Multiple Upstream Channel Descriptor Messages Pointing to Single Upstream Channel ID for More Efficient Operation of a DOCSIS System

• US 20110096792A1
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hou, Victor T., Pantelias, Niki Roberta
• Granted Patent: US 8,705,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks

Abstract

In a DOCSIS-based communications system, different upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) all identify a single logical upsteam channel identifier (UCID) regardless of the type of cable modem (CM) to which the UCDs are sent. Different CMs having different capabilities (e.g., CMs configured according to the different DOCSIS standards 1.x, 2.0, and 3.0) receive their respective UCDs from an upstream headend. All the UCDs, however, refer to the same logical upstream channel. The different CMs therefore share this single logical upstream channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for allocating a single logical upstream channel to a plurality of end user devices, comprising:

a central controller configured to send a plurality of upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) identifying the single logical upstream channel to the plurality of end user devices,

wherein each of the plurality of UCDs is characterized as having a different numerical type value from among a plurality of numerical type values.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of end user devices is configured to operate in accordance with a corresponding communication standard from among a plurality of communications standards.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of UCDs includes an upstream channel identifier (UCID) that identifies the single logical upstream channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical type values are Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) message type values.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical type values comprise:

a first numerical type value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1;

a second numerical type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2; and

a third numerical type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first numerical type value, the second numerical type value, and the third numerical type value are different from each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first numerical type value is 2, wherein the second numerical type value is 29, and wherein the third numerical type value is 35.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical type values comprise:

a first numerical type value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1; and

a second numerical type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2,

wherein the first numerical type value and the second numerical type value are different from each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first numerical type value is 2, and wherein the second numerical type value is 29.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical type values comprise:

a first numerical type value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1; and

a second numerical type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first numerical type value and the second numerical type value are different from each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first numerical type value is 2, and wherein the third numerical type value is 35.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical type values comprise:

a first numerical type value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 2; and

a second numerical type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first numerical type value and the second numerical type value are different from each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first numerical type value is 29, and wherein the second numerical type value is 35.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical type values comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of:

a Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) UCD numerical type value 2;

a DOCSIS UCD numerical type value 29; and

a DOCSIS UCD numerical type value 35.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end user devices are cable modems.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central controller is a cable modem termination system.

20. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first message type value is 2, wherein the second message type value is 29, and wherein the third message type value is 35.

16. An apparatus for allocating a single logical upstream channel to a plurality of end user devices, comprising:

a central controller configured to send a plurality of upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) identifying the single logical upstream channel to the plurality of end user devices,

wherein each of the plurality of UCDs is characterized as having a different Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) message type value from among a plurality of DOCSIS message type values.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of end user devices is configured to operate in accordance with a corresponding DOCSIS communication standard from among a plurality of DOCSIS communications standards.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of UCDs includes an upstream channel identifier (UCID) that identifies the single logical upstream channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS message type values comprise:

a first message type value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1;

a second message type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2; and

a third message type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first message type value, the second message type value, and the third message type value are different from each other.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS message type values comprise:

a first DOCSIS message type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 1; and

a second DOCSIS message type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2,

wherein the first DOCSIS message type value and the second DOCSIS message type value are different from each other.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first DOCSIS message type value is 2, and wherein the second DOCSIS message type value is 29.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS message type values comprise:

a first DOCSIS message type value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1; and

a second DOCSIS message type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first DOCSIS message type value and the second DOCSIS message type value are different from each other.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first DOCSIS message type value is 2, and wherein the third DOCSIS message type value is 35.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS message type values comprise:

a first DOCSIS message type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2; and

a second DOCSIS message type value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first DOCSIS message type value and the second DOCSIS message type value are different from each other.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first DOCSIS message type value is 29, and wherein the second DOCSIS message type value is 35.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS message type values comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of:

a DOCSIS UCD message type value 2;

a DOCSIS UCD DOCSIS message type value 29; and

a DOCSIS UCD DOCSIS message type value 35.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the end user devices are cable modems.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the central controller is a cable modem termination system.