3Com Corporation

Utstarcom, Incorporated

At+t Corp.

John G Fijolek

Nurettin B Beser

Ali Akgun

Philip T Robinson

Irene Gilbert

Ronald B Lee

Levent Gun

Dan Budinger

Vikram Swamy

Bruce M Bales

Stephen M Thieler

Matthew H Harper

Mark O Vogel

Guanglu Wang

Kris Kelkar

Donald D Gallagher

Robert L Lien

Ted M Fidder

Yuri Arutyunov

William Necka

John Hamrick

Jaideep Kulkarni

Rita Shammas

Steven W Sangston

Mikhail Voldman

Daniel M Budinger

Phillip T Robinson

Narij Jain

Shahidur Khan

Matthew Tooley

Vojislav V Vucetic

A remote service forwarding (RSF) system allows the telephone service user to access the subscribed services via different access devices without the loss of service. The system allows a user to access different systems or uses dissimilar phone devices or different service providers by porting services over an IP connection. The user may access subscribed services such as Centrex or PBX services over a mobile IP connection.

Method for remote service forwarding (RSF) between dissimilar systems with operator, service and location portability

A method and system for policy provisioning and access managing on a data-over-cable system. One method includes receiving a first message on a first network device such as a CMTS from a second network device and marking the first message with an identifier of a network access device. The method further includes intercepting the first message on a third network device prior to a first protocol network server such as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol ('DHCP') server receives the first message. When the third network device intercepts the first message, the third network device determines the identity of the second network device. Based on the identity of the second network device and using the identifier of the network access device, the third network device manages an assignment of configuration parameters for the second network device.

Method and system for integrating IP address reservations with policy provisioning

System and method for providing a multi-frequency upstream transmission channel to a network device. When a headend network entity generates an upstream channel descriptor message, the descriptor message includes at least two upstream frequencies available for upstream transmission, and a frequency hopping descriptor with a frequency-hopping pattern associated with the available frequencies for determining an upstream frequency for upstream transmission. The headend provides a timing reference for determining upstream transmission periods on the frequencies available on the network device. When the headend receives upstream transmission on one of the available upstream frequencies, the headend network entity determines frequency distortions. If the distortions exceed a threshold level, the headend may send a new upstream channel descriptor message that excludes the upstream frequency associated with the high frequency distortions, add a new upstream frequency, or defines a new frequency-hopping pattern.

System and method for a multi-frequency upstream channel in a computer network

A system and methods for traffic gating in a computer network comprising a plurality of subnets are developed. One of the methods implemented in a data-over-cable system includes, responsive to receiving a first address resolution request message on a cable modem from a first host to a second host, generating a second address resolution request message on the cable modem and sending it to the second host. If the second host does not respond with an address resolution protocol reply message to the second request message, the cable modem determines a network subnet associated with the first host. Based on the network subnet, the cable modem determines a network address of a network element arranged to provide routing services to hosts on the subnet associated with the first host. Next, the cable modem generates an address resolution reply message including the network address of the network element and sends it to the first host.

System and method for resolving network addresses for network devices on distributed network subnets

A method and system for load balancing in a network system such as a data-over-cable system. One method includes receiving a first message on a first network device such as a cable modem termination system ('CMTS') from a second network device and marking the first message with an identifier of a network access device. The method further includes intercepting the first message on a third network device such as a provisioning/access manager prior to any first protocol server such a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server receives the first message. When the third network device intercepts the first message, the third network device determines capabilities of the second network device and applies a set of rules to load balance any requests between a plurality of channel pairs. Each charmel pair is associated with at least one capability of a network device and also has a load factor parameter and a threshold value defining a capacity of a channel pair. The third network device assigns the second network device to a predetermined channel pair based on the capabilities of the second network device, a load factor of the channel pair and a capacity of the channel pair.

