Method and system for allocating bandwidth based on transmission power of devices transmitting over communication channels in a network
View Patent ↗A method performed by a central network device, such as a network edge device, or a CMTS, determines whether some of a plurality of user devices coupled to a communication device are transmitting at substantially their respective maximum power output level over a given channel. If the central device determines that some of the devices are operating at near their maximum output level (“power pegged,) the central device searches for another channel that can carry the traffic of the power pegged devices at reduced data rate. If another channel can accommodate transmission of signals of the power pegged device, the central device instructs the power pegged devices to tune to the new channel at a reduced data rate compared to the data rate of the current channel.
1. A method of tuning user devices from a first upstream channel to another upstream channel based on each of the devices transmit power levels, comprising:
establishing connection and registration with user devices on a first upstream channel;
determining whether each of the user devices previously connected and registered is transmitting on the first upstream channel at a power level substantially equal to its maximum output power level;
scanning transmission characteristics of at least one other upstream channel;
selecting from the at least one other scanned upstream channels a second upstream channel that can accommodate upstream transmissions from the devices determined to be operating at substantially their respective maximum output power without adversely affecting upstream transmissions from user devices that are not operating at substantially their maximum output power level;
instructing the user devices that are transmitting upstream at substantially their maximum output power level to begin transmitting upstream on the second upstream channel; and
modifying transmission characteristics of the first upstream channel to provide better service to user devices still transmitting over it.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristics of an upstream channel include the channel width, modulation profile, and communications technology.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the upstream channels considered in the scanning processes can be logical channels at same frequency of the first channel or physical channels at different frequency from that of the first channel.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure of user devices transmitting power at the maximum limits is measured dynamically.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure of user devices transmitting power at the maximum limits of measured per upstream channel.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the better service can be higher throughput.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the network-edge system is a Cable Modem Termination System.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the user device is a Multimedia Terminal Adaptor or a Cable Modem.
9. A method of operating a communications system that consists of a network-edge device coupled to a plurality of user devices, wherein a set of the user devices are transmitting at substantially their respective maximum transmit power, the method comprising:
establishing connection and registration with devices on a first upstream channel;
determining whether each of the user devices is transmitting on the first upstream channel at a power level substantially its maximum output power level;
measuring the received signal power of user devices transmitting at substantially their maximum output power level at the network-edge device;
scanning the characteristics of at least one other upstream channel;
selecting from the at least one other scanned upstream channels a second upstream channel that can accommodate upstream transmissions from the devices determined to be operating at substantially their respective maximum output power without adversely affecting upstream transmissions from user devices that are not operating at substantially their maximum output power level;
sending a channel change request from the network-edge device to user devices that are transmitting at a power level substantially their respective maximum upstream transmit power level that instructs the devices to tuning to the second upstream channel;
modifying transmission characteristics of the first upstream channel to provide better service to user devices still transmitting over it.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the characteristics of an upstream channel includes the channel width, modulation profile and communications technology.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the upstream channels considered in the scanning processes can be logical channels at same frequency of the first channel or physical channels at different frequency from that of the first channel.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the measure of user devices transmitting power at the maximum limits is measured dynamically.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the measure of user devices transmitting power at the maximum limits of measured per upstream channel.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the better service can be higher throughput.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the network-edge system is a Cable Modem Termination System.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the user device is a Multimedia Terminal Adaptor or a Cable Modem.
17. A network-edge device comprising computer-readable media operable to be executed by the network edge device, and upon execution being configured to cause the network-edge device to:
establish connection and registration with devices on a first upstream channel;
determine whether each of a plurality of user devices is transmitting on the first upstream channel at a power level substantially its maximum output power level;
measure the received signal power of user devices that are transmitting at substantially their maximum output level at the network-edge device;
scan the characteristics of at least one other upstream channel;
select from the at least one other scanned upstream channels a second upstream channel that can accommodate upstream transmissions from the devices determined to be operating at substantially their respective maximum output power without adversely affecting upstream transmissions from user devices that are not operating substantially their maximum output power level;
send a channel change request from the network-edge device to user devices that are transmitting at a power level substantially their respective maximum upstream transmit power level that instructs the devices to tuning to the second upstream channel;
modify transmission characteristics of the first upstream channel to provide better service to user devices still transmitting over the first upstream channel.
18. The network-edge device of claim 17 wherein the characteristics of upstream channel includes the channel width, modulation profile and communications technology.
19. The network-edge device of claim 17 wherein the upstream channels considered III the scanning processes can be logical channels at same frequency of the first channel or physical channels at different frequency from that of the first channel.
20. The network-edge device of claim 17 wherein the measure of user devices transmitting power at the maximum limits is measured dynamically.
21. The network-edge device of claim 17 wherein the measure of user devices transmitting power at the maximum limits of measured per upstream channel.
22. The network-edge device of claim 17 wherein the better service can be higher throughput.
23. The network-edge device of claim 17 wherein the network-edge device is a Cable Modem Termination System.
24. The network-edge device of claim 17 wherein the user device is a Multimedia Terminal Adaptor or a Cable Modem.