Modem count based load balancing in a cable network

摘要

Load balancing across RF channels in a cable plant is challenging where individual cable modems have multiple receive/transmit channels. Load balancing may be taken into account in the assignments of channels to requesting modems in a registration process. Requesting modems may be registered in a sequence of descending order defined by the number of channels requested. Channel sets may be selected to minimize a maximum delta metric of load balancing. It is preferred to normalize the weight of a modem on a channel based on the modem capabilities. The relative weight may be inversely related to the number of channels supported by the modem. Load balancing techniques disclosed may be applied to both upstream and downstream channels. Current load balance quality is estimated and reported to an operator.