Method and apparatus for using data-over-cable applications and services in non-cable environments
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A generic data over cable system, comprising:
- a centralized data over cable aggregation system configured to use a data over cable protocol for exchanging information with an endpoint; and
the centralized data over cable aggregation system configured to operate an adaptation layer that configures a non-cable network infrastructure to support data over cable applications and services;
wherein the centralized data over cable aggregation system includes at least one packet shelf and at least one physical layer gateway distributed across a packet switched network and separated from each other by the packet switched network, wherein the at least one packet shelf is located on a core device of the centralized data over cable aggregation system and wherein the at least one packet shelf operates remotely from the at least one physical layer gateway, wherein the at least one packet shelf is configured to generate Data Over Cable Services Interface Specification (DOCSIS) frames for transmitting received data over the packet switched network, and wherein the at least one physical layer gateway is configured to process the DOCSIS framed data for transmission over the non-cable network infrastructure that connects the physical layer gateway to the endpoint; and
wherein the packet switched network contains packet switching accruements configured to forward individually addressed packets such that different ones of the packets can traverse the packet switched network in different amounts of time.
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Abstract
A generic data over cable system configures different cable and/or non-cable network infrastructures to operate in a data over cable environment. In one embodiment, a Modular Cable Modem Termination System (M-CMTS) core is coupled to one or more physical gateways over a packet switched network. The physical gateways are connected to endpoints over either a cable or non-cable network infrastructure. An adaptation layer configures the physical gateways and the associated endpoints so that cable applications and cable subscriber services can operate over either the cable or non-cable network infrastructures.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A generic data over cable system, comprising:
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a centralized data over cable aggregation system configured to use a data over cable protocol for exchanging information with an endpoint; and the centralized data over cable aggregation system configured to operate an adaptation layer that configures a non-cable network infrastructure to support data over cable applications and services; wherein the centralized data over cable aggregation system includes at least one packet shelf and at least one physical layer gateway distributed across a packet switched network and separated from each other by the packet switched network, wherein the at least one packet shelf is located on a core device of the centralized data over cable aggregation system and wherein the at least one packet shelf operates remotely from the at least one physical layer gateway, wherein the at least one packet shelf is configured to generate Data Over Cable Services Interface Specification (DOCSIS) frames for transmitting received data over the packet switched network, and wherein the at least one physical layer gateway is configured to process the DOCSIS framed data for transmission over the non-cable network infrastructure that connects the physical layer gateway to the endpoint; and wherein the packet switched network contains packet switching accruements configured to forward individually addressed packets such that different ones of the packets can traverse the packet switched network in different amounts of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A physical layer gateway, comprising:
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a packet switched network interface for receiving configuration information from a remote packet shelf over a packet switched network, wherein the remote packet shelf is located on a core device of a cable modem termination system, and wherein the physical layer gateway is separated from the core device by the packet switched network; a non-cable network interface for communicating with an endpoint over a non-cable network infrastructure that connects the physical layer gateway to the endpoint; circuitry configured to receive Data Over Cable Services Interface Specification (DOCSIS) framed communications from the remote packet shelf over the packet switched network, the circuitry configured to process the DOCSIS framed data for transmission over the non-cable network infrastructure; and the circuitry configured to use the configuration information from the remote packet shelf to configure the non-cable network infrastructure to support DOCSIS messaging. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Customer premise equipment, comprising:
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a physical interface configured to communicate over a non-cable network infrastructure; and a processor configured to conduct data over cable operations with a central data over cable system over the non-cable network infrastructure; wherein the physical interface conducts layer-1 and layer-2 operations associated with the particular non-cable network infrastructure and the processor conducts generic layer-2 and layer-3 data over cable operations with the central data over cable system; and wherein the physical interface is coupled though the non-cable network infrastructure to a physical layer gateway, and the physical layer gateway is coupled through a packet switched network to a packet shelf of the central data over cable system, wherein the packet shelf is located on a core device of the central data over cable system, and wherein the physical layer gateway is separated from the core device by the packet switched network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating a data over cable environment over a non-cable network infrastructure, comprising:
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configuring a physical interface for communicating over an associated non-cable network infrastructure; configuring data over cable functionality into endpoints coupled to the non-cable network infrastructure; operating data over cable applications and/or data over cable subscriber management services with the endpoints over the non-cable network infrastructure; operating a Data Over Cable Services Interface Specification (DOCSIS) Media Access Controller (MAC) in a central Modular Cable Modem Termination System (M-CMTS) core; establishing a communication session between the M-CMTS core and a remote physical layer gateway over a packet switched network, wherein the M-CMTS core and the remote physical layer gateway are separated by the packet switched network; configuring the remote physical layer gateway and the endpoints for operating in a particular non-cable network infrastructure during the communication session; and using the DOCSIS MAC in the M-CMTS core to exchange DOCSIS messaging with the endpoints over the remote physical layer gateway and the non-cable network infrastructure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification