METHODS FOR DETECTING AND POLLING DOWNSTREAM MODEMS

摘要

Methods are provided for finding the address of a previously undiscovered client modem by first detecting the presence of a previously undiscovered client modem on a shared communication media and then discerning the address for the newly discovered client modem. The methods can be coupled with group polling to eliminate the time wasted polling (104, 112, 120) a modem without data to transmit. In one implementation of group polling, a broadcast message (204) is sent to all modems (or a selected subset of modems). Each modem requiring service responds with a short burst of energy (216) in its predefined time slot. These time slot responses (208) are recorded and then normal poll messages are sent out to only the modems requesting service. A timeslot can be allocated for responses (212) from undiscovered modems.