Modems that block data transfers during safe mode of operation and related methods
AssigneeEricsson Inc.
InventorGerald M. Cooper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable modem blocks data transfers addressed to host systems during a safe mode of operation and provides the data transfers to the addressed host systems during a normal mode of operation. The cable modem can be coupled to multiple host systems which can be addressed separately. Accordingly, the safe mode of operation can be selected for a subset of the host systems coupled to the cable modem. The safe mode or normal mode of operation can be invoked by pushing a button on the cable modem. The safe mode of operation may also be invoked after the expiration of a timer which times an interval of inactivity at the host. The normal mode of operations can be invoked after detecting activity at the host system.
Claims56
A cable modem that transfers data between a cable system and a host system via a cable, the cable modem comprising:
- a media access controller, coupled to the cable, wherein the media access controller accepts data from the cable system via the cable;
- a processor, coupled to the media access controller, wherein the processor receives the data accepted from the cable system for the host system to provide received host data during a normal mode of operation and wherein the processor blocks data accepted from the cable system for the host system during a safe mode of operation;
- and
- a host interface, coupled between the processor and the host system, wherein the host interface provides the received host data to the host system during the normal mode of operation.
A method of transferring data between a cable system and a first host system, the method comprising the steps of:
- accepting data from the cable system;
- receiving the data accepted from the cable system for the host system to provide received host data during a normal mode of operation;
- blocking the data accepted from the cable system for the host system during a safe mode of operation;
- and
- providing the received host data to the first host system during the normal mode of operation.
A cable modem that transfers data between a cable system and a first host system via a cable, the cable modem comprising:
- means for accepting data from the cable system;
- means for receiving the data accepted from the cable system to provide received host data during a normal mode of operation;
- means for blocking the data accepted from the cable system during a safe mode of operation;
- and
- means for providing the received host data to the first host system during the normal mode of operation.
A modem that transfers data between a central system and a host system via a transmission medium, the modem comprising:
- a media access controller, coupled to the transmission medium, wherein the media access controller accepts data from the central system via the transmission medium;
- a processor, coupled to the media access controller, wherein the processor receives the data accepted from the central system for the host system to provide received host data during a normal mode of operation and wherein the processor blocks data accepted from the central system for the host system during a safe mode of operation;
- and
- a host interface, coupled between the processor and the host system, wherein the host interface provides the received host data to the host system during the normal mode of operation.
A method of transferring data between a central system and a first host system, the method comprising the steps of:
- accepting data from the central system;
- receiving the data accepted from the central system for the host system to provide received host data during a normal mode of operation;
- blocking the data accepted from the central system for the host system during a safe mode of operation;
- and
- providing the received host data to the first host system during the normal mode of operation.
A modem that transfers data between a central system and a first host system via a transmission medium, the modem comprising:
- means for accepting data from the central system;
- means for receiving the data accepted from the central system to provide received host data during a normal mode of operation;
- means for blocking the data accepted from the central system during a safe mode of operation;
- and
- means for providing the received host data to the first host system during the normal mode of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.