Dynamically and fairly allocating RF channel bandwidth in a wideband cable system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A non-transitory memory device encoded with instructions that, if executed, result in:
- asymmetrically associating a plurality of Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding groups with a plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) channels, wherein the asymmetric association provides a first one of the DOCSIS bonding groups with access to a single one of the RF channels and a second one of the DOCSIS bonding groups with access to more than one of the RF channels;
determining an aggregate demand value for each of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association and a target bandwidth amount for each of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association, the determined aggregate demand values for each DOCSIS bonding group based on assigned DOCSIS priority values of active service flows within that DOCSIS bonding group, wherein the target bandwidth amount for a particular one of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association is the product of that DOCSIS bonding group'"'"'s aggregate demand value and a ratio of the total bandwidth of all the RF channels over the sum of all of the determined aggregate demand values; and
scheduling transmission of downstream DOCSIS bonding group traffic from a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) over a cable network according to the target bandwidth amounts, ensuring each active service flow is provided bandwidth substantially in proportion to its corresponding DOCSIS priority.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one example, a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) determines target Radio Frequency (RF) bandwidth amounts for Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding groups according to the DOCSIS priority of active flows within the bonding groups. The CMTS then tunes bandwidth allocation amongst the DOCSIS bonding groups according to the target bandwidth amounts. The target bandwidth amounts can be recalculated at intervals, and the bandwidth allocation re-tuned at the intervals, to account for changes in flow activity or DOCSIS priority assignment.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A non-transitory memory device encoded with instructions that, if executed, result in:
-
asymmetrically associating a plurality of Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding groups with a plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) channels, wherein the asymmetric association provides a first one of the DOCSIS bonding groups with access to a single one of the RF channels and a second one of the DOCSIS bonding groups with access to more than one of the RF channels; determining an aggregate demand value for each of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association and a target bandwidth amount for each of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association, the determined aggregate demand values for each DOCSIS bonding group based on assigned DOCSIS priority values of active service flows within that DOCSIS bonding group, wherein the target bandwidth amount for a particular one of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association is the product of that DOCSIS bonding group'"'"'s aggregate demand value and a ratio of the total bandwidth of all the RF channels over the sum of all of the determined aggregate demand values; and scheduling transmission of downstream DOCSIS bonding group traffic from a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) over a cable network according to the target bandwidth amounts, ensuring each active service flow is provided bandwidth substantially in proportion to its corresponding DOCSIS priority. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
6. A non-transitory memory device encoded with instructions that, if executed, result in:
-
asymmetrically associating a plurality of Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding groups with a plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) channels, wherein the asymmetric association provides a first one of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association with access to a single one of the RF channels and a second one of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association with access to more than one of the RF channels;
determining an aggregate demand value for each of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association and a target bandwidth amount for each of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association, wherein the target bandwidth amount for a particular one of the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association is the product of that DOCSIS bonding group'"'"'s aggregate demand value and a ratio of the total bandwidth of all the RF channels over the sum of all of the determined aggregate demand values;if a first potential distribution of RF channel bandwidth amongst the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association will result in bandwidth assignments having a threshold difference from the target bandwidth amounts, generating a second potential distribution of RF channel bandwidth amongst the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association by adjusting the first potential distribution; comparing a first difference between the bandwidth assignments under the first potential distribution and the target bandwidth amounts to a second difference between bandwidth assignments under the second potential distribution and the target bandwidth amounts;
if the comparison indicates a threshold improvement in the second potential distribution over the first potential distribution, generating a third potential distribution of RF channel bandwidth amongst the DOCSIS bonding groups of the asymmetric association by adjusting the second potential distribution;repeating the comparison between a newest difference and a previous difference until reaching an earlier of N comparisons or one of the comparisons indicating no significant improvement; and scheduling transmission of downstream DOCSIS bonding group traffic from a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) over a cable network according to the target bandwidth amounts, ensuring each active service flow transmitted via one or more of the DOCSIS bonding groups is provided bandwidth substantially in proportion to its corresponding DOCSIS priority.
-
-
11. A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS), comprising:
-
a network interface to receive, from an access network, data to be transmitted on a cable network; and a fairness computation device in communication with the network interface and configured to; determine an aggregate demand value for a plurality of Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding groups associated with Radio Frequency (RF) channels, wherein a first one of the DOCSIS bonding groups utilizes a single one of the RF channels and a second one of the DOCSIS bonding groups utilizes more than one of the RF channels; determine a target bandwidth amount for the DOCSIS bonding groups, the determined aggregate demand values for each DOCSIS bonding group based on assigned DOCSIS priority values of active service flows within that DOCSIS bonding group, wherein the target bandwidth amount for a particular one of the DOCSIS bonding groups is the product of that DOCSIS bonding group'"'"'s aggregate demand value and a ratio of the total bandwidth of all the RF channels over the sum of all of the determined aggregate demand values; and schedule transmission of downstream DOCSIS bonding group traffic from the CMTS over the cable network according to the target bandwidth amounts, ensuring each active service flow is provided bandwidth substantially in proportion to its corresponding DOCSIS priority. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method, comprising:
- determining an aggregate demand value for a plurality of Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding groups associated with Radio Frequency (RF) channels, wherein a first one of the DOCSIS bonding groups utilizes a single one of the RF channels and a second one of the DOCSIS bonding groups utilizes more than one of the RF channels;
determining a target bandwidth amount for the DOCSIS bonding groups, the determined aggregate demand values for each DOCSIS bonding group based on assigned DOCSIS priority values of active service flows within that DOCSIS bonding group, wherein the target bandwidth amount for a particular one of the DOCSIS bonding groups is the product of that DOCSIS bonding group'"'"'s aggregate demand value and a ratio of the total bandwidth of all the RF channels, over the sum of all of the determined aggregate demand values; scheduling transmission of downstream DOCSIS bonding group traffic from a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) over a cable network according to the target bandwidth amounts; and transmitting received data downstream from the CMTS over the cable network according to the scheduling, ensuring each active service flow is provided bandwidth substantially in proportion to its corresponding DOCSIS priority. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- determining an aggregate demand value for a plurality of Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding groups associated with Radio Frequency (RF) channels, wherein a first one of the DOCSIS bonding groups utilizes a single one of the RF channels and a second one of the DOCSIS bonding groups utilizes more than one of the RF channels;
Specification