Broadcom Corporation

Rocco Brescia

Alan Gin

Dorothy D Lin

David Hartman

Mark Dale

Jen-chieh Chien

Kelly Brian Cameron

Steven T Jaffe

Stephen Edward Krafft

Adel Fanous

Alan Y Kwentus

Ravi Bhaskaran

Joyce Wang

Jen-chieh (Jack) Chien

Anders Hebsgaard

Hebsgaard Anders

In a satellite gateway, data is transmitted over a downstream channel at different throughput rates. Data destined for each subscriber/receiver is assigned a throughput rate depending upon the downstream signal quality of that subscriber/receiver. The downstream data is parsed to extract data packets. The data packets are then loaded into packet queues based on an identifier within such packets. The queues represent a bandwidth efficiency or throughput rate that can be currently tolerated by specific subscribers that may also be based on the current signal quality at a subscriber location. The parsed data traffic is processed based on the profile of the plurality of profiles to produce processed data traffic, and transmitted from the packet queues over a downstream channel.

Downstream time domain based adaptive modulation for DOCSIS based applications

In a DOCSIS based satellite gateway data is transmitted over a single downstream channel, at different throughput rates. Data destined for each subscriber/receiver is assigned a throughput rate depending upon the downstream signal quality of that subscriber/receiver. To accomplish this, the downstream DOCSIS MAC data is parsed to extract DOCSIS packets. The DOCSIS packets are then loaded into packet queues based on an identifier within such packets such as the MAC destination address or SID. Each of the queues represents a bandwidth efficiency or throughput rate that can be currently tolerated by specific subscribers based on the current signal quality being experienced at the subscriber location. A PHY-MAP describing the downstream data structure to be transmitted and inserted into the downstream data. Data is extracted from the packet queues in queue blocks as defined by the PHY-MAP. The queue blocks are modulated with transmission parameters appropriate for each queue block and transmitted to the DOCSIS based satellite modems. The satellite modems extract the PHY-MAP from the downstream data and use the information contained in it to demodulate and decode the queue for which they have sufficient downstream signal quality. Satellite modems measure and transmit downstream signal quality to the satellite gateway to be used to assigned traffic to the appropriate queues.

A method, apparatus and computer program product for generating and processing upstream channel descriptor (UCD) messages in a DOCSIS-based broadband communications system, such as a DOCSIS-based two-way satellite communications system, is provided. A satellite modem termination system (SMTS) generates a UCD message that includes one or more standard parameters pertaining to an upstream channel of the two-way satellite communications system, wherein the one or more standard parameters are defined in accordance with the DOCSIS protocol, and one or more satellite application-specific parameters pertaining to the upstream channel, wherein the one or more satellite application specific parameters are not provided for by the DOCSIS protocol. The UCD message is transmitted to a satellite modem that extracts both the standard and satellite application-specific parameters for use in managing communication over the upstream channel.

Modified upstream channel descriptor messages for DOCSIS-based broadband communication systems

Provided is a method and system for transmitting MPEG frames between a DOCSIS based satellite modem termination system (SMTS) and a corresponding satellite modem (SM) system. The method includes identifying at least one data stream requiring transmission between the SMTS and the SM, the data stream including one or more MPEG frames. Next, the MPEG frames are organized within SMTS data queues based upon predetermined parameters and then transmitted based upon their organization within the data queues.

Method and system for adaptive modulation scheduling

Satellite communications are carried out using the Data Over Cable Interface Specification (DOCSIS). Satellite modems are notified of upstream channel congestion by inserting a congestion notification message in a medium access protocol (MAP) message for the upstream channel. Specifically, the congestion notification message is inserted in an unused field of the MAP message, such as the explicit congestion notification (ECN) field. The MAP message can also carry other characteristics of the upstream channel, including priority threshold, multicast access burst availability, and available bandwidth.

Explicit congestion notification for DOCSIS based broadband communication systems

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Newport Coast, CA, United States of America

Rocco Brescia