Method and arrangement for controlling interconnection between cable modem devices and multiple cable modem termination systems

摘要

A system and method for ensuring communication between a subscriber and the proper CMTS in a multiple CMTS system utilizes a user-defined option in the DHCP DISCOVER and OFFER commands used to initialize service. A cable modem that is requesting connection to a CMTS will include a particular, user-defined option in its DISCOVER command. If the receiving DHCP server recognizes the user-defined option, it will send a modified version of the option back to the cable modem in its OFFER command, and the cable modem will establish the interconnection. If the receiving DHCP server does not recognize the user-defined option, it will send a conventional OFFER command back to the cable modem. Since the cable modem will be expecting to receive the modified user-defined option, it will reject the conventional OFFER command, thereby avoiding the connection of the cable modem to the improper cable modem termination system.