Cable Modem System And Method For Supporting Packet PDU Compression

Abstract

A cable modem system and method are provided for using a data compression dictionary to transmit compressed payload data in a DOCSIS network while utilizing conventional cable modem termination system (CMTS) equipment. A cable modem system in accordance with the invention includes a cable modem and a CMTS adapted to send and receive compressed payload data. In one example, the cable modem is adapted to compress PDU payload data using a data compression dictionary and the CMTS is adapted to reconstruct the compressed PDU payload data that is received from the cable modem.

1 . A method for generating a data compression dictionary and utilizing it to enhance communication efficiency in a DOCSIS compliant network, comprising the steps of: 
 i. identifying a plurality of frequently occurring data strings transmitted by a plurality of cable modems in the DOCSIS network;    ii. assigning a token to represent each one of the plurality of frequently occurring data strings;    iii. entering each one of the plurality of frequently occurring data strings and each token assigned to represent each one of the plurality of frequently occurring data strings into a lookup table to produce a data compression dictionary; and    iv. transmitting the data compression dictionary to the plurality of cable modems in the DOCSIS network during initialization of each of the plurality of cable modems.    
   
   
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