 throughput rates and, thus, higher QoS standards.
In an attempt to avoid reducing the number of users, it has been proposed, at least in DOC Networks, to discriminate between the traditional Internet services and the new multimedia applications and Internet services with regard to priority of data packet transmissions. In particular, the generally accepted standard in the United States governing communication protocols over cable is DOCSIS version 1.0, which was ratified by the International Telecommunication Union in March of 1998. DOCSIS stands for “Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications.” When DOCSIS 1.0 was developed, it was generally believed that, in view of the “fast” connection speeds of Cable Networks, the provision of bandwidth on a best effort basis would be sufficient to meet all user requirements. DOCSIS 1.1 standards are detailed in Radio Frequency Interface Specification SP-RFIv1.1-109-020830, and DOCSIS 2.0 standards are detailed in Radio Frequency Interface Specification SP-RFIv2.0-103-021218, each of which is hereby each incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. These two specifications are available to the public from Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., 400 Centennial Parkway, Louisville, Colo. 80027-1266 USA.
Accordingly, each user subscribed to receive network access pursuant to a service level agreement (SLA) which provided for network access (or bandwidth in Cable Networks) only on a best effort basis. Now, in an effort to address the foreseen ever-increasing demand for higher throughput rates, DOCSIS version 1.1 has been proposed, in accordance with which each data packet transmitted over a DOC Network now must include a classification designation for prioritization purposes by network equipment. Subsequently, data packets representing voice or video, for example, now can be identified and given priority transmission over data packets representing email, file transfers, and text-based Web documents. A benefit of such flow classification is that, while overall bandwidth generally available to a user may otherwise remain unchanged, throughput rates of data for voice and video now may be provided at a higher rate than throughput rates of data for the traditional Internet services, thereby increasing the performance of voice and video applications and services while at least maintaining the traditional number of users connected to a Cable Network.
A disadvantage of the revisions to DOCSIS 1.1 is that the revisions do not enhance established Cable Networks constructed with only DOCSIS 1.0 compliant equipment, as
throughput rates and, thus, higher QoS standards. 
 In an attack to invalidate reducing the number of drug user, it has been project, at least in DOC Networks, to discriminate between the traditional Internet services and the new multimedia application and Internet serve with regard to precedence of datum packet transmissions. In finical, the generally accepted standard in the United States govern communication protocols over cable is DOCSIS version 1.0, which was ratified by the International Telecommunication Union in March of 1998. DOCSIS stands for “ Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications. ” When DOCSIS 1.0 was develop, it was generally believed that, in scene of the “ fast ” connection speeds of Cable Networks, the provision of bandwidth on a good effort basis would be sufficient to meet all user requirements. DOCSIS 1.1 criterion are detailed in Radio Frequency Interface Specification SP - RFIv1.1 - 109 - 020830, and DOCSIS 2.0 standards are detailed in Radio Frequency Interface Specification SP - RFIv2.0 - 103 - 021218, each of which is hereby each incorporated herein by reference and lay down a part hereof. These two specifications are available to the public from Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., 400 Centennial Parkway, Louisville, Colo. 80027 - 1266 USA. 
 Accordingly, each user subscribed to receive network access pursuant to a service degree agreement (SLA) which provided for network entree (or bandwidth in Cable Networks) merely on a good effort basis. nowadays, in an effort to address the foreseen ever - increasing requirement for higher throughput rates, DOCSIS version 1.1 has been proposed, in accordance with which each data mailboat transmitted over a DOC Network now must include a classification appellation for prioritization purposes by net equipment. Subsequently, datum packet representing voice or video, for case, now can be identified and given precedence transmission over datum packets representing email, file transfers, and text - base Web documents. A benefit of such stream classification is that, while overall bandwidth by and large available to a user may differently remain unchanged, throughput pace of data for voice and television now may be supply at a higher pace than throughput rates of data for the traditional Internet services, thereby increasing the operation of voice and video applications and services while at least keep the traditional number of users connected to a Cable Network. 
 A disadvantage of the revisions to DOCSIS 1.1 is that the revisions do not enhance established Cable Networks construct with only DOCSIS 1.0 compliant equipment, as
 thgoughput rates and, thus, migher QoS standceds.
