Interface for abstracting control of a cable modem

• US 6,618,387 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WebTV Networks Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Jun, Parchem, John M., Shoff, Daniel J., Natarajan, Sureshkumar, Tjong, Soemin
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US09/371,915
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/419, 370/420, 370/421, 370/428, 370/469, 370/486, 370/487, 370/490, 370/389, 725/51, 725/109, 725/111
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Provided is a system and method for integrating a cable modem with a host customer premises equipment, such as a computer or set top box. An interface is provided which receives data packets from the cable modem of any manufacturer and transmits the data packet to a media access control layer. The media access control layer determines the destination of the data packet and forwards it to that destination, which may be the cable modem or may be the host computer of the cable modem or any other customer premises equipment networked with the host computer. The interface also receives data packets from the media access control layer and transmits the data packets to the cable modem for transmission upstream. The interface abstracts the control of the cable modem to the media access control layer. The system maintains a protocol stack for the cable modem that is separate from the protocol stack associated with the operating system of the host computer. The cable modem and the host computer are separately addressable by the cable network. Furthermore, the cable modem shares the processor and resources of the host computer.

Claims

1. A computing system configured to process data packets that are transmitted over a cable network, the computing system comprising:

a cable modem for communicating data packets over the cable network,

customer premises equipment that is configured to host the cable modem; and

a cable modem protocol stack that includes;

a physical layer comprising the cable modem;

a data link layer comprising a media access controller; and

a hardware application layer comprising an application programming interface that is disposed between the physical layer and the data link layer and that is configured for transmitting data packets between the cable modem and to the media access controller, and for separating hardware of the cable modem from software of the cable modem protocol stack.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customer premises equipment comprises a computer.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customer premises equipment comprises a set top box.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, it wherein the customer premises equipment shares resources with the cable modem.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customer premises equipment is integrated with the cable modem.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the a cable modem protocol stack for the cable modem is separate from a customer premises equipment protocol stack associated with the customer premises equipment.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the application programming interface permits the media access controller to control the operation of the cable modem.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the application programming interface initializes the cable modem.

9. In a system having a cable modem that is configured to be hosted by customer premises equipment and that represents the physical layer of a cable modem protocol stack, wherein the customer premises equipment includes a media access controller that represents the data link layer of the cable modem protocol stack, a method for transmitting a data packet between the cable modem and the media access controller, the method comprising the steps of:

for an outgoing data packet;

preparing, by the media access controller, the outgoing data packet such that the outgoing data packet is compatible with hardware interface layer that is disposed between the data link layer and the physical layer of the cable modem protocol stack the hardware interface layer comprising an application programming interface configured for separating hardware of the cable modem from software of the cable modem protocol stack;

transmitting the outgoing data packet from the media access controller to an interface of the hardware interface layer; and

placing, by the interface, the outgoing data packet on the cable modem; and

for an incoming data packet;

transmitting the incoming data packet with the cable modem from the physical layer to the hardware interface layer;

receiving, at the interface in the hardware interface layer, the incoming data packet from the cable modem; and

transmitting, by the interface, the incoming data packet to the media access controller in the data link layer.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of providing control of the cable modem to the media access controller.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of scanning for a communication channel using the cable modem.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of initializing, by the media access controller, the cable modem.

13. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of providing exporting functions, by the interface, to the media access controller.

14. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of implementing, by the interface, a portion of a cable modem protocol stack.

15. A computer program product for use in a system having a cable modem that is configured to be hosted by customer premises equipment and that represents the physical layer of a cable modem protocol stack, wherein the customer premises equipment includes a media access controller that represents the data link layer of the cable modem protocol stack, the computer program product having computer-executable instructions for implements a method for transmitting a data packet between the cable modem and the media access controller, the method comprising:

for an outgoing data packet;

preparing, by the media access controller, the outgoing data packet such that the outgoing data packet is compatible with a hardware interface layer that is disposed between the data link layer and the physical layer of the cable modem protocol stack, the hardware interface layer comprising an application programming interface configured for separating hardware of the cable modem from software of the cable modem protocol sack;

transmitting the outgoing data packet from the media access controller to an interface of the hardware interface layer; and

placing, by the interface, the outgoing data packet on the cable modem; and

for an incoming data packet;

transmitting the incoming data packet with the cable modem from the physical layer to the hardware intense layer;

receiving, at the interface in the hardware interface layer, the incoming data packet from the cable modem; and

transmitting, by the interface, the incoming data packet to the media access controller in the data link layer.

16. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises an act of providing control of the cable modem to the media access controller.

17. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises an act of scanning for a communication channel using the cable modem.

18. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises an act of initializing, by the media access controller, the cable modem.

19. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises an act of providing exporting functions, by the interface, to the media access controller.

20. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises an act of implementing, by the interface, a portion of a cable modem protocol stack.