Dynamic modulation of modulation profiles for communication channels in an access network
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the method comprising:
- configuring the Head End to utilize a first modulation profile for receiving communication signals from at least one network node via a first channel;
detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving communication signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, and wherein the at least one channel condition chance includes a Forward Error Correction (FEC) factor value change.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique is disclosed for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network. The access network includes a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel. The Head End is configured to monitor channel conditions on selected channels of the access network. The Head End is also configured to modify or change the modulation profile used on a selected channel in response to detecting a change in conditions on that particular channel. If the Head End detects that the channel conditions have deteriorated, the Head End may change the modulation profile on the selected channel to one which is better suited for transmitting data on the channel given the current channel conditions. If the Head End detects that the channel conditions have improved, the Head End may change the modulation profile on the selected channel to one which provides for faster data transmission on the selected channel.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the method comprising:
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configuring the Head End to utilize a first modulation profile for receiving communication signals from at least one network node via a first channel;
detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving communication signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, and wherein the at least one channel condition chance includes a Forward Error Correction (FEC) factor value change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the method comprising:
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configuring the Head End to utilize a first modulation profile for receiving communication signals from at least one network node via a first channel;
detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving communication signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said dynamic modulation profile change occurs in response to an UN-FEC factor value increasing above a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the method comprising:
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configuring the Head End to utilize a first modulation profile for receiving communication signals from at least one network node via a first channel;
detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving communication signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said dynamic modulation profile change occurs in response to an UN-FEC factor value decreases below a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the method comprising:
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configuring the Head End to utilize a first modulation profile for receiving communication signals from at least one network node via a first channel;
detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving communication signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said dynamic modulation profile change occurs in response to;
a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio value on the first channel being above a predetermined value of n dB an FEC factor value being below a predetermined value of k percent, wherein the FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can be corrected using Forward Error Correction (FEC) to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval; and
an UN-FEC factor value being below a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval.
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35. A system for facilitating communications in an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:
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a Head End in communication with at least a portion of the network nodes;
the Head End including a first interface configured or designed to receive data from at least one network node via a first channel;
the Head End including a demodulation system configured to demodulate, using a first modulation profile, communication signals received from network nodes via the first channel;
the Head End being further configured or designed to detect a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
the Head End being further configured or designed to dynamically re-configure the demodulation system [′
] to use a second modulation profile for demodulating signals received on the first channel, wherein said re-configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, and wherein the at least one channel condition chance includes a Forward Error Correction (FEC) factor value change. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A system for facilitating communications in an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:
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a Head End in communication with at least a portion of the network nodes;
the Head End including a first interface configured or designed to receive data from at least one network node via a first channel;
the Head End including a demodulation system configured to demodulate, using a first modulation profile, communication signals received from network nodes via the first channel;
the Head End being further configured or designed to detect a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
the Head End being further configured or designed to dynamically re-configure the demodulation system to use a second modulation profile for demodulating signals received on the first channel, wherein said re-configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said demodulation system re-configuration occurs in response to an UN-FEC factor value increasing above a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A system for facilitating communications in an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:
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a Head End in communication with at least a portion of the network nodes;
the Head End including a first interface configured or designed to receive data from at least one network node via a first channel;
the Head End including a demodulation system configured to demodulate, using a first modulation profile, communication signals received from network nodes via the first channel;
the Head End being further configured or designed to detect a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
the Head End being further configured or designed to dynamically re-configure the demodulation system to use a second modulation profile for demodulating signals received on the first channel, wherein said re-configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said demodulation system re-configuration occurs in response to an UN-FEC factor value decreases below a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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67. A system for facilitating communications in an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:
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a Head End in communication with at least a portion of the network nodes;
the Head End including a first interface configured or designed to receive data from at least one network node via a first channel;
the Head End including a demodulation system configured to demodulate, using a first modulation profile, communication signals received from network nodes via the first channel;
the Head End being further configured or designed to detect a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
the Head End being further configured or designed to dynamically re-configure the demodulation system to use a second modulation profile for demodulating signals received on the first channel, wherein said reconfiguring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said demodulation system re-configuration occurs in response to;
a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio value on the first channel being above a predetermined value of n dB an FEC factor value being below a predetermined value of k percent, wherein the FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can be corrected using Forward Error Correction (FEC) to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval; and
an UN-FEC factor value being below a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval.
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68. A computer program product for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer code embodied therein, the computer readable code being executable by a computer system, the computer readable code comprising;
computer code for receiving a first communication signal from at least one network node via a first channel;
computer code for de-modulating the first communication signal using a first modulation profile;
computer code for detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
computer code for dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, and wherein the at least one channel condition change includes a Forward Error Correction (FEC) factor value change. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71)
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72. A computer program product for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer code embodied therein, the computer readable code being executable by a computer system, the computer readable code comprising;
computer code for receiving a first communication signal from at least one network node via a first channel;
computer code for de-modulating the first communication signal using a first modulation profile;
computer code for detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
computer code for dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said dynamic modulation profile change code is implemented in response to an UN-FEC factor value decreases below a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval.
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73. A computer program product for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer code embodied therein, the computer readable code being executable by a computer system, the computer readable code comprising;
computer code for receiving a first communication signal from at least one network node via a first channel;
computer code for de-modulating the first communication signal using a first modulation profile;
computer code for detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
computer code for dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring is performed in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, wherein said dynamic modulation profile change code is implemented in response to;
a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio value on the first channel being above a predetermined value of n dB an FEC factor value being below a predetermined value of k percent, wherein the FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can be corrected using Forward Error Correction (FEC) to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval; and
an UN-FEC factor value being below a predetermined value of j percent, wherein the UN-FEC factor value corresponds to a ratio of a number of corrupted packets received via the first channel which can not be corrected using Forward Error Correction to a total number of packets received via the first channel during a predetermined time interval.
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74. A system for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a first communication signal from at least one network node via a first channel;
means for de-modulating the first communication signal using a first modulation profile;
means for detecting a change in at least one channel condition on the first channel; and
means for dynamically configuring the Head End to use a second modulation profile for receiving signals on the first channel, wherein said dynamically configuring means is implemented in response to the at least one channel condition change being detected on the first channel, and wherein the at least one channel condition change includes a Forward Error Correction (FEC) factor value change.
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Specification