Abstract:
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for switching between channels of encoded media data involving receiving encoded media data including reference frames and dependent frames for a plurality of channels, wherein each dependent frame refers to at least one reference frame. Frames associated with a first channel from the plurality of channels are decoded to generate a decoded signal for the first channel. While decoding frames associated with the first channel, data corresponding to at least one reference frame associated with a second channel from the plurality of channels are stored. In response to a control signal for switching from the first to the second channel, at least one dependent frame associated with the second channel is decoded by utilizing the stored data corresponding to the at least one reference frame associated with the second channel, to generate a decoded signal for the second channel.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for managing both link and disk bandwidth utilization within the context of a multiple subscriber or user information distribution system by selectively providing variable bitrate and constant low bitrate information streams to one or more subscribers.
Abstract:
In a system, device, and method for selecting a channel from among a plurality of channels, a number of available channels are selected for testing. A channel quality measurement is made for each of the number of channels. The channel having the best channel quality measurement is then selected. To make the channel quality measurements, a primary station selects a channel to be tested (304) and also selects a secondary station with which to perform the test (306). The primary station transmits a control frame to the selected secondary station, including a channel identifier identifying the selected channel (308). Upon receiving the control frame (310), the selected secondary station adjusts its transmitter to the selected channel based on the channel identifier in the control frame, and transmits a reference signal on the selected channel (312). Meanwhile, the primary station adjusts its receiver to the selected channel and receives the reference signal from the selected secondary station (314). The primary station then measures the quality of the received reference signal (316).
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for unified high-bandwidth, low-latency data services. In one embodiment, a network architecture having service delivery over at least portions of extant infrastructure (e.g., a hybrid fiber coaxial infrastructure) is disclosed, which includes standards-compliant ultra-low latency and high data rate services (e.g., 5GNR services) via a common service provider. In one variant, parallel MIMO data streams supported by 3GPP 5G NR are shifted in frequency before being injected into the single coaxial cable feeder, so that frequency diversity (instead of spatial diversity) is leveraged to achieve the maximum total carrier bandwidth that 3GPP 5G NR chipsets. Intermediate Frequencies (IF) are transmitted over the media in one implementation, (i.e., instead of higher frequencies), and block-conversion to RF carrier frequency is employed subsequently in the enhanced consumer premises equipment (CPEe) for 3GPP band-compliant interoperability with the 3GPP 5G NR chipset in the CPEe.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for supporting on-demand content services, using conventional non-IP based VOD servers are described. The methods and apparatus of the present invention, through the use of a protocol converter and/or a content redirector, can be used to enable a conventional VOD server to supply content to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device which supports IP based content delivery and/or RSTP control of content delivery. The protocol converter of the invention can be implemented as an RTSP-ISA PROXY. The RTSP Proxy converts messages between RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) to the appropriate ISA protocol signal or another protocol format. The proxy module handles the conversion between these formats and converts a received signal, e.g. message, into the format required by the device which responds by implementing the operation requested by the signal.
Abstract:
A local area network using the telephone wiring within a residence or other building simultaneously with telephony signals. The local area network uses high pass filters to access the high-frequency band across the media, whereas the standard telephone service uses low pass filters to access the low-frequency voice / analog telephony band across the same media. The electrically-conducting media connecting telephone / data outlets are split, or separated at each outlet, and the outlets are modified to provide access to both ends of the resulting segments. The low pass filters at each segment end join the segments together, allowing analog telephony signals to travel throughout the network, thus supporting normal telephone service. The high pass filters at each segment end are connected to modems or other Data Communication Equipment, thus supporting data communication networks of various topologies, including point-to-point topologies.
Abstract:
A device receives packets associated with a program stream at an addressable communications port, and assigns them to one of a plurality of QAM channels. Multiplexed program packets, DOCSIS data or multimedia packets or a combination of both, are transmitted over the QAM channel. DSG messaging transports requests for content to a server, transports queries to mapping tables and returns information from the tables to a manager that, along with processors, determine which channel to use for downstream transport of the multiplexed streams. The manager assigns a connection identifier corresponding to a channel and program number combination to the packets, and sends the identifier, via DSG, to the requesting/receiving user device; the identifier instructs the user device how to tune and receive the requested packets. The identifier may use seven bits for program numbers, two for output port number and two for channel frequency.
Abstract:
A decoder has a plurality of tuners (110a-110d) for receiving data from different sources. Each tuner (110a-110d) has an associated demultiplexer (120a-120d) controlled to select a portion of a received signal corresponding to a selected channel or channels. The demultiplexers output to a remultiplexer (130; 210a-210c) configured to determine selected signal portions that have overlapping addresses, to reallocate addresses of the signal portions so there is no overlap, and to multiplex the signal portions for supply to a common interface slot (140; 220a-220c).
Abstract:
A multicasting system (10) for reception of multimedia information comprising: a content switch (20) coupled to a multimedia content source (12) and at least one multimedia smart terminal (36). The multimedia content source (12) includes a plurality of multimedia contents (14, 16, ..., 18), wherein each multimedia content is supported by a primary multimedia stream transmitted over a primary dedicated channel having a primary band-width. At least one multimedia smart terminal is configured to receive from the content switch (20) over a network each multimedia content as a secondary multimedia stream transmitted over a secondary channel having a secondary bandwidth. The content switch (20) includes a bandwidth scaler (21) configured to scale each primary multimedia stream to a plurality of secondary multimedia sub-streams that are substantially synchronized. The multimedia smart terminal (36) includes a smart terminal sub-stream switch (64) configured to switch among the plurality of secondary multimedia sub-streams in order to select a substantially optimum secondary multimedia sub-stream.
Abstract:
The comminication system includes a hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. A head end provides for downstream transmission of telephony and control data in a first frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network and reception of upstream telephony and control data in a second frequeny bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. The head end includes a head end multicarrier modem for modulating at least downstream telephony information on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the first frequency bandwidth and demodulating at least upstream telephony information modulated on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the second frequency bandwidth. The system includes service units operatively connected to the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network for upstream transmission of telephony and control data and for receipt of the downstram control data and telephony. Also provided is a method and apparatus for performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).