Broadcom Corporation

Thomas L Johnson

Fred Bunn

Joel I Danzig

Scott Cummings

Thomas J Kolze

Bruce Joseph Currivan

Thomas J Quigley

Nambi Seshadri

Daniel Harvey Howard

Stephen Hughey

James Harrell

Michael R Robinson

Paul E Burrell

Jay Harrell

Stephen Hughley

Paul Burrell

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 method, system and computer program product for creating dynamic custom headers and for controlling flow rate of Downstream External Physical layer Interface (DEPI) packets are described herein. The method comprises concatenating or fragmenting a packet descriptor of a DEPU packet based on one or more of associated packet size, maximum transmission unit, packet type, channel configuration information and flow control mode. The method further comprises creating a header for the packet based on data in a programmable header template and storing the header in a header buffer, determining whether to transmit the packet based on one of a flow meter or a maximum transmission unit size and transmitting the packet by sending the packet descriptor to an output direct memory access (DMA) controller. A flow meter flow control mode determines if a packet is to be transmitted based on packet size, bucket size, a low threshold and a high threshold. A maximum transmission unit flow control mode determines if a packet is to transmitted based on packet size and a maximum transmission unit size. The header can be customized for Packet Streaming Protocol (PSP) mode or Moving Picture Experts Group Transport Stream (MPT) mode and includes dynamic customizable fields such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port identification, flow identification and session identification.

Dynamic header creation and flow control for a programmable communications processor, and applications thereof

A system and method is provided for supporting data transfer protocols that extend beyond standard protocols used in conventional data over cable systems. A subscriber station in accordance with the invention determines, during registration, whether a base station with which it communicates is capable of supporting an extended protocol, and if it is, transfers data to the base station in accordance with the extended protocol. Additionally, a base station in accordance with the invention is notified during registration whether or not a subscriber station supports an extended protocol and stores this information. When a request for transmission opportunity is subsequently received from the subscriber station, the base station accesses the stored information to determine if the cable modem supports the extended protocol. If the subscriber station supports the extended protocol, the base station processes data received from the subscriber station during the transmission opportunity in accordance with that protocol.

System and method for supporting extended protocols in a wireless communication system

A cable modem system and method is provided for supporting data transfer protocols that extend beyond standard protocols used in conventional data over cable systems. A cable modem in accordance with the invention determines, during registration, whether a CMTS with which it communicates is capable of supporting an extended protocol, and if it is, transfers data to the CMTS in accordance with the extended protocol. Additionally, a CMTS in accordance with the invention is notified during registration whether or not a cable modem supports an extended protocol and stores this information. When a request for transmission opportunity is subsequently received from the cable modem, the CMTS accesses the stored information to determine if the cable modem supports the extended protocol. If the cable modem supports the extended protocol, the CMTS processes data received from the cable modem during the transmission opportunity in accordance with that protocol.

A method and computer program product for providing RTP suppression across a DOCSIS network. An index number and a set of rules are sent to a receiver. The index number indicates the type of header suppression technique (i.e., RTP header suppression) to be performed, and the set of rules define how to recreate the RTP packets on the receiving end. At least one complete RTP packet is transmitted upstream for enabling a receiver to learn the RTP header. Subsequent RTP packets are transmitted upstream for reconstruction at the receiving end. The subsequent RTP packets are comprised of delta values representing fields that dynamically change from packet to packet in an RTP header.

Systems and computer program products for header suppression in a network that guarantees in order delivery of packets

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

A method and computer program product for recognizing and optimizing the transmission of TCP/IP style traffic across a DOCSIS network. According to the method of the present invention, a full TCP protocol packet is initially transmitted across a DOCSIS network to be learned by the CMTS. Redundant fields in the TCP protocol packet are entirely suppressed when subsequent TCP protocol packets are transmitted across the DOCSIS network. Non-redundant fields in the TCP protocol packet are delta-encoded using a delta-encoded value when subsequent TCP protocol packets are transmitted. The delta-encoded values represent the change in value of the current TCP packet from the previous TCP packet for a non-redundant field. This enables the CMTS to provide an exact reconstruction of all subsequently transmitted compressed TCP protocol packets.

Dynamic delta encoding for cable modem header suppression

Methods for header suppression in a network that guarantees in order delivery of packets

A method, apparatus and computer program product is provided for classifying a target data packet entering a network interface. For each of a plurality of received classification parameters, at least one program module is generated. Each program module tests a pre-defined field(s) of the target data packet for adherence to the classification parameter(s) with which the program module is associated. A pre-classification header is generated wherein an indication is made of where one or more pre-defined fields are located in the data packet if the field is present. Maintaining locations of the pre-defined fields of the target data packet in the pre-classification header prevents having to recalculate the addresses of the pre-defined fields of the target data packet. Eliminating the need for re-calculating the addresses of the pre-defined field(s) can allow the classification process of the present invention to obtain an optimal execution speed.

Method, apparatus and computer program product for performing data packet classification

Cable modem system and method for supporting extended protocols

A cable modem system and method are provided for using a data compression dictionary to transmit compressed payload data in a DOCSIS network while utilizing conventional cable modem termination system (CMTS) equipment. A cable modem system in accordance with the invention includes a cable modem and a CMTS adapted to send and receive compressed payload data. In one example, the cable modem is adapted to compress PDU payload data using a data compression dictionary and the CMTS is adapted to reconstruct the compressed PDU payload data that is received from the cable modem.

Cable modem system and method for supporting packet PDU compression

Efficiently transmitting RTP protocol in a network that guarantees in order delivery of packets

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.

FEC block reconstruction system, method and computer program product for mitigating burst noise in a communications system

A cable modem system and method is provided for the transfer and processing of data in accordance with specialized data transfer protocols while utilizing conventional cable modem termination system (CMTS) equipment. A cable modem system in accordance with the invention includes a cable modem that provides for the modification of data packets in accordance with one or more proprietary protocols and the addressing of the modified data packets to a CMTS. The CMTS is adapted to reconstruct the data packets.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, GA, United States of America

Thomas L Johnson