Patent ID: 7293282
Filing Date: 2007-11-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing restricted transmissions of cable modem (CM) configuration files maintained on a trivial file transfer protocol server (TFTP), the method comprising: using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server to associate an un-modified CM configuration filename to a cable modem Internet protocol (IP) address upon receipt of a DHCP REQUEST; storing a coordination pass phrase on a DHCP server and a TFTP server; generating a first authentication key; creating a modified CM configuration filename by combining a CM configuration filename with the authentication key; transmitting the modified CM configuration filename to the cable modem in a DHCP RESPONSE; transmitting the modified CM configuration filename from the cable modem to the TFTP server; parsing the modified CM configuration filename into the un-modified CM configuration filename; generating a second authentication key; transmitting the CM configuration file to the cable modem only if the first authentication key matches the second authentication key; wherein the first authentication key and the second authentication key depend upon the un-modified CM configuration filename, the cable modem IP address and the coordination pass phrase; and wherein the coordination pass phrase is not known to the cable modem.