Traffic monitoring system and service differentiation in a dynamic channel assignment system for TCP/IP data transmitted via cable television channels
First Claim
1. In a data communication system with cable television channels, a method for determining the data transmission rate in a channel comprising:
- providing a bandwidth manager for the data communication system;
connecting a personal computer to the system, said computer being capable of communicating with a number of channels in the system;
sending a test message of fixed length from the bandwidth manager to the personal computer via a chosen channel with a timestamp; and
computing the data transmission rate in the chosen channel by dividing the number of bits in the test message by the difference in time between when the test message is received by the personal computer and the timestamp placed on the test message by the bandwidth manager.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method for computing the average data transmission rate available in each channel in a data communication, TCP/IP system that utilizes in part cable television channels as the transmission media. The method employs a bandwidth manager and a test personal computer, both of which are connected to the cable channel system to determine the average bit rate through any channel in the system. By utilizing computers connected to the cable system to make bit rate measurements, the problems associated with having a low speed telephone link that dominates the measurement is avoided. The method to measure the bit rate in a channel includes sending a test message of fixed length from the bandwidth manager to the personal computer via a chosen channel with a timestamp and computing the data transmission rate in the chosen channel by dividing the number of bits in the test message by the difference in time between when the test message is received by the personal computer and the timestamp placed on the test message by the bandwidth manager. Average data transmission rates via the chosen channel are computed by averaging multiple measurements of the data transmission rate through the chosen channel. Once the data transmission rates are determined for all channels in the system, different classes of service through different channels can be provided.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a data communication system with cable television channels, a method for determining the data transmission rate in a channel comprising:
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providing a bandwidth manager for the data communication system;
connecting a personal computer to the system, said computer being capable of communicating with a number of channels in the system;
sending a test message of fixed length from the bandwidth manager to the personal computer via a chosen channel with a timestamp; and
computing the data transmission rate in the chosen channel by dividing the number of bits in the test message by the difference in time between when the test message is received by the personal computer and the timestamp placed on the test message by the bandwidth manager. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a data communication system with cable television channels, a method for determining the data transmission rate through multiple channels comprising:
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(a) providing a bandwidth manager for the data communication system;
(b) connecting a personal computer to the system, said computer being capable of communicating with a number of channels in the system;
(c) synchronizing time clocks on both the bandwidth manager and the personal computer;
(d) sending a test message of fixed length from the bandwidth manager to the personal computer via a chosen channel with a timestamp;
(e) computing the data transmission rate in the chosen channel by dividing the number of bits in the test message by the difference in time between when the test message is received by the personal computer and the timestamp placed on the test message by the bandwidth manager;
(f) assigning a new channel through the bandwidth manager to the personal computer in order to measure the data transmission rate through the new channel; and
(g) repeating steps (d) through (f) until data transmission rate measurements are completed for all channels. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a data communication system with cable television channels, a method for determining the data transmission rate through multiple channels and providing different classes of service through the multiple channels comprising:
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(a) providing a bandwidth manager for the data communication system;
(b) connecting a personal computer to the system, said computer being capable of communicating with a number of channels in the system;
(c) synchronizing time clocks on both the bandwidth manager and the personal computer;
(d) sending a test message of fixed length from the bandwidth manager to the personal computer via a chosen channel with a timestamp;
(e) computing the data transmission rate in the chosen channel by dividing the number of bits in the test message by the difference in time between when the test message is received by the personal computer and the timestamp in the test message;
(f) assigning a new channel through the bandwidth manager to the personal computer in order to measure the data transmission rate through the new channel;
(g) repeating steps (d) through (f) until data transmission rate measurements are completed for all channels; and
(h) providing different classes of service through different channels based on their respective data transmission rates. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification