Method and apparatus for improved data channel transmission in a digital network
AssigneeAgere Systems Inc.
InventorsSeong-Hwan Kim, James M. Sepko, Sundar Vedantham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A integrated circuit device for use in a line card of a digital networking system is capable of intercepting one or more control messages corresponding to a requested data channel sent from at least one customer premises equipment (CPE) device. The integrated circuit device is also capable of receiving a plurality of data channels from a data server of the digital networking system and providing the one or more requested data channels to the at least one CPE device, thereby providing faster data channel selecting and switching capabilities.
Claims24
An integrated circuit device for use in a line card in a network node of a digital networking system, the network node further comprising an uplink card configured for receiving a plurality of data channels from a data server of the digital network system and providing the plurality of data channels to each of a plurality of line cards in the network node, wherein the integrated circuit device in communication with a processor is configured for intercepting one or more control messages from at least one customer premises equipment (CPE) device, the one or more control messages comprising one or more data channel requests that remain in the plurality of line cards without reaching the uplink card, receiving the plurality of data channels from the uplink card in advance of the data channel requests, providing the one or more requested data channels from at least one of the plurality of line cards to the at least one CPE device in response to the one or more control messages, and maintaining a table comprising a currently requested data channel for each of the at least one CPE devices.
An apparatus for use in a network node of a digital networking system, the apparatus comprising an uplink card configured for receiving a plurality of data channels from a data server of the digital networking system and providing the plurality of data channels to each of a plurality of line cards in the apparatus, each of the plurality of line cards comprising an integrated circuit device in communication with a processor configured for intercepting one or more control messages from at least one customer premises equipment (CPE) device, the one or more control messages comprising one or more data channel requests that remain in the plurality of line cards without reaching the uplink card, receiving the plurality of data channels from the uplink card in advance of the data channel requests, providing the one or more requested data channels from at least one of the plurality of line cards to the at least one CPE device in response to the one or more control messages, and maintaining a table comprising a currently requested data channel for each of the at least one CPE devices.
A digital networking system comprising:
- a data server capable of transmitting a plurality of data channels;
- at least one customer premises equipment (CPE) device capable of transmitting one or more control messages each comprising one or more data channel requests;
- and
- at least one network node comprising an uplink card configured for receiving a plurality of data channels from a data server of the digital networking system and providing the plurality of data channels to each of a plurality of line cards in the network node, each of the plurality of line cards having an integrated circuit device in communication with a processor configured for intercepting one or more control messages from the at least one CPE device, wherein the one or more data channel requests remain in the plurality of line cards without reaching the uplink card, receiving the plurality of data channels from the uplink card in advance of the data channel requests, providing the one or more requested data channels from at least one of the plurality of line cards to the at least one CPE device in response to the one or more control messages, and maintaining a table comprising a currently requested data channel for each of the at least one CPE devices.
A method of providing a data channel to a customer premises equipment (CPE) device in a digital networking system comprising the steps of:
- receiving a plurality of data channels at one or more uplink cards of a network node from a data server of the digital networking system;
- providing the plurality of data channels to each of a plurality of line cards of the network node from the one or more uplink cards;
- intercepting one or more control messages, each comprising one or more data channel requests and from a CPE device, at one or more of the line cards, wherein the one or more data channel requests remain in the plurality of line cards without reaching the one or more uplink cards, and wherein the plurality of data channels are provided to each of the plurality of line cards from the one or more uplink cards in advance of the data channel requests;
- providing, in response to the one or more control messages, one or more requested data channels to the one or more CPE devices from at least one of the plurality of line cards through an integrated circuit device of the line card in communication with a processor of the line card;
- and
- maintaining a table comprising a currently requested data channel for each of the one or more CPE devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.