Systems and Methods for Routing Broadband Communications

• US 20120250504A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Finkelstein, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 9,294,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS

Abstract

Systems and methods for routing broadband communications are provided. Downstream data to be communicated from a cable service provider head end system to a customer device may be received by a provider edge routing device. The downstream data may be mapped by the provider edge routing device to a physical address associated with the customer device, and the downstream data may be output by the provider edge routing device for communication to the customer device. A provider edge device separate from the provider edge routing device may receive the output downstream data. Based at least in part upon the physical address, the provider edge device may determine a port for outputting the downstream data, and the provider edge device may output the downstream data on the determined port.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a provider edge routing device, downstream data to be communicated from a cable service provider head end system to a customer device;

mapping, by the provider edge routing device, the downstream data to a physical address associated with the customer device;

outputting, by the provider edge routing device, the downstream data for communication to the customer device;

receiving, by a provider edge device separate from the provider edge routing device, the output downstream data;

determining, by the provider edge device based at least in part upon the physical address, a port for outputting the downstream data; and

outputting, by the provider edge device, the downstream data on the determined port.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, by the provider edge device, a media conversion of the downstream data based at least in part upon the determined port.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the provider edge device is incorporated into one of (i) a hybrid fiber coaxial network configured to facilitate communications between the cable provider head end system and the customer device or (ii) a fiber optic node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the provider edge device comprises one of (i) a cable modem terminal system or (ii) a converged multi-service access platform.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein mapping the downstream data to a physical address comprises mapping the downstream data from a virtual address to the physical address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein mapping the downstream data to a physical address comprises mapping the downstream data to a media access control (MAC) address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the provider edge routing device, a quality of service indication associated with the downstream data; and

scheduling, by the provider edge routing device, the downstream data for output based at least in part upon the quality of service indication.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the provider edge device, upstream data output by the customer device;

identifying, by the provider edge device, the provider edge routing device as a destination for outputting the upstream data; and

outputting, by the provider edge device, the upstream data for communication to the provider edge routing device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, by the provider edge routing device, the upstream data output by the provider edge device;

mapping, by the provider edge routing device, the upstream data to a virtual address associated with a recipient identified by a physical address included in the upstream data; and

outputting, by the provider edge routing device, the upstream data for communication to the recipient.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying, by the provider edge device, a quality of service indication for the upstream data; and

scheduling, by the provider edge device based at least in part upon the identified quality of service, the upstream data for communication to the provider edge routing device.

11. A broadband communication system comprising:

a provider edge device configured to utilize a physical address to perform media conversion on data communicated between a customer device and a cable service provider head end system; and

a provider edge routing device separate from the provider edge device and configured to (i) receive downstream data to be communicated to the customer device, (ii) map the received downstream data to the physical address associated with the customer device, and (iii) output the downstream data for communication to the customer device, wherein the downstream data is subsequently processed by the provider edge device.

12. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein the provider edge device is incorporated into a fiber optic node.

13. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein the provider edge device is incorporated into a hybrid fiber coaxial network configured to facilitate communications between the cable provider head end system and the customer device.

14. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein the provider edge device is further configured to utilize the physical address to identify an output port for the data.

15. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein the provider edge device comprises one of (i) a cable modem terminal system or (ii) a converged multi-service access platform.

16. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein the physical address comprises a media access control (MAC) address.

17. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein the provider edge routing device is configured to map the received downstream data from a virtual address to the physical address.

18. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein the provider edge routing device is further configured to utilize a quality of service indication associated with the downstream data to schedule the output of the downstream data for communication to the customer device.

19. The broadband communication system of claim 11, wherein:

the provider edge device is further configured to (i) receive upstream data output by the customer device and (ii) provide the upstream data to the provider edge routing device; and

the provider edge routing device is further configured to (i) receive the upstream data, (ii) map the received upstream data to a virtual address associated with a designated recipient, and (iii) output the received data for communication to the designated recipient.

20. The broadband communication system of claim 19, wherein the provider edge device is further configured to mark the upstream data with a quality of service indication.