Patent ID: 8379660

Claim:
A method for determining channels to use in channel bonding communication with a cable modem, comprising: specifying cable modem termination system preferences for certain parameters of cable modem channel assignment over other parameters, wherein the preferences include two or more of: a number of upstream channels, number of downstream channels, spacing between channels, whether all channels should be centered within a predetermined range, or whether some channels can be spaced so that they do not fall within a particular range; receiving a plurality of profiles from a single cable modem during bootup that each indicate a different channel bonding arrangement for that single cable modem; comparing the plurality of profiles associated with the single cable modem to the specified cable modem termination system preferences; selecting one of the plurality of profiles based on the specified cable modem termination system preferences for certain parameters over other parameters; assigning channels for communication with the single cable modem based on the selected profile; and transmitting a message containing an instruction to the single cable modem based on the selected profile instructing the single cable modem how to tune its circuitry based on the assigned channels.