Virtual Segmentation for Coaxial Cable Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy wired communication media, such as coaxial cables, struggle to meet the increasing throughput requirements of modern devices for both upstream and downstream communications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual segmentation (VS) in coaxial cable plants, which involves designating subsets of channels as upstream or downstream channels based on demand and availability, allowing for dynamic allocation and utilization of frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If legacy wired communication media (coaxial cables) are used without virtual segmentation, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but throughput capability for modern devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the coaxial cable plant into multiple virtual segments using frequency division multiplexing. Different frequency bands are allocated to different virtual segments, allowing multiple independent communication channels to coexist on the same physical infrastructure. This enables increased throughput capability by parallelizing communications across multiple segments while reusing the existing coaxial cable network.
2Productivity
If additional fiber infrastructure is deployed to meet throughput requirements, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing coaxial cable infrastructure multi-functional by implementing virtual segmentation. The same physical coaxial cable plant serves multiple virtual segments simultaneously, each providing dedicated bandwidth capacity. This eliminates the need to deploy additional fiber infrastructure, as the existing infrastructure is made capable of supporting multiple independent high-bandwidth channels through frequency division multiplexing.
3Productivity
If frequency bands are statically allocated for upstream and downstream communications, then channel stability is improved, but bandwidth utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel allocation within the virtual segmentation framework. The network controller can dynamically assign and reassign frequency channels to different upstream and downstream communications based on real-time demand and availability. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize bandwidth utilization efficiency by allocating channels where they are most needed while maintaining stable virtual segment boundaries for overall channel organization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for dynamically designated first and second subsets of a plurality of frequency channels as upstream and downstream channels, respectively, for performing wired communications using virtual segmentation between a network controller and an endpoint device. performing virtual segmentation to service an endpoint device. Communications are performed between the network controller and the endpoint device through a wired communication medium using the upstream and downstream channels. The first subset and second subsets of the plurality of channels are designated as upstream channels and downstream channels, respectively, based at least in part on one or both of upstream and downstream channel demand and channel availability.