US6804820B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modem control
Assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
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Filing: 2000-03-31
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Granted: 2004-10-12
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Expires: 2020-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A modem device driver, particularly for use in a receiver/decoder ( 2020 ) for a digital broadcast system in which received signals are passed through a receiver to the receiver/decoder and thence to a television set. The receiver/decoder is controlled by a virtual machine ( 4007 ) which includes a run time engine ( 4008 ). The receiver/decoder includes a plurality of interfaces to external units, and logical driver devices for the interfaces. A device driver ( 500 ) for controlling a modem interface comprises a buffer memory ( 503 ) for receiving messages, a control memory ( 502 ) for storing control parameters, and a logic unit ( 501 ) for controlling the device driver and the flow of messages. The logic unit includes a comparator ( 511 ) for matching Event, ACK, an NACK patterns stored in the control memory against the end of messages stored in the buffer memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome Meric
- 👤 Jean-Bernard Gerard Maure Beuque
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/102; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A device driver for controlling and communicating with a modem, comprising a buffer memory for receiving and storing messages from the modem, a control memory for storing control parameters, and a logic unit for controlling the device driver and the flow of messages, wherein the logic unit includes a comparator for matching patterns stored in the control memory against a message stored in the buffer memory to generate a signal for indicating a type of pattern matched, wherein the signal is inserted into the message for transmission to a device manager coupled to the device driver, and wherein commands between the device driver and the device manager are capable of being passed synchronously and asynchronously.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A device driver for controlling and communicating with a modem, comprising a buffer memory for receiving and storing messages from the modem, a control memory for storing control parameters, and a logic unit for controlling the device driver and the flow of messages, wherein the logic unit includes a comparator for matching patterns stored in the control memory against a message stored in the buffer memory to generate a signal for indicating a type of pattern matched, wherein the signal is inserted into the message for transmission to a device manager coupled to the device driver, and wherein commands between the device driver and the device manager are capable of being passed synchronously and asynchronously.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device driver according to claim 1 wherein the comparator compares the stored patterns against a predetermined final length of the message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device driver according to claim 1 wherein the patterns are of a plurality of types and there may be a plurality of patterns of the same type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device driver according to claim 3 wherein the pattern types comprise Events, ACKs (positive acknowledgements), and NACKs (negative acknowledgements), the generated signal indicating the type of pattern matched.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device driver according to claim 4 wherein the device driver sends the signal to the device manager by adding it to the message received through the modem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device driver according to claim 4 wherein commands are passed between the device driver and the device manager in the form of Calls, which set up parameters in the device driver, IOs, which send control signals and data to the device drivers, and Events, which signal detection of patterns or message reception or transmission problems to the device manager.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device driver according to claim 6 wherein one form of call command comprises at least on pattern setting command for defining one or more patterns to be searched for by the comparator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device driver according to claim 7 wherein there are 3 sub-types of pattern setting command defining patterns to be searched for, one pattern setting command for each pattern type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device driver according to claim 7 wherein the or at least one pattern setting command is arranged to define a plurality of patterns to be matched, each pattern having an associated event signal to be generated on detection of the corresponding pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device driver according to claim 4 wherein the patterns to be searched for are stored in respective sub-areas of the control memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device driver according to claim 4 wherein the patterns to be searched for are stored in a single continuous area of the control memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device driver according to claim 1 wherein, on a plurality of matches occurring, only the last match is acted on.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device driver according to claim 1 wherein on a plurality of matches occurring, a type is indicated according to a predetermined priority sequence between the different types of match.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of controlling and communicating with a modem using a device driver comprising a buffer memory and a control memory, said method comprising the steps of: receiving and storing messages from the modem in said buffer memory; storing control parameters in said control memory, and matching patterns stored in the control memory against a message stored in the buffer memory to generate a signal for indicating a type of pattern matched, wherein the signal is inserted into the message for transmission to a device manager coupled to the device driver, wherein commands between the device driver and the device manager are capable of being passed synchronously and asynchronously.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of controlling and communicating with a modem using a device driver comprising a buffer memory and a control memory, said method comprising the steps of: receiving and storing messages from the modem in said buffer memory; storing control parameters in said control memory, and matching patterns stored in the control memory against a message stored in the buffer memory to generate a signal for indicating a type of pattern matched, wherein the signal is inserted into the message for transmission to a device manager coupled to the device driver, wherein commands between the device driver and the device manager are capable of being passed synchronously and asynchronously.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the stored patterns are compared against a predetermined final length of the message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the patterns are of a plurality of types and there may be a plurality of patterns of the same type.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the pattern types comprise Events, ACKs (positive acknowledgements), and NACKs (negative acknowledgements), the generated signal indicating the type of pattern matched.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the device driver sends the signal to the device manager by adding it to the message received through the modem.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein commands are passed between the device driver and the device manager in the form of Calls, which set up parameters in the device driver, IOs, which send control signals and data to the device drivers, and Events, which signal detection of patterns or message reception or transmission problems to the device manager.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein one form of call command comprises at least on pattern setting command for defining one or more patterns to be searched for in the control memory.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein there are 3 sub-types of pattern setting command defining patterns to be searched for, one pattern setting command for each pattern type.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the or at least one pattern setting command is arranged to define a plurality of patterns to be matched, each pattern having an associated event signal to be generated on detection of the corresponding pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the patterns to be searched for are stored in respective sub-areas of the control memory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the patterns to be searched for are stored in a single continuous area of the control memory.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein, on a plurality of matches occurring, only the last match is acted on.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein on a plurality of matches occurring, a type is indicated according to a predetermined priority sequence between the different types of match.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device driver according to claim 1 , wherein the device driver further comprises a part of a receiver/decoder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-10-12 | 2008-04-12 | 2008-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-12 | 2012-04-12 | 2012-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-12 | 2016-04-12 | 2016-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |