Routing protocol based redundancy design for shared-access networks
First Claim
1. A method implemented on a working CMTS for providing redundancy to a cable network in which the working CMTS has a subnet of IP addresses for assigning to its cable modems and the working CMTS provides normal service to a cable modem and a protection CMTS, which has its own subnet of IP addresses, takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the method comprising:
- (a) participating in registration of the cable modem to allow servicing of the cable modem by the working CMTS; and
(b) obtaining an IP address for the cable modem, which IP address is obtained from an address space outside the subnet of the working CMTS, wherein the IP address is used in communications with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, whereby taking over service to the cable modem is performed without re-registering the cable modem or obtaining a new IP address for the cable modem and comprises requesting that the cable modem adjust at least one of the following parameters;
transmission power, transmission frequency, and transmission time slots.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A protection CMTS is available to immediately service a cable modem should that modem'"'"'s service from a working CMTS fail for any reason. To speed the service transfer (cutover) from the working CMTS to the protection CMTS, the cable modem may preregister with the protection CMTS well before the cutover becomes necessary. The cable modem'"'"'s registration with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS preferably employs a single IP address, so that the cable modem need not obtain a new IP address during cutover. While the cable modem may register with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, the devices are designed or configured so that only the working CMTS injects a host route for the cable modem into the appropriate routing protocol. Only after cutover to the protection CMTS does the protection CMTS inject its host route.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method implemented on a working CMTS for providing redundancy to a cable network in which the working CMTS has a subnet of IP addresses for assigning to its cable modems and the working CMTS provides normal service to a cable modem and a protection CMTS, which has its own subnet of IP addresses, takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the method comprising:
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(a) participating in registration of the cable modem to allow servicing of the cable modem by the working CMTS; and
(b) obtaining an IP address for the cable modem, which IP address is obtained from an address space outside the subnet of the working CMTS, wherein the IP address is used in communications with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, whereby taking over service to the cable modem is performed without re-registering the cable modem or obtaining a new IP address for the cable modem and comprises requesting that the cable modem adjust at least one of the following parameters;
transmission power, transmission frequency, and transmission time slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 37)
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12. A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium on which is provided program instructions for performing a method implemented on a working CMTS, which method provides redundancy for a cable network in which the working CMTS has a subnet of IP addresses for assigning to its cable modems and the working CMTS provides normal service to a cable modem and a protection CMTS, which has its own subnet of IP addresses, takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the program instructions comprising instructions for:
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(a) participating in registration of the cable modem to allow servicing of the cable modem by the working CMTS; and
(b) obtaining an IP address for the cable modem, which IP address is obtained from an address space outside of the subnet of the working CMTS, wherein the IP address is used for communications with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, whereby taking over service to the cable modem is performed without re-registering the cable modem or obtaining a new IP address for the cable modem, and comprises requesting that the cable modem adjust at least one of the following parameters;
transmission power, transmission frequency, and transmission time slots. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A CMTS designed or configured to act as a working CMTS for a cable network including the working CMTS which has a subnet of IP addresses for assigning to its cable modems and provides normal service to a cable modem and a protection CMTS which has its own subnet of IP addresses and takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the CMTS comprising:
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(a) one or more processors;
(b) memory in communication with at least one of the one or more processors; and
(c) wherein at least one of the one or more processors is configured to store registration data for the cable modem in the memory, and wherein the registration data specifies an IP address for the cable modem, which IP address resides in an address space outside the subnet of the working CMTS, and wherein the IP address is used for communication with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, whereby at least one of the one or more processors is configured to allow taking over service from another CMTS without re-registering the cable modem or obtaining a new IP address for the cable modem, and in doing so to request that the cable modem adjust at least one of the following parameters;
transmission power, transmission frequency, and transmission time slots. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method implemented on a protection CMTS for providing redundancy for a cable network having a working CMTS that has a subnet of IP addresses for assigning to its cable modems and provides normal service to a cable modem and the protection CMTS which has its own subnet of IP addresses and takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the method comprising:
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(a) determining that the working CMTS'"'"'s service to the cable modem has or will become unavailable; and
(b) taking over service to the cable modem while using an IP address for the cable modem that was also used while the working CMTS was servicing the cable modem, whereby taking over service to the cable modem is performed without re-registering the cable modem or obtaining a new IP address for the cable modem and comprises requesting that the cable modem adjust at least one of the following parameters;
transmission power, transmission frequency, and transmission time slots,wherein the IP address for the cable modem resides in an address space located outside the subnet for the working CMTS and also outside the subnet for the protection CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method comprising:
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using a first address to enable a first device to communicate with a first CMTS which has a subnet of IP addresses for assigning to its cable modems wherein the first address is assigned by the first CMTS and the first address is outside the first CMTS'"'"'s subnet;
attaching to a second CMTS which has its own subnet of IP addresses; and
using said first address to enable said first device to communicate with said second CMTS and thereby allowing the second device to take over service from said first device, whereby taking over service to the cable modem is performed without re-registering the cable modem or obtaining a new IP address for the cable modem and comprises requesting that the cable modem adjust at least one of the following parameters;
transmission power, transmission frequency, and transmission time slots. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification