# US 10,771,278 B2 · Progressive modulation for downstream access > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,278 B2 - Document ID: US10771278B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/188,962 - Filed: 2018-11-13 - Published: 2019-03-14 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-16 - Assignees: Entropic Communications, Inc. - Applicants: Entropic Communications, LLC - Inventors: Chi-ping Nee; Michail Tsatsanis; David Barr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771278B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/2861: {Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers} - H04B 7/15557: {Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode} - H04L 5/16: Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals {non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission} - H04L 12/2801: {Broadband local area networks} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A method, system and computer program for transmitting at least two payloads in a downstream traffic phase of a time-division duplex (TDD) cycle with a single preamble from a headend followed by concatenated payloads without intervening preambles, whereby the payloads are ranked by increasing modulation profiles. The preamble, and concatenated and ordered set of payloads are then transmitted to two or more predetermined customer premise equipments (CPEs). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method in a communication network node of receiving a payload in a downstream traffic phase of a time-division duplex (TDD) cycle, the method comprising: receiving a preamble of a message comprising: the preamble; and a plurality of payloads following the preamble, wherein the plurality of payloads are arranged in an order of increasing modulation profile and there is no intervening preamble between adjacent ones of the plurality of payloads; identifying a payload of the plurality of payloads; determining, based at least in part on the preamble, how to properly receive the identified payload; and receiving the identified payload. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the network node is a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) of a premises-based coaxial cable network; and the network node receives the preamble and the identified payload from a Network Coordinator (NC) node of the premises-based coaxial cable network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the network node receives the preamble and the identified payload from a head end node. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the preamble comprises physical (PHY) layer parameters for the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein there is no intervening information between adjacent ones of the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the node is a closest node to a transmitter of the message, and the identified payload is a last payload of the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of payloads are arranged in an order of increasing degrees of Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). ### Claim 8 A method in a communication network node of receiving a payload in a downstream traffic phase of a time-division duplex (TDD) cycle, the method comprising: receiving a first message identifying a payload of a plurality of payloads, where the identified payload is to be communicated to the node; receiving a second message comprising: a preamble; and a plurality of payloads following the preamble, wherein the plurality of payloads comprise the identified payload and are arranged in an order of increasing modulation profile; determining, based at least in part on the preamble, how to properly decode the identified payload; and decoding the identified payload. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein: the network node is a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) of a premises-based coaxial cable network; and the network node receives the preamble and the identified payload from a Network Coordinator (NC) node of the premises-based coaxial cable network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the preamble comprises physical (PHY) layer parameters for the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein there is no intervening preamble between adjacent ones of the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein there is no intervening information between adjacent ones of the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the node is a closest node to a transmitter of the message, and the identified payload is a last payload of the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of payloads are arranged in an order of increasing degrees of Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). ### Claim 15 A method in a communication network node of receiving a payload in a downstream traffic phase of a time-division duplex (TDD) cycle, the method comprising: receiving a message from a transmitting node, the packet comprising: a preamble; and a plurality of payloads following the preamble, wherein the plurality of payloads are arranged in an order based on distance from the transmitting node and there is no intervening preamble between adjacent ones of the plurality of payloads; identifying a payload of the plurality of payloads; determining, based at least in part on the preamble, how to properly receive the identified payload; and receiving the identified payload. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of payloads are arranged in an order of decreasing distance from the transmitting node. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: the network node is a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) of a premises-based coaxial cable network; and the transmitting node comprises a Network Coordinator (NC) node of the premises-based coaxial cable network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein there is no intervening preamble between adjacent ones of the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the preamble comprises physical (PHY) layer parameters for the plurality of payloads. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein there is no intervening information between adjacent ones of the plurality of payloads.