Multiple upstream channel descriptor messages pointing to a single upstream channel id for more efficient operation of a docsis system

摘要

In a DOCSIS-based communications system (100), different upstream channel descriptors (UCDs) (140,150) all identify a single logical upsteam channel identifier (UCID) regardless of the type of cable modem (CM) to which the UCDs (140,150) are sent. Different CMs (120,130) having different capabilities (e.g.,CMs configured according to the different DOCSIS standards 1.x, 2.0,and 3.0) receive their respective UCDs (140,150) from an upstream headend (110). All the UCDs (140,150), however, refer to the same logical upstream channel. The different CMs therefore share this single logical upstream channel.