Hierarchical flow-level multi-channel communication
US7792034B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/50
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication system that includes a supervisory node (e.g., a headend) and one or more remote nodes (e.g., cable modems). Packets are transmitted between the supervisory node and the one or more remote nodes via RF channels. A plurality of the RF channels are bonded, such that packets may be transmitted via any one or more of the RF channels that are bonded. Bonding may include higher-layer bonding and/or lower-layer bonding. In higher-layer bonding, the communication system further includes a forwarder and a plurality of edge modulators. Each edge modulator is connected to a different RF channel or group of RF channels. The forwarder determines to which edge modulator one or more packets or flows are to be transmitted. In lower-layer bonding, a packet is split into pieces. The pieces are assigned to respective RF channels that are associated with an edge modulator for transmission to a remote node.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.