System and method for automatic load balancing in a data-over-cable network

A routing Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) configured to enable Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE). The routing CMTS may bridge Ethernet frames related to a PPPoE connection from a first network to a second network. Bridging Ethernet frames allows terminals in different networks to establish a PPPoE connection. A routing CMTS may also collect state information regarding PPPoE connections. The routing CMTS may use the state information to only bridge Ethernet frames related to valid PPPoE connections. It may act as a firewall to prevent spoofing attacks.

Method and apparatus for PPPoE bridging in a routing CMTS

A method and system for dynamic service registration, activation and deactivation on a data-over-cable system. A first network device, such as a cable modem with associated service devices (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol telephones) sends a first message to another network device, such as a cable modem termination system. The first message includes multiple service parameters for a desired service requested by a service device associated with the first network device. The multiple service parameters are extracted from the first message. A service session profile is created for the desired service. The service session profile includes one or more of the extracted service parameters required by the desired service. The service session profile is used by a service server associated with the cable modem termination system to provide a desired service. The service session profile is associated with a deferred inactive service identifier for the cable modem. The deferred inactive service identifier is returned to the cable modem in a second message. The deferred inactive service identifier is used at a later time by a service device associated with the cable modem to activate the desired service and to generate a service event on a service server. The service event may include an authentication, authorization, accounting or other event. A deferred service can be activated and deactivated used even after a network device, such as a cable modem, has already established a session with another network device, such as a cable modem termination system, on a data-over-cable system.

Method and system for dynamic service registration in a data-over-cable system

The present invention provides a method for testing and diagnosing a cable modem termination system, using a hand-held computing device. The hand-held computing device establishes a connection with the cable modem termination system through a wireless infrared and radio frequency connection, a serial, or a local area network connection. After the connection is established, a set of commands residing in the hand-held device are transmitted to configure the cable modem termination system. The cable modem termination system sends back a response that is displayed on a command screen of the hand-held device to identify status and error messages. A cable modem termination system operator can send a set of configuration instructions to the cable modem termination system by utilizing stored sets of configuration instructions. Using the hand-held device allows easy accessibility in remote locations with limited space for diagnostics and equipment.

Method and apparatus for performing system diagnostics on a cable modem termination system using a hand held computing device

A method and system for network address maintenance in a data-over-cable system. The method includes determining whether a network device, such as a cable modem, responds to a request in a timely manner. When updating network address tables, such as Address Resolution Protocol tables, an Internet Control Message Protocol (&ldquo;ICMP&rdquo;) echo message is generated and sent to the Internet Protocol (&ldquo;IP&rdquo;) address of a network device. If an ICMP echo reply message is not detected within a pre-determined time, the network address is deleted from the network address table. The deletion of the network address ensures that the device is isolated from the network. The method and system provide for the rapid removal of stale network addresses, freeing valuable memory space, and increasing security in a data-over-cable system.

Method for network address table maintenance in a data-over-cable system using destination reachibility

A method for network address maintenance in a data-over-cable system. The method includes receiving a message containing a first network address, such as an Internet Protocol address, to be stored in a network address table, such as an Address Resolution Protocol table. If the first network address equates to a second network address stored in the network address table, one or more network addresses associated with the second network address are deleted from the network address table. A third network address is then stored in the network address table. The method provides for the removal of stale network addresses, freeing memory space and increasing security in the data-over-cable system.

System and method for network address maintenance using dynamic host configuration protocol messages in a data-over-cable system

