Method and apparatus for creating virtual upstream channels for enhanced lookahead channel parameter testing
First Claim
1. A method of using a physical upstream receiver, the method comprising:
- in a normal mode, assigning a first set of parameters to the physical receiver for communicating with cable modems in a first frequency;
in a lookahead mode, assigning a second set of parameters to the physical upstream receiver for communicating with a device in a second frequency, the second frequency being different from the first frequency;
determining whether the second frequency should be used to communicate with the cable modems; and
performing transitions between the normal mode and the lookahead mode periodically.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are disclosed for creating a virtual lookahead upstream receiver in a single physical upstream receiver in a CMTS, thereby avoiding having to dedicate an upstream receiver strictly for lookahead capability. A lookahead receiver is used to determine whether a potential alternative frequency is better than the frequency presently being used. A physical upstream receiver is assigned to operate under a set of operational parameters associated with a logical lookahead receiver during a particular time slot. The logical receiver receives upstream data from a selected test modem using an alternative upstream frequency. It is then determined whether the alternative upstream frequency is preferable over the frequency presently being used. If so, the physical receiver is configured to operate normally under the set of operational parameters associated with the logical receiver. At this stage, all modems in a particular group, including the selected modem, hop over to the alternative frequency. The physical receiver can be divided into any number of logical receivers.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of using a physical upstream receiver, the method comprising:
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in a normal mode, assigning a first set of parameters to the physical receiver for communicating with cable modems in a first frequency; in a lookahead mode, assigning a second set of parameters to the physical upstream receiver for communicating with a device in a second frequency, the second frequency being different from the first frequency; determining whether the second frequency should be used to communicate with the cable modems; and performing transitions between the normal mode and the lookahead mode periodically. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A physical upstream receiver comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory in communication with at least one of the one or more processors, wherein at least one of the one or more processors is configured to in a normal mode, communicate with cable modems in a first frequency using a first set of parameters, in a lookahead mode, communicate with a device in a second frequency using a second set of parameters, the second frequency being different from the first frequency, determine whether the second frequency should be used to communicate with the cable modems, and perform transitions between the normal mode and the lookahead mode periodically. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A physical upstream receiver comprising:
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means for, in a normal mode, communicating with cable modems in a first frequency using a first set of parameters; means for, in a lookahead mode, communicating with a device in a second frequency using a second set of parameters, the second frequency being different from the first frequency; means for determining whether the second frequency should be used to communicate with the cable modems; and means for perform transitions between the normal mode and the lookahead mode periodically. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer readable medium on which is provided a computer code for using a physical upstream receiver, the computer code comprising instructions for:
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in a normal mode, assigning a first set of parameters to the physical upstream receiver for communicating with cable modems in a first frequency; in a lookahead mode, assigning a second set of parameters to the physical upstream receiver for communicating with a device in a second frequency, the second frequency being different from the first frequency; determining whether the second frequency should be used to communicate with the cable modems; performing between the normal mode and the lookahead mode periodically. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification