Broadband cable network utilizing common bit-loading

Abstract

A broadband cable network (“BCN”) for determining a common bit-loading modulation scheme for communicating between a plurality of nodes in the BCN is disclosed. The BCN may include a transmitting node within the plurality of nodes where the transmitting node is capable of sending a probe signal to the plurality of nodes, and at least one receiving node within the plurality of nodes in signal communication with the transmitting node. The at least one receiving node is capable of transmitting a first response signal in response to receiving the probe signal. The first response signal includes a first bit-loading modulation scheme determined by the at least one receiving node. The transmitting node is further capable of determining the common bit-loading modulation scheme from the first response signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communication, the method comprising:
 transmitting a signal from a transmitting node to receiving nodes;   receiving a response signal from each of the receiving nodes, wherein each response signal includes an identification of a bit-loading modulation scheme;   determining a bit-loading modulation scheme to be used based on the bit-loading modulation schemes from the received response signals; and   transmitting a broadcast signal from the transmitting node to the receiving nodes, wherein the broadcast signal utilizes the determined bit-loading modulation scheme.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving the signal at one receiving node of the receiving nodes through a channel path of transmission;   determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path at the one receiving node; and   transmitting a response signal from the one receiving node to the transmitting node.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by measuring the signal-to-noise (“SNR”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node, and comprising generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the one receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by measuring the bit-error rate (“BER”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the one receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by measuring the product-error rate (“PER”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node, and comprising generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the one receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one bit-loading modulation scheme utilizes a quadrature phase shift keying (“QPSK”) modulation scheme. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one bit-loading modulation scheme utilizes quadrature amplitude modulation (“QAM”). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one bit-loading modulation scheme is chosen from the group essentially consisting of 64 QAM modulation, 128 QAM modulation, 256 QAM modulation, 512 QAM modulation and 1024 QAM modulation. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having software for communication, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
 logic configured for transmitting a signal from a transmitting node to receiving nodes;   logic configured for receiving a response signal from each of the receiving nodes, wherein each response signal includes an identification of a bit-loading modulation scheme;   logic configured for determining a bit-loading modulation scheme to be used based on the bit-loading modulation schemes from the received response signals; and   logic configured for transmitting a broadcast signal from the transmitting node to the receiving nodes, wherein the broadcast signal utilizes the determined bit-loading modulation scheme.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , comprising:
 logic configured for receiving the signal at one receiving node of the receiving nodes through a channel path of transmission;   logic configured for determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path at the one receiving node; and   logic configured for transmitting a response signal from the one receiving node to the transmitting node.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by logic configured for measuring the signal-to-noise (“SNR”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node, and comprising logic configured for generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the one receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by logic configured for measuring the bit-error rate (“BER”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , comprising logic configured for generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the one receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by logic configured for measuring the product-error rate (“PER”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node, and comprising logic configured for generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the one receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         16 . A network for communicating between nodes in the network, the network comprising:
 a transmitting node, the transmitting node capable of sending a signal;   receiving nodes, wherein each of the receiving nodes is capable of transmitting a response signal in response to receiving the signal, wherein each response signal comprises an identification of a bit-loading modulation scheme;   wherein the transmitting node is capable of determining a bit-loading modulation scheme to be used based on the bit-loaded modulation schemes from the received signals; and   wherein a first receiving node of the receiving nodes is operable to:
 receive the signal at the first receiving node through a channel path of transmission; 
 determine the transmission characteristics of the channel path at the first receiving node; and 
 transmit a response signal from the receiving node to the transmitting node. 
   
     
     
         17 . The network of  claim 16 , wherein the first receiving node is capable of determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path by measuring the signal-to-noise (“SNR”) characteristics of the received signal at the first receiving node. 
     
     
         18 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the first receiving node is capable of generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the first receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         19 . The network of  claim 16 , wherein the first receiving node is capable of determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path by measuring the bit error rate (“BER”) characteristics of the received signal at the first receiving node. 
     
