Flexible upstream resource sharing in cable modem systems
AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.
InventorNurettin Burcak Beser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable modem termination system may include a number of receivers and a number of input ports configured to receive bursts of data from a number of cable modems on a number of channels. At least one receiver of the number of receivers may be configured to receive and decode bursts of data on at least one channel according to a first control signal. An input selector may be connected between the number of input ports and the number of receivers. The input selector may be configured to route bursts of data from the number of input ports to the number of receivers according to a second control signal.
Claims25
A method of dynamically allocating resources in a cable modem system, comprising:
- receiving bursts of data from a plurality of cable modems at a plurality of input ports on a plurality of channels;
- and
- directing the received bursts to a plurality of receivers, including:
- determining an amount of a total capacity of a first channel that is being used by active cable modems associated with the first channel;
- selectively moving one or more inactive cable modems to a second channel when the determined amount of a total capacity of the first channel that is being used is more than a capacity threshold;
- and
- changing mappings of the plurality of channels to the plurality of receivers based on a predetermined dynamic scheme when the determined amount of a total capacity of the first channel that is being used is less than the capacity threshold.
An apparatus for dynamically allocating resources in a cable modem system, comprising:
- a plurality of input ports for receiving bursts of data from a plurality of cable modems on a plurality of channels;
- and
- selection logic configured to direct the received bursts to a plurality of receivers by changing mappings of the plurality of input ports to the plurality of receivers, the selection logic further configured to:
- determine an amount of a total capacity of a first channel that is being used by active cable modems associated with the first channel;
- selectively move one or more inactive cable modems to a second channel when the determined amount of a total capacity of the first channel that is being used is more than a capacity threshold;
- and
- change mappings of the plurality of channels to the plurality of receivers based on a predetermined dynamic scheme when the determined amount of a total capacity of the first channel that is being used is less than the capacity threshold.
A method of dynamically balancing a load from a plurality of registered cable modems in a cable modem system, comprising:
- determining an amount of a total capacity of a first channel that is being used by active cable modems associated with the first channel;
- and
- selectively moving one or more inactive cable modems to a second channel based on the determining, where the selectively moving includes:
- allowing an additional cable modem to use the first channel if said amount of the total capacity plus an estimated capacity usage of the additional cable modem does not exceed a capacity threshold, and
- moving the additional cable modem to the second channel if said amount of the total capacity plus an estimated capacity usage of the additional cable modem exceed the capacity threshold.
A cable modem termination system, comprising:
- a plurality of input ports configured to receive bursts of data from a plurality of cable modems on a plurality of channels;
- a plurality of receivers, at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers configured to receive and decode bursts of data on at least one channel according to a first control signal;
- and
- an input selector connected between the plurality of input ports and the plurality of receivers, the input selector being configured to route bursts of data from the plurality of input ports to the plurality of receivers according to a second control signal, where the second control signal configures the input selector to change the routing of bursts of data from the plurality of input ports to the plurality of receivers, the input selector further configured to:
- determine an amount of a total capacity of a first channel that is being used by active cable modems associated with the first channel;
- selectively move one or more inactive cable modems to a second channel when the determined amount of a total capacity of the first channel that is being used is more than a capacity threshold;
- and
- change mappings of the plurality of channels to the plurality of receivers based on a predetermined dynamic scheme when the determined amount of a total capacity of the first channel that is being used is less than the capacity threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.