VIRTUAL CONVERGED CABLE ACCESS PLATFORMS FOR HFC CABLE NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A method of operating an HFC cable network using a virtual converged cable access platform configured to relay data between at least one cable modem and operator server;
- said virtual converged cable access platform comprising at least one virtual CCAP controller, at least one edge router, and plurality of digital optical fiber nodes (DOFN), connected to at least one set of neighborhood CATV cables with at least one CATV connected cable modem, said method comprising;
using said DOFN to detect said cable modem, and transmit notification of said cable modem detection via said edge router to said virtual CCAP controller, and using said virtual CCAP controller and said edge router to create and acknowledge said cable modem;
using said virtual CCAP controller and edge router to discover at least one operator server, and further using said DOFN to relay data between said cable modem and said operator servers by way of said edge router and said virtual CCAP controller;
further using said virtual CCAP controller to transmit cable service rules to said edge router, and receive acknowledgement of said service rules from said edge router;
wherein the amount and type of data relayed between said cable modem and said operator servers is controlled by said service rules.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual converged cable access platform (CCAP) system and method for hybrid fiber CATV (HFC) cable networks. The system uses a new type of digital optical fiber node configured to receive optical fiber data packets, and reconstitute the optical data packets into RF waveforms suitable for injection into the system'"'"'s CATV cable. The system replaces the legacy HFC head end with a simplified “virtual head end”. The system'"'"'s virtual head end operates using a new type of virtual CCAP controller and virtual CCAP software that in turn controls high performance edge routers. Much of the intelligence of running the HFC cable system is managed by the controller software, while the edge router manages the interface between the CATV portion of the system and outside networks. The system can handle even legacy CATV RF signals by appropriate conversion operations, while reducing power and space needs, and improving operational flexibility.
42 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of operating an HFC cable network using a virtual converged cable access platform configured to relay data between at least one cable modem and operator server;
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said virtual converged cable access platform comprising at least one virtual CCAP controller, at least one edge router, and plurality of digital optical fiber nodes (DOFN), connected to at least one set of neighborhood CATV cables with at least one CATV connected cable modem, said method comprising; using said DOFN to detect said cable modem, and transmit notification of said cable modem detection via said edge router to said virtual CCAP controller, and using said virtual CCAP controller and said edge router to create and acknowledge said cable modem; using said virtual CCAP controller and edge router to discover at least one operator server, and further using said DOFN to relay data between said cable modem and said operator servers by way of said edge router and said virtual CCAP controller; further using said virtual CCAP controller to transmit cable service rules to said edge router, and receive acknowledgement of said service rules from said edge router; wherein the amount and type of data relayed between said cable modem and said operator servers is controlled by said service rules. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. (canceled)
Specification