Abstract: An example method for managing time offset and frequency drift in asynchronous Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) Remote Physical layer (R-PHY) network environments is provided and includes receiving, at a first hardware device, time synchronization message from a remote second hardware device in the DOCSIS R-PHY network, determining a time difference between a first clock at the first hardware device and a second clock at the second hardware device from the time synchronization message; and re-stamping an event message based on the time difference.

Abstract: A system and related methodology are provided that are configured to receive, at a first network element, multiple channels of video delivered as respective streams of packets, form a packet switched communication frame including a sub-layer header, encapsulate packets from the multiple channels of video into a payload field of the communication frame to obtain encapsulated packets, identify the encapsulated packets in the payload field with respective tags in the sub-layer header, designate the encapsulated packets in the payload field with respective launch values in the sub-layer header, and transmit the communication frame to a second network element. The first network element may be a universal edge quadrature amplitude modulator (UEQAM) and the second network element may be a relatively distant fiber node of a cable plant. The sub-layer header may also include Program Clock Reference (PCR) offset data that can be used for PCR re-stamping.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling downstream Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) access points. At the CCAP access point having a network interface and a coaxial interface, control plane information is received from a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) via the network interface, where the control plane information is designed to configure the CCAP access point to enable communication over the network interface and the coaxial interface. At the CCAP access point, data plane and control plane information is transmitted to the CMTS, and may include information from one or more customer termination devices.

Abstract: An accurate non-Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (non-DOCSIS) clock signal is generated at the downstream output of a DOCSIS network. In one example method, a downstream DOCSIS Timing Protocol (DTP) client in the DOCSIS network is frequency synchronized to an upstream DTP server in the DOCSIS network. DOCSIS timing information, along with one or more timing correction factors received at the DTP client, is used to time synchronize the DTP client to the DTP server. Based on the time and frequency synchronization between the DTP server and the DTP client, the clock signal is generated at the output of the DTP client in accordance with the non-DOCSIS timing protocol.

Abstract: A method in an example embodiment can include polling a first cable modem in a cable network and receiving a first response message from the first cable modem identifying a downstream frequency detected by the first cable modem. The method further includes determining the downstream frequency is split between at least two fiber nodes and determining a cable modem termination system (CMTS) service group topology, where the topology includes the at least two fiber nodes. In specific embodiments, determining that the downstream frequency is split is based on at least the first response message from the first cable modem and a second response message from a second cable modem. In more specific embodiments, the method includes constructing a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) topology map of the cable network based on at least the first and second response messages, where the HFC topology map indicates the CMTS service group topology.

Abstract: An accurate non-Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (non-DOCSIS) clock signal is generated at the downstream output of a DOCSIS network. In one example method, a downstream DOCSIS Timing Protocol (DTP) client in the DOCSIS network is frequency synchronized to an upstream DTP server in the DOCSIS network. DOCSIS timing information, along with one or more timing correction factors received at the DTP client, is used to time synchronize the DTP client to the DTP server. Based on the time and frequency synchronization between the DTP server and the DTP client, the clock signal is generated at the output of the DTP client in accordance with the non-DOCSIS timing protocol.

Abstract: A method, a system, and an apparatus provide for a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The CMTS may include a virtual machine configured to provide a plurality of virtual CMTSs (vCMTSs). The CMTS may also include a plurality of subscriber groups. Each subscriber group of the plurality of subscriber groups may be assigned to a vCMTS of the plurality of vCMTSs. Additionally, each vCMTS is configured to provide a process.

Abstract: A method in an example embodiment can include polling a first cable modem in a cable network and receiving a first response message from the first cable modem identifying a downstream frequency detected by the first cable modem. The method further includes determining the downstream frequency is split between at least two fiber nodes and determining a cable modem termination system (CMTS) service group topology, where the topology includes the at least two fiber nodes. In specific embodiments, determining that the downstream frequency is split is based on at least the first response message from the first cable modem and a second response message from a second cable modem. In more specific embodiments, the method includes constructing a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) topology map of the cable network based on at least the first and second response messages, where the HFC topology map indicates the CMTS service group topology.

Abstract: In one example, a routing protocol is used to propagate or flood information over a network of Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTSs) in response to a fiber node split that changes which of the CMTSs a cable modem is coupled thereto. The network processes the information and dynamically changes a pseudowire placement to maintain the Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN) connectivity among cable modems of different CMTSs after the fiber node split.

