Managing upstream transmission in a network
AssigneeComcast Cable Communications, LLC
InventorsJorge Salinger, David Urban
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bandwidth allocation and monitoring method may divide available bandwidth on a shared communication medium into a plurality of discrete tones that can be individually allocated to modems on an as-needed basis. The effective modulation rate that a particular modem can use for each discrete tone can be monitored over time using a schedule of pilot tones transmitted from the modems on different tones at different times. The schedule may define representative pilot tones, in which case effective modulation rates for neighboring tones may be inferred from a determined effective modulation rate of a pilot tone.
Claims42
A system comprising:
- a first device and a second device,
- wherein the first device comprises:
- one or more first processors;
- and
- first memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the first device to:
- receive, from the second device, via a plurality of tones, and during a corresponding plurality of time slots, a plurality of pilot signals;
- determine, for the second device and based on the received plurality of pilot signals, a plurality of effective modulation rates respectively associated with the plurality of tones;
- determine, based on the plurality of effective modulation rates, a tone, of the plurality of tones, for a subsequent transmission from the second device;
- and
- send, to the second device, information indicating the determined tone, and
- wherein the second device comprises:
- one or more second processors;
- and
- second memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the second device to:
- send, to the first device and based on a pilot signal schedule, the plurality of pilot signals;
- and
- receive, from the first device, the information indicating the determined tone.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
- receiving, from a modem, via a plurality of tones, during a corresponding plurality of time slots, and based on a pilot signal schedule, a plurality of pilot signals;
- determining, for the modem and based on the received plurality of pilot signals, a plurality of effective modulation rates respectively associated with the plurality of tones;
- determining, based on the plurality of effective modulation rates, a tone, of the plurality of tones, for a subsequent transmission from the modem;
- and
- sending, to the modem, information indicating the determined tone.
An apparatus comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
- receive, from a modem, via a plurality of tones, during a corresponding plurality of time slots, and based on a pilot signal schedule, a plurality of pilot signals;
- determine, for the modem and based on the received plurality of pilot signals, a plurality of effective modulation rates respectively associated with the plurality of tones;
- determine, based on the plurality of effective modulation rates, a tone, of the plurality of tones, for a subsequent transmission from the modem;
- and
- send, to the modem, information indicating the determined tone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.