Virtual upstream channel provisioning and utilization in broadband communication systems
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a first network device to;
receive a message, from a second network device, at a port of the first network device,the message including a Media Access Controller (MAC) address of the second network device,andthe first network device being different from the second network device;
assign a unique upstream channel identifier to the second network device,the unique upstream channel identifier identifying a particular virtual upstream channel of a plurality of virtual upstream channels of a physical upstream channel,the unique upstream channel identifier being assigned based on;
the MAC address included in the message received from the second network device, andthe port of the first network device; and
forward the unique upstream channel identifier to the second network device to cause the second network device to transmit data using the particular virtual upstream channel of the physical upstream channel.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for provisioning virtual upstream channels within one physical upstream channel. Each virtual upstream channel is assigned to a group of cable modems that share certain operational parameters. New virtual upstream channels can be provisioned as needed and existing virtual upstream channels can be deleted, as needed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first network device to; receive a message, from a second network device, at a port of the first network device, the message including a Media Access Controller (MAC) address of the second network device, and the first network device being different from the second network device; assign a unique upstream channel identifier to the second network device, the unique upstream channel identifier identifying a particular virtual upstream channel of a plurality of virtual upstream channels of a physical upstream channel, the unique upstream channel identifier being assigned based on; the MAC address included in the message received from the second network device, and the port of the first network device; and forward the unique upstream channel identifier to the second network device to cause the second network device to transmit data using the particular virtual upstream channel of the physical upstream channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a port of a first network device, a message from a second network device of a group of network devices, the message including a Media Access Controller (MAC) address of the second network device, and the second network device being different from the first network device; assigning, by the first network device, a unique upstream channel identifier to the group of network devices, the unique upstream channel identifier identifying a particular virtual upstream channel of a plurality of virtual upstream channels of a physical upstream channel, the unique upstream channel identifier being assigned based on; the MAC address included in the message received from the second network device, and the port that received the message including the MAC address; forwarding, by the first network device, the first unique upstream channel identifier to the group of network devices to enable the second network device to transmit data using the particular virtual upstream channel of the physical upstream channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A network device comprising:
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one or more processors to; receive a message, from another network device, at a port of the network device, the message including a Media Access Controller (MAC) address of the other network device, and the network device being different from the other network device; assign a unique upstream channel identifier to the other network device, the unique upstream channel identifier identifying a particular virtual upstream channel of a plurality of virtual upstream channels of a physical upstream channel, the unique upstream channel identifier being assigned based on; the MAC address included in the message received from the other network device, and the port of the network device; and forward the unique upstream channel identifier to the other network device to enable the other network device to transmit data using the particular virtual upstream channel of the physical upstream channel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification