Pingnan Shi

US Patent:

6600515, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Oct 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/046449

Inventors:

Andrew E. Bowyer - Indianapolis IN
Pingnan Shi - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Wavetek Corporation - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

H04N 700

US Classification:

348461, 348476, 348478, 348479, 348477, 348192, 348193, 725107

Abstract:

A method of transmitting a leakage tagging signal includes inserting a tagging signal into a CATV television signal only during portions of the television signal in which control information is present. A method according to the present invention is a method of transmitting a tagging signal in a communication system, the communication system transmitting television signals comprising control information and program information. One step of the method includes generating a tagging signal that is detectable by corresponding leakage detecting equipment. The method also includes the step of identifying a portion of a television signal in which control information is present. Finally, the method of the present invention encompasses inserting the tagging signal into the television signal only during the portion of the television signal in which control information is present.

US Patent:

7086083, Aug 1, 2006

Filed:

Apr 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/835697

Inventors:

Qin Zhang - Bensalem PA, US
Pingnan Shi - Indianapolis IN, US

Assignee:

Wavetek Wandell Goltermann, Inc. - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

H04N 7/16
H04N 7/173
H04N 17/00
H04N 5/21

US Classification:

725143, 725107, 725124, 348180, 348192, 348193, 348607

Abstract:

A method of determining noise in a CATV channel, wherein the CATV channel comprises a predetermined frequency band, that employs digital signal processing to isolate the noise signal from an in-service television signal. The method includes an initial step of obtaining a television signal corresponding to a predetermined CATV channel, the television channel comprising a carrier signal modulated by an information signal. Thereafter, the method includes the step of sampling at least a part of the television signal to produce a digital signal segment, said digital signal segment comprising a carrier component, a noise signals component, and an information signal component, wherein said information signal component has a substantially predetermined signal pattern. The method then employs digital signal processing to separate the carrier component from the digital signal segment to produce a baseband signal substantially comprising the information signal and the noise signal. Finally, an estimate of the information signal is obtained and then subtracted from the baseband signal, thereby producing a noise signal estimate.

US Patent:

7111318, Sep 19, 2006

Filed:

Jun 1, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/872030

Inventors:

Michael J. Vitale - Kennesaw GA, US
Gerald K. Rudolf - Indianapolis IN, US
Robert J. McCammon - Sullivan IN, US
Michael R. Wright - Fishers IN, US
Kelly J. Scorzato - Indianapolis IN, US
Pingnan Shi - Greenwood IN, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/137

US Classification:

725107, 348180

Abstract:

A method of performing work on a communication system in accordance with a work assignment includes a step of identifying a data file associated with the work assignment, the data file including subscription information and network location information. The method also includes a step of preparing at least a first set of test parameters for performing a network test, the first set of parameters based on, at least in part, the subscription information and the network location information. The test parameters are then communicated to a test device. Thereafter, the test device performs a first test using the first set of test parameters.

US Patent:

8184684, May 22, 2012

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/241823

Inventors:

Walter Miller - Greenwood IN, US
Daniel K. Chappell - Greenwood IN, US
Pingnan Shi - Greenwood IN, US

International Classification:

H04B 3/46

US Classification:

375224, 375228, 375316, 375345, 73627

Abstract:

The testing equipment of the present invention calculates a single “AGC stress” value, which provides an indication of the stability of the level of a digital carrier based on the change in gain required to stabilize the power of an incoming cable signal over time. Ideally the AGC stress value is rated on a scale, e. g. 1 to 10 or 0 to 5, and is fed into the DQI measurement system as a new data model.

US Patent:

8189651, May 29, 2012

Filed:

Mar 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/413086

Inventors:

Pingnan Shi - Greenwood IN, US
Daniel K. Chappell - Greenwood IN, US
Walter Miller - Greenwood IN, US
Gregory W. Massey - Greenfield IN, US

International Classification:

H04B 3/46
H04B 17/00
H04Q 1/20

US Classification:

375224, 702 58, 324 7611

Abstract:

The invention relates to a method for measuring Hum on a digital QAM carrier using a testing device for testing digital TV signals including a QAM demodulator therein, and to a testing device implementing the method. A micro-controller is used to sample a register associated with an AGC circuit in the QAM demodulator, and to process the collected register values to obtain one or more Hum characteristics.

US Patent:

8243780, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Oct 1, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/571814

Inventors:

Adam A. Nowotarski - Indianapolis IN, US
Pingnan Shi - Greenwood IN, US
Walter Miller - Greenwood IN, US

International Classification:

H04B 3/46
H04B 17/00
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

375227, 375257, 375228, 348193, 725107

Abstract:

The present invention provides a test device and a method enabling automatic detection of an imbalance in a power level of a digital channel. The test device includes an attenuator, a tuner, a demodulator, and an evaluation unit. According to the method, a plurality of channels are attenuated at a plurality of attenuation levels, by means of the attenuator. A digital channel is selected from the plurality of channels, by means of the tuner. A modulation error ratio (MER) of the digital channel is measured at the plurality of attenuation levels, by means of the demodulator. A variation of the MER of the digital channel with attenuation level is then evaluated, by means of the evaluation unit, to detect an imbalance in a power level of the digital channel.

US Patent:

8311086, Nov 13, 2012

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/241365

Inventors:

Walter Miller - Greenwood IN, US
Pingnan Shi - Greenwood IN, US
Reena Ramname - Fishers IN, US
Gregory W. Massey - Greenfield IN, US

Assignee:

Acterna LLC - Germantown MD

International Classification:

H04B 3/46

US Classification:

375224, 375228, 375229

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for testing susceptibility of a receiver to intermodulation distortion of a digital channel, the method including selecting a first digital channel from channels in a composite signal, determining a first power measurement from the first digital channel, determining a total power measurement from other channels in the composite signal, and determining susceptibility of the first digital channel to intermodulation distortion by comparing the first power measurement and the total power measurement with intermodulation distortion characteristics of the receiver.

US Patent:

20020095686, Jul 18, 2002

Filed:

Oct 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/055839

Inventors:

Pingnan Shi - Indianapolis IN, US
Andrew Bowyer - Indianapolis IN, US
Qin Zhang - Bensalem PA, US

Assignee:

Wavetek Corporation

International Classification:

H04N007/173

US Classification:

725/107000, 348/180000

Abstract:

Disclosed are method and apparatus which measure signal level of an RF signal. The measured RF signal includes a baseband signal modulated onto a first carrier signal having a first frequency and the baseband signal includes program information and control information. The method and apparatus digitize the RF signal which includes the baseband control information and determine a signal level measurement from the baseband control information in the digitized RF signal. Furthermore, method and apparatus are disclosed which determine from the digitized RF signal whether a tagging signal is present in the RF signal.