General Instrument Corporation

Tom Doblmaier

David Grubb

Glen Peter Goffin, Ii

Richard M Moore, Jr

Evan A Groat

Dan Quigley

T Randy Nash

Steven M Mensoff

Method and apparatus for processing defect data indicative of defects in a product is described. In one example, each of the defects is assigned one of a plurality of severity levels and one of a plurality of impact levels. The defects are classified into categories based on combinations of severity level and impact level. A graphic representative of a topographical relation among numbers of defects in the categories is generated. The graphic is displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI).

Method and apparatus for product defect classification

The invention provides a system which monitors and controls upstream path congestion by utilizing a MAC layer protocol wherein an upstream communication cell is transmitted from a settop box to the headend. The upstream cell contains a message field and a retry count. The retry count is incremented upon failure of each attempt to communicate with the headend within the upstream path. A downstream cell from the headend to the settop terminals contains an acknowledgment field and an optional power control field. Upstream path congestion is monitored by the headend through averaging or other suitable monitoring all of the retry count field data which arrives from the network of settop terminals.

Congestion monitoring and power control for a communication system

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North Wales, PA, United States of America

Tom Doblmaier