Ronald Edward Mcdowell

US Patent:

7530092, May 5, 2009

Filed:

May 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/838749

Inventors:

Ronald W. McDowell - Suwanee GA, US

Assignee:

Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. - Lawrenceville GA

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725118

Abstract:

A system and method for minimizing timeouts when enhanced services are requested through a digital home communications terminal (DHCT) requiring discovery of a service group identification (SGID) assigned to the DHCT. A service group map (SGM) includes a plurality of entries. Each entry includes a frequency, a tabulated transport stream identification (TSID), and a SGID associated with one another. The SGM has multiple occurrences of the same frequency. Each of the entries are prioritized relative one another such that the frequencies associated with first occurrences of each SGID have the highest priority.

US Patent:

20010031581, Oct 18, 2001

Filed:

Apr 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/827963

Inventors:

Jennifer McDowell - Suwanee GA, US
Ronald McDowell - Suwanee GA, US
Douglas Meister - Loganville GA, US

Assignee:

Thomas & Betts International, Inc.

International Classification:

H01R024/00

US Classification:

439/630000

Abstract:

The present invention provides an electrical connector for connecting a contact pad of an IC card to a printed circuit board. In particular, a smart card connector is provided which elevates the connector above the PCB for placement of additional components therebeneath. The connector includes a housing having a top component and a bottom component affixed thereto wherein the top and bottom components together define a card insertion ingress at a front portion of the connector. The ingress is sized and shaped to accommodate linear sliding insertion of a smart card therein along a card insertion plane defined between the top and bottom portions. The top portion of the connector supports a plurality of electrical contacts therein wherein each contact includes an inner extent having a spring-like undulation at a freely deflectable extent positioned in the card insertion plane. Upon card insertion, a contact pad on the card engages the freely deflectable extent such that the undulation moves upward into a corresponding indentation defined along a bottom surface of the top portion of he connector. Upon retraction of the card, the undulation resiliently returns to its original position in the card insertion plane. Each contact further includes an outer extent that protrudes normally from the top portion of the connector for termination to the PCB. The contacts are desirably distributed in even and aligned rows that enable placement of all contacts in the top portion of the connector.

US Patent:

20050249130, Nov 10, 2005

Filed:

May 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/838541

Inventors:

Mark Schutte - Suwanee GA, US
Ronald McDowell - Suwanee GA, US

International Classification:

H04L012/28

US Classification:

370254000, 709220000

Abstract:

A system and method for minimizing timeouts when enhanced services are requested through a digital home communications terminal (DHCT) requiring discovery of a service group identification (SGID) assigned to the DHCT. A service group map (SGM) includes a plurality of entries. Each entry includes a frequency, a tabulated transport stream identification (TSID), and a SGID associated with one another. The SGM has multiple occurrences of the same frequencies. At least a portion of the entries within the SGM are arranged in an ordered manner and then searched in other than a sequential manner to find matching tabulated and acquired TSIDs.

US Patent:

20050251845, Nov 10, 2005

Filed:

May 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/838637

Inventors:

Ronald McDowell - Suwanee GA, US

International Classification:

H04N007/173
G06F017/30
G06F007/00

US Classification:

725126000, 725118000

Abstract:

A system and method for minimizing timeouts when enhanced services are requested through a digital home communications terminal (DHCT) requiring discovery of a service group identification (SGID) assigned to the DHCT. A service group map (SGM) includes a plurality of entries. Each entry includes a frequency, a tabulated transport stream identification (TSID), and a SGID associated with one another. The SGM has multiple occurrences of the same frequency. The entries are arranged relative to one another such that first occurrences of each SGID are interspersed alternately with one another. A match for the tabulated TSID can be found in order to determine the SGID assigned to the DHCT before tuning any frequencies that correspond to second occurrences of any of the SGIDs. The frequencies associated with particular occurrences of each SGID may be prioritized.