Patent ID: 8094661

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) receiving data across a first network interface at a network node, wherein the received data includes user data packets for downstream forwarding to user devices across a second network interface, the second network interface includes a plurality of separate communication channels, and the received data includes channel information identifying communication channels over which the user data packets are to be forwarded downstream; (b) forwarding the user data packets downstream across the second network interface in accordance with the channel information; (c) receiving upstream user data packets from at least a portion of the user devices across the second network interface; (d) forwarding the upstream user data packets across the first network interface; (e) periodically creating system management messages at the network node and transmitting the system management messages downstream across the second network interface, wherein the system management messages include a first message type identifying upstream transmission opportunities for at least some of the user devices; (f) determining upstream transmission opportunities within the network node for user devices requesting permission for upstream transmission across the second network interface according to a first quality of service (QoS) level; and (g) forwarding user device requests for upstream transmission opportunities according to a second QoS level across the first network interface.