Method for classifying downstream packet in head-end Cable Modem Termination System providing channel bonding

摘要

A method for classifying downstream packet in a head-end CMTS(Cable Modem Termination System) providing a channel bonding mode is provided to enable a CMTS to allocate service flows according to QoS(Quality of Service), define and manage classifiers capable of classifying the service flows, and schedule data packets input through downstream service flows onto transmission channels capable of rapidly and effectively delivering the packets to the cable modem in accordance with predefined classification rules. A method for classifying downstream packet comprises the following steps. A packet is received(501). A destination MAC(Media Access Control) address included in the packet is extracted(503). The destination MAC address is used to refer to a first classification table(505). When the address information of a CLID(Classifier Identifier) is acquired by the first classification table, it is checked whether the CLID exists by referring to the address(507), and the CLID is extracted when it exists(509). The CLID is used to check whether the classifier pattern value exists(511), and the classifier pattern value can be extracted when it exists(513). The extracted classifier pattern value and the MAC address of the cable modem are bonded to each other(515). By using a bonded result pattern, a second classification table is searched(517). When the address of an SFID(Service Flow Identifier) is extracted from the second classification table, it is checked whether the information matching the address exists(519), and corresponding downstream service flow information is extracted when the information exists(521). The extracted downstream service flow information is used to add a new header to the input data packet, thereby generating an output packet(523) and delivering the generated output packet outward(525).