Abstract: A method for use in an RFoG cable network calls for allocating upstream bandwidth to CM devices, wherein allocating bandwidth includes selecting a start time and allocating respective time slots relative to the selected start time to at least one of the requesting CM devices; and further, allocating the same timeslots over multiple selected upstream channels, thereby aligning upstream transmissions from the requesting CMs across the selected upstream channels. Several embodiments are disclosed to enable DOCSIS 3.0 type scheduling over an RFoG network.

Abstract: A time domain duplex cable system includes a mechanism to change the communication direction of spectrum used in a cable plant including a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS), a Fiber Node and a plurality of cable modems in communication with the CMTS via the Fiber Node. Active devices, e.g., directional amplifiers switch the communication direction of the cable plant in response to timing information received from the CMTS. To avoid collisions of downstream and upstream packets, a guard time is determined and used in connection with generating the timing information. In one embodiment, the timing information is transmitted in one or more Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) Media Access Protocol (MAP) messages transmitted by the CMTS towards the cable modems.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes creating a plurality of profiles that describe one or more downstream modulations for each data-subcarrier in a channel to be used by a plurality of cable modems; receiving at least one testing measurement from the plurality of cable modems; and assigning a selected one of the plurality of profiles to each of the plurality of cable modems based, at least in part, on the one testing measurement that was received.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes generating one or more message blocks to be propagated along a narrow-band channel, wherein the message blocks are sub-components of a Physical Link Channel (PLC) frame; and communicating the PLC frame from a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to one or more cable modems.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes segmenting a plurality of cable modems into a plurality of groups; identifying traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems that is below a threshold; and determining whether to move each of the plurality of cable modems into a low-power mode based, at least in part, on the traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems.

Abstract: A system and related methodology are provided that are configured to receive, at a first network element, multiple channels of video delivered as respective streams of packets, form a packet switched communication frame including a sub-layer header, encapsulate packets from the multiple channels of video into a payload field of the communication frame to obtain encapsulated packets, identify the encapsulated packets in the payload field with respective tags in the sub-layer header, designate the encapsulated packets in the payload field with respective launch values in the sub-layer header, and transmit the communication frame to a second network element. The first network element may be a universal edge quadrature amplitude modulator (UEQAM) and the second network element may be a relatively distant fiber node of a cable plant. The sub-layer header may also include Program Clock Reference (PCR) offset data that can be used for PCR re-stamping.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a port to receive a ranging request from a cable modem and a processor in communication with the port. The processor may assign a service identifier to the cable modem, match the service identifier with a link layer address of the cable modem, receive a router advertisement and comparing the source link layer address from the router advertisement to the link layer address of the cable modem, and determine if the link layer address of the cable modem is the same as the source link layer address.

Abstract: A proxy in a cable modem termination system receives IP packets having an address associated with set top box out of band messages. The proxy encapsulates the packets in an Ethernet frame containing an Ethernet address. A cable modem associated with the set top box is preconfigured to detect the Ethernet encapsulated packets and pass the out of band messages in the packets to the set top box.

Abstract: A method in an example embodiment can include polling a first cable modem in a cable network and receiving a first response message from the first cable modem identifying a downstream frequency detected by the first cable modem. The method further includes determining the downstream frequency is split between at least two fiber nodes and determining a cable modem termination system (CMTS) service group topology, where the topology includes the at least two fiber nodes. In specific embodiments, determining that the downstream frequency is split is based on at least the first response message from the first cable modem and a second response message from a second cable modem. In more specific embodiments, the method includes constructing a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) topology map of the cable network based on at least the first and second response messages, where the HFC topology map indicates the CMTS service group topology.

Abstract: A system, and related methodology, are provided that are configured to receive, at a first network element such as a Universal Edge Quadrature Amplitude Modulator (UEQAM), multiple channels of data delivered as respective streams of packets, form a packet switched communication frame including a sub-layer header, encapsulate packets from the respective multiple channels into a payload field of the packet switched communication frame, identify the packets encapsulated in the payload field with respective tags in the sub-layer header, and transmit the packet switched communication frame to a second network element such as a Downstream Physical (DS-PHY) entity where the individual packets are recovered and mapped to selected respective stream processing resources based on respective tags.

Abstract: A protection CMTS is available to immediately service a cable modem should that modem's service from a working CMTS fail for any reason. To speed the service transfer (cutover) from the working CMTS to the protection CMTS, the cable modem may preregister with the protection CMTS well before the cutover becomes necessary. The cable modem's registration with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS preferably employs a single IP address, so that the cable modem need not obtain a new IP address during cutover. While the cable modem may register with both the working CMTS and the protection CMTS, the devices are designed or configured so that only the working CMTS injects a host route for the cable modem into the appropriate routing protocol. Only after cutover to the protection CMTS does the protection CMTS inject its host route.