Patent ID: 6651092
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A cable modem system, comprising:at least one cable modem (CM); at least one user computer connected to the cable modem; a cable modem terminate system (CMTS); a cable via which the at least one cable modem and the CMTS are connected; and means coupled to the CMTS for assigning, in response to a request from a client, a private IP address to the client when the client is a cable modem and a global IP address to the client when the client is a user computer, said IP address assigning means including: means for determining whether the request is a first request from the client, means for issuing to the client, when the request is the first request, a temporary IP address having a term of validity of a sufficient duration to enable the IP address assigning means to determine whether or not the client is a cable modem before said term of validity expires, and inquiring means for sending an inquiry, including a media access control (MAC) address of the client, to the CMTS to determine whether the client is a cable modem.