Method and apparatus for the reduction of upstream request processing latency in a cable modem termination system
US7782855B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L47/821
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Upstream requests such a bandwidth requests, are processed by CMTS out of order on a priority basis to reduce latency in responding to the request. Specifically, a cable modem termination system (CMTS) is connected to a plurality of cable modems by a cable plant. The CMTS has a burst receiver adapted to be connected to the cable plant to process upstream data packet units and bandwidth requests transmitted by the cable modems. Each packet includes a header that uniquely distinguishes the bandwidth requests from other data types. Packet data units are arranged in a first memory queue. Bandwidth requests are arranged in a second memory queue. The headers of the packets processed by the burst receiver are inspected as they arrive at the CMTS to determine if the packets are packet data units or bandwidth requests. Packet data units are routed to the first memory queue. Bandwidth requests are routed to the second memory queue. Bandwidth allocation MAP messages are generated from the bandwidth requests stored in the second queue and transmitted downstream to the cable modems. The packet data units stored in the first queue are coupled to a data output for further distribution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.