摘要 |
<p>A method, apparatus and computer program product for generating and processing upstream channel descriptor (UCD) messages in a DOCSIS-based broadband communications system, such as a DOCSIS-based two-way satellite communications system, is provided. A satellite modem termination system (SMTS) (204) generates a UCD message that includes one or more standard parameters pertaining to an upstream channel of the two-way satellite communications system, wherein the one or more standard parameters are defined in accordance with the DOCSIS protocol, and one or more satellite application-specific parameters (400) pertaining to the upstream channel, wherein the one or more satellite application specific parameters are not provided for by the DOCSIS protocol. The UCD message is transmitted to a satellite modem that extracts both the standard and satellite application-specific parameters for use in managing communication over the upstream channel.</p> |