General Instrument Corporation

Richard DiColli

Erik John Elstermann

Arthur P Jost

Jeffrey Paul Viola

Jeffrey D Kuczynski-Brown

Lawrence D Vince

Eric J Sprunk

David P Gurney

Anthony R Schooler

Mark G DePietro

Zhuan Ye

George T Hutchings

James R Harris

A method for improving burst acquisition in a receiver includes receiving a signal, and performing a sync word search on the signal, wherein the sync word search includes performing a hybrid synchronization technique, the hybrid synchronization technique including both a lower order modulation (e.g., BPSK) detection and correlation process and a higher order modulation (e.g., QPSK) detection and correlation process.

Method and apparatus for improved burst acquisition in a digital receiver

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a multiplexed data stream which is reduced to carry fewer services for cable-side transmission in a cable television plant or the like. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a desired combination of data streams contained within an incoming high data rate multiplexed data stream, such as a high data rate Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulated multiplexed data stream, when the incoming multiplexed data stream is reduced.

Methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing multiplexed data streams

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for creating a Program Association Table (PAT) for a reduced portion of a multiplexed data stream, when the multiplexed data stream has been reduced, for example, to carry fewer services over a cable television plant. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for creating a PAT for a desired combination of multiplexed data stream subgroups contained within an incoming data stream, when the incoming multiplexed data stream is reduced. The invention enables a new PAT to be output which correctly corresponds to the services in a reduced data stream (e.g., for cable-side transmissions). The present invention is particularly useful when reducing high data rate satellite television data streams for cable-side transmission.

Methods and apparatus for constructing a program association table when reducing multiplexed data streams

A system for streaming encrypted conditional access (CA) data, such as control words, from a primary or master conditional access provider (CAP) to one or more secondary CAPS. The primary CAP encrypts content (program data) that is to be access-controlled, such as a television program, according to the associated CA data. A first group of user terminals is compatible with the CA data of the primary CAP. The CA data is then provided to the secondary CAPs to provide corresponding CA data for the content in the secondary CAPs' associated formats for compatibility with other groups of terminals. The invention can be used in any packet-based distribution system, including a broadband television network headend, and avoids the need for the secondary CAPs to request the control words on an as-needed basis. Moreover, the CA data for a current crypto-period and a number of future crypto-periods are provided in a 'sliding window' to allow the secondary CAP to begin preparing its CA data in advance. Moreover, the CA data can be provided to the secondary CAPs on a real-time basis, or well beforehand when the content is pre-encrypted and stored, e.g., at a file server.

System to deliver encrypted access control information to support interoperability between digital information processing/control equipment

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a multiplexed data stream which is reduced to carry fewer services for cable-side transmission in a cable television plant or the like. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a desired combination of multiplexed data stream subgroups contained within an incoming high data rate data stream, such as a high data rate Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulated multiplexed data stream, when the incoming multiplexed data stream is reduced.

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Broomall, PA, United States of America

Richard DiColli