A method and system for provisioning network addresses in a data-over-cable system. Provisioning of network addresses allows multiple &ldquo;always-on&rdquo; network devices with multiple associated devices to be used on a data-over-cable system with a limited public network address pool. The &ldquo;always-on&rdquo; network devices provide services, such as, Voice over Internet Protocol (&ldquo;VoIP&rdquo;), that typically require instant access to data-over-cable system. Network devices such as &ldquo;always-on&rdquo; cable modems may allocated private network addresses (e.g., Internet Protocol addresses) on the data-over-cable system. The private network addresses are not addressable outside the data-over-cable system. Other network devices associated with the cable modems, such as customer premise equipment, may be allocated public network addresses (e.g., Internet Protocol Addresses) on the data-over-cable system. The public network addresses are addressable outside the data-over-cable system. The network address provisioning is accomplished by selecting a private network address marker and a public network address marker for selected network devices and using an extended Address Resolution Protocol table to determine a device type. The private network address marker or public network address marker is added to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol message field by a cable modem termination system. A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server uses the private or public address marker to allocate a private network address or a public network address on the data-over-cable system. The provisioning of network addresses allows two or more virtual networks to be created on the data-over-cable system, and may reduce a number of public network addresses required for a data-over-cable system.

Method and system for provisioning network addresses in a data-over-cable system

A method and system for network address maintenance in a data-over-cable system. The method includes determining whether a network device, such as a cable modem, registers in a timely manner. When updating network address tables, such as Address Resolution Protocol tables, a time value is associated with an address, such as an Internet Protocol (&ldquo;IP&rdquo;) address, of a network device. If a time between two registration events exceeds this time value, the network address is deleted from the network address table. The deletion of the network address ensures that the device is isolated from the network. The method and system provide for the rapid removal of stale network addresses, freeing valuable memory space, and increasing security in a data-over-cable system.

Method for network address table maintenance in a data-over-cable system using a network device registration procedure

A method and system for quality-of-service in a data-over-cable system is provided. A cable modem in a data-over-cable system makes a connection request to a cable modem termination system with a requested quality-of-service. The requested quality-of-service includes class-of-service, quality-of-service and other related parameters. The connection request is sent from a cable modem or a cable modem termination system to a Quality-of-Service (&ldquo;QoS&rdquo;) server. The OoS server determines if the cable modem termination system has enough bandwidth to make the connection to the cable modem with the requested quality-of-service. If the cable modem termination system has enough bandwidth, a quality-of-service identifier is to returned to the cable modem termination system. The cable modem termination system uses the quality-of-service identifier to make a connection to the cable modem with the requested QoS to the cable modem. The QoS server reduces the computational burden and complexity of software on the cable modem termination system. The QoS server is flexible and adaptable to new QoS parameters and provides a standard way to balance QoS requests among multiple cable modem termination systems.

Method and system for providing quality-of-service in a data-over-cable system

A method and system for virtual network administration with a data-over-cable system. A virtual networking tag and a network address (e.g., an Internet Protocol address) assigned by a network other than a data-over-cable system is used to provide a virtual network to one or more network devices, such as cable modems via a data-over-cable system. The virtual networking tag may also be used to request a desired service class (e.g., Class-of-Service, Quality-of-Service, Type-of-Service, Service Level Agreements, etc.), for a desired end-to-end networking service (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol). The virtual networking tag can be mapped to a data-over-cable service class. The data-over-cable service class can be mapped into a transport service class for a transport network. The virtual networking tag is used to provide a desired end-to-end networking service from a network device on a first external network (e.g., an Ethernet Local Area Network), through the data-over-cable system, through a transport network (e.g., Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, Frame Relay, Integrated Services Digital Network, Synchronous Optical Network, Voice over Internet Protocol, etc.) and to a second external network (e.g., another Ethernet Local Area Network). The method and system are used to provide a variety of networking services via and through a data-over-cable system.

Method and system for virtual network administration with a data-over cable system

The present invention relates to an improved mounting for stacking modem devices. Each mounting includes stacking feet and stacking slots that permit the mountings to be securely stacked on top of one another. Each mounting is configured to receive a modem device. Each mounting also includes connectors configured to interconnect with corresponding connectors of the modem device. For instance, each mounting and the modem have interconnecting power connections, RJ-45 connections, cable connections, and serial data connections. The modem devices can be slid into place for testing, initialization or installation without disassembling the stack. The present invention also provides configuring the mountings so the multiple modem devices can be connected back to back and communicating without a hybrid fiber/coax network connection.

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

John G Fijolek