System, method, and computer program product for facilitating communication between devices implementing proprietary features in a DOCSIS-compliant broadband communication system

• US 20040233926A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cummings, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,040,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product that facilitates communication between devices that implement at least one proprietary feature in a DOCSIS-compliant broadband communication system. A logical channel is established for communication between a first device, such as a cable modem termination system (CMTS), that implements at least one proprietary feature, and other devices that also implement the at least one proprietary feature. Registration information is then received from a second device, such as a cable modem, wherein the registration information indicates that the second device also implements the at least one proprietary feature. In response to receiving the registration information, the second device is assigned to the logical channel.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication between devices implementing proprietary features in a broadband communication system that complies with a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard, comprising:

establishing a logical channel for communication between a first device that implements at least one proprietary feature and other devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature;

receiving registration information from a second device, wherein said registration information indicates that said second device implements said at least one proprietary feature; and

assigning said second device to said logical channel in response to receiving said registration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first device comprises a cable modem termination system (CMTS) and said second device comprises a cable modem.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing a logical channel comprises generating an Upstream Channel Descriptor (UCD) message, wherein said UCD message includes at least one proprietary parameter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said generating a UCD message comprises generating a UCD message having a version field or a type field that comprises a value not provided for by the DOCSIS standard.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said establishing a logical channel further comprises sending said UCD message only to devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said sending said UCD message only to devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature comprises:

accessing a database of identifiers of devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature; and

generating a unicast UCD message addressed to each of said devices having an identifier in said database.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said sending said UCD message only to devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature comprises:

accessing an identifier that identifies a plurality of devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature; and

generating a multicast UCD message addressed to said plurality devices identified by said identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving said registration information from a second device comprises:

sending a first unicast message to said second device to determine if said second device implements any proprietary features;

receiving a message from said second device, wherein said message identifies any proprietary features implemented by said second device; and

sending a second unicast message to said second device identifying support for said at least one proprietary feature.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning said second device to said logical channel comprises generating a unicast message to said second device identifying said logical channel.

10. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) that implements at least one proprietary feature in a cable modem system that complies with a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard, comprising:

an upstream channel manager adapted to establish a logical channel for communication with cable modems that implement the at least one proprietary feature; and

a registration module adapted to receive registration information from a cable modem, wherein said registration information indicates that said cable modem implements the at least one proprietary feature, and to assign said cable modem to said logical channel in response to receiving said registration information.

11. The CMTS of claim 10, wherein said upstream channel manager is adapted to determine whether or not to establish said logical channel.

12. The CMTS of claim 10, wherein said upstream channel manager is adapted to generate a UCD message that includes at least one proprietary parameter.

13. The CMTS of claim 12, wherein said upstream channel manager is adapted to generate a UCD message having a version field or a type field that comprises a value not provided for by the DOCSIS standard.

14. The CMTS of claim 12, wherein said upstream channel manager is further adapted to send said UCD message only to cable modems that implement said at least one proprietary feature.

15. The CMTS of claim 14, wherein said UCD generator is adapted to access a database of identifiers of cable modems that implement the at least one proprietary feature, and to generate a unicast UCD message addressed to each of said cable modems having an identifier in said database.

16. The CMTS of claim 14, wherein said UCD generator is adapted to access an identifier that identifies a plurality of cable modems that implement said at least one proprietary feature, and to generate a multicast UCD message addressed to said plurality devices identified by said identifier.

17. The CMTS of claim 10, wherein said registration module is adapted to send a first unicast message to said cable modem to determine if said cable modem implements any proprietary features, to receive a message from said cable modem, wherein said message identifies any proprietary features implemented by said cable modem, and to send a second unicast message to said cable modem identifying support for the at least one proprietary feature.

18. The CMTS of claim 10, wherein said registration module is adapted to generate a unicast message to said cable modem identifying said logical channel.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor to facilitate communication between devices implementing proprietary features in a broadband communication system that complies with a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard, said computer program logic comprising:

means for enabling the processor to establish a logical channel for communication between a first device that implements at least one proprietary feature and other devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature;

means for enabling the processor to receive registration information from a second device, wherein said registration information indicates that said second device implements said at least one proprietary feature; and

means for enabling the processor to assign said second device to said logical channel in response to receiving said registration information.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said first device comprises a cable modem termination system (CMTS) and said second device comprises a cable modem.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said means for enabling the processor to establish a logical channel comprises means for enabling the processor to generate an Upstream Channel Descriptor (UCD) message, wherein said UCD message includes at least one proprietary parameter.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said means for enabling the processor to generate a UCD message comprises means for enabling the processor to generate a UCD message having a version field or a type field that comprises a value not provided for by the DOCSIS standard.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said means for enabling the processor to establish a logical channel further comprises means for enabling the processor to send said UCD message only to devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said means for enabling the processor to send said UCD message only to devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature comprises:

means for enabling the processor to access a database of identifiers of devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature; and

means for enabling the processor to generate a unicast UCD message addressed to each of said devices having an identifier in said database.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said means for enabling the processor to send said UCD message only to devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature comprises:

means for enabling the processor to access an identifier that identifies a plurality of devices that implement said at least one proprietary feature;

means for enabling the processor to generate a multicast UCD message addressed to said plurality devices identified by said identifier.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said means for enabling the processor to receive said registration information from a second device comprises:

means for enabling the processor to send a first unicast message to said second device to determine if said second device implements any proprietary features;

means for enabling the processor to receive a message from said second device, wherein said message identifies any proprietary features implemented by said second device; and

means for enabling the processor to send a second unicast message to said second device identifying support for said at least one proprietary feature.

27. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said means for enabling the processor to assign said second device to said logical channel comprises means for enabling the processor to generate a unicast message to said second device identifying said logical channel.