Topology discovery in broadband networks
First Claim
1. A method of operating a policy server for operating in a network including a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) devices, which access the network through a plurality of modems, which in turn access the network through a plurality of cable modem termination systems (CMTSs), each network termination device characterized by a plurality of channels, said method comprising:
- at a policy server for performing admission control and quality of service (QoS) control;
extracting management information base (MIB) information from management information bases that are maintained by the plurality of CMTSs by polling the CMTSs;
storing the extracted MIB information;
processing the stored MIB information to generate topology information, said topology information identifying, for each CPE device among the plurality of CPE devices, a CMTS, channel, and modem to which that CPE device is connected;
storing the topology information in a topology data structure that is accessible to the policy server; and
using the stored topology information to apply policies in response to requests concerning the CPE devices,wherein using the stored topology information to apply policies in response to requests concerning the CPE devices comprises receiving, from one of the CPE devices among the plurality of CPE devices, a request for setting up a session with the one CPE device, referencing the topology data structure to identify a CMTS behind which the one CPE device is located, and sending a policy decision from the policy server to the identified CMTS to configure characteristics of the requested session.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a policy server connected to a network including a plurality of network termination devices and a plurality of CPEs (customer premises equipment) that are behind the plurality of network termination devices, the method including: polling the plurality of termination devices for data maintained by the termination devices; processing the polled data to generate topology information, the topology information identifying which CPEs are behind which termination devices; and storing the topology information in a topology data structure.
99 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a policy server for operating in a network including a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) devices, which access the network through a plurality of modems, which in turn access the network through a plurality of cable modem termination systems (CMTSs), each network termination device characterized by a plurality of channels, said method comprising:
-
at a policy server for performing admission control and quality of service (QoS) control; extracting management information base (MIB) information from management information bases that are maintained by the plurality of CMTSs by polling the CMTSs; storing the extracted MIB information; processing the stored MIB information to generate topology information, said topology information identifying, for each CPE device among the plurality of CPE devices, a CMTS, channel, and modem to which that CPE device is connected; storing the topology information in a topology data structure that is accessible to the policy server; and using the stored topology information to apply policies in response to requests concerning the CPE devices, wherein using the stored topology information to apply policies in response to requests concerning the CPE devices comprises receiving, from one of the CPE devices among the plurality of CPE devices, a request for setting up a session with the one CPE device, referencing the topology data structure to identify a CMTS behind which the one CPE device is located, and sending a policy decision from the policy server to the identified CMTS to configure characteristics of the requested session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A policy server for use in a network that includes a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) devices which access the network through a plurality of modems which in turn access the network through a plurality of cable modem termination systems (CMTSs), each CMTS characterized by a plurality of channels, the policy server comprising:
-
a processor system; an interface which enables communication over the network with the plurality of CMTSs; and a memory system which stores a topology data structure and program code which when executed on the processor system causes the policy server to; extract management information base (MIB) information from management information bases that are maintained by the plurality of CMTSs by polling the CMTSs; store the extracted MIB information; process the stored MIB information to generate topology information, said topology information identifying for each CPE device among the plurality of CPE devices, a CMTS, channel, and modem to which that CPE device is connected; store the topology information in the topology data structure that is accessible to the policy server; and use the stored topology information to apply policies in response to requests concerning the CPE devices, including receiving, from one of the CPE devices among the plurality of CPE devices, a request for setting up a session with the one CPE device, referencing the topology data structure to identify the CMTS behind which the one CPE device is located, and sending a policy decision from the policy server to the identified CMTS to configure characteristics of the requested session. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
Specification