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

• US 20070223513A1
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• 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: Hou, Victor T., Pantelias, Niki Roberta
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/442
• 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. A system for allocating a single logical upstream channel, identified by an upstream channel identifier (UCID), to cable modems of different communications standards, the system comprising:

(a) a cable modem termination system that sends a plurality of upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) of a plurality of types, where said UCDs each include the UCID that identifies the single logical upstream channel;

(b) a plurality of cable modems of a plurality of communications standards, such that said plurality of cable modems receives said plurality of UCDs and transmits upstream data over the single logical upstream channel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system operates under a version of the Data Over Cable Interface Standard (DOCSIS).

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said UCD types include DOCSIS upstream channel descriptor type 2.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said UCD types include DOCSIS upstream channel descriptor type 29.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said UCD types include DOCSIS upstream channel descriptor type 35.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of communications standards of said plurality of cable modems comprises a version of DOCSIS 1.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of communications standards of said plurality of cable modems comprises DOCSIS 2.0.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of communications standards of said plurality of cable modems comprises DOCSIS 3.0.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of UCDs comprises:

a DOCSIS UCD of type 29; and

a DOCSIS UCD of type 35.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of UCDs comprises:

a DOCSIS UCD of type 2; and

a DOCSIS UCD of type 35.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of UCDs comprises:

a DOCSIS UCD of type 2;

a DOCSIS UCD of type 29; and

a DOCSIS UCD of type 35.

12. A system for allocating a single logical upstream channel, identified by an upstream channel identifier (UCID), to end user devices of different communications standards, the system comprising:

(a) a central controller that sends a plurality of upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) of a plurality of types, where said UCDs each include the UCID that identifies the single logical upstream channel;

(b) a plurality of end user devices of a plurality of communications standards, such that said plurality of end user devices receives said plurality of UCDs and transmits upstream data over the single logical upstream channel.