Enhanced channel changing within multi-channel communication systems
View Patent ↗Enhanced channel changing within multi-channel communication systems. A CMTS directs channel changing of a CM, sometimes between upstream data bursts. Logical channels, part of a single frequency channel, may be used, and the channel changing may be performed between those logical channels. Multiple upstream burst profiles and/or modulation densities may be used providing high degrees of robustness, fidelity, and throughput and allowing great channel flexibility. A CM may be switched between channels without losing transmitter capability. Even if some throughput rate may be sacrificed during the channel changing, the CM will still be able to continue data throughput. Then, the new channel may then undergo the initialization and ranging processes thereby enabling greater throughput on that new channel. After undergoing the initialization and ranging processes, the new channel will then be a fully equivalent member of the CM communication system.
1. A method for operating a multi-channel communication device, the method comprising:
transmitting data from a first communication device to a second communication device on a first channel in accordance with a first profile;
changing the data transmission from the first communication device to the second communication device from the first channel to a second channel;
continuing to transmit data from the first communication device to the second communication device on the second channel in accordance with a second profile;
after data transmission has been established on the second channel in accordance with the second profile, initializing and ranging the second channel; and
based on the initialization and ranging of the second channel, identifying a third profile for continued data transmission from the first communication device to the second communication device on the second channel in accordance with the third profile.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the third profile is the second profile or the first profile.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the third profile is selected based, at least in part, on information corresponding to prior data transmission between the first communication device and the second communication device on the second channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting data from the first communication device to the second communication device on a third channel in accordance with the second profile.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while continuing to transmit data from the first communication device to the second communication device on the second channel in accordance with the second profile, continuing to transmit data from the first communication device to the second communication device on a third channel in accordance with a fourth profile; and wherein:
the second channel and the third channel form a dual channel.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the second profile is selected from a plurality of initial profiles;
a first initial profile of the plurality of initial profiles accommodates shorter data bursts better than other initial profiles of the plurality of initial profiles;
a second initial profile of the plurality of initial profiles accommodates longer data bursts better than other initial profiles of the plurality of initial profiles; and
at least one initial profile of the plurality of initial profiles enables continued data transmission between the first communication device and the second communication device on the second channel without initially requiring initialization and ranging of the second channel.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a frequency band employed to support communications between the first communication device and the second communication device is logically partitioned into the first channel and the second channel.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the third profile is a higher order profile when compared to the second profile.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the third profile includes a first modulation density;
the second profile includes a second modulation density; and
the first modulation density is a higher order modulation density when compared to the second modulation density.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first communication device is a cable modem; and
the second communication device is a cable modem termination system.
11. A method for operating a multi-channel communication device, the method comprising:
transmitting data from a first communication device to a second communication device on a first channel in accordance with a first profile;
establishing data transmission between the first communication device and the second communication device on at least one additional channel that includes a second channel;
continuing to transmit data from the first communication device to the second communication device on the at least one additional channel in accordance with at least a second profile;
after data transmission has been established on the at least one additional channel that includes the second channel in accordance with the at least the second profile, initializing and ranging the at least one additional channel that includes the second channel; and
based on the initialization and ranging of the at least one additional channel that includes second channel, identifying at least a third profile for continued data transmission from the first communication device to the second communication device on the at least one additional channel that includes the second channel in accordance with the at least the third profile.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the at least the third profile is the at least the second profile or the first profile.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the at least the third profile is selected based, at least in part, on information corresponding to prior data transmission between the first communication device and the second communication device on the at least one additional channel that includes the second channel.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the at least one additional channel that includes the second channel also includes a third channel;
the establishing data transmission on at least one additional channel that includes the second channel includes:
establishing data transmission on the second channel; and
establishing data transmission on the third channel;
the continuing to transmit data from the first communication device to the second communication device on the at least one additional channel in accordance with the at least the second profile includes:
continuing to transmit data from the first communication device to the second communication device on the second channel in accordance with the second profile; and
transmitting data from the first communication device to the second communication device on the third channel in accordance with a fourth profile; and
the second channel and the third channel form a dual channel.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the at least the second profile is selected from a plurality of initial profiles; and
at least one initial profile of the plurality of initial profiles provides sufficient robustness to ensure that data transmission may be supported between the first communication device and the second communication device on the at least one additional channel.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the third profile is a higher order profile when compared to the second profile.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the second communication device directs the first communication device to perform the changing of the data transmission between the first communication device and the second communication device on the at least one additional channel that includes the second channel.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the first communication device is a cable modem; and
the second communication device is a cable modem termination system.
19. A communication device implemented to perform multi-channel communication with at least one additional communication device, the communication device comprising non-transitory computer readable media for implementing:
a transmitter module implemented to transmit data from the communication device to the at least one additional communication device on a first channel in accordance with a first profile, wherein:
the data transmission from the communication device to the at least one additional communication device is changed from the first channel to a second channel; and
the transmitter module continues to transmit data from the communication device to the at least one additional communication device on the second channel in accordance with a second profile;
an initializing and ranging module implemented to perform initializing and ranging of the second channel after data transmission has been established on the second channel in accordance with the second profile; and wherein:
based on the initialization and ranging of the second channel, a third profile is identified and the transmitter module employs the third profile for continued data transmission from the communication device to the at least one additional communication device on the second channel in accordance with the third profile.
20. The communication device of claim 19 , wherein:
as the transmitter module continues to transmit data from the communication device to the at least one additional communication device on the second channel in accordance with the second profile, the transmitter module also continues to transmit data from the communication device to the at least one additional communication device on a third channel in accordance with a fourth profile; and
the second channel and the third channel form a dual channel.