Router for use with a link that has a set of concurrent channels

• US 7,099,308 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hrastar, Scott E., Merrill, Todd A., Bowcutt, Roy A., Schutte, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERRIS, DERRICK W
• Application Number:
  US10/457,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20030198215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/437, 370/480, 370/485, 370/486, 370/487, 370/216, 370/217, 370/244, 370/227, 370/432, 370/436, 370/478, 370/490, 370/222, 370/352, 370/356, 375/275, 375/222, 348/12, 348/14.01, 348/552, 348/553, 709/225, 709/226, 709/203, 709/207, 709/202, 709/218, 709/219, 709/228, 709/245
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/84 which are fixed telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2863 Arrangements for combining access network resources elements, e.g. channel bonding modem pooling H04L25/14; routing of packets H04L45/00; multichannel or multilink protocols H04L69/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0677 Localisation of faults
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 : for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

An asymmetrical network is disclosed for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The CATV system supports a plurality of concurrent channels to which an RF modem is capable of tuning. The RE modem is capable of receiving information from the head end that specifies the channel to which the RF modem should tune. Once tuned to the specified channel, the RF modem is capable of utilizing the CATV system for carrying high-speed data traffic. The high-speed data traffic can support Internet access using the Internet Protocol (IP).

Claims

1. A method for receiving assignment information specifying at least one RF channel to an RF modem, the method comprising the steps performed in the RF modem of:

listening to an RF medium on a cable data network to receive identification information, wherein the RF modem is connected to the RF medium that is at least part of a cable data network between the RF modem and a head end, and wherein at least a portion of the identification information is configured to indicate a position on the RF medium that the RF modem is connected;

forming an offer data packet based at least upon the identification information;

transmitting the offer data packet from the RF modem towards the head end;

subsequent to transmitting the offer data packet, receiving the assignment information specifying the at least one RF channel;

tuning at least one tuner in the RF modem to the at least one RF channel; and

utilizing the at least one RF channel in at least one direction of communication over the RF medium between the RF modem and the head end.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one direction is one direction making the at least one RF channel be uni-directional.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one RF channel comprises a first RF channel that is used for a communication direction from the head end to the RF modem.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming step forms the offer data packet in a second medium other than the RF medium.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second medium is a PSTN medium.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one RF channel can communicate information from the head end to the RF modem.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one RF channel is at least one frequency channel of a plurality of concurrent RF frequency channels in the RF medium with each RF channel of the plurality of concurrent RF frequency channels being separated by frequency from each other RF channel in the plurality of concurrent RF frequency channels.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification information is found on at least one of the plurality of concurrent RF frequency channels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the head end transmits the identification information on at on at least one of the plurality of concurrent RF frequency channels.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises a stream ID (STRID) used in identifying the RF medium in the cable data network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information and a frequency on which the identification information was received from the RF medium comprise information that uniquely identifies the RF medium.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer data packet in the forming step carries information comprising a request of an IP address for the RF modem.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the assignment information specifying the at least one RF channel further comprises the step of receiving an IP address for the RF modem.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the assignment information specifying the at least one RF channel further comprises the step of receiving information about where the RF modem can obtain current firmware.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming step and the receiving step utilize at least one Internet Protocol (IP) datagram that carries information which is at least substantially formatted based upon the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one IP datagram communicates information using at least one vendor-specific option of DHCP.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF modem forwards packets to at least one host, the packets being received over the RF medium from the head end.

