Method and system for server-side handling of a low-power client in a wide area network

1. A method comprising:

in a cable modem termination system (CMTS) of a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) network:

receiving a request that a network device be permitted to enter a power-saving mode of operation;

in response to said request, entering a power-saving mode of operation which comprises transmitting a message granting said network device permission to enter said power-saving mode of operation, wherein said message granting said network device permission to enter said power-saving mode of operation is a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) transport stream packet having a first program identifier (PID) that:

is uniquely associated with messages that manage power consumption in the DOCSIS network; and

is different from a second PID used for MPEG transport stream packets that carry DOCSIS messages.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said network device is a cable modem, cable set-top-box, or cable gateway.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

while operating in said power-saving mode of operation, starting a sleep timer upon transmitting a media access control (MAC) management message.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said MAC management message comprises a MAP and/or upstream channel descriptor (UCD) message.

5. The method of claim 3 , comprising deregistering said network device if no communication is received from said network device prior to expiration of said sleep timer.

6. The method of claim 3 , comprising determining a value at which said sleep timer expires based on network traffic statistics.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said request is a media access control (MAC) management message; and

contents of a type value field of said request are uniquely associated with requests for permission to enter a power-saving mode of operation.

8. A method comprising:

in a host device that centrally manages access of a plurality of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) client devices to a shared medium comprising one or more coaxial cables and/or fiber optic cables:

receiving, from one of said client devices via said one or more coaxial cables and/or fiber optic cables, a request that said one of said client devices be permitted to enter a power-saving mode of operation;

in response to said request, entering a power-saving mode of operation which comprises transmitting a message granting said one of said client devices permission to enter said power-saving mode of operation, wherein said message granting said one of said client devices permission to enter said power-saving mode of operation is a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) transport stream packet having a first program identifier (PID) that:

is uniquely associated with messages that manage power consumption in the DOCSIS network; and

is different from a second PID used for MPEG transport stream packets that carry DOCSIS message.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

buffering traffic destined for said one of said client devices in a buffer of said host device while said one of said client devices is in said power-saving mode of operation; and

upon an amount of traffic stored in said buffer reaching a threshold, transmitting a message to trigger said network device to transition out of said power-saving mode of operation.

10. A system comprising:

circuitry for use in a cable modem termination system (CMTS) of a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) network, wherein said circuitry comprises at least one networking circuit for use in transmitting and/or receiving of signals and at least one control circuit for performing control operations based on transmitted and/or received signals, said circuitry being operable to:

receive, via said at least one networking circuit, a request that a network device be permitted to enter a power-saving mode of operation;

in response to said at least one control circuit processing said request, enter a power-saving mode of operation in which a message granting said network device permission to enter said power-saving mode of operation is transmitted, wherein said message granting said network device permission to enter said power-saving mode is a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) transport stream packet having a first program identifier (PID) that:

is uniquely associated with messages that manage power consumption in the DOCSIS network; and

is different from a second PID used for MPEG transport stream packets that carry DOCSIS messages.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said network device is a cable modem, cable set-top-box, or cable gateway.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein, while in said power-saving mode of operation, said circuitry is operable to start a sleep timer upon transmitting a media access control (MAC) management message.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said MAC management message comprises a MAP and/or upstream channel descriptor (UCD) message.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein said circuitry is operable to deregister said network device if no communication is received from said network device prior to expiration of said sleep timer.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein said circuitry is operable to determine a value at which said sleep timer expires based on network traffic statistics.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

said request is a media access control (MAC) management message; and

contents of a type value field of said request are uniquely associated with requests for permission to enter a power-saving mode of operation.

17. The system of claim 10 , comprising buffering traffic destined for said network device in a buffer of said CMTS while said network device is in said power-saving mode of operation.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein said circuitry is operable to, upon an amount of traffic stored in said buffer reaching a threshold, transmitting a message to trigger said network device to transition out of said power-saving mode of operation.