Patent · US Expired

Configuration file download enforcement

US7334258B1 · kind B1 · utility

24Cited by
6References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 9, 2002
Grant dateFeb 19, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 29, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W12/08
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for detecting or preventing unauthorized upgrades to a customer's quality of service in an access data network. Several aspects of the invention require customer nodes to properly perform an initialization procedure. For example, the initialization procedure may involve making a request to a server controlled by, or at least trusted by, the service provider. The initialization procedure may involve downloading a configuration file, such as a DOCSIS configuration file, from the trusted server. According to some such aspects of the invention, nodes that cannot properly perform the initialization procedure are prevented from coming online. According to other such aspects of the invention, nodes that cannot properly perform the initialization procedure are marked. A warning may be sent to marked nodes. A customer associated with a marked node may be charged a higher rate for service.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.