Selection of a Proxy Device for a Network
AssigneeComcast Cable Communications, LLC
InventorsChristopher R. Albano, Ross Gilson, Mark Francisco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multiple devices in a user's premises may each be configured to separately communicate with an external network, but the signal strength available to each may vary significantly depending on the wiring of the premises. The disclosure provides methods wherein the various devices may coordinate with one another, and determine which among them has the best signal connection and the most available capacity, and a subset of the devices may be chosen to act as network proxies to relay communications to/from the other devices in the premises.
Claims21
A method for selecting a proxy, comprising:
- selecting a device as a proxy for one or more other devices, wherein the selected and the one or more other devices are connected to a communication network of a user's premises, and wherein said user's premises network is communicatively connected to an external data network;
- and
- using the selected device as a proxy to carry upstream data from the one or more other devices to the external data network.
A method, comprising:
- using a premise's first device as a proxy for a plurality of other devices on the premise to communicate with an external network wherein the first and the plurality of other devices are interconnected via a premise network;
- detecting a topology change in the premise network that changes signal transmission characteristics of the premise network;
- and
- selecting, based on relative signal strengths of the first and plurality of other devices, a second one of the plurality of other devices to serve as a proxy for other devices on the premise to communicate with an external network.
A method, comprising:
- provisioning a plurality of modems for communication with a modem termination system (MTS);
- selecting a first one of the plurality of modems to act as a proxy for the other modems in communicating with the MTS;
- and
- rerouting upstream communications from the other modems to the first one of the modems, instead of the MTS.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.