Method for a cable modem to rapidly switch to a backup CMTS
First Claim
1. A method implemented on a protection CMTS for providing redundancy for a cable network having a working CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and the protection CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the method comprising:
- (a) at least partially registering the cable modem with the protection CMTS prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable; and
(b) assuming a protection state in which the protection CMTS can take over service of the cable modem should its service with the working CMTS become unavailable,wherein the cable modem is informed of an upstream channel of the protection CMTS.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A protection CMTS is available to immediately service a cable modem should that modem'"'"'s service from a working CMTS fail for any reason. To speed the service transfer (cutover) from the working CMTS to the protection CMTS, the cable modem may preregister with the protection CMTS well before the cutover becomes necessary. The cable modem'"'"'s registration with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS preferably employs a single IP address, so that the cable modem need not obtain a new IP address during cutover. While the cable modem may register with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, the devices are designed or configured so that only the working CMTS injects a host route for the cable modem into the appropriate routing protocol. Only after cutover to the protection CMTS does the protection CMTS inject its host route.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A method implemented on a protection CMTS for providing redundancy for a cable network having a working CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and the protection CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the method comprising:
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(a) at least partially registering the cable modem with the protection CMTS prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable; and (b) assuming a protection state in which the protection CMTS can take over service of the cable modem should its service with the working CMTS become unavailable, wherein the cable modem is informed of an upstream channel of the protection CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 39)
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11. A method implemented on a protection router for providing redundancy in a network having a working router that provides normal service to a host and the protection router which takes over service to the host should service from the working router become unavailable, the method comprising:
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(a) at least partially registering the host with the protection router prior to the working router becoming unavailable; and (b) assuming a protection state in which the protection router can take over service of the host should its service with the working router become unavailable, wherein the service includes telephony service, wherein the host is informed of an upstream channel of the protection router. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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13. A CMTS designed or configured to act as a protection CMTS for a cable network having a working CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and the protection CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should the service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the CMTS comprising:
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(a) one or more processors; (b) memory in communication with at least one of the one or more processors; and (c) wherein at least one of the one or more processors are configured to store registration data for the cable modem in the memory, and wherein the CMTS is configured to not provide communication service to the cable modem unless the service from the working CMTS should become unavailable and wherein the CMTS is configured to store the registration data at a time prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable, wherein the cable modem is informed of an upstream channel of the CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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19. A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium on which is stored program instructions for a method implemented on a protection CMTS, the method providing redundancy for a cable network having a working CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and the protection CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should the service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the program instructions comprising instructions for:
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(a) at least partially registering the cable modem with the protection CMTS prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable; and (b) assuming a protection state in which the protection CMTS can take over service of the cable modem should its service with the working CMTS become unavailable, wherein the cable modem is informed of an upstream channel of the protection CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method implemented on a protection CMTS for providing redundancy for a cable network having a working CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and the protection CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the method comprising:
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(a) at least partially registering the cable modem with the protection CMTS prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable; (b) thereafter, determining that the working CMTS'"'"'s service to the cable modem has become unavailable; and (c) taking over service to the cable modem, wherein the cable modem is informed of an upstream channel of the protection CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A cable modem designed or configured for use on a cable network having a first CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modern and a second CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should the service from the first CMTS become unavailable, the cable modem comprising;
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(a) a cable network interface; and (b) memory, wherein the cable modem is configured to register with the first CMTS, be informed of an upstream channel for the second to CMTS, register with the second CMTS using the upstream channel for the second CMTS, and store registration data obtained from the second CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 41)
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38. A protection CMTS for providing redundancy for a cable network having a working CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem, the protection CMTS taking over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the protection CMTS comprising:
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(a) means for at least partially registering the cable modem with the protection CMTS prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable; and (b) means for, prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable, assuming a protection state in which the protection CMTS can take over service of the cable modem should its service with the working CMTS become unavailable, wherein the cable modem is informed of an upstream channel of the protection CMTS.
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48. A CMTS designed or configured to act as a protection CMTS for a cable network having a working CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and the protection CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should service from the working CMTS become unavailable, the CMTS comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory in communication with at least one of the one or more processors; wherein at least one of the one or more processors are configured to (a) at least partially register the cable modem with the protection CMTS prior to the working CMTS becoming unavailable; (b) thereafter, determine that the working CMTS'"'"'s service to the cable modem has become unavailable; and (c) take over service to the cable modem, wherein the cable modem is informed of an upstream channel of the protection CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method implemented on a cable modem designed or configured for use on a cable network having a first CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and a second CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should the service from the first CMTS become unavailable, the method comprising:
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registering with the first CMTS; receiving information about an upstream channel for the second CMTS; registering with the second CMTS using the upstream channel for the second CMTS; and storing registration data obtained from the second CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium on which is stored program instructions for a method implemented on a cable modem designed or configured for use on a cable network having a first CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and a second CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should the service from the first CMTS become unavailable, the program instructions comprising instructions for:
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registering with the first CMTS, receiving information about an upstream channel for the second CMTS, registering with the second CMTS using the upstream channel for the second CMTS, and storing registration data obtained from the second CMTS.
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63. A cable modem designed or configured for use on a cable network having a first CMTS that provides normal service to a cable modem and a second CMTS which takes over service to the cable modem should the service from the first CMTS become unavailable, the cable modem comprising:
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means for registering with the first CMTS; means for receiving information about an upstream channel for the second CMTS; means for registering with the second CMTS using the upstream channel for the second CMTS; and means for storing registration data obtained from the second CMTS.
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Specification