US 6,650,624 B1 · Cable modem apparatus and method

Abstract

A number of features for enhancing the performance of a cable transmission system in which data is transmitted between a cable modem termination system at a headend and a plurality of cable modems located different distances from the headend. The power transmission level, slot timing, and equalization of the cable modems are set by a ranging process. Data is transmitted by the modems in fragmented form. Various measures are taken to make transmission from the cable modems robust. The upstream data transmission is controlled to permit multiple access from the cable modems.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A cable modem termination system, comprising:

a burst receiver that receives a signal transmitted via an upstream channel of a cable modem system and generates statistics relating to traffic on said upstream channel, said burst receiver including a demodulator that converts said received signal to binary data;
a media access control that includes a counter that accumulates said statistics;
and
a signal path that couples said burst receiver to said media access control and carries said binary data and said statistics from said burst receiver to said media access control;
wherein said binary data and said statistics are encapsulated within a data block, said statistics are encapsulated within a header of said data block to distinguish said statistics from said binary data, and wherein said statistics are included within a status byte of said data block header of said data block.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/574,558Filed 19 May 2000 · continuation

Priority

30 Oct 1998

Granted

18 Nov 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

H04L 25/03343
Arrangements for removing intersymbol interference: arrangements at the transmitter end
H04J 3/1694
In which the time allocation to individual channels within a transmission cycle is variable, e.g. to accommodate varying complexity of signals,…
H04L 1/0003
By adapting the transmission rate: by switching between different modulation schemes
H04L 1/0009
Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff: by adapting the channel coding

Family

Application60/106,264Us provisional application · filed 30 Oct 1998

Application60/106,427Us provisional application · filed 30 Oct 1998

Application60/106,438Us provisional application · filed 30 Oct 1998

Application60/106,439Us provisional application · filed 30 Oct 1998

Application60/106,440Us provisional application · filed 30 Oct 1998

Application60/106,441Us provisional application · filed 30 Oct 1998

Application09/430,821Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Oct 1999

US 6,650,624 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Cable modem apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Cable modem apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17