Wideband provisioning

• US 20060002294A1
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeng, Shengyou, Chapman, John T., Zhang, Jin, Guckel, William, Bernstein, Alon Shlomo
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/59 using proxies for addressing

Abstract

A provisioning server has a port to receive a request for a network address including an indication that a remote device is wideband capable. The provisioning server also has a processor to respond to the request with a network address and include an address for a configuration file and to provide a configuration file that allows wideband service. A cable modem has a port to request a network address and indicate wideband capability. The cable modem also has a processor to receive a response to that request that includes a network address and an address for a configuration file. The processor also receives a configuration file and allows the cable modem to be configured for wideband service.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning wideband cable service, comprising:

receiving a request for a network address from a device having wideband capability;

responding to the request with a network address and an address for a configuration file; and

providing the configuration file that allows wideband service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for a network address from a device having wideband capability further comprising receiving a request including a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay agent information option allowing a cable modem to indicate to a provisioning server that it is capable of running in a wideband mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a configuration file that allows wideband service further comprises using a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a configuration file that allows wideband service further comprises a configuration file with a time length value that enables wideband capability.

5. A provisioning server, comprising:

a port to receive a request for a network address from a wideband capable device; and

a processor coupled with the port, the processor to;

respond to the request with a network address and include an address for a configuration file; and

provide a configuration file that allows wideband service.

6. The provisioning server of claim 5, wherein the indication that a remote device is wideband capable is indicated by a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay agent information option.

7. The provisioning server of claim 5, wherein the configuration file that allows wideband service is to be provided with a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP).

8. The provisioning server of claim 5, wherein the configuration file further comprises a time length value that enables wideband capability.

9. A provisioning server, comprising:

means for receiving a request for a network address from a wideband capable device;

means for responding to the request with a network address and including an address for a configuration file; and

means for providing a configuration file that allows wideband service.

10. The provision server of claim 9, the means for receiving a request further comprising means for detecting a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay agent information option allowing a cable modem to indicate to a provisioning server that it is capable of running in a wideband mode.

11. The provisioning server of claim 9, the means for providing a configuration file further comprising means for using a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP).

12. The provisioning server of claim 9, the means for providing a configuration file further comprising means for using a configuration file with a time length value that enables wideband capability.

13. A method comprising:

requesting a network address and indicating wideband capability;

receiving a response to the request, the response including a network address and an address for a configuration file; and

receiving a configuration file allowing a device to be configured for wideband service.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein wideband capability is indicated by a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay agent information option.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a configuration file that allows wideband service further comprises using a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP).

16. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a configuration file that allows wideband service further comprises receiving a configuration file with a time length value that enables wideband capability.

17. A cable modem, comprising:

a port to request a network address and indicate wideband capability; and

a processor coupled with the port, the processor to;

receive a response to the request, the response to include a network address and an address for a configuration file; and

receive a configuration file to allow the cable modem to be configured for wideband service.

18. The cable modem of claim 17, wherein the indication of wideband capability is indicated by a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay agent information option.

19. The cable modem of claim 17, wherein the configuration file that allows wideband service is to be provided with a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP).

20. The cable modem of claim 17, wherein the configuration file further comprises a time length value that enables wideband capability.

21. A cable modem, comprising:

means for requesting a network address and indicating wideband capability;

means for receiving a response to the request, the response including a network address and an address for a configuration file; and

means for receiving a configuration file that allowing the cable modem to be configured for wideband service.

22. The cable modem of claim 21, the means for requesting further comprising means for detecting a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay agent information option allowing a cable modem to indicate to a provisioning server that it is capable of running in a wideband mode.

23. The cable modem of claim 21, the means for receiving a configuration file further comprising means for using a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP).

24. The cable modem of claim 21, the means for receiving a configuration file further comprising means for using a configuration file with a time length value that enables wideband capability.

25. A method of provisioning wideband service in a cable network, comprising:

requesting a network address for a cable modem from a provisioning server, and indicating wideband capability for the cable modem;

the provisioning server responding to the request with a network address and including an address for a configuration file; and

the provisioning server providing a configuration file allowing wideband service to the cable modem.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein wideband capability is indicated by a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay agent information option.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein providing a configuration file that allows wideband service further comprises using a trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP).

28. The method of claim 25, wherein providing a configuration file that allows wideband service further comprises providing a configuration file with a time length value that enables wideband capability.