EARLY AUTHENTICATION IN CABLE MODEM INITIALIZATION
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- sending messages from and receiving messages by a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to establish a link layer connection between a cable modem and said CMTS;
sending messages from and receiving messages by said CMTS to authenticate of said cable modem on a primary service flow;
sending messages from and receiving messages by said CMTS to establish IP connectivity between said cable modem and said CMTS after said cable modem has been authenticated; and
sending messages from and receiving messages by said CMTS to register said cable modem with the CMTS after said IP connectivity has been established.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system that eliminates some of the security vulnerabilities in the prior art systems by using a new sequence of steps to perform initialization of the cable modem: Instead of performing authentication after the cable modem has been registered, the cable modem authentication step is performed immediately after the cable modem completes ranging. Thus an early authentication method and system are provided. The control of authentication is shifted from the cable modem to the CMTS. Instead of the CMTS relying on a Registration Request message (REG-REQ) to determine whether a cable modem must perform authentication (that is to determine if BPI+ is enabled) the CMTS configuration is what determines whether a cable modem must perform authentication.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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sending messages from and receiving messages by a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to establish a link layer connection between a cable modem and said CMTS; sending messages from and receiving messages by said CMTS to authenticate of said cable modem on a primary service flow; sending messages from and receiving messages by said CMTS to establish IP connectivity between said cable modem and said CMTS after said cable modem has been authenticated; and sending messages from and receiving messages by said CMTS to register said cable modem with the CMTS after said IP connectivity has been established. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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means in a cable modem termination system (CMTS) for establishing a link layer connection between said cable modem and said CMTS; means in a CMTS for authenticating said cable modem prior to registration of said cable modem; means in a CMTS for establishing IP connectivity between said modem and said CMTS; and means in a CMTS for registering the cable modem with said CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) including a processor configured to:
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establish a link layer connection to a cable modem; authenticate said cable modem prior to registration of said cable modem; establish IP connectivity between said CMTS and said cable modem after said registration is complete; and register said cable modem after said connectivity has been established. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20)
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16. A cable modem including:
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a port to communicate over a link layer connection with a cable modem termination system (CMTS); a processor adapted to; receive messages from said CMTS via said port to conduct authentication of said cable modem on a primary service flow prior to registration of said modem; establish IP connectivity with said CMTS, and register said modem with said CMTS after said authentication is complete. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification