The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1995
Reem Safadi, Horsham, PA (US);
General Instrument Corporation, Horsham, PA (US);
Abstract
An adaptive protocol CATV communication system is embodied in a decentralized communication arrangement, wherein the communicating nodes are located at various points within the CATV system. Each communicating node has two protocol syntax processing components: 1) a protocol syntax processor (PSP) which is a downloadable software component that processes of incoming frames; and 2) an adaptive protocol processor which is a fixed software component that oversees the replacement of an old PSP with a new PSP. A master node initiates the migration from an old PSP to a new PSP by sending the new PSP image frames to a slave node. After the new PSP image is complete, the slave node enters a verification mode to test the new PSP. The master node sends special test frames to the slave node to verify the operability of the new PSP by using the old PSP. The results of the verification are conveyed back to the master node to take the appropriate actions. The CATV system remains fully operational for the duration of the PSP upgrade since the frequencies allocated for video programming differ from the frequencies allocated for data transmission.