Patent ID: 6757522
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method for determining a carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) value for a selected channel of an access network, the access network including a plurality of network nodes which communicate with a Head End via at the selected channel, the method comprising:measuring a background noise level on the selected channel during a first time interval when none of the network nodes are transmitting signals on the selected channel; measuring a first carrier signal strength of a first network node on the selected channel during a second time interval when said first network node is transmitting at least one signal on the selected channel; calculating a CNR value for the selected channel using the measured background noise level information and the measured first carrier signal strength information; scheduling a first response request timeslot on the selected channel, said first response request timeslot specifying that no network device on the selected channel transmit signals during the first time interval; and scheduling a second response request timeslot on the selected channel, said second response request timeslot specifying that the first network device transmit the at least one signal on the selected channel during the second time interval.