Method and system for layer-3 subscriber login in a cable data network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9596240-B2
Application number	US-64931809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2009
Priority date	Aug 30, 2004
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

A subscriber login server is used for managing a subscriber login session. The login server is associated with a DHCP server for configuring a premise equipment device and operator-managed device. A subscriber login client at the premise equipment device securely communicates login username and password identifiers to the subscriber login server without using PPP technology. The login server retrieves matching identifiers from a RADIUS server and authorizes service with messages to the DHCP server and the CMTS.
The login client can emulate a PPP login client so that a user's interface is similar to a PPPoE client. However, a layer-3 CMTS can be used instead of a layer-2 CMTS. In addition, subscriber authentication and accounting using RADIUS are preserved, positive network access control at the CMTS is maintained, and native IP traffic is routed or switched for maximum performance and QoS treatment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a DOCSIS compliant cable modem termination system (CMTS) comprising DOCSIS Subscriber Management filters;
the CMTS adapted to respond to SNMP control signals from a login server that adjust the DOCSIS Subscriber Management filters to positively control network access by a customer premise user equipment (CPE);
the CMTS adapted to report network access packet counts to the login server; and
the CMTS adapted to terminate the network access by the CPE under control of the login server.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the CMTS is an IP routing CMTS.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the CPE is a personal computer.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the CMTS is a switching CMTS.

5. A method, comprising:
configuring a DOCSIS compliant cable modem termination system (CMTS) with DOCSIS Subscriber Management filters;
the CMTS responding to SNMP control signals from a login server that adjust the DOCSIS Subscriber Management filters to positively control network access by a customer premise user equipment (CPE);
the CMTS reporting network access packet counts to the login server; and
the CMTS terminating the network access by the CPE under control of the login server.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the CMTS is an IP routing CMTS.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the CPE is a personal computer.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the CMTS is a switching CMTS.

Assignees

• Arnold Erich
• Cloonan Thomas J
• Howe Jeff
• Arris Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Arnold Erich
• Cloonan Thomas J
• Howe Jeff

Classifications

• H04L12/2801

  Broadband local area networks · CPC title

• H04L63/10 Primary

  for controlling access to devices or network resources · CPC title

• H04W12/08

  Access security · CPC title

• H04L12/287

  Remote access server, e.g. BRAS · CPC title

• H04L63/164

  at the network layer · CPC title