DOCSIS Service Flow Mapping for Wireless Wireline Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face inefficiencies and increased latency when integrating wireless and wireline networks, particularly due to separate scheduling algorithms and limited visibility between DOCSIS and LTE networks, leading to suboptimal performance and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The integration of wireless and wireline networks, specifically through techniques like pipelining LTE and DOCSIS requests, centralized CMTS scheduling, and Quality of Service (QoS) matching, enables coordinated scheduling and resource management, reducing latency and improving spectral efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple Ethernet interfaces are supported for QoS purposes, then QoS capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes a single Ethernet interface universal by implementing multiple virtual queue disciplines (pfifo, sfq, codel, fq) that can be dynamically selected and configured. This allows the same physical interface to provide differentiated QoS services without requiring multiple physical interfaces, thereby maintaining QoS capability while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the single Ethernet interface into multiple virtual queues and channels (up to 16 logical channels) that can be independently managed with different QoS parameters. This segmentation allows multiple QoS streams to be handled simultaneously through software-based virtualization rather than requiring multiple physical interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If cable modems are connected to routers with multiple Ethernet interfaces, then network functionality is improved, but interoperability problems arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork functionalityVSAvoidinteroperability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal interface solution where a single Ethernet port can universally support multiple QoS disciplines and serve multiple cable modems with different QoS requirements. The router can dynamically assign appropriate queue disciplines to each connection, ensuring consistent and reliable interoperability across different modem types and network configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtual queue disciplines as an intermediary layer between the physical Ethernet interface and the cable modems. This software-based mediation layer translates and manages QoS requirements from multiple modems through a single interface, ensuring proper packet scheduling and quality of service without requiring multiple physical interfaces or direct complex interactions between modems and router hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If packet forwarding is done in software, then adaptability is improved, but processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments packet processing into multiple independent virtual queues and channels that can be processed in parallel. By dividing the packet forwarding task across multiple logical channels with dedicated queue disciplines, the system achieves software-based adaptability while improving processing throughput through parallelization rather than sequential handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic queue discipline selection and configuration that can adapt to different traffic patterns and QoS requirements in real-time. The system can dynamically switch between different scheduling algorithms (pfifo, sfq, codel, fq) based on current network conditions, providing both adaptability and optimized processing speed for different traffic types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4236143A2Techniques for wireless access and wireline network integration
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP4236143A2 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4236143A2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4236143A2 patent drawingFigure 2D~2F

AI summary

There is described a method comprising: creating a plurality of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification ("DOCSIS") service flows ("SF"); mapping, respectively and correspondingly, a plurality of logical channel groups ("LCGs") to the DOCSIS service flows to create a plurality of LCG and SF pairs; and providing quality of service ("QoS") levels congruent with each of the LCGs to their respective corresponding one of the DOCSIS service flows. In particular, a bandwidth report ("BWR") having a number of entries equal to the number of LCG and SF pairs can also be provided.