Method for reducing interference from initializing network devices in a data-over-cable system
First Claim
1. A method for reducing interference from initializing network devices in a data-over-cable system having a plurality of upstream channels, the method comprising:
- aligning a plurality of maintenance intervals, wherein each maintenance interval of the plurality of maintenance intervals is associated with a corresponding upstream channel of the plurality of upstream channels;
instructing the initializing network devices to range during the corresponding maintenance intervals of the plurality of maintenance intervals; and
wherein the aligning step comprises the steps of;
determining a measure of common maintenance start time for the plurality of maintenance intervals;
deciding whether the measure of common maintenance start time falls within a plurality of usage intervals, wherein each usage interval of the plurality of usage intervals is associated with an upstream channel of the plurality of upstream channels; and
when the measure of common maintenance start time falls within the plurality of usage intervals, scheduling the plurality of maintenance intervals to start at the measure of common maintenance start time; and
wherein the determining step comprises the steps of;
receiving a measure of present time, TP;
calculating the measure of common maintenance start time equal to expression TP+TB−
TP mod(TB), wherein TB is a measure of a base insertion time for the plurality of maintenance intervals in the data-over-cable system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for reducing interference from initializing network devices in a data-over-cable system. The method includes aligning Initial Maintenance intervals for multiple upstream channels of the data-over-cable system. A cable modem termination system determines if usage intervals for the upstream channels may accommodate Initial Maintenance intervals that start at a common time. If so, the cable modem termination system constructs Bandwidth Allocation MAP messages for the usage intervals that contain Initial Maintenance intervals timed to start at the common time. In response to the MAP messages, initializing network devices range when there are no scheduled data transmissions on any upstream channel. The method may shorten a cable modem'"'"'s time for ranging and may decrease collisions with data transmissions on the upstream paths when cable modems try to initialize.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for reducing interference from initializing network devices in a data-over-cable system having a plurality of upstream channels, the method comprising:
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aligning a plurality of maintenance intervals, wherein each maintenance interval of the plurality of maintenance intervals is associated with a corresponding upstream channel of the plurality of upstream channels;
instructing the initializing network devices to range during the corresponding maintenance intervals of the plurality of maintenance intervals; and
wherein the aligning step comprises the steps of;
determining a measure of common maintenance start time for the plurality of maintenance intervals;
deciding whether the measure of common maintenance start time falls within a plurality of usage intervals, wherein each usage interval of the plurality of usage intervals is associated with an upstream channel of the plurality of upstream channels; and
when the measure of common maintenance start time falls within the plurality of usage intervals, scheduling the plurality of maintenance intervals to start at the measure of common maintenance start time; and
wherein the determining step comprises the steps of;
receiving a measure of present time, TP;
calculating the measure of common maintenance start time equal to expression TP+TB−
TP mod(TB), wherein TB is a measure of a base insertion time for the plurality of maintenance intervals in the data-over-cable system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for reducing interference from initializing network devices in a data-over-cable system having a plurality of upstream channels, the method comprising:
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receiving a measure of present time, TP;
calculating a measure of common maintenance start time, TM, equal to expression TP+TB−
TP mod(TB), wherein TB is a measure of a base insertion time for a plurality of maintenance intervals in the data-over-cable system;
receiving a measure of usage interval start time, TS, for each usage interval of a plurality of usage intervals;
deciding whether the measure of common maintenance start time, TM, satisfies expression TS≦
TM<
TS=L, for each usage interval of the plurality of usage intervals, wherein L is a measure of usage interval length for the usage interval;
when the measure of common maintenance start time, TM, satisfies expression TS≦
TM<
TP+L, for each usage interval of the plurality of usage intervals, scheduling the plurality of maintenance intervals to start at the measure of common maintenance start time; and
instructing the initializing network devices to range during the plurality of maintenance intervals. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for reducing interference from initializing network devices in a data-over-cable system having a plurality of upstream channels, the method comprising:
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receiving a measure of present time, TP;
calculating a measure of common maintenance start time, TM, equal to expression TP+TB−
TP mod(TB), wherein TB is a measure of a base insertion time for a plurality of maintenance intervals in the data-over-cable system;
identifying a longest maintenance interval from the plurality of maintenance intervals;
calculating a number of maintenance intervals, N, that can occur during the longest maintenance interval for each upstream channel of the plurality of upstream channels;
receiving a measure of usage interval start time, TS, for each usage interval of a plurality of usage intervals;
deciding whether the measure of common maintenance start time, TM, satisfies expression TS≦
TM<
TS+L, for each usage interval of the plurality of usage intervals, wherein is L is a measure of usage interval length for the usage interval;
when the measure of common maintenance start time, TM, satisfies expression TS≦
TM<
TS+L, for each usage interval of the plurality of usage intervals, scheduling N maintenance intervals to start at the measure of common maintenance start time; and
instructing the initializing network devices to range during the plurality of maintenance intervals. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification