Bandwidth Allocation for Power Pegged Modems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communications networks, power-pegged modems, which are unable to transmit sufficient power due to increased attenuation, impair signal reception and force non-power-pegged modems to use lower-bit-rate modulation profiles, leading to inefficient channel capacity and penalization of non-affected modems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a transmit power load balancing technique where power-pegged modems are moved to alternative channels with suitable characteristics, allowing them to operate effectively, thereby optimizing channel capacity and reducing the need for bonded channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power-pegged modems remain on the upstream channel, then they can maintain their connection, but non-power-pegged modems are forced to use lower-bit-rate modulation profiles reducing overall channel capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts power-pegged modems from the shared upstream channel by detecting their presence through transmitted power measurements and relocating them to alternative channels or time slots. This separation removes the harmful effect of power-pegged modems forcing other modems to use lower modulation profiles, thereby restoring full channel capacity to non-power-pegged modems while maintaining connectivity for the relocated modems through alternative paths.
2Reliability
If low-rate modulation profiles are assigned to upstream channels with power-pegged modems, then all modems on that channel can communicate reliably, but efficient use of channel capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the upstream channel allocation by separating power-pegged modems from non-power-pegged modems into different channels or time slots. This segmentation allows different modulation profiles to be optimized for each group: power-pegged modems receive appropriate low-rate profiles on their dedicated channels while non-power-pegged modems utilize high-rate profiles on the main upstream channel, thereby achieving both reliability for all modems and efficient capacity utilization overall.
3Reliability
If more upstream channels are allocated to accommodate power-pegged modems, then they can operate effectively, but the need for bonded channels increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel assignment where power-pegged modems are automatically detected through transmitted power measurements and dynamically relocated to alternative channels or time slots based on current network conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to accommodate power-pegged modems effectively without permanently increasing the number of bonded channels, thereby maintaining operational effectiveness while minimizing system complexity through flexible, condition-based resource allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a central network device, such as a network edge device, or a CMTS, determines whether some of a plurality of user devices coupled to a communication device are transmitting at substantially their respective maximum power output level over a given channel. If the central device determines that some of the devices are operating at near their maximum output level (“power pegged,) the central device searches for another channel that can carry the traffic of the power pegged devices at reduced data rate. If another channel can accommodate transmission of signals of the power pegged device, the central device instructs the power pegged devices to tune to the new channel at a reduced data rate compared to the data rate of the current channel.