Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Mark E Schutte

Scott E Hrastar

Himanshu R Parikh

Lamar E West, Jr

Michael P Harney

Vibha Rustagi

Roy A Bowcutt

Todd A Merrill

Paul Borsetti, Jr

William B Thatcher

Neil C Robertson

James O Farmer

Peter Bennett Houser

Ronald C Stirling

Gloria J Majid

Larmar E West

Systems and methods are provided for updating a temperature table for a disk subsystem in a client system using information provided by a server system. In one embodiment, among others, the client receives an update command from the server system. The update command comprises instructions to update the temperature table. The client updates the temperature table in the disk subsystem in accordance with the update command. The client selects one of the write current values in the temperature table based on a disk subsystem temperature, and writes data to the disk subsystem using the selected write current values.

Adaptive power management of a disk drive based on user activity

Adaptive power management of a disk drive based on temperature

An asymmetrical network is disclosed for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The CATV system supports a plurality of concurrent channels to which an RF modem is capable of tuning. The RE modem is capable of receiving information from the head end that specifies the channel to which the RF modem should tune. Once tuned to the specified channel, the RF modem is capable of utilizing the CATV system for carrying high-speed data traffic. The high-speed data traffic can support Internet access using the Internet Protocol (IP).

Router for use with a link that has a set of concurrent channels

An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line. It further saves IP addresses by assigning a non-unique IP address to the router for use inside the LAN. When the CATV system fails, the asymmetrical network automatically begins to use the telephone line as both the up link and the down link, and when the CATV system is restored, the asymmetrical network automatically returns to using the CATV cable as the down link and the telephone line as the up link. A further feature of the asymmetrical network is that the head end components and the RF modem have IP addresses, so that standard TCP/IP protocols can be used to control the asymmetrical network.

An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modern, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line. It further saves IP addresses by assigning a non-unique IP address to the router for use inside the LAN. When the CATV system fails, the asymmetrical network automatically begins to use the telephone line as both the up link and the down link, and when the CATV system is restored, the asymmetrical network automatically returns to using the CATV cable as the down link and the telephone line as the up link. A further feature of the asymmetrical network is that the head end components and the RF modem have IP addresses, so that standard TCP/IP protocols can be used to control the asymmetrical network.

Dynamic allocation of a set of addresses to router RF modem for individual assignment to hosts

The problem of wasting IP addresses by statically assigning them to hosts is solved as follows: when a cable router or RF modem becomes active, it sends a message requesting a set of IP addresses from the head end, which dynamically assigns the set of IP addresses and sends a message comprising the set of IP addresses to the cable router or RF modem. The cable router or RF modem then responds to requests by the hosts for IP addresses by assigning them IP addresses from the set. Furthermore, the set of IP addresses is released when the session terminates with the cable router or RF modem.

Router which dynamically requests a set of logical network addresses and assigns addresses in the set to hosts connected to the router

A system for controlling a device such as a television and for controlling access to broadcast information such as video, audio, and/or text information is disclosed. The system includes a first receiver for receiving utterances of a speaker, a second receiver for receiving vocabulary data defining a vocabulary of utterances, and a processor for executing a speech recognition algorithm using the received vocabulary data to recognize the utterances of the speaker and for controlling the device and the access to the broadcast information in accordance with the recognized utterances of the speaker.

Information system having a speech interface

Off-premises cable television pay per view apparatus is coupled between first and second diplexers of off-premises subscriber service providing equipment. The diplexers separate the transmission path between a headend and a subscriber into downstream or forward and upstream or reverse transmission paths. A radio frequency transmitter is coupled between a controller and the upstream diplexer which may actuate a selected one of a plurality of data channels in the notoriously noisy subsplit 5-30 megahertz transmission spectrum for reporting billable events. On-premises equipment is minimized to comprise only a unidirectional data transmitter. The data transmission is sent repetitively over a predetermined period of time before the data transmitter, comprising a microprocessor, turns itself off to conserve power. Thus, data transmitted from the subscriber in a first format is received at off-premises equipment, service is authorized there if appropriate, and then data is transmitted over a data channel selected so as to avoid noisy portions of the spectrum in a second format to a headend.

