Patent ID: 7577129

Claim:
A method for supplying MAP messages to a single upstream demodulator, said single upstream demodulator operable to anticipate upstream burst arrivals, comprising the steps of: sending one or more MAP messages via a downstream by a media access controller (MAC) included within a cable modem termination system (CMTS); extracting said one or more MAP messages from said downstream by said MAC; translating said one or more MAP messages by said MAC into individual elements, wherein each individual element corresponds to an incoming burst, wherein each of said individual elements comprises a SID; adding said individual elements to a time-ordered queue in said MAC; sending said individual elements from said time-ordered queue to said single upstream demodulator, wherein said individual elements are sent in chronological order according to placement in said time-ordered queue; and determining upstream operating characteristics by said single upstream demodulator corresponding to each of said individual elements, wherein at least two of said individual elements correspond to different logical upstream channels, each logical upstream channel having different operating characteristics and being received at said single upstream demodulator.