US 11,239,984 B2Granted

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for static upstream spectrum in cable networks

AssigneeCox Communications, Inc.

InventorJeffrey L. Finkelstein

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to disabling sounding, resource-block allocation, and various full-duplex (FDX) capabilities in a particular portion of a spectrum used in FDX-enabled cable networks. The disclosure further describes using an upstream mode of communication in the particular portion of the spectrum originally designated for FDX communication. In another aspect, the disclosure can thereby facilitate an increase in upstream capacity on the cable network, for example, a fifteen-fold increase in the upstream capacity. In some embodiments, control messages can be transmitted from a controller node to devices on the network periodically, describing the usage of the FDX portion of the spectrum for upstream transmission. The control messages can include medium access control (MAC) management messages and/or tag-length-value (TLV) messages.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A cable modem termination system (CMTS) device comprising memory and processing circuitry, the CMTS device configured to:

determine, by the CMTS device, a group of receiving devices, wherein the group of receiving devices comprises a cable modem;
determine, by the CMTS device, a frequency band for upstream communications from the group of receiving devices to the CMTS device during a time period;
determine, by the CMTS device, to disable sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of receiving devices in the frequency band during the time period;
and
send, by the CMTS device, based on the determination to disable the sounding and resource block allocation, a type-length-value (TLV) message to the group of receiving devices, the TLV message including instructions allowing a use of the frequency band for the upstream communications from the group of receiving devices during the time period,
wherein the TLV message further comprises instructions to disable the sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of receiving devices in the frequency band during the time period, and
wherein disabling the sounding and resource block allocation disables downstream communications in a first portion of the frequency band that uses full-duplex communications and enables downstream communications in a second portion of the frequency band that is limited to the downstream communications.

4 more elements

A system comprising:

a cable modem termination system (CMTS) device comprising memory and processing circuitry;
and
receiving devices comprising memory and processing circuitry;
wherein the CMTS device is configured to:
determine a group of the receiving devices, wherein the group of the receiving devices comprises a cable modem;
determine a frequency band for upstream communications from the group of the receiving devices to the CMTS device during a time period;
determine to disable sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of the receiving devices in the frequency band;
and
send, based on the determination to disable the sounding and resource block allocation, a type-length-value (TLV) message to the group of the receiving devices, the TLV message including instructions allowing a use of the frequency band for the upstream communications from the group of the receiving devices during the time period,
wherein the TLV message further comprises instructions to disable the sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of the receiving devices in the frequency band;
and wherein disabling the sounding and resource block allocation disables downstream communications in a first portion of the frequency band that uses full-duplex communications and enables downstream communications in a second portion of the frequency band that is limited to downstream communications.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/010,127Filed 15 Jun 2018
Published: US 2019/0386808 A119 Dec 2019
Granted: 1 Feb 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04L 5/1415
Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex: using control lines
H04L 5/0048
Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path: allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
H04L 5/0098
Indication of changes in allocation: signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
H04L 5/14
Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path: two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex