System and method for scalable multifunctional network communication

摘要

A system and method for scalable multifunctional network communication between presentation devices and service providers are disclosed. A group of consumer premise equipment (CPE) units are coupled to the presentation devices, and a headend control computer receives upstream messages from the CPE units and for sending downstream messages to the CPE units. A group of service provider control subsystems interface between the headend control computer and the service providers. The head end control computer receives messages from the CPE units and transports them to the service provider control subsystems, and the headend control computer receives messages from the service provider control subsystems and transports them to the CPE units.

主权项

1. A Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE), comprising:
a receiver configured to receive one or more messages; and a memory configured to store a request queue update message received from a headend unit, the request queue update message including requests for transmission time intervals for transmissions from one or more other CPE units and at least some of the requests being processed at the headend unit to update a master request queue, wherein the memory is also configured to be updated with requests from the request queue update message; a processor configured to apply an algorithm to determine that the memory is updated to substantially match the master request queue at the headend unit; and a transmitter configured to transmit an upstream message during at least one transmission time interval assigned to the CPE and stored in the memory.