PacketCable Specification Subsets for Network Device Provisioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing technologies for providing telephony over Internet Protocol using cable modems face challenges in communicating with other network devices due to varying implementations of the PacketCable specification, leading to communication errors and increased costs for customization of software to match different feature sets.

Innovation Solution

The PacketCable specification is divided into subsets based on vendor-specific implementations, allowing for the configuration of software switches to enable or disable entire feature groups, facilitating communication between devices without requiring source code modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If software customization is performed for each device combination to match PacketCable feature sets, then communication compatibility between devices is improved, but customization costs and time requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication compatibilityVSAvoidcustomization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PacketCable specification is divided into multiple feature subsets (e.g., basic telephony features, advanced voice features, video conferencing features). Instead of customizing the entire software for each device combination, the system segments the specification into manageable subsets that can be selectively enabled or disabled based on the specific communication partners and requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically configures which PacketCable feature subsets are enabled based on the detected communication partners and network conditions. The software can adaptively adjust the active feature sets in real-time, allowing a single cable modem to optimize its behavior for different CMTS and network configurations without manual re-customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the full PacketCable specification is implemented in all devices, then future-proofing and versatility are improved, but compatibility issues arise when vendors implement different feature sets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeature set versatilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The specification is segmented into optional feature subsets, allowing devices to implement the full specification for versatility while being able to selectively disable incompatible features during communication. This enables a cable modem to support advanced features locally while maintaining compatibility with simpler CMTS systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the effective parameter set (which features are enabled) based on the communication context. By dynamically modifying which PacketCable parameters are active, the system can adapt the device behavior to match the capabilities of communication partners while maintaining the underlying full specification implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If source code level customization is performed for each installation combination, then device compatibility is improved, but engineering costs and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation adaptabilityVSAvoidengineering time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The customization logic is extracted from the source code level and moved to the configuration level. Instead of modifying source code for each installation, the system uses configurable parameters and feature subset selection that can be adjusted through provisioning mechanisms, eliminating the need for time-consuming source code customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration of feature subsets during the provisioning phase before the actual communication begins. By pre-configuring which PacketCable features to enable based on the detected device combinations, the system eliminates the need for post-installation engineering customization and time-consuming source code modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8886808B2Method and system for provisioning specification subsets for standards-based communication network devices

Publication Date: 2014.11.11 ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC

AI summary

A communication protocol specification is divided into subsets of parameters based on patterns established by equipment vendors. A combination of subsets is selected based on parameters and features supported by particular network devices installed in a network. A user interface facilitates convenient creation or modification of a configuration file, which instructs a network device how to format a communication message and what information is to be contained therein.After the configuration file is loaded into a device, it controls software switches in the device such that features and parameters corresponding to the parameters selected with the user interface and controlled by the switches are either enabled or disable based on the parameters selected. Supported parameter combinations for popular equipment may be prestored so that selection with the interface of a particular piece of equipment automatically edits the configuration file according to the features and parameters supported by said equipment.