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Method and apparatus for upstream burst transmission synchronization in cable modems

  • US 6,553,040 B2
  • Filed: 07/19/2001
  • Issued: 04/22/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A network interface apparatus for providing data transmissions to a network controller that are synchronized with transmissions from other network interface apparatuses to the network controller, the apparatus comprising:

  • a clock from which the network interface unit obtains a local time;

    a message receiver for receiving messages from the network controller;

    a time tag generator for recording local times of arrival of synchronizing messages at the interface unit, the synchronizing messages containing synchronizing information comprising an offset from the beginning of a received frame marker and a number of a transmit slot relative to the offset in which to transmit;

    a phase lock loop for accepting time tag information and synchronizing information corresponding to synchronizing messages and generating corresponding local transmit time information therefrom; and

    a transmission unit for generating data transmissions from the network interface unit to the network control unit in accordance with said local transmit time information.

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