General Instrument Corporation

Other

William H Blum

Charles Anthony Eldering

M Lamine Sylla

Marc W Kauffman

Peter Sherlock

Richard M Moore, Jr

Jay W Strater

Andrew Michael Allen

Edward B Morgan

Richard Dziekan

Nicholas D Lee

Jonathan A Weinstock

Clive Eric Holborow

Zoran M Ladenovic

Michael Konopinski

Richard Jr Moore

A home networking gateway provides an interface between an HFC network and an in-home network. Full voice and data connection between the HFC network and each device in the in-home network is provided through the interface. A translator included in the home networking gateway is utilized to provide a mapping between the communication protocols used in the in-home network and the protocols used in the HFC network, eliminating the need for the in-home network to be dependent upon the HFC-specific protocols.

Home networking gateway

The present invention encompasses a method and apparatus for detecting and characterizing one or more ingress events in the return band and creating a time/frequency map based on the detection of the ingress events. The time/frequency map is further characterized by marking frequency bands with ingress level above a predetermined threshold with a '1'. The time/frequency time map may be used to determine when and which return frequency band has exceeded a predetermined threshold, and to distinguish between a narrowband ingress event and a wideband ingress event. When such characterization has been made, the return path may be attenuated or disconnected at a communications gateway device located at or substantially near the subscriber location. By disconnecting the return path or attenuating the return path signal at or near the subscriber location, the ingress may be reduced and locations which are the cause of severe ingress may be effectively isolated. This allows for a high degree of reliability to be maintained on the return path, and ensures that the critical services such cable telephony may be provided with increased customer satisfaction.

Ingress detection and characterization by time/frequency map

An enhanced telephony services manager is used in a broadband communication environment, such as with a set-top-box coupled to a television monitor. A number of different telephony-based services can be offered and displayed on the television monitor (e.g., voice mail, call logs, Internet access, personal telephone directories, white pages, yellow pages, etc.), where a remote control, keyboard, or any other suitable interface device can be used to access the services. In accordance with the present invention, the GUI of the enhanced services consists of a set of menus that can be displayed concurrently with other video information on the television monitor.

Enhanced broadband telephony services

The present invention encompasses a method and apparatus for ingress detection and attenuation. When a determination is made that the level of ingress in a return frequency band has exceeded a predetermined threshold, the return path is attenuated or disconnected at a communications gateway device located at or substantially near the subscriber location. By disconnecting the return path or attenuating the return path signal at or near the subscriber location, ingress is reduced and locations which are the cause of severe ingress are effectively isolated. This allows for a high degree of reliability to be maintained on the return path, and insures that critical services like cable telephony can be provided.

Ingress detection and attenuation

The generation and upstream transmission of voice packets in an HFC network is controlled by including a synchronization circuit in the broadband terminal interface unit. The synchronization circuit is used to generate the timing signals for the codec, DSP and host microprocessor so that as the host microprocessor receives an upstream grant, the remaining components will assemble and forward the packets in synchronization with the grant.

Synchronization arrangement for packet cable telephony modem

A monitoring system for a HFC network includes a plurality of &ldquo;test points&rdquo; disposed at various locations throughout the network. Each test point is used to allow for the isolation of communication problems within the network (for example, ingress) and mitigation of the effects of the network problems. By distributing a plurality of test points throughout the topology of the network, only limited sections of the network need to be isolated at any point in time to address the particular communication problem.

Monitoring system for a hybrid fiber cable network

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Harleysville, PA, United States of America

William H Blum