Patent · US Active

Downstream remote physical interface for modular cable modem termination system

US7688828B2 · kind B2 · utility

35Cited by
69References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 2005
Grant dateMar 30, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 19, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L2212/00
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A modular Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) includes a packet shelf operating a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) Media Access Control (MAC) framer. One or more downstream Physical Interface (PHY) shelves receive DOCSIS data from the packet shelf over a packet switched network and modulate the DOCSIS data for sending on a downstream path of a cable plant. One or more upstream PHY shelves send DOCSIS data received from an upstream path of the cable plant over the packet switched network to the packet shelf. By separating the PHY components from the MAC and from the system software, the PHY components for a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) plant may be replaced with different PHY components for other access technologies such as wireless, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), Ethernet-to-the-Home, Fiber-to-the-Home, or fiber Passive Optical Networks (PONs).

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