Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Cable Internet access that uses the cable television infrastructure provides network edge connectivity from the Internet service provider to an end user. In order to meet the growing data rate demand, the standard organization of multiple system operators, i.e., CableLabs, has released an update of DOCSIS referred to as DOCSIS 3.1. In this proposal, we will research and develop technologies that can improve the spectral and energy efficiency of DOCSIS networks significantly by exploiting the new features of DOCSIS 3.1 with reduced implementation complexities. For DOCSIS networks, optimized technologies will be essential in order to meet the user expectations while maximizing the operators' revenues through reduced network infrastructure deployment costs. With this spirit, we will develop: (i) downstream profile selection methods in order to improve the spectral efficiency (ii) upstream profile selection and scheduling schemes to improve spectral efficiency and, (iii) efficient channel bonding mechanisms to improve energy efficiency and to strike a balance between upstream and downstream traffic demands and available total bandwidth. These will be key techniques for the evolving future generation of cable networks, and therefore, will have significant impact on shaping the broadband data over cable communications industry in the future. The results anticipated from this research will enable improved spectrum utilization, leading to cost-competitive DOCSIS networks.