Patent ID: 8130651

Claim:
A system for adjusting bandwidth demand on a port in a network comprising: a cable modem termination system (CMTS) connected to the network, wherein the CMTS comprises: an upstream port connected to the network, wherein the upstream port is connected to a combiner, wherein the combiner is connected to a plurality of addressable fiber nodes, wherein each addressable fiber node is accessible on the network via a network address and is adapted to receive measurement data from one or more test points internal to the addressable fiber node, and wherein each addressable fiber node is connected to a plurality of cable modems; instructions for: receiving in real-time from the plurality of addressable fiber nodes connected to the upstream port measurement data from the plurality of cable modems connected to the upstream port; determining from the measurement data when a bandwidth demand on the upstream port exceeds a first threshold value; and distributing the bandwidth demand among a plurality of other upstream ports on the CMTS when the demand on the upstream port exceeds the first threshold value.