Patent ID: 7089580
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: H04H,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. In a data-over-cable system, a method for estimating an initial transmit level for a cable modem to range on an upstream channel, the upstream channel carrying data transmissions from a plurality of cable modems to a cable modem termination system at a head-end of a cable network, the method comprising the steps of: ascertaining a characteristic value for the data-over-cable system, wherein the characteristic value is associated with configuration parameters for the data-over-cable system; measuring a signal level of a downstream channel at the cable modem, wherein the downstream channel carries signals from the head-end to the plurality of cable modems; and setting the initial transmit level to a difference between the characteristic value and the signal level of the downstream channel, whereby the cable modem begins ranging at the initial transmit level and is recognized by the cable modem termination system with fewer attempts than if the cable modem began ranging at a minimum specified transmit level.