Active-active redundancy in a cable modem termination system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a first bi-directional communications module that provides primary service to one or more first service areas in a distribution network and backup service to one or more second service areas; and
a second bi-directional communications module that provides primary service to one or more of the second service areas and backup service to one or more of the first service areas, wherein the first and second bi-directional communications modules comprise a redundancy group.
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Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus for active-active 1+1 redundancy for a plurality of bi-directional communication modules of a distributed point to multi-point communications network includes pairing active modules into redundancy groups for providing backup in the event of a failure. Each module is active during normal operation and may also act as a backup for at least one other module in the event of a failure. In the event of a failure, the paired operational module takes over the failed module'"'"'s service domain, and the operational module continues to meet the needs of its own service domain, thus eliminating the need for passive backup modules.
59 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first bi-directional communications module that provides primary service to one or more first service areas in a distribution network and backup service to one or more second service areas; and
a second bi-directional communications module that provides primary service to one or more of the second service areas and backup service to one or more of the first service areas, wherein the first and second bi-directional communications modules comprise a redundancy group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system comprising:
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a first cable modem termination system module that provides primary service to one or more first service areas and backup service to one or more second service areas; and
a second cable modem termination system module that provides primary service to one or more of the second service areas and backup service to one or more of the first service areas, wherein the first and second cable modem termination system modules comprise a redundancy group. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising one or more pairs of cable modem termination system modules wherein both modules of a pair in a normal mode of operation provide primary service to at least one service area and also provide backup service in a backup mode of operation for at least one additional service area in the event of a failure of the module to which it is paired and in addition to continuing to provide primary service to the at least one service area.
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9. A system comprising:
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a first bi-directional communications module that provides primary upstream and downstream service to one or more first service areas, and secondary upstream and downstream service to one or more second service areas, the first bi-directional communications module comprising a plurality of upstream ports linked to a plurality of the first and second secondary service areas, and a plurality of upstream receivers mapped to one or more of the upstream ports;
a first downstream port to provide downstream service to the one or more of the first service areas;
a second downstream port to provide backup downstream service to the one or more of the second service areas;
a status indicator to provide an indication of an operating status of the first bi-directional communications module to a secondary bi-directional communications module; and
a second bi-directional communications module that provides primary upstream and downstream service to one or more of the second service areas, and secondary upstream and downstream service to one or more of the first service areas, second bi-directional communications module comprising a plurality of upstream ports linked to a plurality of first and second service areas, and a plurality of upstream receivers mapped to one or more of the upstream ports;
a first downstream port to provide downstream service to the one or more second service areas;
a second downstream port to provide backup downstream service to the one or more first service areas; and
a status indicator to provide an indication of an operating status of the second bi-directional communications module to the first bi-directional communications module. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A bi-directional multi-point to point communication system, comprising:
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a distribution network;
a plurality of end user cable modems that transmit and receive data over the distribution network;
at least one head end terminal comprising a plurality of modules to transmit downstream data in a first frequency bandwidth over the distribution network and to receive upstream data in a second frequency bandwidth over the distribution network, wherein a first module of the plurality of modules provides primary service to one or more first service areas in the distribution network in a normal mode of operation and provides backup service to one or more second service areas in the distribution network in a backup mode of operation while continuing to provide primary service to the one or more first service areas; and
wherein a second module provides primary service to one or more of the second service areas in the distribution network in a normal mode of operation and backup service to one or more of the first service areas in the distribution network in a backup mode of operation while continuing to provide primary service to the one or more second service areas. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of providing back up service in a bi-directional multi-point to point distribution network for a first module that transmits downstream data in a first frequency bandwidth over the distribution network and receives upstream data in a second frequency bandwidth over the distribution network, comprising:
pairing the first module with a second module to form a redundancy group wherein the first module provides primary service to one or more first service areas in the distribution network in normal operation and backup service to one or more second service areas in the distribution network in a backup mode of operation and the second module provides primary service to one or more of the second service areas in the distribution network in normal operation and backup service to one or more of the first service areas in the distribution network in a backup mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification