Patent ID: 7085287

Claim:
A method for forwarding channel MAP messages to selected channels in an access network, the access network including a plurality of upstream and downstream channels for providing communication between network nodes and a Head End of the access network, the Head End including a first physical line card having a first interface for accessing a first portion of the upstream and downstream channels, and a second physical line card having a second interface for accessing a second portion of the upstream and downstream channels, the method comprising: identifying a first channel MAP message associated with a first upstream channel, the first upstream channel being accessible via the first physical interface, the first channel MAP message including bandwidth allocation map information relating to at least one available timeslot transmission opportunity on the first upstream channel during a first time period; identifying at least one downstream channel, including a first downstream channel, on which the first channel MAP message is to be transmitted, wherein the first downstream channel is accessible via the second interface; and forwarding a copy of the first channel MAP message to each of the interfaces associated with each of the identified downstream channels, including the second interface associated with the first downstream channel.