Remote PHY architecture: Multi environment of DOCSIS – transform, scale, deliver any service, anywhere.

Over the last several years the Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) has emerged as the next-generation replacement for CMTS and EQAM products. In its basic form, CCAP allows for the convergence of high-speed data with broadcast & narrowcast video at a very large scale, where the full spectrum of services is available for each service group (SG).

With one integrated platform operators goal is to consolidate devices and lower the cost of operation. But the growth in the complexity of the CCAP and the growing pace of delivering new services to customers has produced new challenges for MSOs.  New software versions with new functions require fast adoption and deployment. One big monolithic operating system running on CCAP can put constraints on the fast pace of changing services. With Remote PHY a change in the base principal of one CCAP for all services to a multi CCAP Core where each of the Cores can deliver dedicated functions like DATA, VIDEO, OOB and other future functions.

MutliCore architecture also allows for more advanced redundancy implementation. Unlike the integrated CCAP, system maintenance functions, such as software upgrades or module replacement can be performed independently for each service and each function can be supported by separate active/standby Cores. Such architecture would allow for:

  • Frequent and faster software upgrades with new features and services
  • Improved availability and manageability
  • Simpler testing and validation procedures

Multi environment of DOCSIS. Remote PHY: Sometimes separately is better than together. Multi environment of DOCSIS.

 

The architecture of multi Cores means that they can be located or managed by different operation groups depending on to their function, in example, Narrowcast Core can be managed by a local HE video team whereas Broadcast Video Core can be controlled from the main HE, both deliver services to the same Remote PHY Device (RPD).

Multi environment of DOCSIS. Remote PHY: Sometimes separately is better than together. Multi environment of DOCSIS.

A similar scenario applies to Out-of-Band systems. As each MSO has its own set of legacy systems that need to be supported to control and manage a classical coaxial network behind the Remote PHY device. Therefore, one CCAP Core with a wide range of functions would require a very complex mix of functions. On the other hand, a small dedicated CCAP Core could deliver a specific function to control and support legacy MSOs for a particular part of the network.  Also, multi Core CCAP architecture Network Function Virtualization will allow for further consolidation of HW in all HEs, with a more software-centric approach rather than a dedicated hardware approach.