CATV pay per view interdiction system method and apparatus

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. The state machine is adapted to modify the sequence in which the frequency control words are read out of memory to vary the jamming pattern of the subscriber. According to one illustrated implementation, the addresses of the memory are read out in a pseudo random sequence to produce varying jamming patterns but without changing a selected jamming factor for a selected group of channels. The pseudo-random pattern is generated by logically combining a predetermined address sequence with a random number seed from a seed generator. The random number seed can be varied either programmably or addressably to generate other pseudo-random jamming patterns. In another implementation the seed generator will evenly distribute the jamming energy of unused time slots to all the other active time slots.

Interdiction method and apparatus with random mode jamming

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. In this manner, the jamming signals generated by each latch, digital to analog converter, and oscillator combination can be varied easily and quickly by a memory to memory transfer and be sustained between frequency hops without any change in frequency. The circuitry lends itself easily to large scale integration and miniaturization while eliminating the need to refresh the circuit to prevent frequency change because of voltage droop.

Interdiction method and apparatus with direct memory control of variable

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. The state machine is adapted to vary the sequence in which the voltage control words are read out of memory to modify the jamming pattern of the subscriber. In addition, according to one illustrated implementation, the loading of frequency control words to the latches in the sequence can be inhibited without changing the words in the memory. The sequential state machine will then in effect skip the deauthorized frequency control words and produce jamming signals at the previous frequencies. This provides flexibility in the system for either jamming or unjamming a specific channel to a subscriber for short periods of time. This allows a simple authorization and deauthorization technique without having to reload the frequency control memory or recalibrate a frequency control word for the specific channel selected.

Interdiction method and apparatus with frequency change inhibit function

In order to enable viewing of single events without requiring a CATV subscriber to order the event in advance, documents are distributed to subscribers containing cognizable (advertising) data concerning the event and a bar code symbol corresponding thereto. Each subscriber is provided with a transaction terminal enabling the entry of bar code data at any time and whenever the subscriber has the impulse to do so (impulse pay per view). The event codes are transmitted interactively from the transaction terminal to the equipment (a subscriber control unit) located off the subscribers' premises which normally interdicts the premium channels and thence to the head end of the CATV distribution system over the cables of the system. Data coming from the head end back to the subscriber control unit indicates that events are in progress (event number and premium channel data). When the event is in progress, the interdiction of the premium channel is inhibited so as to clear the channel to the subscribers' premises and permit the viewing of the premium program for the duration thereof. When a signal that the program is over, such as a new event code for the same channel is transmitted from the head end, information that the event has been viewed by the subscriber is stored together with the subscribers' address. This data is then transmitted to the head end for billing purposes.

CATV system enabling access to premium (pay per view) program events by

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. The state machine is adapted to vary the sequence in which frequency control words are read out of the memory to modify the jamming pattern of the subscriber. Corresponding to each frequency control word in the memory is stored one or more mode control bits which are read out contemporaneously with the frequency control words. The mode control bits are used to allow a single digital to analog converter to control one or more voltage control oscillators with different frequency ranges, or to allow control of a single voltage control oscillator with multiple frequency ranges.

Interdiction method and apparatus with mode control for variable

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. The basic cycle of the jamming machine includes the blanking of the frequency agile oscillator, the loading of a frequency control word into an associated latch and digital to analog converter to hop the oscillator to the next frequency, and then the unblanking of the oscillator to generate the new frequency. The state machine is adapted to vary the hopping rate, the frequency at which the system moves from channel to channel, to provide flexibility in providing various jamming effectiveness. The hopping rate is programmable and addressable and can be adjusted over a considerable range without affecting the substantially constant blanking period between hops.

Interdiction method and apparatus with constant blanking and variable

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. According to one illustrated implementation, the system is adapted to perform with various jamming factors, including pulsed or continuous mode jamming, variable dwell time, and variable hopping rates depending upon the channel line-up of a particular CATV system. Generally, heavy jamming factors are combined with fast hopping rates while light jamming factors are combined with slow hopping rates. Pulsed mode jamming is combined with slow hopping rates and light jamming factors. Using a combination of jamming parameters based on a channel line-up for a particular subscriber improves overall jamming effectiveness.

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Sugar Hill, GA, United States of America

Mark E Schutte