# US 12,119,992 B2 · Reconfigurable device for processing signals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,992 B2 - Document ID: US12119992B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/343,331 - Filed: 2023-06-28 - Published: 2024-02-01 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-15 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Drew Taylor; Nathan A. Owens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119992B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/082: the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality - H04L 69/323: in the physical layer [OSI layer 1] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Methods and systems for processing signals and data are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving a first portion of a first signal. An example method can comprise processing the first portion of the first signal based on a module. The module can comprise instructions for physical layer processing. An example method can comprise receiving an update for the module. The update can be configured to modify the instructions for physical layer processing. The module can be reconfigured based on the update. An example method can comprise processing at least one of a second portion of the first signal and a second signal based on the module reconfigured based on the update. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving, by a first computing device, a first signal, wherein a second computing device sends the first signal to the first computing device based on a device type of the first computing device indicating that a physical layer protocol of the first computing device is capable of being updated; processing, based on a software module of the first computing device configured to implement physical layer processing according to a first version of the physical layer protocol, the first signal; causing, based on an update to the software module, the software module to be configured to implement physical layer processing according to a second version of the physical layer protocol; and processing, based on the software module configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol, a second signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the physical layer protocol comprises at least one of a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) protocol, or a protocol for processing quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) based content streams. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the software module is configured for physical layer processing according to the first version of the physical layer protocol of the first computing device based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the update comprises machine-executable instructions for implementing physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the software module is configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the update for the software module via the first signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the update is configured to modify a spectrum range upon which the first computing device operates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the update is configured to modify a radio frequency bonding procedure of the software module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the update is configured to modify a procedure for generating, based on a first digital stream, a plurality of packets and a procedure for generating, based on the plurality of packets, a second digital stream. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to: receive a first signal, wherein a second computing device sends the first signal to the apparatus based on a device type of the apparatus indicating that a physical layer protocol of the apparatus is capable of being updated; process, based on a software module of the apparatus configured to implement physical layer processing according to a first version of the physical layer protocol, the first signal; cause, based on an update to the software module, the software module to be configured to implement physical layer processing according to a second version of the physical layer protocol; and process, based on the software module configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol, a second signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the physical layer protocol comprises at least one of a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) protocol, or a protocol for processing quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) based content streams. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the software module is configured for physical layer processing according to the first version of the physical layer protocol of the apparatus based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the update comprises machine-executable instructions for implementing physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the software module is configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to receive the update for the software module via the first signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the update is configured to modify a spectrum range upon which the apparatus operates. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the update is configured to modify a radio frequency bonding procedure of the software module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the update is configured to modify a procedure for generating, based on a first digital stream, a plurality of packets and a procedure for generating, based on the plurality of packets, a second digital stream. ### Claim 19 One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive, by a first computing device, a first signal, wherein a second computing device sends the first signal to the first computing device based on a device type of the first computing device indicating that a physical layer protocol of the first computing device is capable of being updated; process, based on a software module of the first computing device configured to implement physical layer processing according to a first version of the physical layer protocol, the first signal; cause, based on an update to the software module, the software module to be configured to implement physical layer processing according to a second version of the physical layer protocol; and process, based on the software module configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol, a second signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the physical layer protocol comprises at least one of a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) protocol, or a protocol for processing quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) based content streams. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the software module is configured for physical layer processing according to the first version of the physical layer protocol of the first computing device based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the update comprises machine-executable instructions for implementing physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the software module is configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to receive the update for the software module via the first signal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the update is configured to modify a spectrum range upon which the first computing device operates. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the update is configured to modify a radio frequency bonding procedure of the software module. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the update is configured to modify a procedure for generating, based on a first digital stream, a plurality of packets and a procedure for generating, based on the plurality of packets, a second digital stream. ### Claim 28 A system comprising: a first computing device configured to send a first signal to a second computing device based on a device type of the second computing device indicating that a physical layer protocol of the second computing device is capable of being updated; and the second computing device configured to: receive the first signal, process, based on a software module of the second computing device configured to implement physical layer processing according to a first version of the physical layer protocol, the first signal, cause, based on an update to the software module, the software module to be configured to implement physical layer processing according to a second version of the physical layer protocol, and process, based on the software module configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol, a second signal. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the physical layer protocol comprises at least one of a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) protocol, or a protocol for processing quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) based content streams. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the software module is configured for physical layer processing according to the first version of the physical layer protocol of the second computing device based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the update comprises machine-executable instructions for implementing physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the software module is configured to implement physical layer processing according to the second version of the physical layer protocol based on machine-executable instructions. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the second computing device is further configured to receive the update for the software module via the first signal. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the update is configured to modify a spectrum range upon which the second computing device operates. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the update is configured to modify a radio frequency bonding procedure of the software module. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the update is configured to modify a procedure for generating, based on a first digital stream, a plurality of packets and a procedure for generating, based on the plurality of packets, a second digital stream.