Patent ID: 8040911
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of allocating upstream channel resources by using a cable modem termination system (CMTS) in a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network, the method comprising: defining a plurality of burst profiles based on an upstream channel status, the plurality of burst profiles being defined based on a previously measured upstream channel status that is previously measured in an extended burst profile mode, wherein each of the plurality of burst profiles define physical layer parameters for transmitting packets, and wherein the plurality of burst profiles include burst profiles of fixed IUC values in industry standard versions and burst profiles of additional extended IUC values, wherein the burst profiles of the additional extended IUC values are used in the extended burst profile mode; transmitting the defined plurality of burst profiles to each of a plurality of cable modems (CMs); receiving, from each of the CMs, an upstream message including information of whether the extended burst profile mode, in which a CM uses the additional extended IUC values, is supported by the CM; monitoring the upstream channel status of each CM; and allocating resources to each of the CMs by using burst profiles corresponding to the upstream channel status from among the plurality of burst profiles and the information of whether the CM supports the extended burst profile mode, wherein allocating a burst profile to each of the CMs comprises: transmitting a MAP message used to allocate the burst profiles to CMs, the MAP message comprising a plurality of information elements (IEs) each having an IUC field comprising one of a plurality of IUC codes corresponding respectively to the plurality of burst profiles, wherein the IUC codes include a predetermined IUC value for indicating that extended IUC values follow, and when the IUC field includes the predetermined IUC value, an offset field corresponding to the IUC field indicates the number of IEs having an extended IUC value and the IUC values of subsequent IEs are determined as extended IUC values.