DOCSIS 3.0 new features

DOCSIS 3.0 introduces a number of features that build upon what was present in previous versions of DOCSIS.

This specification includes the following key new features for the MAC and Upper Layer Protocols Interface.

• Downstream Channel Bonding with Multiple Receive Channels: DOCSIS 3.0 introduces the concept of a
CM that receives simultaneously on multiple receive channels. Downstream Channel Bonding refers to the
ability (at the MAC layer) to schedule packets for a single service flow across those multiple channels.
Downstream Channel Bonding offers significant increases in the peak downstream data rate that can be
provided to a single CM.
• Upstream Channel Bonding with Multiple Transmit Channels: DOCSIS 3.0 introduces the concept of a
CM that transmits simultaneously on multiple transmit channels. Upstream Channel Bonding, refers to the
ability to schedule the traffic for a single upstream service flow across those multiple channels. Upstream
Channel Bonding offers significant increases in the peak upstream data rate that can be provided to a single
CM. DOCSIS 3.0 also introduces other enhancements in the upstream request-grant process that improve the
efficiency of the upstream link.
• IPv6: DOCSIS 3.0 introduces built-in support for the Internet Protocol version 6. DOCSIS 3.0 CMs can be
provisioned with an IPv4 management address, an IPv6 management address, or both. Further, DOCSIS 3.0
CMs can provide transparent IPv6 connectivity to devices behind the cable modem (CPEs), with full support
for Quality of Service and filtering.
• Source-Specific Multicast: DOCSIS 3.0 supports delivery of Source-Specific IP Multicast streams to CPEs.
Rather than extend the IP multicast protocol awareness of cable modems to support enhanced multicast control
protocols, DOCSIS 3.0 takes a different approach. All awareness of IP multicast is moved to the CMTS, and a
new DOCSIS-specific layer 2 multicast control protocol between the CM and CMTS is defined which works in
harmony with downstream channel bonding and allows efficient and extensible support for future multicast
applications.
• Multicast QoS: DOCSIS 3.0 defines a standard mechanism for configuring the Quality of Service for IP
multicast sessions. It introduces the concept of a "Group Service Flow" for multicast traffic that references a
Service Class Name that defines the QoS parameters for the service flow.