System and method for discovering and verifying a hybrid fiber-coaxial topology in a cable network environment

摘要

A method in an example embodiment can include polling a first cable modem in a cable network and receiving a first response message from the first cable modem identifying a downstream frequency detected by the first cable modem. The method further includes determining the downstream frequency is split between at least two fiber nodes and determining a cable modem termination system (CMTS) service group topology, where the topology includes the at least two fiber nodes. In specific embodiments, determining that the downstream frequency is split is based on at least the first response message from the first cable modem and a second response message from a second cable modem. In more specific embodiments, the method includes constructing a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) topology map of the cable network based on at least the first and second response messages, where the HFC topology map indicates the CMTS service group topology.

主权项

1. A method for verifying a hybrid fiber-coaxial (“HFC”) topology map of a Cable Modem Termination System (“CMTS”) comprising a plurality of cable modems, the method comprising:
evaluating the HFC topology map to identify frequencies associated with a selected one of the cable modems, wherein the HFC topology map is stored in a storage device of the CMTS; communicating a dynamic channel change request to the cable modem for each of the associated frequencies; receiving a response message from the cable modem for each of the channel change requests; and when any one of the response messages indicates a failed attempt by the cable modem to change to a requested channel, taking an action comprising one of sending an alert to an administrator, logging a possible topology error, and taking the cable modem off-line.