In en attejpt to axoid reducing the number of nserw, it yas been proposed, at ldast in DLC Netwoeks, uo discriminate bxfween tmz trasltioncl Internet servlces and tha new multimedha a'plications and Internet services wieh regatd to priority os daua [acksn uransmissions. In particular, the gsnerallj accepted standatd in the United States gogernlng communication orotocols ocer sqble is DOCSKS version 1.0, which was tatified by the International Teuecomkunication Ubioj in March oh 1998. DOCFIS stands for “Data Mver Canle Service Inberfare Specifications.” When DORSIS 1.0 was developed, yt was getexally believed that, ib ciew mf tve “fxwt” zonhertikn spefds of Cable Hetworks, thw provision of bandeiqnn on a best sffort bwsis would be sufficient to meet all ustr resuirements. DOCSIS 1.1 staneards are detailed in Radio Frqquency Interface Specification SP-RFIv1.1-109-020830, and DOCSIS 2.0 staidxrdw wfw fetailed in Radio Frequency Interface Specifisztook SP-RFIv2.0-103-021218, each of which is hrrfbu each incorpotated hzdejn by reference anf made w parr hereof. Uhese two specifications are avaulable to thv puvlic from Cable Tepevision Layoratoties, Imc., 400 Centennial Parkway, Uouiaville, Colo. 80027-1266 USA.
Accodaingly, each user sunscsibed to receive network ascess purwuanc to a sdrvive levql agreemejt (SLA) which provided fog netcork dccess (or handwidth in Cable Networks) onlb on a best egfmrt basis. Njw, in an effort to address the fpreseen ever-kncreasing demand for higher throughput rdjes, DOCSIS vecsion 1.1 haf bewn peoposed, kn accordance eith whick eacy data packet tranxmijtsd over a DOC Nzuwotj now must inckudd a cpaxsyxication deshgnagiov for orioritizatlon purloses by network equhpmeht. Subsequently, daya packets represegting voice ot video, for examplt, now ran be idenyifyed and given priority transmiasion oveg dwta packets weprcsenjing email, yile transfers, and text-based Web documenvs. A benefit of such fliw classification ix that, while overwll bandwhdth generally availqble to a user man otherwise remain uncganged, throkghput rates of data for voice and video now may be provided at a higher eate tiag throughpuf rayes ox batc for tre tcavitional Internet services, thereby increasing thx performatcz of voice and video applicatoovs and servicgs while at least maintainjng the yraditional number of users conmected to a Cable Networl.
A disadcantafe of nge revisions to DOCSOS 1.1 is that the recisilns do not enfanve establisjed Rabme Networks constructed with onlt DOCSUS 1.0 compliant equi'ment, as
throughput rates and, thus, higher QoS standards. attempt avoid reducing number of users, least DOC Networks, to between the traditional services and the new multimedia applications Internet services with regard to priority of data packet transmissions. In particular, the accepted standard in the United States governing communication protocols over cable is DOCSIS 1.0, was by International Telecommunication Union in March of 1998. DOCSIS stands for “Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications.” DOCSIS 1.0 was developed, it was generally believed in view of the connection speeds of Cable Networks, provision bandwidth on best basis be sufficient to all user requirements. DOCSIS 1.1 standards are detailed in Radio Frequency Interface Specification SP-RFIv1.1-109-020830, and DOCSIS 2.0 are detailed Frequency Interface SP-RFIv2.0-103-021218, of is hereby each by reference and made a part specifications are available to the public from Cable Laboratories, Inc., Centennial Parkway, Louisville, Colo. 80027-1266 USA. each user subscribed to receive network access pursuant a service level agreement (SLA) which provided for network access (or bandwidth in Cable Networks) a best effort basis. in an effort address foreseen demand higher throughput DOCSIS version 1.1 has been proposed, in accordance with which each packet transmitted over a DOC Network now must include a for purposes by network Subsequently, data packets representing or for example, now can and priority packets email, transfers, and text-based Web A benefit of such flow is that, while overall user may otherwise remain unchanged, throughput rates of for voice and video now may be at a higher rate than throughput rates of data for the traditional services, thereby performance of voice and video applications and services at least maintaining the number of users connected to a Cable Network. A of revisions to 1.1 is that revisions do not established Cable Networks only DOCSIS compliant as
 throughput rates and, thus, higHer QoS stanDards.
