Bandwidth efficient cable network modem
First Claim
1. A method for increasing bandwidth efficiency of a cable network including a head end CMTS communicatively coupled to a plurality of cable modems, the method comprising:
- determining an attenuation profile associated with a propagation path of the network, so that each cable modem on that path has a known attenuation factor;
assigning two or more MUD enabled cable modems on the path to a same time slot and on a same channel; and
transmitting a channel assignment map that reflects the assignments for the modems.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A MUD enabled cable modem that provides efficient use of cable television network bandwidth in the presence of interference and noise is disclosed. The modem design provides for compatibility with existing network hardware and protocols so that bandwidth efficient modems configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be added to the network without removing installed hardware and software. A bandwidth efficient modem in the cable network head-end increases reverse link capacity from the terminals to the head end, while bandwidth efficient modems in cable network terminals increases forward link capacity from the head end to the terminals. Bidirectional bandwidth efficiency is thereby enabled.
61 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for increasing bandwidth efficiency of a cable network including a head end CMTS communicatively coupled to a plurality of cable modems, the method comprising:
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determining an attenuation profile associated with a propagation path of the network, so that each cable modem on that path has a known attenuation factor;
assigning two or more MUD enabled cable modems on the path to a same time slot and on a same channel; and
transmitting a channel assignment map that reflects the assignments for the modems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for enhancing forward link capacity of a cable network including a CMTS that is communicatively coupled with a plurality of cable modems by a propagation path, the method comprising:
at a first cable modem;
simultaneously receiving multiple signals transmitted in the same time slot and on the same channel, with each signal having a corresponding power level that is sufficiently high relative to a noise floor;
simultaneously recovering each signal using co-channel demodulation capabilities of the first cable modem; and
removing recovered signals not intended for the first cable modem. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A cable modem which enables efficient use of bandwidth in a cable network including a plurality of cable modems, the cable modem comprising:
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a multiuser detection module adapted to simultaneously demodulate and recover K interfering signals transmitted at the same time on the same channel using co-channel demodulation;
a data formatting module operatively coupled to the multiuser detection module, and adapted to produce network data packets for at least one of the K recovered signals; and
a control processor operatively coupled to the formatting module, and adapted to exploit existing amplitude margin associated with one or more propagation paths of the cable network by deliberately scheduling interfering transmissions based on known attenuation characteristics of the one or more propagation paths. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification