Multiple upstream channel descriptor messages pointing to single upstream channel ID for more efficient operation of a DOCSIS system

• US 8,705,378 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pantelias, Niki Roberta, Hou, Victor T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phung, Luat
• Application Number:
  US12/985,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20110096792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 370/248, 370/389, 370/437, 370/468, 370/538, 725/111
• US Class Current: 370/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks

Abstract

In a DOCSIS-based communications system, different upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) all identify a single logical upsteam channel identifier (UCID) regardless of the type of cable modem (CM) to which the UCDs are sent. Different CMs having different capabilities (e.g., CMs configured according to the different DOCSIS standards 1.x, 2.0, and 3.0) receive their respective UCDs from an upstream headend. All the UCDs, however, refer to the same logical upstream channel. The different CMs therefore share this single logical upstream channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for allocating a single logical upstream channel to a plurality of end user devices, comprising:

a central controller configured to send a plurality of upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) identifying the single logical upstream channel to the plurality of end user devices, the single logical upstream channel being from among a plurality of logical upstream channels within a single physical channel,

wherein each UCD from among the plurality of UCDs is characterized as having a different UCD numerical type field value from among a plurality of UCD numerical type field values.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each end user device from among the plurality of end user devices is configured to operate in accordance with a corresponding communication standard from among a plurality of communications standards.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each UCD from among the plurality of UCDs includes an upstream channel identifier (UCID) that identifies the single logical upstream channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UCD numerical type field values are Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) message type values.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UCD numerical type field values comprise:

a first UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1;

a second UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2; and

a third UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first UCD numerical type field value, the second UCD numerical type field value, and the third UCD numerical type field value are different from each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first UCD numerical type field value is 2, wherein the second UCD numerical type field value is 29, and wherein the third UCD numerical type field value is 35.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UCD numerical type field values comprise:

a first UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1; and

a second UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2,

wherein the first UCD numerical type field value and the second UCD numerical type field value are different from each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first UCD numerical type field value is 2, and wherein the second UCD numerical type field value is 29.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UCD numerical type field values comprise:

a first UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1; and

a second UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first UCD numerical type field value and the second UCD numerical type field value are different from each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first UCD numerical type field value is 2, and wherein the second UCD numerical type field value is 35.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UCD numerical type field values comprise:

a first UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 2; and

a second UCD numerical type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first UCD numerical type field value and the second UCD numerical type field value are different from each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first UCD numerical type field value is 29, and wherein the second UCD numerical type field value is 35.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical type values include:

a Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) UCD numerical type field value of 2;

a DOCSIS UCD numerical type field value of 29;

or

a DOCSIS UCD numerical type field value of 35.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an end user device from among the plurality of end user devices is a cable modem.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central controller is a cable modem termination system.

16. An apparatus for allocating a single logical upstream channel to a plurality of end user devices, comprising:

a central controller configured to send a plurality of upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) identifying the single logical upstream channel to the plurality of end user devices, the single logical upstream channel being from among a plurality of logical upstream channels within a single physical channel,

wherein each UCD from among the plurality of UCDs is characterized as having a different Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) UCD message type field value from among a plurality of DOCSIS UCD message type field values.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each end user device from among the plurality of end user devices is configured to operate in accordance with a corresponding DOCSIS communication standard from among a plurality of DOCSIS communications standards.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each UCD from among the plurality of UCDs includes an upstream channel identifier (UCID) that identifies the single logical upstream channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS UCD message type field values comprise:

a first UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1;

a second UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2; and

a third UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first UCD message type field value, the second UCD message type field value, and the third UCD message type field value are different from each other.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first UCD message type field value is 2, wherein the second UCD message type field value is 29, and wherein the third UCD message type field value is 35.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS UCD message type field values comprise:

a first DOCSIS UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 1; and

a second DOCSIS UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2,

wherein the first DOCSIS UCD message type field value and the second DOCSIS UCD message type field value are different from each other.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first DOCSIS UCD message type field value is 2, and wherein the second DOCSIS UCD message type field value is 29.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS UCD message type field values comprise:

a first DOCSIS UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS) 1; and

a second DOCSIS UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first DOCSIS UCD message type field value and the second DOCSIS UCD message type field value are different from each other.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first DOCSIS UCD message type field value is 2, and wherein the second DOCSIS UCD message type field value is 35.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS UCD message type field values comprise:

a first DOCSIS UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 2; and

a second DOCSIS UCD message type field value corresponding to a version of DOCSIS 3,

wherein the first DOCSIS UCD message type field value and the second DOCSIS UCD message type field value are different from each other.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first DOCSIS UCD message type field value is 29, and wherein the second DOCSIS UCD message type field value is 35.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of DOCSIS UCD message type field values include:

a DOCSIS UCD message type field value of 2;

a DOCSIS UCD message type field value of 29;

or

a DOCSIS UCD message type field value of 35.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an end user device from among the plurality of end user devices is a cable modem.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the central controller is a cable modem termination system.