General Instrument Corporation

Google Inc.

Yucheng Jin

William J Storti

Evan A Groat

Trent H Punnett

David Beryl Lazarus

Kevin T Chang

Matthew Glenn Waight

Christopher J Cotignola

James D Rosemary

Customer premise equipment provides a communication gateway with a network of a service provider and includes a multimedia terminal device for installation on the customer's premises typically at an out-of-the-way location. The multimedia terminal device includes a modem having an embedded media terminal adaptor and an integrated telephone base station, for instance, to provide both Internet connectivity and Voice-over-Internet-Protocol telephone service to the customer premises. A portable cordless telephone handset communicates via wireless communication signals with the telephone base station thereby providing telephone service to the premises. The handset is also capable of transmitting commands to the telephone base station for purposes of providing a user interface for the components of the multimedia terminal device. For example, as a result of a sent command, status or other information can be forwarded to the handset, the modem can be instructed to reboot, a test can be initiated on the multimedia terminal device, or a set up operation can be accomplished. The display screen of the handset can be used to provide the customer with the requested information or results.

Multimedia terminal device having integrated telephone system and user interface method

The present invention is an upstream power control system, within a cable modem which controls the power consumption of the cable modem. The power control system comprises a MAC chip which synchronizes upstream communication signals for transmission to a cable network and outputs an upstream control signal, an upstream amplifier which receives the synchronized upstream communication signals, and a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The CPLD controls the upstream amplifier in response to the upstream control signal such that the upstream amplifier is powered on during transmission of the communication signals, and powered off when not transmitting, which results in the reduction of power consumed by the cable modem.

Dynamic upstream amplifier power management

Base for broadband router enclosure

Broadband router enclosure and base

A broadband terminal interface unit for use in an HFC communication network includes a phase-locked loop for providing a smooth transition between a CMTS-provided 'national' clock and a local clock when the CMTS clock is lost (or before it is required). By controlling the tracking range of the PLL, the sensitivity of the circuit is controlled so that some drift in the national clock can be accommodated without unnecessarily reducing the performance of the components within the broadband terminal interface unit.

Arrangement for deriving a local clock in a packet cable telephony modem

Enclosure for wireless device

An arrangement for controlling multiple telephone lines terminating in a single residence uses a multiplexer within a communications gateway and a plurality of demultiplexers, each demultiplexer coupled to a separate one of telephone lines. The communications gateway functions to convert all received analog telephony signals into a digital format and then multiplexes the digital signals onto a single telephone line connected to the residence. The various telephone lines in the residence are connected in series along the line, using a number of drop-off points. The demultiplexer on each telephone line is configured to recognize the time slots within the multiplexed signal destined for its associated telecommunications device. In a similar fashion, separate time slots are assigned for upstream transmission from each telecommunication device into the HFC network.

Arrangement for managing multiple telephone lines terminating at a single location

To reduce power consumption of a communications interface between a network and a processor, a method for controlling the interface monitors data traffic from sides of the interface. Upon detecting a predetermined period of no data traffic on both sides, the method disables an auto-negotiation mode of the interface and forces the interface to operate at its lowest speed. Prior to changing speed, the method may briefly remove a link signal or electrically isolate the network and the network interface to allow a peer to adapt to a new speed. When in the low speed mode, the method monitors data on both the processor side and the network side. Upon detecting a predetermined and configurable amount of data, the method enables the auto-negotiate mode. Prior to increasing the speed, the method may briefly remove a link signal to allow a peer to adapt to the new speed. Hysteresis may be included to prevent a speed change if a predetermined period has not occurred since a last speed change. The speed mode can be changed without disabling auto-negotiation by forcing the controller to advertise a specific speed and then forcing re-auto-negotiation. For multiple speed modes, switching occurs to a lower speed mode if detected activity lies below a threshold for a predetermined period in both input and output counters, and to a higher speed mode if detected activity in either one of the input and output counters exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period. An apparatus and computer readable media for performing the above methods are also disclosed.

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Chalfont, PA, United States of America

Yucheng Jin