Downstream channel change technique implemented in an access network
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the access network including a first node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the access network further including a second node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the at least one downstream channel including a first downstream channel and a second downstream channel, wherein the first downstream channel is associated with a first channel identifier, and the second downstream channel is associated with a second channel identifier, the at least one upstream channel including a first upstream channel associated with a third channel identifier, wherein the third channel identifier is different from the first channel identifier and second channel identifier, the method comprising:
- communicating between the Head End and the first and second nodes via the first downstream channel;
receiving, at the first node, a first communication from the Head End via the first downstream channel, said first communication including a request to perform a dynamic channel change operation, said dynamic channel change (DCC) request including a request to perform a downstream channel change operation to cause the first node to switch from the first downstream channel to the second downstream channel;
implementing, at the first node, the downstream channel change operation in response to the dynamic channel change request;
determining whether data transmitted from the Head End is successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel;
communicating between the Head End and the first node via the second downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted from the Head End can be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel; and
communicating between the Head End and the second node via the first downstream channel after successful completion of the downstream channel change operation at the first node; and
switching, at the first node, from the second downstream channel to the first downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted at the Head End can not be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel.
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Abstract
A dynamic channel change technique is disclosed which may be implemented between nodes and a Head End of an access network. Initially a network device may communicate with the Head End via a first downstream channel and a first upstream channel. When the network device receives a dynamic channel change request which includes instructions for the network device to switch to a second downstream channel, the network device may respond by switching from the first downstream channel to the second downstream channel. Thereafter, the network device may communicate with the Head End via the second downstream channel and first upstream channel. Further, according to a specific embodiment, the dynamic channel change request may also include an upstream channel change request for causing the network device to switch from a first upstream channel to a second upstream channel.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the access network including a first node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the access network further including a second node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the at least one downstream channel including a first downstream channel and a second downstream channel, wherein the first downstream channel is associated with a first channel identifier, and the second downstream channel is associated with a second channel identifier, the at least one upstream channel including a first upstream channel associated with a third channel identifier, wherein the third channel identifier is different from the first channel identifier and second channel identifier, the method comprising:
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communicating between the Head End and the first and second nodes via the first downstream channel; receiving, at the first node, a first communication from the Head End via the first downstream channel, said first communication including a request to perform a dynamic channel change operation, said dynamic channel change (DCC) request including a request to perform a downstream channel change operation to cause the first node to switch from the first downstream channel to the second downstream channel; implementing, at the first node, the downstream channel change operation in response to the dynamic channel change request; determining whether data transmitted from the Head End is successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel; communicating between the Head End and the first node via the second downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted from the Head End can be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel; and communicating between the Head End and the second node via the first downstream channel after successful completion of the downstream channel change operation at the first node; and switching, at the first node, from the second downstream channel to the first downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted at the Head End can not be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the access network including a first node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the access network further including a second node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the at least one downstream channel including a first downstream channel and a second downstream channel, wherein the first downstream channel is associated with a first channel identifier, and the second downstream channel is associated with a second channel identifier, the at least one upstream channel including a first upstream channel associated with a third channel identifier, wherein the third channel identifier is different from the first channel identifier and second channel identifier, the system comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and memory; the system being operable to; communicate between the Head End and the first and second nodes via the first downstream channel; receive, at the first node, a first communication from the Head End via the first downstream channel, said first communication including a request to perform a dynamic channel change operation, said dynamic channel change (DCC) request including a request to perform a downstream channel change operation to cause the first node to switch from the first downstream channel to the second downstream channel; implement, at the first node, the downstream channel change operation in response to the dynamic channel change request; determine whether data transmitted from the Head End is successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel; communicate between the Head End and the first node via the second downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted from the Head End can be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel; and communicate between the Head End and the second node via the first downstream channel after successful completion of the downstream channel change operation at the first node; and switch, at the first node, from the second downstream channel to the first downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted at the Head End can not be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the access network including a first node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the access network further including a second node adapted to communicate with the Head End via at least one downstream channel and at least one upstream channel, the at least one downstream channel including a first downstream channel and a second downstream channel, wherein the first downstream channel is associated with a first channel identifier, and the second downstream channel is associated with a second channel identifier, the at least one upstream channel including a first upstream channel associated with a third channel identifier, wherein the third channel identifier is different from the first channel identifier and second channel identifier, the system comprising:
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means for communicating between the Head End and the first and second nodes via the first downstream channel; means for receiving, at the first node, a first communication from the Head End via the first downstream channel, said first communication including a request to perform a dynamic channel change operation, said dynamic channel change (DCC) request including a request to perform a downstream channel change operation to cause the first node to switch from the first downstream channel to the second downstream channel; means for implementing, at the first node, the downstream channel change operation in response to the dynamic channel change request; determining whether data transmitted from the Head End is successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel; means for communicating between the Head End and the first node via the second downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted from the Head End can be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel; and means for communicating between the Head End and the second node via the first downstream channel after successful completion of the downstream channel change operation at the first node; and means for switching, at the first node, from the second downstream channel to the first downstream channel in response to a determination that data transmitted at the Head End can not be successfully received at the first node via the second downstream channel.
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Specification