Systems, methods, and apparatuses for static upstream spectrum in cable networks
Embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to disabling sounding, resource-block allocation, and various full-duplex (FDX) capabilities in a particular portion of a spectrum used in FDX-enabled cable networks. The disclosure further describes using an upstream mode of communication in the particular portion of the spectrum originally designated for FDX communication. In another aspect, the disclosure can thereby facilitate an increase in upstream capacity on the cable network, for example, a fifteen-fold increase in the upstream capacity. In some embodiments, control messages can be transmitted from a controller node to devices on the network periodically, describing the usage of the FDX portion of the spectrum for upstream transmission. The control messages can include medium access control (MAC) management messages and/or tag-length-value (TLV) messages.
1. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) device comprising memory and processing circuitry, the CMTS device configured to:
determine, by the CMTS device, a group of receiving devices, wherein the group of receiving devices comprises a cable modem;
determine, by the CMTS device, a frequency band for upstream communications from the group of receiving devices to the CMTS device during a time period;
determine, by the CMTS device, to disable sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of receiving devices in the frequency band during the time period; and
send, by the CMTS device, based on the determination to disable the sounding and resource block allocation, a type-length-value (TLV) message to the group of receiving devices, the TLV message including instructions allowing a use of the frequency band for the upstream communications from the group of receiving devices during the time period,
wherein the TLV message further comprises instructions to disable the sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of receiving devices in the frequency band during the time period, and
wherein disabling the sounding and resource block allocation disables downstream communications in a first portion of the frequency band that uses full-duplex communications and enables downstream communications in a second portion of the frequency band that is limited to the downstream communications.
2. The CMTS device of claim 1 , wherein the group of receiving devices comprises devices configured to communicate in the full-duplex communications in the first portion of the frequency band.
3. The CMTS device of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the frequency band includes a start frequency of approximately 258 MHz, and an end frequency of approximately 1218 MHz, and wherein the downstream communications between the CMTS device and the group of receiving devices are available in the second portion of the frequency band when the downstream communications are disabled in the first portion of the frequency band.
4. The CMTS device of claim 1 , wherein the frequency band includes a start frequency of approximately 108 MHz, and an end frequency of approximately 204 MHz.
5. The CMTS device of claim 1 , wherein the upstream communications comprise a unicast transmission.
6. The CMTS device of claim 1 , wherein the TLV message comprises instructions indicating a multicast transmission.
7. A cable modem (CM) device comprising memory and processing circuitry, the CM device configured to communicate using a frequency band having downstream communications between a headend device and a group of devices and upstream communications between the headend device and the group of devices, the group of devices comprising the CM device, the CM device further configured to:
receive a type-length-value (TLV) message from the headend device, the TLV message including instructions allowing a use of the frequency band for an upstream communication the upstream communications from the group of devices,
wherein the TLV message further comprises instructions to disable sounding and resource block allocation between the headend device and the group of devices in the frequency band during a time period, and
wherein disabling the sounding and resource block allocation disables downstream communications in a first portion of the frequency band that uses full-duplex communications and enables downstream communications in a second portion of the frequency band that is limited to downstream communications.
8. The CM device of claim 7 , wherein the headend device includes a cable modem termination system (CMTS) device.
9. The CM device of claim 7 , wherein the group of devices includes a second cable modem device.
10. The CM device of claim 7 , wherein the CM device is configured to communicate in the full-duplex communications in the first portion of the frequency band.
11. The CM device of claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the frequency band includes a start frequency of approximately 258 MHz, and an end frequency of approximately 1218 MHz, and wherein the downstream communications between the group of devices and the headend device are available in the second portion of the frequency band when the downstream communications are disabled in the first portion of the frequency band.
12. The CM device of claim 7 , wherein the frequency band includes a start frequency of approximately 108 MHz, and an end frequency of approximately 204 MHz.
13. The CM device of claim 7 , wherein the upstream communications comprise a unicast transmission.
14. The CM device of claim 7 , wherein the TLV message comprises instructions indicating a multicast transmission.
15. A system comprising:
a cable modem termination system (CMTS) device comprising memory and processing circuitry; and
receiving devices comprising memory and processing circuitry;
wherein the CMTS device is configured to:
determine a group of the receiving devices, wherein the group of the receiving devices comprises a cable modem;
determine a frequency band for upstream communications from the group of the receiving devices to the CMTS device during a time period;
determine to disable sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of the receiving devices in the frequency band; and
send, based on the determination to disable the sounding and resource block allocation, a type-length-value (TLV) message to the group of the receiving devices, the TLV message including instructions allowing a use of the frequency band for the upstream communications from the group of the receiving devices during the time period,
wherein the TLV message further comprises instructions to disable the sounding and resource block allocation between the CMTS device and the group of the receiving devices in the frequency band;
and wherein disabling the sounding and resource block allocation disables downstream communications in a first portion of the frequency band that uses full-duplex communications and enables downstream communications in a second portion of the frequency band that is limited to downstream communications.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the group of the receiving devices comprises devices configured to communicate in the full-duplex communications in the first portion of the frequency band.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second portion of the frequency band includes a start frequency of approximately 258 MHz, and an end frequency of approximately 1218 MHz, and wherein the downstream communications between the CMTS device and the group of the receiving devices are available in the second portion of the frequency band when the downstream communications are disabled in the first portion of the frequency band.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the frequency band includes a start frequency of approximately 108 MHz, and an end frequency of approximately 204 MHz.