APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING CAPACITY IN WIRELINE CABLE NETWORKS WITH VIRTUAL SERVICE GROUPS

• Main Authors: Claussen, David, Stafford, Roger, Petersen, Matt
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.02.2022
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

Apparatus and methods for optimizing bandwidth utilization and services in a data network infrastructure. In one embodiment, the data network is a managed Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) cable network, and the network infrastructure is configured to enable dynamic allocate of frequency bands to individual consumer premises device (e.g., DOCSIS-compliant cable modems). In one variant, the improved network infrastructure enables creation of virtual Service Groups (vSGs), and allocation of individual ones of the CM to such vSGs, to some degree irrespective of topological or "hardwired" location within the network. The allocations can be dynamic, and based on factors such as load balancing, evacuation of portions of the physical network topology (such as to support infrastructure upgrades or replacement), or for yet other reasons such as relating to subscriber tier or service level agreement (SLA).