Patent ID: 7389527
Filing Date: 2008-06-17
Classification: H03M,H04L,H04N,H04W

Abstract:
1. A cable modem for use in a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) network, comprising: a media access control; a receiver portion coupled to said media access control; and a transmitter portion coupled to said media access control; wherein said media access control is adapted to generate a DOCSIS registration message that indicates support for a plurality of protocol-specific header suppression techniques by the cable modem and wherein said transmitter portion is adapted to transmit said DOCSIS registration message to a cable modem termination system; wherein said receiver portion is adapted to receive a response to said DOCSIS registration message from said cable modem termination system and to provide said response to said DOCSIS registration message to said media access control, said response to said DOCSIS registration message indicating whether or not said plurality of protocol-specific header suppression techniques is supported by a cable modem termination system; and wherein said media access control is further adapted to format data for transmission to said cable modem termination system in accordance with a selected one of said plurality of protocol-specific header suppression techniques if said response to said DOCSIS registration message indicates said plurality of protocol-specific header suppression techniques is supported by said cable modem termination system, and to format data for transmission to said cable modem termination system in accordance with a default header suppression technique if said response to said DOCSIS registration message indicates said plurality of protocol-specific header suppression techniques are not supported by said cable modem termination system.