US Patent No: 6,662,135

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Method and apparatus for reflective mixer testing of a cable modem

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing an operability test on a communications system device such as a cable modem is provided. The testing method comprises the steps of providing a set of output test data to the communications system device being tested, and generating an output signal with the device in a manner that is responsive to the output test data. In the case of a cable modem, the output signal is generated by the modem's modulator. The output signal is then provided as an input to a reflective mixer which generates a reflected signal in response to the output signal and directs it back into the communications system device being tested. The communications device can then use the reflected signal to generate a set of input test data that can be compared to the output test data to check the accuracy of the device's operation. In the case of a cable modem, the reflected signal is demodulated by a demodulator at one or more frequencies, and this demodulated data can then be compared to the output test data. In one case, the testing method is controlled by a computer device running a program of instructions to carry out the aforementioned steps. The computer device can send command signals to the modulator and the demodulator to place them in a test mode. Within this mode, the computer device can command the modulator to generate a particular output signal and command the demodulator to demodulate at certain frequencies.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.HOUSTON, TX25733

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Burns, Lawrence M Los Altos, CA 120 1545
Ramachandran, Ravi Guelph, CA 19 153

Cited Art

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Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
BROADCOM CORPORATION (3)
7,701,954 Gateway with voice 18 2004
7,606,244 Gateway with voice 0 2004
8,254,404 Gateway with voice 0 2009
 
CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC. (3)
6,888,883 Method and apparatus for reducing noise leakage from a cable modem 5 1999
7,979,884 Methods and apparatus for allowing component interchangeability 0 2001
7,058,559 Method and apparatus for simulating a plurality of cable modems 11 2002
 
JDS UNIPHASE CORPORATION (3)
7,003,414 Monitoring system and method implementing failure time spectrum scan 14 1999
6,853,932 Monitoring system and method implementing a channel plan and test plan 10 1999
7,308,611 Intelligent power cycling of a wireless modem 2 2002
 
INTEL CORPORATION (2)
7,350,225 System and related methods facilitating the rapid detection and acquisition of data channels in a cable modem using various modulation techniques 11 2001
7,162,732 System and related methods facilitating the detection and acquisition of a data channel in a cable modem 2 2001
 
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA (2)
7,159,236 Transmission/reception integrated radio-frequency apparatus 8 2001
7,680,509 Transmission/reception integrated radio-frequency apparatus 0 2006
 
AVAYA INC. (1)
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ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (1)
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GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION (1)
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HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. (1)
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NEW TRANSDUCERS LIMITED (1)
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THOMSON LICENSING (1)
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Maintenance Fees

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11.5 Year Payment $7400.00 $3700.00 $1850.00 Jun 9, 2015
Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee
Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable $700.00 $350.00 $175.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional $1,640.00 $820.00 $410.00