Broadcom Corporation

Scott Cummings

Joel I Danzig

Thomas L Johnson

Thomas J Kolze

Bruce Joseph Currivan

Thomas J Quigley

Nambi Seshadri

Daniel Harvey Howard

Fred Bunn

Stephen Hughey

James Harrell

Paul E Burrell

Jay Harrell

Stephen Hughley

A system, method and computer program product is provided for mitigating the effects of burst noise on packets transmitted in a communications system. A transmitting device applies an outer code, which may include, for example, a block code, an exclusive OR (XOR) code, or a repetition code, to one or more packets prior to adaptation of the packets for transmission over the physical (PHY) layer of the communications system, wherein the PHY layer adaptation may include FEC encoding of individual packets. The outer coded packets are then separately transmitted over a channel of the communications system. A receiving device receives the outer coded packets, performs PHY level demodulation and optional FEC decoding of the packets, and then applies outer code decoding to the outer coded packets in order to restore packets that were erased during transmission due to burst noise or other impairments on the channel.

System and method for mitigating burst noise in a communications system

A system, method and computer program product that facilitates communication between devices that implement at least one proprietary feature in a DOCSIS-compliant broadband communication system. A logical channel is established for communication between a first device, such as a cable modem termination system (CMTS), that implements at least one proprietary feature, and other devices that also implement the at least one proprietary feature. Registration information is then received from a second device, such as a cable modem, wherein the registration information indicates that the second device also implements the at least one proprietary feature. In response to receiving the registration information, the second device is assigned to the logical channel.

System, method, and computer program product for facilitating communication between devices implementing proprietary features in a DOCSIS-compliant broadband communication system

A plurality of downstream channels enables communications between a CMTS and a plurality of legacy and non-legacy cable modems. A dispersion mechanism optimizes channel bonding, such that the downstream channels are interoperable with DOCSIS&#x2122;-compliant, legacy cable modems. A program identifier field distinguishes between bonded and non-bonded flows. For bonded flows, a bonding group is defined to bond a set of downstream channels. The packets for each bonding group are classified into channel queues at or near a MPEG level or a packet level. To mitigate congestion and multiplexing inefficiencies, the dispersion mechanism collects real-time information to determine which channel receives the bonded packets. The dispersion mechanism includes a queue manager and a priority manager. The queue manager dynamically creates queues and allocates queue memory. The priority manager spools the appropriate bytes to an MPEG encapsulation engine for the appropriate outgoing modulator.

Optimizing packet queues for channel bonding over a plurality of downstream channels of a communications management system

System, method and computer program product for mitigating burst noise in a communications system

A miniMAC implementation of a distributed CMTS in a hybrid fiber/coaxial (HFC) plant. The distributed CMTS comprises at least one network layer, at least one media access layer, and one or more physical layers. The at least one media access layer includes one or more miniMAC layers. The one or more miniMAC layers are remotely located from a remaining part of the at least one media access layer. The at least one network layer, the remaining part of the at least one media access layer, the one or more miniMAC layers, and the one or more physical layers each function as separate modules, enabling each layer to be in separate component locations of the HFC plant, yet having the at least one network layer connected to the remaining part of the at least one media access layer, the at least one media access layer connected to each of the one or more miniMAC layers, and each of the one or more physical layers connected to each of the one or more miniMAC layers. The one or more miniMAC layers are located in close proximity to the one or more physical layers in the HFC plant. The one or more miniMAC layers convert digital bit streams into packets and maintain timing constraints between the one or more miniMAC layers and the one or more physical layers.

MiniMAC implementation of a distributed cable modem termination system (CMTS) architecture

A cable modem termination system including a media access controller, at least one physical layer transceiver in connection with the media access controller for receiving and transmitting data, a CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU, and a network functions module in communication with the media access controller and the CPU interface. The network functions module is configured to conduct flow management and classification functions upon packets traveling through the media access controller.

Cable modem termination system

A system, method and computer program product is provided for mitigating the effects of burst noise on packets transmitted in a communications system. A transmitting device applies an outer code, which may include, for example, a block code, an exclusive OR (XOR) code, or a repetition code, to one or more packets prior to adaptation of the packets for transmission over the physical (PHY) layer of the communications system, wherein the PHY layer adaptation may include FEC encoding of individual packets. The outer coded packets are then separately transmitted over a channel of the communications system. A receiving device receives the outer coded packets, performs PHY level demodulation and optional FEC decoding of the packets, and then applies outer code decoding to the out6r coded packets in order to restore packets that were erased during transmission due to burst noise or other impairments on the channel.

Growing community of inventors

Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Scott Cummings