Rapid cable modem re-provisioning in a cable network
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
30 Citations
28 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification