RDMT

A method for selection of an initialization technique and protocol for a communications device is provided. The method includes, but is not limited to, selecting a primary initialization technique from a set list of initialization techniques, implementing the primary initialization technique to initialize and move the communications device, and determining if the communications device has been initialized and moved. If the communications device has not been initialized and moved upon implementing the primary initialization technique, an additional initialization technique is selected from the set list of initialization techniques and implemented to initialize and move the communications device.

Adaptive protocol/initialization technique selection

An automated method of characterizing distortion detected by equalization on a channel of a network is provided. Equalization stress of an observed channel equalization response of an end device of the network is estimated, and equalization stress is calculated for a theoretical channel equalization response of the end device mathematically based on the observed channel equalization response and a theoretical removal of a suspected impairment from the network. The above referenced calculating step is separately repeated for each of a plurality of suspected impairments stored in a database of suspected impairments. A highest ranking suspected dominant impairment is determined from the database of suspected impairments such that removal of the highest ranking suspected dominant impairment from the network would provide a greatest reduction of equalization stress of a channel equalization response of the end device.

Method of characterizing impairments detected by equalization on a channel of a network

A method and apparatus for updating equalization coefficients of an adaptive pre-equalizer of a network element are provided. The method includes monitoring a communications channel to measure distortion of a communications signal received from the network element and detecting whether a transient impairment is present in the communication signal. When a transient impairment is not detected to be present, a pre-equalization coefficient update is transmitted to the network element. However, when a transient impairment is detected to be present, at least selected ones of the pre-equalization coefficients are scaled before the update is transmitted to the network element or the update is withheld from being transmitted to the network element. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for updating equalization coefficients of adaptive pre-equalizers

A method and computing device receives data packets on an upstream bonding group in full service mode, where the upstream bonding group includes a set of channels and each channel has a transmission quality. The method detects that a select channel in the set of channels is impaired when the transmission quality of the select channel is below a threshold value, and transitions the receiving of the data packets from full service mode to partial service mode by disabling data grant scheduling on the select channel. The method monitors the select channel using a spectrum management method while the receiving of the data packets is in partial service mode. The method transitions the receiving of the data packets from partial service mode to full service mode when a result from the spectrum management method indicates that the select channel can transmit data packets error free.

Upstream channel bonding partial service using spectrum management

A system estimates impairment contributions for upstream communications in a cable television system. The system receives equalization coefficients used by end devices in the cable television system. The equalization coefficients are used by equalizers to mitigate distortion in upstream channels for the end devices. The system analyzes the coefficients based on impairment thresholds to determine whether impairment problems exist and to identify the types of impairment problems that exist.

Using equalization coefficients of end devices in a cable television network to determine and diagnose impairments in upstream channels

Preamble length of burst communication signals dynamically changed to compensate in changes to linear distortion of a communication channel. Pre-equalization coefficients are provided to network element which pre-equalize communications with the CMTS. Long preamble lengths are used for a select few communications while short preamble lengths are used for the rest of the communication signals. When change in distortion characteristics is detected, a station maintenance is performed on the affected network element and new pre-equalization coefficients are determined and provided to the network element. Alternatively, all communications may be provided with long preamble lengths and communications may continue while the CMTS determines new pre-equalization coefficients.

Method and apparatus for dynamically changing the preamble length of a burst communication

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Plainville, MA, United States of America

Marc L Morrissette