DOCSIS-(Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification).
The dominating cable modem standard. Defines technical specifications for both cable modem and CMTS. What is DOCSIS? DOCSIS defines interface requirements for cable modems involved in high-speed data distribution over a cable television network. The pool includes only intellectual property that is essential to the DOCSIS interface standard. It does not include the technology or the intellectual property each company might choose to implement the standard.
By entering the pool, a company contributes a non-exclusive license for any of its intellectual property essential to the DOCSIS standard and, in return, receives a license for intellectual property contributed by other signatories.
Any company wishing to make equipment compliant with the DOCSIS standard may join, and thus have access to the intellectual property in the pool, in return for contributing intellectual property they have (if any) relating to the DOCSIS standard.
Whats the history of DOCSIS and are their others?Yes Three major standards exist for Cable Modems! Guess how many we need?
First generation Cable Modems uses various proprietary protocols etc. making it impossible for the CATV network operators to use multiple vendors Cable Modems on the same system.
Around 1997 three standards emerged. DAVIC/DVB were first with a European standard, closely followed by MCSN with a US standard (DOCSIS). IEEE came last with 802.14, and clearly lost the 1st round. IEEE is now trying to leap-frog the two other standards by focusing on the next generation standards.
MCNS/DOCSIS The dominant US standard - even though it has not gone through any formal/ independent standards body yet. This standard is very much driven by the wish of the large cable operators to have cable modems sold through the retail channel. Initially the chip manufacturer Broadcom played an important role, by pushing the standard and the level of chip integration at a very fast pace. As a result, the complexity of the standard is generally agreed to be much higher than what is strictly required, and is even growing.
Initially the standard did not support QoS which is required for telephony applications (VoIP) and other applications as well, but this has been added in version 1.1.
Initially open to only external box solutions with Ethernet interface, but now also allows internal modems and USB modems.
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