Method for opening a proprietary MAC protocol in a non-DOCSIS modem compatibly with a DOCSIS modem

• US 20010030975A1
• Filed: 12/26/2000
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sala, Dolors, Gummalla, Ajay Chandra V., Bunn, Fred A., Limb, John O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A two way communication system is adapted for compatible inter-operation of a plurality of devices operating in accordance with a plurality of protocols. The communication system includes a first group of one or more remote devices that interface with a local host in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more remote devices that interface wit the local host in accordance with a second protocol. The local host includes a protocol processor that identifies transmissions from the first and second groups of remote devices and routes transmissions from the first group of remote devices to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and also routes transmissions from the second group of remote devices to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol.

Claims

1. A method for networking a central controller with a first group of one or more remote devices operating in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more remote devices operating in accordance with a second protocol, comprising:

identifying transmissions from said first group and said second group of remote devices;

routing transmissions from said first group of remote devices to a first processor operating in accordance with said first protocol within said central controller; and

routing transmissions from said second group of remote devices to a second processor operating in accordance with said second protocol within said central controller.

2. The method of

claim 1

further comprising embedding a first identifier in transmissions from said first group of remote devices and embedding a second identifier in transmissions from said second group of remote devices, wherein transmission from said first and second groups of remote devices are identified in accordance with said first and second identifiers.

3. The method of

claim 2

wherein said transmissions from said first and second group of remote devices comprise bandwidth requests transmitted in a request contention area.

4. The method of

claim 3

further comprising transmitting bandwidth grants to said first and second group of remote devices in response to requests for bandwidth.

5. The method of

claim 1

further comprising assigning one or more time slots during which said first group and second group of remote devices may transmit information to said central controller and wherein said central controller identifies transmission from said first group and second group of remote devices in accordance with said assigned time slots.

6. The method of

claim 1

further comprising creating a first multicast group comprising said first group of remote devices, creating a second multicast group comprising said second group of remote devices and transmitting group messages from said central controller to said first group and second group of remote devices in accordance with said first and second multicast groups.

7. The method of

claim 1

further comprising receiving communications for said first group and second group of remote devices in accordance with addresses of said first and second remote devices, routing communications for said first group of remote devices to said first processor within said central controller, routing communications for said second group of remote devices to said second processor within said central controller and transmitting processed communications to addressed remote devices.

8. A method for networking a cable modem termination system with a first group of one or more cable modems operating in accordance with a proprietary protocol and a second group of one or more cable modems operating in accordance with DOCSIS protocol, comprising:

identifying transmissions from said first group and second group of cable modems;

routing transmissions from said first group of cable modems to a first processor that operates in accordance with said proprietary protocol within said cable modem termination system; and

routing transmissions from said second group of cable modems to a second processor that operates in accordance with the DOCSIS protocol within said cable modem termination system.

9. The method of

claim 8

further comprising embedding a first identifier in transmissions from said first group of cable modems and embedding a second identifier in transmissions from said second group of cable modems, wherein transmission from said first group and second group of cable modems are identified in accordance with said first and second identifiers.

10. The method of

claim 9

wherein said transmissions from said first and second group of cable modems comprise bandwidth requests transmitted in a request contention area.

11. The method of

claim 10

further comprising transmitting bandwidth grants to said first and second group of cable modems in response to said requests for bandwidth.

12. The method of

claim 8

further comprising assigning one or more time slots during which said first group and second group of cable modems may transmit information to said cable modem termination system and wherein said cable modem termination system identifies transmission from said first group and second group of cable modems in accordance with said assigned timeslots.

13. The method of

claim 8

further comprising creating a first multicast group comprising said first group of cable modems, creating a second multicast group comprising said second group of cable modems and transmitting group messages from said cable modem termination system to said first group and second group of cable modems in accordance with said first and second multicast groups.

14. The method of

claim 8

further comprising receiving communications for said first group and second group of cable modems in accordance with addresses of said first group and second group of cable modems, routing communications for said first group of cable modems to said first processor within said cable modem termination system, routing communications for said second group of cable modems to said second processor within said cable modem termination system and transmitting processed communications to addressed cable modems.

15. A two way communication system comprising:

a plurality of remote devices wherein a first group of one or more remote devices communicate with a local host in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more remote devices communicate with said local host in accordance with a second protocol,

wherein said local host comprises a protocol processor for identifying transmissions from said first and second groups of remote devices, and wherein said protocol processor routes transmissions from said first group of remote device to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and wherein said protocol processor routes transmissions from said second group of remote devices to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol.

16. The two way communication system of

claim 15

wherein said local host further comprises a central processor for scheduling transmission from said first and second group of remote devices.

17. The two way communication system of

claim 15

wherein said local host further comprises an upstream demodulator for receiving transmission from said first and second group of remote devices and a downstream modulator for transmitting information to said first and second group of remote devices.

18. The two way communication system of

claim 17

wherein each of said remote devices comprise a downstream demodulator for receiving transmission from said local host and an upstream modulator for transmitting information to said local host.

19. The two way communication system of

claim 18

wherein each of said remote devices further comprise a media access controller for embedding service identifiers in each upstream bandwidth request, wherein said media access controller embeds a first service identifier for remote devices that operate in accordance with said first protocol and a second service identifier for remote devices that operate in accordance with said second protocol.

20. A cable television system, comprising:

a plurality of cable modems wherein a first group of one or more cable modems communicate with a cable modem termination system in accordance with a proprietary protocol and a second group of one or more cable modems communicate with said cable modem termination system in accordance with DOCSIS protocol,

wherein said cable modem termination system comprises a protocol processor for identifying transmissions from said first and second groups of cable modems, and wherein said protocol processor routes transmissions from said first group of cable modems to a first processor operating in accordance with the proprietary protocol and wherein said protocol processor routes transmissions from said second group of cable modems to a second processor operating in accordance with the DOCSIS protocol.

21. The cable television system of

claim 20

wherein said transmissions from said first and second groups of cable modems comprise bandwidth requests transmitted in a request contention area.

22. The cable television system of

claim 21

wherein said cable modem termination system further comprises a central processor for scheduling transmission from said first and second group of cable modems in response to said bandwidth requests.

23. The cable television system of

claim 20

wherein said cable modem termination system further comprises an upstream demodulator for receiving transmission from said first and second group of cable modems and a downstream modulator for transmitting information to said first and second group of cable modems.

24. The cable television system of

claim 23

wherein each of said cable modems comprise a downstream demodulator for receiving transmission from said cable modem termination system and an upstream modulator for transmitting information to said cable modem termination system.

25. The cable television system of

claim 24

wherein each of said cable modems further comprise a media access controller for embedding service identifiers in each upstream bandwidth request, wherein said media access controller embeds a first service identifier for cable modems that operate in accordance with said proprietary protocol and a second service identifier for cable modems that operate in accordance with said DOCSIS protocol.