Method and system for allocating bandwidth based on transmission power of devices transmitting over communication channels in a network

A method of operating a communications system that consists of a network-edge device coupled to a plurality of user devices, wherein a set of the user devices are transmitting at substantially their respective maximum transmit power, the method comprising:

• establishing connection and registration with devices on a first upstream channel;
• determining whether each of the user devices is transmitting on the first upstream channel at a power level substantially its maximum output power level;
• measuring the received signal power of user devices transmitting at substantially their maximum output power level at the network-edge device;
• scanning the characteristics of at least one other upstream channel;
• selecting from the at least one other scanned upstream channels a second upstream channel that can accommodate upstream transmissions from the devices determined to be operating at substantially their respective maximum output power without adversely affecting upstream transmissions from user devices that are not operating at substantially their maximum output power level;
• sending a channel change request from the network-edge device to user devices that are transmitting at a power level substantially their respective maximum upstream transmit power level that instructs the devices to tuning to the second upstream channel;
• modifying transmission characteristics of the first upstream channel to provide better service to user devices still transmitting over it.

A network-edge device comprising computer-readable media operable to be executed by the network edge device, and upon execution being configured to cause the network-edge device to:

• establish connection and registration with devices on a first upstream channel;
• determine whether each of a plurality of user devices is transmitting on the first upstream channel at a power level substantially its maximum output power level;
• measure the received signal power of user devices that are transmitting at substantially their maximum output level at the network-edge device;
• scan the characteristics of at least one other upstream channel;
• select from the at least one other scanned upstream channels a second upstream channel that can accommodate upstream transmissions from the devices determined to be operating at substantially their respective maximum output power without adversely affecting upstream transmissions from user devices that are not operating substantially their maximum output power level;
• send a channel change request from the network-edge device to user devices that are transmitting at a power level substantially their respective maximum upstream transmit power level that instructs the devices to tuning to the second upstream channel;
• modify transmission characteristics of the first upstream channel to provide better service to user devices still transmitting over the first upstream channel.