Patent ID: 7627675
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling upstream bandwidth utilization of a cable modem in a cable network, the cable modem having an original service level, wherein the method is implemented on a programmable machine on the cable network, the method comprising: using a first token bucket having a first capacity B controlling the first token bucket by using a second token bucket having a second capacity B wherein said second token bucket has a time period T wherein said second token bucket has a second capacity B wherein the controlling is based, at least in part, upon a determination of whether the subscriber's upstream traffic exceeds a predetermined level over a predetermined period of time based on the cable modem's original service level: informing a cable modem termination system (CMTS) if the cable modem is transmitting excessive amounts of data upstream, thereby potentially exceeding an amount allowed in the original service level; and implementing a modified service level for the cable modem based on an upstream bandwidth utilization of the cable modem, wherein the modified service level is applied directly to the cable modem using the first token bucket and the second token bucket, thereby eliminating the need for the cable modem to re-register with the CMTS.