Patent ID: 8522265

Claim:
A modem apparatus, comprising: a processor; a first interface communicatively coupled to a host; and a second interface configured with the processor to: communicate authentication information of the host to a headend to prompt a first validation of the host, the first validation enabling communication of data over a first path, wherein the first validation requires at least a user ID, user password, and a telephone number of a telephone modem pool; and communicate identifying information of the modem apparatus and a request for allocation of resources to prompt a second validation of the host after the first validation, wherein allocation of the resources to prompt the second validation requires a control and management component being configured to compare a serial number associated with the modem apparatus with a stored list of authorized serial numbers, the second validation enabling communication of data over a second path, the second path supporting a higher bandwidth than the first path, wherein the first interface communicatively coupled to the host comprises the first interface being configured to: dial the telephone number of the telephone modem pool, establish a point-to-point (PPP) link via the Public Switch Telephony Network between the modem apparatus and the telephone modem pool, send a dummy IP address to the host for validation by a control management server, and receive, via the PPP link, an assigned IP address from the control management server after the control management server determines the authentication information is valid, and wherein the second interface is further configured with the processor to: receive the assigned IP address of the modem apparatus via the PPP link, communicate the identifying information by communicating a packet to the headend, the packet including the assigned IP address of the modem apparatus and a frequency and stream identification pair corresponding to a unique identification of the second path to which the modem apparatus is coupled, and receive, via the second path, a channel, pipe, and link identifier triplet from the headend responsive to the communication of the packet.