Fast diplexer switching
Dynamically adjusting how a frequency spectrum is allocated between upstream and downstream communications on an access network. A device receives, over the access network from an upstream direction, an instruction to dynamically adopt a new active spectrum configuration from a set of preestablished spectrum configurations. Each of the preestablished spectrum configurations allocates the available frequency spectrum differently between upstream traffic and downstream traffic. The device processes the instruction by selecting one or more switchable diplexers or other frequency filters to adopt the new spectrum configuration. Upon adopting the new spectrum configuration, the device ceases to use a prior spectrum configuration and thereafter uses the frequency spectrum in accordance with the new active spectrum configuration.
1 . An article of manufacture for dynamically adjusting how a frequency spectrum is allocated between upstream and downstream communications on an access network, comprising:
a device receiving, over the access network from an upstream direction, an instruction to dynamically adopt a new active frequency duplexing division (FDD) spectrum configuration from a set of preestablished FDD spectrum configurations, wherein each of said preestablished FDD spectrum configurations allocates the frequency spectrum differently between upstream traffic and downstream traffic;
the device processing the instruction by selecting one or more switchable diplexers to adopt said new active FDD spectrum configuration; and
upon adopting said new active FDD spectrum configuration, the device ceasing to use a prior FDD spectrum configuration and henceforth using said frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration.
2 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein said device is a cable modem or a wireless modem, and wherein the device uses the frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration by transmitting upstream data and receiving downstream data using said new active FDD spectrum configuration.
3 . The article of manufacture of claim 2 , wherein the device comprises a single northbound port with configured switchable frequency filters, and lacks a southbound port with switchable frequency filters.
4 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein said device is an HFC node, a fixed wireless access point, or a cellular base station, and wherein the device uses the frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration by communicating with one or more downstream devices.
5 . The article of manufacture of claim 4 , wherein the device lacks a northbound port with configured switchable frequency filters, and comprises one or more southbound ports that each has a separate set of configured switchable frequency filters.
6 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein said device is an HFC amplifier or a wireless relay, and wherein the device uses the frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration by propagating an amplified version of upstream traffic and downstream traffic.
7 . The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the device comprises a single northbound port with configured switchable frequency filters and comprises one or more southbound ports that each has a separate set of configured switchable frequency filters.
8 . The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the instruction received by the device specifies a time at which the device is to dynamically adopt the new active FDD spectrum configuration, and wherein the device adopts the new active FDD spectrum configuration at said time.
9 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums storing one or more sequences of instructions for dynamically adjusting how a frequency spectrum is allocated between upstream and downstream communications on an access network, which when executed, cause:
a device receiving, over the access network from an upstream direction, an instruction to dynamically adopt a new active frequency duplexing division (FDD) spectrum configuration from a set of preestablished FDD spectrum configurations, wherein each of said preestablished FDD spectrum configurations allocates the frequency spectrum differently between upstream traffic and downstream traffic;
the device processing the instruction by selecting one or more switchable diplexers to adopt said new active FDD spectrum configuration; and
upon adopting said new active FDD spectrum configuration, the device ceasing to use a prior FDD spectrum configuration and henceforth using said frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration.
10 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 9 , wherein said device is a cable modem or a wireless modem, and wherein the device uses the frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration by transmitting upstream data and receiving downstream data using said new active FDD spectrum configuration.
11 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a single northbound port with configured switchable frequency filters, and lacks a southbound port with switchable frequency filters.
12 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 9 , wherein said device is an HFC node, a fixed wireless access point, or a cellular base station, and wherein the device uses the frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration by communicating with one or more downstream devices.
13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 12 , wherein the device lacks a northbound port with configured switchable frequency filters, and comprises one or more southbound ports that each has a separate set of configured switchable frequency filters.
14 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 9 , wherein said device is an HFC amplifier or a wireless relay, and wherein the device uses the frequency spectrum in accordance with said new active FDD spectrum configuration by propagating an amplified version of upstream traffic and downstream traffic.
15 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a single northbound port with configured switchable frequency filters and comprises one or more southbound ports that each has a separate set of configured switchable frequency filters.
16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of claim 9 , wherein the instruction received by the device specifies a time at which the device is to dynamically adopt the new active FDD spectrum configuration, and wherein the device adopts the new active FDD spectrum configuration at said time.