CONFIGURING NETWORK DEVICES

• US 20100290366A1
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Garcia, Maurice
• Granted Patent: US 8,787,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16

Abstract

Improved systems and methods for configuring network devices are provided. Aspects of the invention relate to novel QoS configuration parameters and methods for using QoS configuration parameters to reduce impacts caused by security breach within a network. In one embodiment, a QoS configuration parameter is selected from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database based upon unique identifying information of a network device and a status signal. In one embodiment, each configuration parameter comprises at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device and a second parameter configurable to alter the ability of the network device to communicate with another device in the network. Further aspects of the invention relate to providing improved services to an end user. In one embodiment, services may be customized to an end user and allow increased flexibility for both the service provider and the end user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

configuring a system for allowing an end user to dynamically obtain temporary adjustments to the QoS levels associated with a network device.

2. A method comprising:

configuring a system for dynamically provisioning network device speed using a central database system responsive to a request from a user for temporary increased performance.

3. A method comprising configuring a system to dynamically reduce the network device speed associated with a particular port responsive to a system detected condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the configuring is responsive to detecting spam.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a status signal regarding the status of a user account;

receiving unique identifying information regarding a network device associated with the user account;

retrieving a QoS configuration parameter from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database responsive to at least one of the unique identifying information and the status signal;

transmitting at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device based upon the unique identifying information;

transmitting a second parameter for configuring the ability of the network device to communicate with another device in the network; and

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the network device is a cable modem.

7. The method of claim 5, including transmitting a status signal including information that is indicative of an alteration of a security parameter of the network device.

8. The method of claim 7, including transmitting a status signal having information regarding a quantity of data transmitted through a particular port of the network device.

9. The method of claim 5, including transmitting a parameter configured to restrict the transmission of e-mail through the network device.

10. The method of claim 5, including requesting a temporary alteration of a communication parameter of the network device responsive to a user request.

11. The method of claim 8. including sending the status signal responsive to a financial balance associated with the user account.

12. The method of claim 11, including receiving unique identifying information from a cable modem termination server.

13. The method of claim 12, including receiving unique identifying information containing at least one of a MAC address, a model number, or a serial number.

14. The method of claim 5, including sending a status signal indicating that the network device does not have a valid QoS configuration file or parameter.

15. The method of claim 5, including automatically transmitting to the network device a QoS parameter based upon reception of the unique identifying information.

16. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a request for temporary alteration of a communication parameter of the network device.

17. The method of claim 16, including selecting the communication parameter from at least one of a speed, a latency period, an alteration of ports available for communication, or alteration of available services.

18. A method for providing a QoS configuration parameter in a network device comprising:

transmitting at a modem termination system an electronic signal requesting a QoS configuration parameter for a network device and providing unique identifying information of the network device;

using a policy server to retrieve a QoS configuration parameter from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database responsive to the unique identifying information;

transmitting at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device based upon the unique identifying information; and

configuring a speed of a modem responsive to the first parameter.

19. A method comprising:

retrieving a QoS configuration parameter from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database responsive to receiving information identifying a network device; and

transmitting at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device based upon the information identifying the network device.

20. A cable modem termination system comprising a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that when executed perform the method comprising:

requesting a first configuration file from a TFTP server including information identifying a cable modem serviced by the cable modem termination system;

receiving the first configuration file from the TFTP server;

requesting a QoS configuration parameter from a policy server; and

receiving the QoS configuration parameter from the policy server that was retrieved plurality of configuration parameters on a central database.

21. A central database server comprising a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that when executed perform the method comprising:

receiving a request for a QoS configuration parameter from a policy server, the request including information identifying a network device serviced by a cable modem termination system in communication with the policy server;

selecting an appropriate QoS configuration parameter from the central database; and

transmitting the selected QoS configuration parameter to the policy server.