     
         20 . The network of  claim 19 , wherein the first receiving node is capable of generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the first receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         21 . The network of  claim 16 , wherein the first receiving node is capable of determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path by measuring the product-error rate (“PER”) characteristics of the received signal at the first receiving node, and wherein the first receiving node is capable of generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the first receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         22 . A network for communicating between a plurality of nodes in the network, the network comprising:
 a transmitting node, the transmitting node operable to send a signal; and   receiving nodes, wherein each of the receiving nodes is operable to transmit a response signal in response to receiving the   signal, wherein each response signal includes a bit loading modulation scheme; and   wherein the transmitting node determines a bit-loading modulation scheme to be used based on the bit-loading modulation schemes from the received response signals;   wherein a first receiving node of the receiving nodes is operable to:
 receive the signal at the first receiving node through a channel path of transmission; 
 determine the transmission characteristics of the channel path at the first receiving node; and 
 transmit a response signal from the receiving node to the transmitting node. 
   
     
     
         23 . The network of  claim 22 , wherein the first receiving node is operable to determine the transmission characteristics of the channel path by measuring the signal-to-noise (“SNR”) characteristics of the received signal at the first receiving node, and wherein the first receiving node includes means for generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the first receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         24 . A network for communicating between nodes in the network, the network comprising:
 means for transmitting a signal from a transmitting node to receiving nodes;   means for receiving a response signal from each of the receiving nodes, wherein each response signal includes an identification of a bit-loading modulation scheme;   means for determining a bit-loading modulation scheme to be used based on the bit-loading modulation schemes from the received response signals; and   means for transmitting a broadcast signal from the transmitting node to the receiving nodes utilizing the determined bit-loading modulation scheme.   
     
     
         25 . The network of  claim 24 , wherein the signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is capable of being received by all the receiving nodes. 
     
     
         26 . The network of  claim 24 , comprising:
 means for receiving the signal at a first receiving node through a channel path of transmission;   means for determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path at the first receiving node; and   means for transmitting a response signal from the first receiving node to the transmitting node.   
     
     
         27 . The network of  claim 26 , wherein the first receiving node includes means for determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path by measuring the signal-to-noise (“SNR”) characteristics of the received signal at the first receiving node. 
     
     
         28 . The network of  claim 27 , comprising means for generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the first receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         29 . The network of  claim 26 , wherein the first receiving node includes means for determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path by measuring the bit error rate (“BER”) characteristics of the received signal at the first receiving node. 
     
     
         30 . The network of  claim 29 , comprising means for generating the response signal, wherein the response signal utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the first receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         31 . The network of  claim 26 , wherein the first receiving node includes means for determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path by measuring the product-error rate (“PER”) characteristics of the received signal at the first receiving node. 
     
     
         32 . The network of  claim 26 , wherein each bit-loading modulation scheme utilizes a quadrature phase shift keying (“QPSK”) modulation scheme. 
     
     
         33 . The network of  claim 26 , wherein each bit-loading modulation scheme utilizes quadrature amplitude modulation (“QAM”) scheme. 
     
     
         34 . The network of  claim 33 , wherein each bit-loading modulation scheme is chosen from the group essentially consisting of 64 QAM modulation, 128 QAM modulation, 256 QAM modulation, 512 QAM modulation and 1024 QAM modulation. 
     
     
         35 . A device for communicating in a network, the device comprising:
 a transmitting node, the transmitting node being operable to:
 send a signal to receiving nodes; 
 receive a response signal from each of a plurality of receiving nodes, wherein each response signal includes an identification of a bit-loading modulation scheme; 
 determine a bit-loading modulation scheme to be used based on the bit-loading modulation schemes from the received response signals; and 
 transmit a broadcast signal to the plurality of receiving nodes, wherein the broadcast signal utilizes the determined bit-loading modulation scheme. 
   
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the signal is transmitted through a channel path of transmission to one receiving node of the receiving nodes, the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined, and a response signal is received from the one receiving node. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by the signal-to-noise (“SNR”) characteristics of the signal received at the one receiving node, and the response utilizes a bit-loading modulation scheme that is generated by the one receiving node in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined based on the bit-error rate (“BER”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the response signal is generated utilizing a bit-loading modulation scheme in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the transmission characteristics of the channel path are determined by measuring the product-error rate (“PER”) characteristics of the received signal at the one receiving node, and the response signal is generated utilizing a bit-loading modulation scheme generated in response to determining the transmission characteristics of the channel path. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein at least one bit-loading modulation scheme utilizes a quadrature phase shift keying (“QPSK”) modulation scheme. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein at least one bit-loading modulation scheme utilizes quadrature amplitude modulation (“QAM”). 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein at least one bit-loading modulation scheme is chosen from the group essentially consisting of 64 QAM modulation, 128 QAM modulation, 256 QAM modulation, 512 QAM modulation and 1024 QAM modulation.