IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,094,229
Granted Patent B2
US 9,094,229 · App. 13/006,544 · Granted Jul 28, 2015

Load balancing in a DOCSIS system based on weighting upstream and downstream channel loading conditions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,094,229
App. No.
13/006,544
Granted
Jul 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for balancing a network load are provided. A control attribute that allows a system operator to prioritize upstream and downstream channel loading conditions relative to each other for load balancing decisions is used to balance the network load.

Claims (22)

1. A method for balancing a network load, the method comprising:

computing at least two loads by prioritizing upstream and downstream channel loading conditions relative to each other based on a control attribute, the control attribute comprising a relative level of importance of upstream loading conditions and downstream loading conditions; and

assigning at least one cable modem to at least one different channel based on the computing step, thereby providing a configurable weighting between downstream and upstream channels for making load balancing decisions and taking into consideration the relative level of importance of upstream and downstream loading conditions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the control attribute can take on one of a finite number of values corresponding to a predefined weighting of the upstream and downstream channel loading conditions relative to each other.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the control attribute can indicate at least one time to apply a weighting to the upstream and downstream channel loading conditions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one different channel is a different upstream channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one different channel is a different downstream channel.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one different channel is a set of channels.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions for causing a computer to execute a method for balancing a network load, the method comprising:

computing at least two loads by prioritizing upstream and downstream channel loading conditions relative to each other based on a control attribute, the control attribute comprising a relative level of importance of upstream loading conditions and downstream loading conditions; and

assigning at least one cable modem to at least one different channel based on the computing step, thereby providing a configurable weighting between downstream and upstream channels for making load balancing decisions and taking into consideration the relative level of importance of upstream and downstream loading conditions.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the control attribute can take on one of a finite number of values corresponding to a predefined weighting of the upstream and downstream channel loading conditions relative to each other.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the control attribute can indicate at least one time to apply a weighting to the upstream and downstream channel loading conditions.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the at least one different channel is a different upstream channel.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the at least one different channel is a different downstream channel.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the at least one different channel is a set of channels.

13. A system for balancing a network load, the system comprising:

means for computing at least two loads by prioritizing upstream and downstream channel loading conditions relative to each other based on a control attribute, the control attribute comprising a relative level of importance of upstream loading conditions and downstream loading conditions; and

a cable modem termination system operable to assign at least one cable modem to at least one different channel based on results from the means for computing at least two loads, thereby providing a configurable weighting between downstream and upstream channels for making load balancing decisions and taking into consideration the relative level of importance of upstream and downstream loading conditions.

14. A method for balancing a load of a communication system, the method comprising:

computing at least two loads by prioritizing upstream and downstream channel loading conditions relative to each other based on a control attribute, the control attribute comprising a relative level of importance of upstream loading conditions and downstream loading conditions; and

reconfiguring the load of at least one channel based on the computing step thereby providing a configurable weighting between downstream channels and upstream channels for making load balancing decisions taking into consideration the relative level of importance of upstream and downstream loading conditions.

Assignments (13)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075476/0814 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049820/0495 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 049586/0470 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 8, 2019
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS, INC.; BIG BAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
Reel/Frame 048825/0294 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 14, 2017
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES INC
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 041995/0031 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2013
From: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS; BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030498/0023 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 16, 2013
From: ARRIS GROUP, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 030228/0388 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2011
From: FRIEH, DWAIN EDWARD; NOLLE, STEVEN PAUL; COOGAN, CRAIG PATRICK
To: ARRIS GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 025685/0776 →