18. A method for receiving assignment information specifying at least one RF channel to an RF modem, the method comprising the steps performed in the RF modem of:

listening to an RF medium on a cable data network to receive identification information, wherein the RF modem is connected to the RF medium that is at least part of a cable data network between the RF modem and a head end;

forming an offer data packet based at least upon the identification information;

transmitting the offer data packet from the RF modem towards the head end;

subsequent to transmitting offer data packet, receiving the assignment information specifying the at least one RF channel;

tuning at least one tuner in the RF modem to the at least one RF channel; and

utilizing the at least one RF channel in at least one direction of communication over the RF medium between the RF modem and the head end,

wherein the listening step comprises the steps of;

decoding at least a portion of at least one packet to obtain the identification information, the identification information comprising a specifier used in identifying the RF medium in the cable data network; and

maintaining the specifier for the RF medium to allow the specifier to be communicated by the RF modem to the head end in the forming step.

19. A method for receiving assignment information specifying at least one RF channel to an RF modem, the method comprising the steps performed in the RF modem of:

listening to an RF medium on a cable data network to receive identification information, wherein the RF modem is connected to the RF medium that is at least part of a cable data network between the RF modem and a head end;

forming an offer data packet based at least upon the identification information;

transmitting the offer data packet from the RF modem towards the head end;

subsequent to transmitting offer data packet, receiving the assignment information specifying the at least one RF channel;

tuning at least one tuner in the RF modem to the at least one RF channel; and

utilizing the at least one RF channel in at least one direction of communication over the RF medium between the RF modem and the head end,

wherein the listening step comprises the steps of;

decoding at least a portion of at least one packet to obtain the identification information, the identification information comprising a specifier used in identifying the RF medium in the cable data network; and

maintaining the specifier for the RF medium to allow the specifier to be communicated by the RF modem to the head end in the forming step,

wherein the specifier is a stream ID (STRID).

20. A setup process for a radio-frequency (RF) modem, the process comprising the steps of:

listening to a first channel, the first channel being selected from a fixed number of channels on an RF medium;

receiving a packet over the first channel, the packet having information, at least a portion of the information being configured to indicate a position on the RF medium that the RF modem is connected;

requesting second channel information using information in the packet;

receiving second channel information in response to the requesting step; and

tuning to the second channel using the received second channel information.

21. The process of claim 20, the first channel and the second channel being different.

22. The process of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

decoding a portion of the information in the packet, the portion of the information comprising a unique identifier of the RF medium;

storing the unique identifier.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein data related to the packet comprises a stream identifier (STRID).

24. The process of claim 22, the unique identifier comprising a frequency.

25. The process of claim 20, wherein data related to the packet comprises a stream identifier (STRID).

26. The process of claim 20, the step of requesting the second channel information comprising the step of requesting the packet over a public switched telephony network (PSTN) medium.

27. The process of claim 20, the step of requesting the second channel information comprising the step of requesting the second channel information using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).

28. The process of claim 20, the step of receiving the second channel information comprising the step of receiving the second channel information using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).

29. The process of claim 20, further comprising the step of communicating over the second channel upon tuning to the second channel.

30. A radio-frequency (RF) modem, comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to listen to a first channel, the first channel being selected from a fixed number of channels on an RF medium;

computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to receive a packet over the first channel the packet having information, at least a portion of the information being configured to indicate a position on the RF medium that the RF modem is connected;

computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to request second channel information using the information in the packet;

computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to receive the second channel information in response to requesting the second channel information; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to tune to the second channel using the received second channel information.

31. The RF modem of claim 30, further comprising:

computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to decode a portion of the information in the packet, the portion of the information comprising a unique identifier of the RF medium; and

computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to store the unique identifier.

32. The RF modem of claim 30, wherein data related to the packet comprises a stream identifier (STRID).

33. The RF modem of claim 30, further comprising computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to request the second channel information over a public switched telephony network (PSTN) medium.

34. The RF modem of claim 30, further comprising means for requesting the second channel information over a public switched telephony network (PSTN) medium.

35. The RF modem of claim 30, further comprising computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to request the second channel information using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).

36. The RF modem of claim 30, further comprising computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to receive the second channel information using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).

37. The RF modem of claim 30, further comprising computer-readable code adapted to instruct the RF modem to communicate over the second channel upon tuning to the second channel.