Scheduler-directed source multiplexing for return path noise mitigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12143243-B2
Application number	US-202217686214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2022
Priority date	Mar 3, 2021
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods that reduce funneling noise in upstream data transmissions from modems providing the transmissions through respective RF legs connected to the node. Preferred devices and systems may include a node that is configured to selectively isolate respectively scheduled upstream data signals from noise present on any RF leg not propagating a scheduled upstream data signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A node configured to receive respective scheduled upstream data signals from each of a plurality of modems and propagate received signals further upstream, each modem connected to the node by a respective one of at least two Radio Frequency (RF) legs, the node comprising a steering subsystem configured to control a switch to selectively isolate the respective scheduled upstream data signals from noise present on any said RF leg not propagating a scheduled upstream data signal, the switch controlled using information from reservation MAPSs, provided to the steering subsystem by a scheduler subsystem, and which define a predetermined schedule of upstream transmissions for each of the plurality of modems.

2. The node of claim 1 including a scheduler subsystem that provides the steering subsystem with schedule information from reservation MAPs.

3. The node of claim 1 including a client locating subsystem that provides the steering subsystem with location information for each of the plurality of cable modems.

4. The node of claim 3 where the location information associates each cable modem with a respective one of the at least two RF legs.

5. The node of claim 1 configured to process Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (ADTMA) signals from the plurality of modems.

6. The node of claim 1 configured to process Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signals from the plurality of modems.

7. The node of claim 1 where the switch is an analog switch.

8. The node of claim 1 where the switch is a digital switch.

9. A method of operating a node configured to receive respective scheduled upstream data signals from each of a plurality of modems and propagate received signals further upstream, each modem connected to the node by a respective one of at least two Radio Frequency (RF) legs, the method comprising:
receiving scheduling information associating a time slot with respective cable modems scheduled to provide upstream data signals to the node; and
operating a switch in the node to isolate any said RF leg from the scheduled upstream data signals during said time slot not scheduled to propagate a signal during said time slot, the switch controlled using information from reservation MAPSs, which define a predetermined schedule of upstream transmissions for each of the plurality of modems.

10. The method of claim 9 where the schedule information is based on a reservation MAP.

11. The method of claim 9 where the scheduled upstream data signals are Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (ADTMA) signals.

12. The method of claim 9 where the scheduled upstream data signals are Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signals.

13. The method of claim 9 where the scheduled upstream data signals are analog signals.

14. The method of claim 9 where the scheduled upstream data signals are digital signals.

15. The method of claim 9 including receiving location information of cable modems scheduled to provide upstream data signals during the time slot.

16. A node configured to receive respective scheduled upstream data signals from each of a plurality of modems and propagate received signals further upstream, each modem connected to the node by a respective one of at least two Radio Frequency (RF) legs, the node configured to associate upstream transmission schedule information for a cable modem, received from reservation MAPs that define a predetermined schedule of upstream transmissions for each of the plurality of modems, with location information for a cable modem defined in a mapping table that associates each cable modem with a respective one the at least two RF legs.

17. The node of claim 16 configured to operate a switch of the node based on the association of the upstream transmission schedule information for the cable modem with the location information for the cable modem.

18. The node of claim 17 where the location information associates the cable modem with a respective one of the at least two RF legs.

19. The node of claim 16 where the association of the upstream transmission schedule information for the cable modem with the location information for the cable modem is based on a mapping table stored in the node.

20. The node of claim 19 where the mapping table is constructed based on upstream signals received by the node.

Assignees

• Arris Entpr Llc

Inventors

• O'Keeffe Francis J
• Cloonan Thomas J
• Zettinger Chris R
• Maricevic Zoran
• Harrington Michael B
• Volkov Oleksandr

Classifications

• H04L2012/6472

  Internet · CPC title

• H04L2012/6459

  Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA · CPC title

• H04L2012/6437

  Ring · CPC title

• H04L12/433

  with asynchronous transmission, e.g. token ring, register insertion · CPC title

• H04L5/0007

  the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A) or DMT · CPC title