Adaptive communication modes

• US 20040047364A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bataan Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Briggs, Peter G., Jagels, Dean P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,423,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing a communication mode for a communication terminal are provided. An embodiment of a method for implementing a communication mode includes receiving a message from a remotely located network control system and implementing one of a plurality of communication modes responsive to the message.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a communication mode for a communication terminal, comprising:

receiving a message from a remotely located network control system;

responsive to the message specifying a first communication mode, implementing the first communication mode including receiving a first type of data using a first type of communication channel; and

responsive to the message specifying a second communication mode, implementing the second communication mode including receiving the first type of data using a second type of communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel is used in accordance with a first communication standard, and the second type of communication channel is used in accordance with a second communication standard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a first communication protocol, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a second communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a first type of frames, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a second type of frames.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is a set-top terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a UNConfigIndication message that complies with a Digital Storage Media Command and Control (DSM-CC) protocol.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

searching a plurality of communication channels to find the UNConfigIndication message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the first communication mode further includes transmitting and receiving a second type of data using the first type of communication channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the second communication mode further includes transmitting and receiving a second type of data using the second type of communication channel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first type of data is broadcast data and the second type of data is unicast data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting by the network control system a first message to a first plurality of communication terminals that receive the first type of data from a first modem, the first message specifying the first communication mode; and

transmitting by the network control system a second message to a second plurality of communication terminals that receive the first type of data from a second modem, the second message specifying the second communication mode.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the message specifying a third communication mode, implementing the third communication mode including receiving the first type of data using the first type of communication channel and receiving the second type of data using the second type of communication channel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel involves a first type of modulation scheme, and the second type of communication channel involves a second type of modulation scheme.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first type of communication channel is a channel that complies with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) protocol and the second type of communication channel is a channel that complies with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) protocol.

16. A method for implementing a communication mode for a communication terminal, comprising:

receiving a message from a remotely located network control system;

responsive to the message specifying a first communication mode, implementing the first communication mode including communicating with the network control system using a first type of modulation scheme; and

responsive to the message specifying a second communication mode, implementing the second communication mode including communicating with the network control system using a second type of modulation scheme.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein implementing the first communication mode includes receiving broadcast data and transmitting and receiving unicast data using the first type of modulation scheme.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein implementing the second communication mode includes receiving broadcast data and transmitting and receiving unicast data using the second type of modulation scheme.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

responsive to the message specifying a third communication mode, implementing the third communication mode including communicating with the network control system using the first and second types of modulation scheme.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein implementing the third communication mode includes receiving broadcast data using the first type of modulation scheme.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein implementing the third communication includes transmitting and receiving unicast data using the second type of modulation scheme.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

23. A communication terminal comprising:

a first tuner;

a second tuner; and

a processor that is programmed to;

cause the first tuner to receive a first type of data responsive to the communication terminal receiving a message specifying a first communication mode; and

cause the second tuner to receive the first type of data responsive to the communication terminal receiving a message specifying a second communication mode.

24. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein the communication terminal is a set-top terminal.

25. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein the message is a UNConfigIndication message that complies with a Digital Storage Media Command and Control (DSM-CC) protocol.

26. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

cause the first tuner to receive a second type of data responsive to the communication terminal receiving the message specifying the first communication mode; and

cause the second tuner to receive a second type of data responsive to the communication terminal receiving the message specifying the second communication mode.

27. The communication terminal of claim 26, wherein the first type of data is broadcast data and the second type of data is unicast data.

28. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein the processor is further programmed to cause the first tuner to receive the first type of data and to cause the second tuner to receive a second type of data, responsive to the communication terminal receiving a message specifying a third communication mode.

29. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein data that is received by the first tuner is modulated using a first type of modulation scheme, and data that is received by the second tuner is modulated using a second type of modulation scheme.

30. The communication terminal of claim 29, wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

31. A method for implementing a communication mode for a communication terminal, comprising:

receiving a message from a remotely located network control system;

responsive to the message specifying a first communication mode, implementing the first communication mode including;

communicating with a first type of modem to help establish a first type of interactive connection,

transmitting a message to a session and resource manager (SRM) requesting an IP address, and

receiving a message from the SRM identifying an IP address; and

responsive to the message specifying a second communication mode, implementing the second communication mode including;

communicating with a with a second type of modem to help establish a second type of interactive connection,

communicating with a server to obtain an IP address;

transmitting a message to the SRM to inform the SRM of the IP address, and

receiving a message from the SRM providing permission to use the IP address.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first communication mode is a Digital Audio-Visual Council (DAVIC) mode, wherein the first type of modem is a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modem, and wherein the first type of interactive connection is a DAVIC interactive connection.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the second communication mode is a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) mode, wherein the second type of modem is a cable modem termination system (CMTS) modem, and wherein the second type of interactive connection is a DOCSIS connection.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the server is a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) server.

35. A method for implementing a communication mode for a communication terminal, comprising:

receiving a UNConfigIndication message from a digital network control system (DNCS);

responsive to the UNConfigIndication message specifying a DAVIC communication mode, implementing the DAVIC communication mode including receiving broadcast data and transmitting and receiving unicast data using a DAVIC communication channel; and

responsive to the UNConfigIndication message specifying a DOCSIS communication mode, implementing the DOCSIS communication mode including receiving broadcast data and transmitting and receiving unicast data using a DOCSIS communication channel; and

responsive to the UNConfigIndication message specifying a mixed DOCSIS/DAVIC (MDD) communication mode, implementing the MDD communication mode including receiving broadcast data using the DAVIC communication channel and transmitting and receiving unicast data using the DOCSIS communication channel.