Apparatus, system, and method for providing energy management, profiles, and message blocks in a cable service environment
A method is provided in one example and includes segmenting a plurality of cable modems into a plurality of groups; identifying traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems that is below a threshold; and determining whether to move each of the plurality of cable modems into a low-power mode based, at least in part, on the traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems.
1. A method, comprising:
segmenting a plurality of cable modems into a plurality of groups, at least one of the plurality of groups comprising a DOCSIS Light Sleep (DLS) group;
identifying traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems that is below a threshold;
determining whether to move each of the plurality of cable modems into a low-power mode based, at least in part, on the traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems; and
moving cable modems with traffic below the threshold into the DLS group, wherein cable modems in the DLS group are in a low power mode and cannot receive messages on a data channel.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
indicating to the plurality of cable modems to shut down their respective receivers for a specified period of time.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein after the specified period of time expires, the plurality of cable modems rejoins a network and identifies a message indicating that a particular one of the cable modems, or a group of the cable modems should receive data or shutdown their respective receivers again.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein a cable modem termination system (CMTS) uses a sleep-timer message to indicate when the plurality of cable modems are to awake from the low-power mode and to begin receiving data.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein an energy management block is used to set a sleep timer to wake up the plurality of cable modems after a specified period of time expires.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein after specified period of time expires, the plurality of cable modems wakes up and listens to a PHY Link Channel (PLC) channel for a new energy management message.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
provisioning a duty cycle for each of the cable modems using a specified period of time, wherein the duty cycle includes an off period and an on period to control data flow for the cable modems.
8. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes instructions for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations, comprising:
segmenting a plurality of cable modems into a plurality of groups, at least one of the plurality of groups comprising a DLS group;
identifying traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems that is below a threshold;
determining whether to move each of the plurality of cable modems into a low-power mode based, at least in part, on the traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems; and
moving cable modems with traffic below the threshold into the DLS group, wherein cable modems in the DLS group are in a low power mode and cannot receive messages on a data channel.
9. The media of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
indicating to the plurality of cable modems to shut down their respective receivers for a specified period of time.
10. The media of claim 9 , wherein after the specified period of time expires, the plurality of cable modems rejoins a network and identifies a message indicating that a particular one of the cable modems, or a group of the cable modems should receive data or shutdown their respective receivers again.
11. The media of claim 9 , wherein a cable modem termination system (CMTS) uses a sleep-timer message to indicate when the plurality of cable modems are to awake from the low-power mode and to begin receiving data.
12. The media of claim 8 , wherein an energy management block is used to set a sleep timer to wake up the plurality of cable modems after a specified period of time expires.
13. The media of claim 12 , wherein after specified period of time expires, the plurality of the cable modems wake up and listen to a PHY Link Channel (PLC) channel for a new energy management message.
14. The media of claim 8 , further comprising:
provisioning a duty cycle for each of the cable modems using a specified period of time, wherein the duty cycle includes an off period and an on period to control data flow for the cable modems.
15. An apparatus, comprising:
a memory element configured to store instructions;
a processor coupled to the memory; and
a sleep mode module, wherein the sleep mode module is configured for:
segmenting a plurality of cable modems into a plurality of groups, at least one of the plurality of groups comprising a DLS group;
identifying traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems that is below a threshold;
determining whether to move each of the plurality of cable modems into a low-power mode based, at least in part, on the traffic being received or transmitted by each of the plurality of cable modems; and
moving cable modems with traffic below the threshold into the DLS group, wherein cable modems in the DLS group are in a low power mode and cannot receive messages on a data channel.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus being further configured for:
indicating to the plurality of cable modems to shut down their respective receivers for a specified period of time.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein after the specified period of time expires, the plurality of cable modems rejoins a network and identifies a message indicating that a particular one of the cable modems, or a group of the cable modems should receive data or shutdown their respective receivers again.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus uses a sleep-timer message to indicate when the plurality of cable modems are to awake from the low-power mode and to begin receiving data.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein an energy management block is used to set a sleep timer to wake up the plurality of cable modems after a specified period of time expires.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein after specified period of time expires, the plurality of cable modems wake up and listen to a PHY Link Channel (PLC) channel for a new energy management message.