Allen R Walston

US Patent:

7278002, Oct 2, 2007

Filed:

Nov 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/290855

Inventors:

Derek Winters - Duluth GA, US
Allen Walston - Atlanta GA, US
Jeff Andrews - Norcross GA, US
Robert Easterling - Woodstock GA, US
Russell Enderby - Woodstock GA, US

Assignee:

Arris International, Inc. - Suwanee GA

International Classification:

G06F 12/02

US Classification:

711165, 711103, 711105

Abstract:

A software routine that writes downloaded updated operating system software over existing application code to flash memory of a cable modem in an inverted arrangement. If the download process is interrupted before the update can be verified, a pointer still points to the existing code to facilitate update-interruption recovery. After verifying a successful update, a new pointer is generated that points to the updated operating system. Then, updated application code can be downloaded and stored in the flash memory over the old operating system code. Thus, each time an update is performed, the location of the operating system within the flash memory with respect to the location of the application code is inverted. This allows the size of flash memory to be reduced, as only one copy of the operating system and application code must be stored, while retaining capability to recovery from an incomplete download.

US Patent:

7916744, Mar 29, 2011

Filed:

May 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/756544

Inventors:

Allen Walston - Sandy Springs GA, US

Assignee:

ARRIS Group, Inc. - Suwanee GA

International Classification:

H04J 3/06
H04L 12/28
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

370431, 370503, 725117

Abstract:

A predetermined current frequency is selected for a cable modem or embedded media terminal adapter to evaluate for presence of a CMTS signal. A determination is made whether the current frequency carries signal energy as opposed to just noise. If no signal energy is detected, the current frequency is changed by of a channel width to a new frequency, which becomes the current frequency, and the determination is re-performed. If the determination of the current frequency indicates that signal energy is present, but not CMTS energy, then a new frequency indicates that selected that differs from the current frequency by 1 MHz. If the determination at the current frequency indicates that CMTS signal energy is present, but QAM lock cannot be achieved, then a new frequency is selected by changing from the current frequency by a full channel width.

US Patent:

7990951, Aug 2, 2011

Filed:

Oct 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/546451

Inventors:

Allen Walston - Atlanta GA, US
Carol Ansley - Alpharetta GA, US

Assignee:

ARRIS Group, Inc. - Suwanee GA

International Classification:

H04L 12/66

US Classification:

370352, 348731, 725131

Abstract:

An association table associates each program stream of a plurality of program streams with a MAC domain, with a channel frequency and with a multicast address. If a subscriber device selects a content program different from a current program, a determination is made whether the new program is serviced by a different MAC domain than the one serving the current program. If the selected new program is not serviced by the same domain that is serving the current program stream(s), the current MAC domain is informed that the subscriber device is ending the session therewith, the new frequency is tuned by the subscriber device and new content is received immediately after the new frequency is tuned. The subscriber device registers with the new MAC domain after receipt of new content has begun.

US Patent:

8127179, Feb 28, 2012

Filed:

Mar 2, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/396356

Inventors:

Wade Carter - Snellville GA, US
Allen Walston - Sandy Springs GA, US
Robert Wynn - Pendergrass GA, US

Assignee:

Arris Group, Inc. - Suwanee GA

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 23

Abstract:

Methods for collection of device reset history from a network communication device comprising: (a) determining whether a reset condition is triggered by software or hardware, (b) for a software triggered reset: (i) upon a software exception, retrieving related reset information, (ii) upon an operator initiation, retrieving related reset information, (iii) allocating space in non-volatile memory, (iv) storing retrieved current reset information together with a corresponding reset time, and (v) adding the current reset information to historical reset information, (c) proceeding with the reset, (d) executing startup code during reboot, (e) upon a hardware triggered reset; (i) retrieving hardware registry and other residual hardware information still present, (ii) allocating space in non-volatile memory, (iii) storing the current retrieved reset information together with a current time that corresponds approximately to the reset and (iv) adding the reset information to historical reset information, and (f) continuing with normal operation of the device.

US Patent:

8386643, Feb 26, 2013

Filed:

Apr 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/419262

Inventors:

Allen Walston - Sandy Springs GA, US
Jose Barroso - Alpharetta GA, US
David Bassett - Flowery Branch GA, US

Assignee:

ARRIS Group, Inc. - Suwanee GA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709245, 709201, 709240, 709242

Abstract:

A method of upgrading the software load of a device includes receiving a configuration file and checking if a device software load matches load information (EE) of the configuration file. If the device software load does not match the EE of the configuration file, a check is made to determine if the device software load matches new load information (NE) of the configuration file.

US Patent:

20030167373, Sep 4, 2003

Filed:

Feb 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/376381

Inventors:

Derek Winters - Duluth GA, US
Allen Walston - Atlanta GA, US
Jeff Andrews - Norcross GA, US
Robert Easterling - Woodstock GA, US
Russell Enderby - Woodstock GA, US

International Classification:

G06F012/00

US Classification:

711/103000, 711/104000

Abstract:

A software routine that writes downloaded updated operating system software over existing application code to flash memory of a cable modem in an inverted arrangement. If the download process is interrupted before the update can be verified, a pointer still points to the existing code to facilitate update-interruption recovery. After verifying a successful update, a new pointer is generated that points to the updated operating system. Then, updated application code can be downloaded and stored in the flash memory over the old operating system code. Thus, each time an update is performed, the location of the operating system within the flash memory with respect to the location of the application code is inverted. This allows the size of flash memory to be reduced, as only one copy of the operating system and application code must be stored, while retaining capability to recovery from an incomplete download.

US Patent:

20050198685, Sep 8, 2005

Filed:

Jan 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/046948

Inventors:

Allen Walston - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

H04N007/173

US Classification:

725111000

Abstract:

Default software is configured at manufacture to operate in DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 mode. When communication is established between a CMTS, or other similar device, and a cable modem, or other similar device, UCDs are collected. If no UCD is collected that refers to a upstream channel associated with DOCSIS 2.0, then the device continues to register as a DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 device. If a collected UCD refers to an upstream channel having components associated with DOCSIS 2.0, then the device stores the current downstream channel frequency, overwrites the stored DOCSIS 1.1 flag with a DOCSIS 2.0 value, and shuts down. Upon restart, the stored channel frequency is tuned, the DOCSIS 2.0 mode is used, and the boot process continues in DOCSIS 2.0 mode.

US Patent:

20070218861, Sep 20, 2007

Filed:

Mar 19, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/688227

Inventors:

Allen Walston - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

H04B 1/16
H04B 1/38

US Classification:

4553434, 455574

Abstract:

Processing circuitry in a user device detects information concerning periodic station maintenance opportunities provided by a CMTS. The processor determines a quiet interval between the end of one station maintenance opportunity and the beginning of the subsequent opportunity. If offsite power to the user device is lost, the processor counts down a predetermined amount of time with a first timer and then periodically turns off RF circuitry of the device after the ending of a maintenance opportunity that follows the counting down of the first timer. The processor then begins a second timer to count the quiet interval. After counting down the quiet interval, the processor restores battery power to the RF circuitry for the duration of the maintenance opportunity.If an off-hook condition occurs while the second counter counts down the quiet interval, the processor restores battery power to the RF circuitry.