Cisco Technology, Inc.

Erik J Synnestvedt

Richard Woundy

Joshua B Littlefield

Kenneth Kinnear, Jr

Gregory Faison Morris

Timothy Webb

Greg Morris

Phillip T DiBello

Michael Hansen

Andrew H Sudduth

Richard A Coco

Kenneth I Oliver

Hugh W Gabrielson

Samer Seoud

A method for establishing class of service configuration in a network device of a broadband cable network using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is disclosed. A request to obtain a network address presented using DHCP is received from a network interface unit over the cable network, generally upon boot up of the network interface unit. A DHCP message is received from a registration center, and the message includes a network address and a quality of service code value associated with the network interface unit. Based on the quality of service code value, a quality of service configuration is established in the cable network for the network interface unit. As a result, quality of service information is obtained for each network interface unit in the network, specifically when the network interface unit is activated, and as part of its boot-up sequence. Carrying the quality of service information in a DHCP message enables configuration of the network rapidly and without introducing an additional protocol.

Method and apparatus for establishing class of service configuration in a network device of a broadband cable network using dynamic host configuration protocol

A method and apparatus for generating configuration files using policy descriptions is provided. The present invention provides a method of generating a binary configuration file by receiving an identification encoded filename, parsing the identification encoded filename to determine identification parameters, matching the identification parameters to a set of configuration policy data to create configuration file parameters, and generating the binary configuration file from the configuration file parameters. The identification encoded filename can be can be run through an authentication check to provide increased security. Once created, the binary configuration file can also be validated, providing increased integrity. In one aspect of the present invention implemented is provided on a TFTP server. In another aspect of the invention an LDAP server is queried for certain configuration policy data, the configuration policy data being optionally cached on the TFTP server. The resulting configuration can be generated according to the DOCSIS configuration file standard, including removing non-version applicable DOCSIS configuration file parameters. The present invention can also be used to generate an annotated configuration file from the configuration file parameters, the annotated configuration file being viewable through a user interface.

Method and apparatus for generating configuration files using policy descriptions

Growing community of inventors

Watertown, MA, United States of America

Erik J Synnestvedt