Method and apparatus for dynamically modifying service level agreements in cable modem termination system equipment
First Claim
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1. A management information base for defining a DSx protocol request, comprising:
- a plurality of template tables, each of the template tables containing at least one characteristic field for storing a DSx protocol request characteristic; and
a plurality of request tables, at least one of the request tables corresponding to a particular type of DSx protocol request and having one or more identifier fields for containing an identifier identifying a field in one of the plurality of template tables containing a DSx protocol request characteristic, the one or more identifier fields corresponding to a DSx request such that characteristics contained in the fields indentified in the one or more identifier fields define the DSx request.
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Abstract
A method and system that allow subscribers to a cable Internet data service to use a Web browser and access to the Internet via their cable Internet data service to dynamically change their service level by communicating with the cable modem manager that manages their cable modem. An alternate method and system allow a content provider that has been contacted by a subscriber to dynamically implement new “on-demand” services flows for the subscriber. With both arrangements, the subscriber can begin employing the new service flows without reinitializing their cable modem or otherwise having their data service disrupted.
155 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A management information base for defining a DSx protocol request, comprising:
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a plurality of template tables, each of the template tables containing at least one characteristic field for storing a DSx protocol request characteristic; and
a plurality of request tables, at least one of the request tables corresponding to a particular type of DSx protocol request and having one or more identifier fields for containing an identifier identifying a field in one of the plurality of template tables containing a DSx protocol request characteristic, the one or more identifier fields corresponding to a DSx request such that characteristics contained in the fields indentified in the one or more identifier fields define the DSx request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
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7. A data structure, comprising:
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a plurality of template tables, each of the template tables containing at least one characteristic field storing a type of DSx protocol request characteristic; and
a plurality of request tables, at least one of the request tables corresponding to a particular type of DSx protocol request and having one or more identifier fields containing an identifier identifying a characteristic field in one of the plurality of template tables containing a DSx protocol request characteristic, the one or more identifier fields corresponding to a DSx request such that characteristics contained in the fields indentified in the one or more identifier fields define the DSx request. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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13. A method of constructing a DSx protocol request, comprising:
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receiving one or more DSx request messages, each DSx request message setting forth a characteristic to be included in a DSx request;
for each DSx message, assigning the characteristic to a characteristic field in one of a plurality of template tables; and
assigning an identifier to an identifier in a request table entry identifying the field in the template table for the characteristic; and
providing each characteristic in a field identified by an identifier in the request table for a DSx request to a DSx manager to prepare a DSx request.
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18. A method of dynamically changing a service level of a subscriber to a communications network service, comprising:
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receiving a request from a subscriber to dynamically change a service flow for the service;
contacting a database to obtain an address for a cable modem and cable modem termination system associated with the subscriber; and
providing the characteristics for the new service flow and the address for the cable modem to the cable modem termination system to execute the new service flow.
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25. A system for allowing a subscriber to request a dynamic change in a service level of a communications network service, comprising:
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a service manager for receiving a request from a subscriber to dynamically change a service flow and an instruction designating characteristics for a new service flow;
a cable modem termination system for implementing a new service flow having the characteristics set forth in the instruction;
a cable modem manager for providing the service manager with an address for a cable modem associated with the subscriber and an address of the cable modem termination system in response to the request;
the service manager forwarding the characteristics set forth in the instruction to the cable modem termination system upon receiving the address for the cable modem and the address for the cable modem termination system from the cable modem manager.
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Specification