Configuring network devices

• US 8,787,182 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Garcia, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Jr., Otis L
• Application Number:
  US12/467,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20100290366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16

Abstract

Improved systems and methods for configuring network devices are provided. Aspects of the invention relate to novel QoS configuration parameters and methods for using QoS configuration parameters to reduce impacts caused by security breach within a network. In one embodiment, a QoS configuration parameter is selected from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database based upon unique identifying information of a network device and a status signal. In one embodiment, each configuration parameter comprises at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device and a second parameter configurable to alter the ability of the network device to communicate with another device in the network. Further aspects of the invention relate to providing improved services to an end user. In one embodiment, services may be customized to an end user and allow increased flexibility for both the service provider and the end user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving user identifying information and status information related to an alteration of a security parameter of a network device and an indication that the network device requires an update to at least one quality of service parameter;

retrieving, from a computing device, the at least one quality of service parameter related to at least one port of the network device available for communication; and

reducing, based at least in part on the at least one quality of service parameter, a quality of service associated with a first communication protocol and leaving unchanged a quality of service associated with a second communication protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the status information regarding the network device that comprises a modem.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the status information that further includes information regarding a quantity of data transmitted through the at least one port of the network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the at least one quality of service parameter that is configured to restrict transmission of e-mail through the network device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the status information that includes information related to a financial balance associated with a user account.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the user identifying information that includes at least one of a media access control (MAC) address, a model number, and a serial number of the network device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the status information that further includes information on emergency calls associated with a user account.

8. A method comprising:

receiving status information related to an alteration of a security parameter of a network device and an indication that the network device requires an update to at least one quality of service parameter;

receiving the at least one quality of service parameter related to at least one port of the network device available for communication; and

configuring, based at least in part on the at least one quality of service parameter, the at least one port to alter a first quality of service to limit communication of data using a first communication protocol and to leave unaltered a second quality of service associated with data using a second communication protocol.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor, cause the processor at least to:

receive status information related to an alteration of a security parameter of a network device and an indication that the network device requires an update to at least one quality of service parameter;

receive the at least one quality of service parameter related to at least one port of the network device available for communication; and

configure, based at least in part on the at least one quality of service parameter, the at least one port to alter a first quality of service to limit communication of data using a first communication protocol and to leave unaltered a second quality of service associated with data using a second communication protocol.