Abstract: An upstream bandwidth allocation scheduler is provided for use within a Line Termination (LT) unit in a point to multi-point data communications network in order to service multiple Network Termination (NT) units. The scheduler first allocates bandwidth among the several categories of data handled by the network (e.g., voice, IP, and ATM data), and then allocates bandwidth among the several users for each category within the network. A function ƒ is defined, as part of a “min-max weighted fairness” scheme, in order to allocate surplus bandwidth among both the categories and users of the network. The scheduler of the present invention, while allocating upstream bandwidth, also supports various quality of service (QoS) categories to subscribers of the network.

Abstract: A system and method for coding technique which achieves a high coding gain with simple, low-price implementation. The system comprises a transmitter for transmitting encoded code words, and a receiver for receiving and decoding the code words, via a network. In one embodiment, a low complexity modified R-S coding process is used to R-S encode smaller-bit words (e.g., 7-bit words, instead of 8-bit words). In a second embodiment, a feed-back block concatenated coding process improves coding gain by utilizing concatenation and an erasure algorithm. In a third embodiment, a feed-back block concatenated coding process is designed for an Ethernet. The decoding processes utilize error-correcting capabilities built in during the three encoding processes described herein.