Methods for detecting and polling downstream modems
First Claim
1. A method for discovering an address of a currently undiscovered device with an N-bit address on a shared media with a downstream channel and an upstream channel, the method comprising:
- A. Sending a first type message on the downstream channel;
B. Interpreting a response occurring on the upstream channel as confirmation of the existence of at least one undiscovered device;
C. Discerning the address of at least one of the responding undiscovered devices by;
i. Sending a second type message on the downstream channel, the second type message containing an address field with a most significant bit set to 1 and the rest of the bits set to 0;
ii. If a response comes back on the upstream channel, then the most significant bit is set to 1, else the most significant bit is set to 0;
iii. Setting MSB Index=2;
iv. FOR MSB Index less than N;
a. Sending a subsequent second type message with the previously discerned value(s) for the one or more most significant bits with the next most significant bit set to 1 and any remaining bits set to 0;
b. If a response comes back on the upstream channel, then the next most significant bit is set to 1, else the next most significant bit is set to 0; and
v. Increment MSB Index=MSB Index+1; and
D. Sending an instruction to the newly discovered device through use of the discerned address to instruct the discovered device to not respond to subsequent first type messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of finding the address of a previously undiscovered client modem first detects the presence of a previously undiscovered client modem on a tree and branch network then uses an efficient method to discern the address for the newly discovered client modem. The method can be coupled with a group polling method for efficiently polling client modems that minimizes the time wasted by polling a modem without data to transmit. In group polling, a broadcast message is sent to all modems (or a selected subset of modems). Each modem requiring service responds with a short burst of energy in its predefined time slot. These time slot responses are recorded and then normal poll messages are sent out to only the modems requesting service. The disclosure contains variations of these methods. This abstract is provided for patent searches, and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for discovering an address of a currently undiscovered device with an N-bit address on a shared media with a downstream channel and an upstream channel, the method comprising:
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A. Sending a first type message on the downstream channel;
B. Interpreting a response occurring on the upstream channel as confirmation of the existence of at least one undiscovered device;
C. Discerning the address of at least one of the responding undiscovered devices by;
i. Sending a second type message on the downstream channel, the second type message containing an address field with a most significant bit set to 1 and the rest of the bits set to 0;
ii. If a response comes back on the upstream channel, then the most significant bit is set to 1, else the most significant bit is set to 0;
iii. Setting MSB Index=2;
iv. FOR MSB Index less than N;
a. Sending a subsequent second type message with the previously discerned value(s) for the one or more most significant bits with the next most significant bit set to 1 and any remaining bits set to 0;
b. If a response comes back on the upstream channel, then the next most significant bit is set to 1, else the next most significant bit is set to 0; and
v. Increment MSB Index=MSB Index+1; and
D. Sending an instruction to the newly discovered device through use of the discerned address to instruct the discovered device to not respond to subsequent first type messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for discovering an address of a currently undiscovered device with an N-bit address on a shared media with a downstream channel and an upstream channel, the method comprising:
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A. Sending a first type message on the downstream channel;
B. Interpreting a response occurring on the upstream channel as confirmation of the existence of at least one undiscovered device;
C. Discerning the address of at least one of the responding undiscovered devices by;
i. Sending a second type message on the downstream channel, the second type message containing an address field with a first bit set to a first binary value and the rest of the bits set to a second binary value;
ii. If a response comes back on the upstream channel, then the first bit is set to a third binary value, else the first bit is set to a fourth binary value;
iii. Setting bit Index=2;
iv. FOR bit Index less than N;
a. Sending a subsequent second type message with the previously discerned value(s) for the address, the next unknown bit set to a fifth binary value and any remaining bits set to a sixth binary value;
b. If a response comes back on the upstream channel, then the next unknown bit is set to a seventh binary value, else the next unknown bit is set to an eighth binary value; and
c. Increment bit Index=bit Index+1; and
D. Sending an instruction to the newly discovered device through use of the discerned address to instruct the discovered device to not respond to subsequent first type messages. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for discovering an address of a currently undiscovered device with an N-bit address on a shared media with a downstream channel and an upstream channel, where N is greater than 2, the method comprising:
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A. Sending a first type message on the downstream channel;
B. Interpreting a response occurring on the upstream channel as confirmation of the existence of at least one undiscovered device;
C. Do Until all bits of the unknown device address are known;
i. sending a downstream message having a specified address value;
ii. discerning whether a response was sent on the upstream channel to the downstream message;
iii. determining one bit of the address of the undiscovered device from whether a response was sent on the upstream channel to the downstream message; and
D. Sending an instruction to the discovered device through use of the discerned address to instruct the discovered device to not respond to subsequent first type messages. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for first device to poll a group of client devices connected to a shared media with a downstream channel and an upstream channel, the method comprising:
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A. assigning each discovered client device a specific time slot for responding to a polling broadcast message;
B. transmitting the polling broadcast message on the downstream channel;
C. discerning which discovered client devices responded in their respective assigned time slots; and
D. sending each of the responding client devices a polling message specifically addressed to that responding client device to request that the addressed device send data on the upstream channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification