PLUGGABLE MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL LAYERS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
A pluggable medium access controller (MAC) layer includes (1) a physical (PHY) layer interface configured to interface the pluggable MAC layer with a PHY layer and (2) a plurality of MAC modules. Each MAC module of the plurality of MAC modules is configured to implement respective functionality of the pluggable MAC layer. In some embodiments, the plurality of MAC modules are implemented in software, and the pluggable MAC layer is accordingly virtually configurable.
1 . A method for modifying functionality of a pluggable medium access controller (MAC) layer including a plurality of modules, each module of the plurality of modules being configured to cooperate with a physical (PHY) layer to implement respective functionality of the pluggable MAC layer, the method comprising:
identifying a first module of the plurality of modules to be replaced;
initializing a second module of the plurality of modules;
starting the second module; and
replacing the first module with the second module while the pluggable MAC layer is running.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after replacing the first module of the pluggable MAC layer with the second module of the pluggable MAC layer, spinning down the first module of the pluggable MAC layer.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first and second modules operate currently after starting the second module and before spinning down the first module.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first module and the second module is configured to perform one or more the following functions of the pluggable MAC layer: (a) encoding of transmission entities for the PHY layer, (b) decoding of bits received from the PHY layer into transmission entities, (c) supporting one or more data transmission protocols, (d) providing frame synchronization, and (e) providing flow control.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first module supports a first communication protocol; and
the second module supports a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first module of the plurality of modules to be replaced comprises sending a message to a component manager to replace the first module with the second module.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initializing the second module comprises initializing the second module with a configuration of the first module.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initializing the second module comprises initializing the second module with data from the first module.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each module of the plurality of modules is implemented by a processor executing respective instructions for the module stored in a data store.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable MAC layer is a pluggable MAC layer of a network termination system, the network termination system being selected from the group consisting of a modem termination system, a cable modem termination system (CMTS), a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), an optical line terminal (OLT), a cellular wireless communication core, a satellite wireless communication core, and a satellite wireless communication ground station.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable MAC layer is a pluggable MAC layer of a network termination device, the network termination device being selected from the group consisting of a cable modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a wireless modem, an optical network unit (ONU), an optical network termination (ONT), a fiber node, a remote terminal, a wireless base station, and a gateway.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising uninstalling a third module of the plurality of modules while the pluggable MAC layer is running.
13 . A method for modifying functionality of a pluggable medium access controller (MAC) layer, the method comprising:
running a first module of the pluggable MAC layer to implement first functionality of the pluggable MAC layer; and
while the running the first module of the pluggable MAC layer:
initializing a second module of the pluggable MAC layer to implement second functionality of the pluggable MAC layer, the second functionality being different from the first functionality, and
after initializing the second module, starting the second module.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the first functionality of the pluggable MAC layer comprises supporting a first communication protocol; and
the second functionality of the pluggable MAC layer comprises supporting a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising uninstalling a third module of the pluggable MAC layer while the pluggable MAC layer is running.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the first module and the second module is implemented by a processor executing respective instructions for the module stored in a data store.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the pluggable MAC layer is a pluggable MAC layer of one of (a) a network termination system selected from the group consisting of a modem termination system, a cable modem termination system (CMTS), a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), an optical line terminal (OLT), a cellular wireless communication core, a satellite wireless communication core, and a satellite wireless communication ground station, and (b) a network termination device selected from the group consisting of a cable modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a wireless modem, an optical network unit (ONU), an optical network termination (ONT), a fiber node, a remote terminal, a wireless base station, and a gateway.
18 . A method for modifying functionality of a pluggable medium access controller (MAC) layer, the method comprising:
running a first module of the pluggable MAC layer to implement first functionality of the pluggable MAC layer; and
while the running the first module of the pluggable MAC layer, editing a second module of the pluggable MAC layer to modify a second functionality of the pluggable MAC layer.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising installing a third module of the pluggable MAC layer to implement a third functionality of the pluggable MAC layer, the third functionality being different from each of the first functionality of the pluggable MAC layer and the second functionality of the pluggable MAC layer.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the pluggable MAC layer is a pluggable MAC layer of one of (a) a network termination system selected from the group consisting of a modem termination system, a cable modem termination system (CMTS), a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), an optical line terminal (OLT), a cellular wireless communication core, a satellite wireless communication core, and a satellite wireless communication ground station, and (b) a network termination device selected from the group consisting of a cable modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a wireless modem, an optical network unit (ONU), an optical network termination (ONT), a fiber node, a remote terminal, a wireless base station, and a gateway.