Rapid cable modem re-provisioning in a cable network

• US 7,334,252 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roeck, Guenter E., Millet, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raman; Usha
• Application Number:
  US09/687,297
• Time in Patent Office: 2,685 Days
• Field of Search: 725/111
• US Class Current: 725/111
• 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 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for allowing rapid re-provisioning of a cable modem at the MAC/physical layer in a cable modem network. After a cable modem goes through power-up/self-test, i.e., a hard boot, and goes through initial provisioning, the modem is in a steady state in which standard DOCSIS periodic ranging is performed. It is during periodic ranging that the provisioning status, such as bit rate, ISP, etc., can be rapidly changed to allow for “on the fly” changes in provisioning. A cable modem is synchronized with the cable modem network. The modem is then provisioned once it receives a configuration file from a provisioning system. Periodic ranging is then performed between the modem and the CMTS, located either in a headend or a fiber node in the cable plant. The periodic ranging is interrupted by a command or action taken by the CMTS on the cable modem instead of the modem being affected directly by the provisioning system. Once periodic ranging is broken, either by cessation of polling messages or a ranging abort command, the modem goes directly to re-synchronizing with the cable network and re-provisions, i.e., avoids performing a power-on/self test or hard boot.

Claims

1. In a cable modem termination system (CMTS), a method of changing the provisioning status of a selected cable modem in a cable modem network having a provisioning system, the method comprising:

transmitting a first configuration file to the selected cable modem thereby allowing the selected cable modem to initially provision and perform a self-test;

performing periodic ranging between the selected modem and the CMTS operating in a primary hub of a cable television plant; and

causing a change in provisioning status of the selected cable modem by performing one of;

i) deliberately interrupting the periodic ranging at the MAC/physical layer of the cable modem network by the CMTS receiving a clear modem reset command directly from the provisioning system via simple network management protocol (SNMP) and the CMTS causing a disruption in the periodic ranging with the selected cable modem, thereby causing the selected cable modem to return to a synchronization process with the cable modem network and causing the selected cable modem to receive a second configuration file; and

ii) transmitting a ranging abort message to the selected cable modem thereby deliberately causing the cable modem to have an RF failure, wherein the RF state of the cable plant is intact and the ranging abort message is a forced signal sent to the cable modem from the CMTS upon instructions from the provisioning system via SNMP;

wherein a power-on state of the cable modem is maintained during the periodic ranging interruption process and the RF failure process and the self-test performed during initial provisioning is relied on by the cable modem.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving a first reset command from the provisioning system associated with the cable modem network.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising receiving the first reset command thereby causing the CMTS to interrupt the periodic ranging between the CMTS and the selected cable modem.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein interrupting the periodic ranging further comprises discontinuing the transmission of a ranging opportunity message to the selected cable modem.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein interrupting the periodic ranging further comprises causing the selected cable modem to bypass a power-on/self-test phase.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising sending the second configuration file to the cable modem after the selected cable modem resynchronizes with the cable modem network.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving a second reset command from a provisioning system associated with the selected cable modem network.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 further comprising receiving the second reset command thereby causing the CMTS to interrupt the periodic ranging between the CMTS and the selected cable modem.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein interrupting the periodic ranging further comprises sending a ranging abort message to the selected cable modem.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising replacing a ranging response message with the ranging abort message during the periodic ranging wherein the ranging abort message causes a radio frequency (RF) failure in the selected cable modem.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising resynchronizing the selected cable modem with the cable modem network immediately upon the selected cable modem receiving the ranging abort message.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second configuration file contains data to be used to re-provision the selected cable modem.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the selected cable modem is a DOCSIS-compliant modem.

14. A computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to change the provisioning status of a selected cable modem in a cable modem network having a cable modem termination system (CMTS) and a provisioning system, the computer-readable medium including programmed instructions for:

transmitting a first configuration file to the selected cable modem thereby allowing the selected cable modem to initially provision and perform a self-test;

performing periodic ranging between the selected modem and the CMTS operating in a primary hub of a cable television plant; and

causing a change in provisioning status of the selected cable modem by performing one of;

i) deliberately interrupting the periodic ranging at the MAC/physical layer of the cable modem network by the CMTS receiving a clear modem reset command directly from the provisioning system via simple network management protocol (SNMP) and the CMTS causing a disruption in the periodic ranging with the selected cable modem, thereby causing the selected cable modem to return to a synchronization process with the cable modem network and causing the selected cable modem to receive a second configuration file; and

ii) transmitting a ranging abort message to the selected cable modem thereby deliberately causing the cable modem to have an RF failure, wherein the RF state of the cable plant is intact and the ranging abort message is a forced signal sent to the cable modem from the CMTS upon instructions from the provisioning system via SNMP;

wherein a power-on state of the cable modem is maintained during the periodic ranging interruption process and the RF failure process and the self-test performed during initial provisioning is relied on by the cable modem.

15. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 further comprising programmed instructions for receiving a first reset command from a provisioning system associated with the cable modem network.

16. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 further comprising programmed instructions for receiving the first reset command thereby causing the CMTS to interrupt the periodic ranging between the CMTS and the selected cable modem.

17. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 16 wherein the programmed instructions for interrupting the periodic ranging further comprises programmed instructions for discontinuing the transmission of a ranging opportunity message to the selected cable modem.

18. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 16 wherein the programmed instructions for interrupting the periodic ranging further comprises programmed instructions for sending a ranging abort message to the selected cable modem.

19. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) capable of changing the provisioning status of a selected cable modem in a cable modem network having a provisioning system, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium storing a program for execution by the processor, the program comprising

computer code that transmits a first configuration file to the selected cable modem thereby allowing the selected cable modem to initially provision and perform a self-test;

computer code that performs periodic ranging between the selected modem and the CMTS operating in a primary hub of a cable television plant; and

computer code that causes a change in provisioning status of the selected cable modem by performing one of;

i) deliberately interrupting the periodic ranging at the MAC/physical layer of the cable modem network by the CMTS receiving a clear modem reset command directly from the provisioning system via simple network management protocol (SNMP) and the CMTS causing a disruption in the periodic ranging with the selected cable modem, thereby causing the selected cable modem to return to a synchronization process with the cable modem network and causing the selected cable modem to receive a second configuration file; and

ii) transmitting a ranging abort message to the selected cable modem thereby deliberately causing the cable modem to have an RF failure, wherein the RF state of the cable plant is intact and the ranging abort message is a forced signal sent to the cable modem from the CMTS upon instructions from the provisioning system via SNMP;

wherein a power-on state of the cable modem is maintained during the periodic ranging interruption process and the RF failure process and the self-test performed during initial provisioning is relied on by the cable modem.

20. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) capable of changing the provisioning status of a selected cable modem in a cable modem network having a provisioning system, the CMTS comprising:

a means for transmitting a first configuration file to the selected cable modem thereby allowing the selected cable modem to initially provision and perform a self-test;

a means for performing periodic ranging between the selected modem and the CMTS operating in a primary hub of a cable television plant; and

means for causing a change in provisioning status of the selected cable modem by performing one of;

i) deliberately interrupting the periodic ranging at the MAC/physical layer of the cable modem network by the CMTS receiving a clear modem reset command directly from the provisioning system via simple network management protocol (SNMP) and the CMTS causing a disruption in the periodic ranging with the selected cable modem, thereby causing the selected cable modem to return to a synchronization process with the cable modem network and causing the selected cable modem to receive a second configuration file; and

ii) transmitting a ranging abort message to the selected cable modem thereby deliberately causing the cable modem to have an RF failure, wherein the RF state of the cable plant is intact and the ranging abort message is a forced signal sent to the cable modem from the CMTS upon instructions from the provisioning system via SNMP;

wherein a power-on state of the cable modem is maintained during the periodic ranging interruption process and the RF failure process and the self-test performed during initial provisioning is relied on by the cable modem.

21. A CMTS as recited in claim 20 further comprising a means for receiving a first reset command from the provisioning system associated with the cable modem network.

22. A CMTS as recited in claim 21 further comprising a means for receiving the first reset command thereby causing the CMTS to interrupt the periodic ranging between the CMTS and the selected cable modem.

23. A CMTS as recited in claim 22 wherein interrupting the periodic ranging further comprises discontinuing the transmission of a ranging opportunity message to the selected cable modem.

24. A CMTS as recited in claim 20 further comprising a means for sending the second configuration file to the cable modem after the selected cable modem resynchronizes with the cable modem network.

25. A CMTS as recited in claim 20 further comprising a means for receiving a second reset command from a provisioning system associated with the selected cable modem network.

26. A CMTS as recited in claim 25 further comprising a means for receiving the second reset command thereby interrupting the periodic ranging between the CMTS and the selected cable modem.

27. A CMTS as recited in claim 26 wherein means for interrupting the periodic ranging further comprises a means for sending a ranging abort message to the selected cable modem.

28. A CMTS as recited in claim 27 further comprising a means for replacing a ranging response message with the ranging abort message during the periodic ranging wherein the ranging abort message causes a radio frequency (RF) failure in the selected cable modem.