System and method for a multi-frequency upstream channel in a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for providing a multi-frequency upstream transmission path for a first network devices in a computer network, the method comprising:
- generating a first message on a second network device, the first message defining a plurality of upstream frequencies available for upstream transmission from the first network device, and further comprising, a frequency hopping descriptor for the plurality of upstream frequencies;
sending the first message to the first network device via a downstream transmission link;
generating a single timing reference for upstream transmission on the plurality of upstream frequencies from the first network device;
sending the single timing reference to the first network device;
receiving upstream transmission from the first network device according to a frequency hopping pattern determined on the first network device based on the frequency hopping descriptor, wherein the upstream transmission is received on a plurality of upstream receiver cards, each upstream receiver card associated with at least two receive antennas and configured to receive upstream transmission on one of the plurality of upstream frequencies according to the single timing reference;
determining whether frequency distortions associated with each of the plurality of upstream frequencies exceed a predetermined distortion level; and
, if so,sending a second message to the first network device, the second message comprising a new frequency hopping descriptor; and
receiving upstream transmission from the first network device determined on the first network device based on the new frequency hopping descriptor received from the second network device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for providing a multi-frequency upstream transmission channel to a network device. When a headend network entity generates an upstream channel descriptor message, the descriptor message includes at least two upstream frequencies available for upstream transmission, and a frequency hopping descriptor with a frequency-hopping pattern associated with the available frequencies for determining an upstream frequency for upstream transmission. The headend provides a timing reference for determining upstream transmission periods on the frequencies available on the network device. When the headend receives upstream transmission on one of the available upstream frequencies, the headend network entity determines frequency distortions. If the distortions exceed a threshold level, the headend may send a new upstream channel descriptor message that excludes the upstream frequency associated with the high frequency distortions, add a new upstream frequency, or defines a new frequency-hopping pattern.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing a multi-frequency upstream transmission path for a first network devices in a computer network, the method comprising:
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generating a first message on a second network device, the first message defining a plurality of upstream frequencies available for upstream transmission from the first network device, and further comprising, a frequency hopping descriptor for the plurality of upstream frequencies; sending the first message to the first network device via a downstream transmission link; generating a single timing reference for upstream transmission on the plurality of upstream frequencies from the first network device; sending the single timing reference to the first network device; receiving upstream transmission from the first network device according to a frequency hopping pattern determined on the first network device based on the frequency hopping descriptor, wherein the upstream transmission is received on a plurality of upstream receiver cards, each upstream receiver card associated with at least two receive antennas and configured to receive upstream transmission on one of the plurality of upstream frequencies according to the single timing reference; determining whether frequency distortions associated with each of the plurality of upstream frequencies exceed a predetermined distortion level; and
, if so,sending a second message to the first network device, the second message comprising a new frequency hopping descriptor; and receiving upstream transmission from the first network device determined on the first network device based on the new frequency hopping descriptor received from the second network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for managing upstream multi-frequency transmission in a computer network, the system comprising:
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a headend network entity for providing a plurality of upstream frequencies for upstream data transmission from a network entity, and further for providing an upstream frequency hopping descriptor for determining an upstream frequency changing patter for upstream transmission from the network entity; a plurality of upstream receiver cards associated with the headend network entity, wherein each upstream receiver card being configured to receive one of the plurality of upstream frequencies available for the upstream data transmission from the first network entity, wherein at least one of the plurality of upstream receiver cards is configured as a master upstream receiver card and is further configured to generate a master timing reference for the plurality of upstream receiver cards and the network entity; at least two receive antennas associated with each upstream receiver card for receiving upstream data transmission from the first network device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing a multi-frequency upstream transmission path to a cable modem in a computer network, the method comprising:
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providing an upstream channel descriptor message from a cable modem termination system to the cable modem, the upstream channel descriptor message comprising a plurality of upstream transmission frequencies assigned for upstream transmission from the cable modem, and further comprising a frequency hopping descriptor for frequency hopping on the plurality of upstream transmission frequencies; providing a single timing reference from the cable modem termination system to the cable modem; determining a first upstream transmission frequency using the plurality of upstream transmission frequencies and a frequency hopping algorithm associated with the frequency hopping descriptor; sending upstream data from the cable modem to the cable modem termination system on the first upstream transmission frequency based on the timing reference; receiving the upstream data on a first upstream receiver card on the cable modem termination system, wherein the first upstream receiver card is associated with at least two receive antennas; determining an upstream transmission path associated with fewer multipath distortions using the upstream data from each of the at least two receive antennas; processing the upstream data from a receive antenna associated with the upstream transmission path associated with fewer multipath distortions; and receiving upstream data from the cable modem on a second upstream transmission frequency, the second upstream transmission frequency comprising one of the plurality upstream transmission frequencies assigned for upstream transmission from the cable modem, the second upstream transmission frequency determined on the cable modem using the upstream frequency change pattern. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system for managing upstream transmission in a computer network, the system comprising:
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a termination system for providing a plurality of upstream transmission frequencies for upstream transmission from a cable modem, and further providing a frequency hopping descriptor associated with a predetermined frequency hopping algorithm; a plurality of upstream receiver cards associated with the cable modem termination system for receiving upstream transmission from the cable modem, each upstream receiver card associated with at least one upstream transmission frequency available on the cable modem, wherein at least one of the plurality of upstream receiver cards is configured as a master upstream receiver card and is further configured to generate a master timing reference for the plurality of upstream receiver cards and the cable modem; and at least two receive antennas associated with each of the plurality of upstream receiver cards for receiving upstream transmission from the cable modem. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for managing upstream transmission in a wireless network, the system comprising:
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a cable modem termination system for providing to a cable modem a plurality of upstream transmission frequencies and a frequency hopping identifier associated with a predetermined frequency hopping algorithm; at least two upstream receiver arrays, each upstream receiver array having a plurality of upstream receiver cards for receiving upstream transmission from the cable modem, the plurality of upstream receiver cards arranged to receive the plurality of upstream transmission frequencies associated with the cable modem, wherein at least one upstream receiver card is configured as a master upstream receiver card and is further configured to generate a master timing reference for the plurality of upstream receiver cards and the cable modem; at least one receive antenna associated with each of the at least two upstream receiver arrays for receiving upstream transmission from the cable modem; and the cable modem using the frequency hopping algorithm to determine upstream transmission frequencies based on the plurality of upstream transmission frequencies available to the cable modem.
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Specification