Dynamic bandwidth allocation through multi-channel time slot assignment and migration for broadband access

• US 6,826,160 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Peter S., Yu, Ben Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LY, ANH VU H
• Application Number:
  US09/348,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 370/278, 370/280, 370/314, 370/322, 370/326, 370/328, 370/330, 370/336, 370/341, 370/343, 370/345, 370/436, 370/437, 370/442, 370/468, 370/477, 370/478, 370/480, 370/329
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/76 using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation requested by the user or requested by the network in response to changing network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth

Abstract

A method to dynamically allocate time slots in multiple channels of a bandwidth over which a device can communicate on the network. In one embodiment, the present invention recites a method comprising several steps. First, a request to log onto a network is received from a device. Then, a loading condition of the network is determined. Finally, specific transmitting channels on which the new device is allocated to transmit information is assigned.

Claims

1. In a shared media network, a method of dynamically allocating bandwidth resources to a device coupled to said network, said method comprising the steps of:

continuously determining a loading condition on each of a total quantity of available channels for communication on said network;

dynamically specifying a quantity of transmitting channels for said device to transmit on said network;

assigning specific transmitting channels chosen from said total quantity of available channels upon which said device can transmit until said quantity of

transmitting channels have all been assigned, said assigning of specific transmitting channels based upon said loading condition on each of said total quantity of available channels;

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific

transmitting channels based upon said continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting by said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by an alternative specific transmitting channels.

2. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining an updated loading condition of said network;

assigning updated specific transmitting channels from said total quantity of available channels upon which each existing device coupled to said network can transmit, said assigning of specific transmitting channels based upon said loading condition on each of said total quantity of available channels; and

respectively communicating said updated specific transmitting channels to said each existing device coupled to said network.

3. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said quantity of transmitting channels allocated is based upon a transmission capability of said device and a service class subscribed by said device.

4. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining a loading condition comprises the step of:

determining specific transmitting channels already assigned to existing devices coupled to said network.

5. The method recited in claim 4 wherein said step of assigning specific transmitting channels provides an approximately uniform quantity of a plurality of service classes across said multiple channels of said network.

6. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said step of assigning specific transmitting channels is performed such that said loading condition will be approximately uniform for each of said available channels for communication on said network.

7. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining a time slot allocation for said device for said specific transmitting channels;

communicating to said device said time slot allocation in said specific

transmitting channels on which said device can transmit information; and

receiving communications from said device according to said time slot allocation in said specific transmitting channels.

8. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said network is a multichannel broadband access modem network.

9. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said quantity of transmitting channels specified for said device can be different from a quantity of channels specified for one of said existing devices coupled to said network, thereby providing a plurality of service classes on said network.

10. The method recited in claim 9 wherein said plurality of service classes includes at least a low-end service class having at least one channel for communication and includes a high-end service class having a plurality of channels for communication, said plurality of channels exceeding in quantity said at least one channel.

11. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

receiving a request from said device to log into said network, said step of determining a loading condition initiated each time said request to log into said network is received.

12. In a network, a method of dynamically allocating sequential alternative transmitting channels to a device coupled to said network said method comprising the steps of:

dynamically specifying a quantity of transmitting channels for said device to transmit on said network;

assigning specific transmitting channels chosen from said total quantity of available channels upon which said device can transmit until said quantity of transmitting channels specified have all been assigned;

assigning alternative specific transmitting channels chosen from said total quantity of available channels upon which said device can transmit until a quantity of transmitting channels specified have all been assigned;

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon a continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting, by said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by said alternative specific transmitting channels.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of assigning alternative specific transmitting channels can be repeated by as many non-repeating alternative specific transmitting channels as exist within said total quantity of available channels for communication in said network.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said alternative specific transmitting channels and alternating transmission times are chosen such that said loading condition will be approximately uniform for each of said available channels for communication on said network.

15. In a network, a method of providing a plurality of service classes on said network, said method comprising the steps of:

providing multiple channels for communicating on said network;

receiving a request from devices having a plurality of different service classes;

allocating a quantity of channels for each of said devices, said quantity of channels being proportional to each of said plurality of different service classes, said quantity of channels chosen from a frequency spectrum of said network;

communicating, to each of said devices, said quantity of channels allocated to it;

and receiving communication on said network by each of said devices on their respectively allocated said quantity of channels;

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon a continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting, by said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by alternative specific transmitting channels.

16. The method recited in claim 15 wherein said quantity of channels is capable of having an identical channel for more than one of said plurality of different service classes.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said plurality of service classes has at least a high-end service class and a low-end service class, said high-end service class treated as a multiple of said low end service class.

18. The method recited in claim 17 wherein a quantity of channels allocated to a highest-end service class is less than a total quantity of channels available in said network.

19. In a network, a method of dynamically changing a service class for a device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a hub, a request to change a device from a first service class to a second service class;

determining a quantity of channels on which said device can transmit appropriate for said second service class;

communicating information on said quantity of channels to said device

assigning specific transmitting channels chosen from said total quantity of available channels upon which said device can transmit until said quantity of

transmitting channels have all been assigned, said assigning of specific transmitting channels based upon a loading condition on each of said total quantity of available channels; and

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon a continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting, by said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by alternative specific transmitting channels.

20. The method recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of:

verifying said request against a transmission capability of said device and against a subscription service of said device.

21. The method recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of:

determining a loading condition of said network.

22. A hub for communicating in a network, said hub comprising:

a processor;

an interface controller; and

a computer readable memory unit or a state-machine, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine coupled to said interface controller and coupled to said processor, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine containing program instructions stored therein that when executed over said processor implement a method for dynamically allocating bandwidth resources of a network, said method comprising the steps of;

receiving a request from a device to log into said network, said network having a plurality of channels for communicating;

continuously determining a loading condition of said network;

determining a quantity of channels in said network on which said device is allocated to transmit information, said quantity of channels chosen according to said loading condition of said network, said identity of a first quantity of channels capable of being independent of an identity of a second quantity of channels on which existing devices are allocated to transmit information;

receiving communications from a new device on said first quantity of channels; and

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon said continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting by said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by alternative specific transmitting channels.

23. A hub for communicating in a network, said hub comprising:

a processor;

an interface controller; and

a computer readable memory unit or a state-machine, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine coupled to said interface controller and coupled to said processor, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine containing program instructions stored therein that when executed over said processor implement a method for providing a plurality of service classes on said network, said method comprising the steps of;

providing multiple channels for communicating on said network;

receiving a request from devices having a plurality of different service classes;

allocating a quantity of channels for each of said devices, said quantity of channels being proportional to each of said plurality of different service classes, said quantity of channels chosen from a frequency spectrum of said network;

communicating, to each of said devices, said quantity of channels allocated to it;

receiving communication on said network by each of said devices; and

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon a continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting, by said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by alternative specific transmitting channels.

24. A hub for communicating in a network, said hub comprising:

a processor;

an interface controller; and

a computer readable memory unit or a state-machine, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine coupled to said interface controller and coupled to said processor, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine containing program instructions stored therein that when executed over said processor implement a method for dynamically changing a service class for a device, said method comprising the steps of;

receiving at a hub, a request to change a device from a first service class to a second service class;

determining a quantity of channels on which said device can transmit appropriate for said second service class;

communicating said identity of channels to said device; and

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon a continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting, by said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by alternative specific transmitting channels.

25. A hub for communicating in a network, said hub comprising:

a processor;

an interface controller; and

a computer readable memory unit or a state-machine, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine coupled to said interface controller and coupled to said processor, said computer readable memory unit or said state-machine containing program instructions stored therein that when executed over said processor implement a method of dynamically allocating sequential alternative transmitting channels to a device on said network, said method comprising the steps of;

specifying a quantity of transmitting channels for said device to transmit on said network;

assigning specific transmitting channels chosen from said total quantity of available channels upon which said device can transmit until said quantity of

transmitting channels has been assigned;

assigning alternative specific transmitting channels chosen from said total quantity of available channels upon which said device can transmit until said quantity of transmitting channels has been assigned;

receiving sequential and repetitive transmissions from said device, on said specific transmitting channels followed by said alternative specific transmitting channels; and

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon a continuously determined loading condition.

26. A network having optimized bandwidth utilization, said network comprising:

a bus

a hub;

a link, said bus having multiple channels;

a first device, said first device coupled to said hub by said link, said first device having a single transmitter capable of spanning the entire frequency range of said network for providing a first service class;

a second device, said second device coupled to said hub, said second device having a plurality of transmitters for simultaneous transmission over a plurality of channels, said plurality of transmitters capable of spanning the entire frequency range of said network for providing a second service class; and

automatically migrating an existing device on said network to newly assigned specific transmitting channels based upon a continuously determined loading condition; and

sequentially and repetitively transmitting, by said device on said specific transmitting channels followed by alternative specific transmitting channels.

27. The network recited in claim 26 wherein said first device and said second device have a dumb configuration.