Bandwidth efficient cable network modem
First Claim
1. A method for increasing bandwidth efficiency of a cable network including a head end Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) communicatively coupled to a plurality of cable modems, the method comprising:
- determining an attenuation profile associated with a propagation path of the network, so that each cable modem on that path has a known attenuation factor;
assigning each non-Multi User Detection (MUD) enabled cable modem that is associated with an attenuation factor below an established attenuation factor threshold to an unique time slot;
assigning two or more MUD enabled cable modems on the propagation path to a same time slot and on a same channel;
transmitting a channel assignment map that reflects the assignments for the cable modems;
simultaneously receiving in the same time slot and on the same channel requests from two or more cable modems responding to the transmitted channel assignment map; and
recovering each request using co-channel demodulation capabilities.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A MUD enabled cable modem that provides efficient use of cable television network bandwidth in the presence of interference and noise is disclosed. The modem design provides for compatibility with existing network hardware and protocols so that bandwidth efficient modems configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be added to the network without removing installed hardware and software. A bandwidth efficient modem in the cable network head-end increases reverse link capacity from the terminals to the head end, while bandwidth efficient modems in cable network terminals increases forward link capacity from the head end to the terminals. Bidirectional bandwidth efficiency is thereby enabled.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for increasing bandwidth efficiency of a cable network including a head end Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) communicatively coupled to a plurality of cable modems, the method comprising:
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determining an attenuation profile associated with a propagation path of the network, so that each cable modem on that path has a known attenuation factor; assigning each non-Multi User Detection (MUD) enabled cable modem that is associated with an attenuation factor below an established attenuation factor threshold to an unique time slot; assigning two or more MUD enabled cable modems on the propagation path to a same time slot and on a same channel; transmitting a channel assignment map that reflects the assignments for the cable modems; simultaneously receiving in the same time slot and on the same channel requests from two or more cable modems responding to the transmitted channel assignment map; and recovering each request using co-channel demodulation capabilities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for enhancing forward link capacity of a cable network including a Cable modem Termination System (CMTS) that is communicatively coupled with a plurality of cable modems by a propagation path, the method comprising:
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at a first cable modem simultaneously receiving multiple signals transmitted in a same time slot and on a same channel, with each signal having a corresponding power level that is sufficiently high relative to a noise floor; simultaneously recovering each signal using co-channel demodulation capabilities of the first cable modem; removing recovered signals not intended for the first cable modem based on at least one of the header information and distinct power levels associated with each recovered signal; at a second cable modem simultaneously receiving the multiple signals, with the corresponding power levels of each signal attenuated based on an attenuation profile of the propagation path so that only one of the received signals has a power level that is sufficiently high relative to the noise floor; and demodulating the one received signal having a power level that is sufficiently high relative to the noise floor using single channel modulation capabilities of the second cable modem, wherein the other attenuated signals are not detectable using single channel modulation capabilities. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of enhancing forward link capacity of a cable network including a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) that is communicatively coupled with a plurality of cable modems by a propagation path, the method comprising:
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at a first cable modem simultaneously receiving multiple signals transmitted in a same time slot and on a same channel, with each signal having a corresponding power level that is sufficiently high relative to a noise floor; simultaneously recovering each signal using co-channel demodulation capabilities of the first cable modem; removing recovered signals not intended for the first cable modem based on at least one of the header information and distinct power levels associated with each recovered signal; at a second cable modem; simultaneously receiving the multiple signals, with the corresponding power levels of each signal attenuated based on an attenuation profile of the propagation path so that each signal still has a power level that is sufficiently high relative to the noise floor; simultaneously recovering each signal using co-channel demodulation capabilities of the second cable modem; and removing recovered signals not intended for the second cable modem. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A cable modem which enables efficient use of bandwidth in a cable network including a plurality of cable modems, the cable modem comprising:
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a multiuser detection module adapted to simultaneously demodulate and recover K interfering signals transmitted at the same time on the same channel using co-channel demodulation; a data formatting module operatively coupled to the multiuser detection module, and adapted to produce network data packets for at least one of the K recovered interfering signals; and a control processor operatively coupled to the data formatting module, and adapted to exploit existing amplitude margin associated with one or more propagation paths of the cable network by deliberately scheduling interfering transmissions based on known attenuation characteristics of the one or more propagation paths wherein the network includes a propagation path having both Multi User Detection (MUD) enabled and non-MUD enabled modems, and the control processor is further adapted to assign each non-Mud enabled cable modem that is associated with an attenuation factor below an established attenuation factor threshold to a unique time slot, thereby enabling a legacy protocol mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification