CMTS Packet Header Modification for VoIP Subscriber Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cable networks face inefficiencies in identifying and managing cable modem termination systems (CMTS) and subscriber information, requiring significant resource updates and relying on stateful datastores or DHCP resolution, which is cumbersome and resource-intensive, especially during reassignments or additions of subscribers and CPEs.
Innovation Solution
Modifying service request packets to include CMTS and subscriber identifying information, allowing the CMTS to populate packet headers with necessary details, and using a trusted proxy server to encode and secure this information, thereby relieving the application server from maintaining static relationships and using stateful datastores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the application server uses a stateful datastore to maintain static relationships between CPE and CMTS, then subscriber identification and CMTS identification can be achieved, but significant resources are required to establish and maintain the datastore, especially during reassignments and additions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification information (CMTS ID and subscriber ID) from the complex stateful datastore system and embeds it directly into the service request packets. This eliminates the need for the application server to maintain a separate datastore, reducing complexity while maintaining reliable identification. The CMTS popsulates these fields in the packet headers, and the application server simply reads them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the CMTS acts as a mediator that populates identification fields in service request packets before forwarding them to the application server. This intermediary approach replaces the need for direct datastore queries between the application server and CMTS, simplifying the system architecture while maintaining reliable identification.
2Productivity
If the application server queries datastores for CMTS and subscriber information, then accurate service provisioning can be achieved, but the process becomes resource-intensive and cumbersome during reassignments and additions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the CMTS populate the CMTS ID and subscriber ID fields in the service request packets before the packets reach the application server. This pre-population eliminates the need for the application server to perform subsequent datastore queries, significantly improving service provisioning efficiency and eliminating delays associated with datastore updates during reassignments and additions.
3Reliability
If the application server maintains static relationships between CPE and CMTS, then service authorization can be performed, but the system requires significant resources for updates during reassignments, additions, and modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the application server to obtain CMTS and subscriber identification information directly from the service request packets themselves, without needing to query external datastores. The CMTS automatically populates these fields, making the system self-sufficient for authorization purposes and eliminating resource-intensive update operations during reassignments and additions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for facilitating communication between a CMTS and a VoIP application server in a cable network. VoIP-enabled customer premises equipment (CPE) generates packets that are sent through a cable modem (CM) to a cable modem termination system (CMTS). A packet is parsed by CMTS and the destination IP address and port number compared to the destination IP address-port tuples received by the CMTS from a datastore. A packet that is directed to an IP address-port tuple on the target list (a “service request packet”) is modified to incorporate CMTS-identifying information and subscriber-identifying information in the packet header. When the VoIP application server communicates with the CMTS to reserve the network resources, the VoIP application server provides the CMTS with the CM MAC and CM IP addresses to facilitate resource allocation, subscriber identification and billing. This Abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this Abstract.