Patent ID: 7733916

Claim:
In a point to multi-point share-media network, a method of media access control (MAC) for a modem termination system (MTS) to communicate with a plurality of modems over a set of downstream and upstream channels comprising steps of: (a). said MTS designating a MAC domain comprising said set of downstream and upstream channels, in which a primary downstream channel and a primary upstream channel being chosen from said set of downstream and upstream channels for MAC message exchanges between said MTS and said modems; (b). said MTS establishing synchronization with said modems by broadcasting first MAC messages via said primary downstream channel; (c). said MTS establishing said MAC domain with said modems by broadcasting second MAC messages via said primary downstream channel; (d). said MTS calibrating upstream transmission parameters for each of said modems for at least said primary upstream channel by third MAC message exchanges via said primary upstream channel and said primary downstream channel; (e). said MTS registering each of said modems by fourth MAC message exchanges via said primary upstream channel and said primary downstream channel; (f). said MTS transmitting packet streams to said modems in one or more said downstream channels simultaneously; wherein each of said downstream and upstream channels has a unique carrier frequency.