Patent ID: 7656890
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for facilitating communications between a network node and a Head End of an access network, the access network including a plurality of nodes which communicate with the Head End via at least one upstream channel and at least one downstream channel, the at least one downstream channel including a first downstream channel and a second downstream channel, the method comprising: communicating between the Head End and a first network node of the plurality of nodes via the first downstream channel; communicating between the Head End and a second network node of the plurality of nodes via the first downstream channel; receiving, on a first upstream channel, a bandwidth allocation request from the first network node; analyzing traffic loads on at least a portion of the at least one upstream and downstream channels, wherein said analyzing includes analyzing traffic loads on the at least one upstream and downstream channels for accommodating the bandwidth allocation request from the first network node; generating, in response to the analysis of traffic loads, a first communication message, the first communication message including a request to perform a dynamic channel change (DCC) operation, said dynamic channel change request including downstream channel identifier information associated with the second downstream channel, said dynamic channel change request further including instructions for causing the first network node to perform a downstream channel change operation to thereby cause the first network node to receive downstream communications via the second downstream channel; communicating between the Head End and the first network node via the second downstream channel after successful completion of the downstream channel change operation at the first network node; and communicating between the Head End and the second network node via the first downstream channel after successful completion of the downstream channel change operation at the first network node.