Broadcom Corporation

Yushan Lu

Niki Roberta Pantelias

Lisa Voigt Denney

David Dworkin

Gerald Grand

Son Dinh Nguyen

David Roger Dworkin

A media access controller (MAC) configurable for first and second modes of operation is provided. The MAC includes an uplink processor coupled to a plurality of uplink channels, a downlink processor coupled to a downlink, and a MAP parser coupled to the downlink processor. The downlink processor is configured to provide information to the downlink channel, including bandwidth allocation map ('MAP') messages. Each MAP message is associated with one of the plurality of uplink channels or an uplink channel associated with one or more other MACs. The MAP parser is configured to control the MAC to receive information from a first set of one or more of the plurality of uplink channels in first mode and from a second set of one or more of the plurality of uplink channels in second mode.

Systems for flexible wireless channel association

A method of receiving information from one or more wireless uplink channels is provided. The method includes receiving information at a media access controller (MAC) from a first set of one or more wireless uplink channels in response to bandwidth allocation map (MAP) messages sent from the MAC and receiving information at the MAC from a second set of one or more wireless uplink channels in response to MAP messages sent by another MAC.

Methods for flexible wireless channel association

A supervisory communications device, such as a base station within a wireless network, monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote communications devices, such as mobile nodes, throughout a widely distributed network, including the Internet. The supervisory device establishes the upstream slot structure and allocates upstream bandwidth by sending messages over its downstream channel. The supervisory device also uses the messages and minislot counts to anticipate bursts from the remote devices. Dual registers are provided within the supervisory device to generate minislot counts. A primary register generates minislot counts for a current slot structure, and a secondary register generates minislot counts for a revised slot structure. Software executed on the supervisory device determines a switchover time for changing to the revised slot structure and revised minislot count. Prior to switchover, the revised minislot count is passed to the current slot structure processor allowing it to anticipate bursts from the remote devices using the revised slot structure. At switchover, the supervisory device also switches the revised clock along with the revised slot structure, deactivates the primary register, and switches to the secondary register to provide a seamless transition in real time.

Method for real-time change of slot duration within a wireless network

System for real-time change of slot duration within a wireless network

A supervisory communications system (such as, a headend cable modem termination system) manages communications with a plurality of remote communications devices (such as, a cable modem). The supervisory system enables each of its physical channels to have multiple logical channels, with each logical channel having differing channel parameters or operating characteristics. As a result, different types of communication devices are permitted to coexist on the same physical spectrum. In other words, a communications device using, for example, spread spectrum modulation technologies require different operating characteristics than a communications device using, for example, time division multiplexing technologies. Although physical layer transmissions from these communications devices are not compatible, the present invention provides methodologies and/or techniques that define multiple logical channels that allow these communications devices to share the same physical spectrum of a transmission medium (such as, a HFC cable plant, wireless path, etc.) and send upstream transmissions to a single upstream receiver.

Supporting multiple logical channels in a physical interface

A supervisory communications device, such as a headend device within a cable communications network, monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote communications devices, such as cable modems, throughout a widely distributed network. The supervisory device allocates bandwidth on the upstream channels by sending MAP messages over its downstream channel. A master-slave interface permits a second supervisory device to be connected to increase the number of available upstream channels. When one device operates as the slave device to the other, the slave device is programmable to select MAP messages from either of the master device or the slave device. A primary filter and a slave filter are provided to specify which downstream channel(s) has the authority to issue MAP messages for each available upstream channel. The filters utilizes registers to authenticate the source of the MAP messages. If properly authenticated, the MAP messages are forwarded to a parse processor to format the MAP messages, and send the MAP messages to a MAP FIFO to associate the upstream channel(s) with the appropriate source downstream channel.

Method and system for flexible channel association

A supervisory communications device, such as a headend device within a cable communications network, monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote communications devices, such as cable modems, throughout a widely distributed network, including the Internet. The supervisory device establishes the upstream slot structure and allocates upstream bandwidth by sending UCD and MAP messages over its downstream channel. The supervisory device also uses the MAP messages and minislot counts to anticipate bursts from the remote devices. Dual registers are provided within the supervisory device to generate minislot counts. A primary register generates minislot counts for a current slot structure, and a secondary register generates minislot counts for a revised slot structure. Software executed on the supervisory device determines a switchover time for changing to the revised slot structure and revised minislot count. Prior to switchover, the revised minislot count is passed to the current slot structure processor allowing it to anticipate bursts from the remote devices using the revised slot structure. At switchover, the supervisory device also switches the revised clock along with the revised slot structure, deactivates the primary register, and switches to the secondary register to provide a seamless transition in real time.

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Yushan Lu