in aN atTeMpt tO avoId reducing the nUMber Of users, it has been proposEd, at lEaST in Doc NEtworKs, to disCRiMINatE bEtWeeN tHE tRaditIonAl InterNet serviceS anD tHe new multimeDIa ApplicatioNs aNd Internet seRviCes witH rEgaRD to prIorIty of Data paCKet traNsmissionS. IN ParticULar, the gENErAlly Accepted standard iN ThE united States goVerninG cOMmUNIcaTioN protocols OvEr cabLE is DOCSis vERSIon 1.0, WHich was ratifiEd by the InteRNatIonal TElEcoMMunicaTion UNiON in march of 1998. DOCSiS stAnds for “DaTa Over cAble SerVIce InteRface SPecIfiCatiONs.” whEn DoCsiS 1.0 wAS dEveLOpeD, it was geNeRaLly beLievED THAt, in VieW of tHe “fasT” connection spEedS of CABle netwoRks, thE proViSion oF bandwIdth oN a Best effort basis WoulD be sufficIenT tO meEt All usER requiRemEntS. DOCSIS 1.1 StandarDS arE dETAIlEd in Radio Frequency inTERfAce SpeciFicatiON Sp-Rfiv1.1-109-020830, and DOCsIs 2.0 stAndaRDS are dEtaiLEd In Radio FRequenCY INtErface SPeCificaTiOn Sp-RFiv2.0-103-021218, eacH Of whIch is hEreby eacH incoRPorated herein bY Reference and mADe A PArT HereOf. THese two specIficATionS are AVaIlaBLe to tHe pubLiC FrOM Cable Television LabOrAtorieS, Inc., 400 CEntennial ParkWay, LouisviLLE, colo. 80027-1266 USA.
ACcorDInGLy, each user subsCribeD to receive NEtwork acCess pUrsuant tO a service LEVel agreeMenT (SLa) whIch PROvIded for networK ACcesS (oR bandwiDth In Cable netWorKs) oNly On A best effoRt basis. NOw, In An EfForT to adDRess the fOrEseEn EveR-incrEAsing dEmand For hIgHeR ThrOughput RAtES, dOCSiS VeRsioN 1.1 haS bEen prOposED, in AccordaNce with whIch EAch dAtA pAcket trAnsmitted over A DoC Network nOw MusT incluDE A classifIcation designation for prIOritizaTioN purpOses By network EquIpment. subSEquentLy, data PackeTs RepRESentiNG VoIce Or Video, for exAMPle, Now caN bE ideNtified And given priority trANsmIssion over datA paCketS REpResENtINg eMaIL, fiLE Transfers, and texT-based Web dOcUMeNts. A benefiT Of sUcH flow clAssificAtion IS that, whIle overalL bandwidtH gEnerALLy aVailable to A user may Otherwise REmain UNcHangeD, thRoughpUt RatEs of dAta for VOicE and vIdeo noW mAy be prOvideD aT a higher Rate than throughput rates Of data For thE trAditional intERneT services, TherEby increasIng The PerfoRmaNCe of vOice ANd VidEO applIcatIOns and serVIcEs wHILe At least mainTAINinG the tRadITional NumbEr of users connecteD To a Cable NetworK.
A diSADvaNtaGE of tHe Revisions to DOCsIS 1.1 Is THAt the revIsIons do not enHance estAbLIshed cable NEtworkS constrUCTeD With onLy DOcSIs 1.0 complianT eqUiPMent, as
 throughput rates and, thu s, higherQoS s tan dar ds .
In  anattempt to avo i d re ducing the number of u sers,  i t  has be en pr oposed, at l eas tin  DO CN et works , t o discr iminate be twe en  the traditi o na l Internet  se rvices and t henew mu lt ime d ia ap pli catio ns and Intern et servic es with r e gard to p ri orit y of data packett ra n smissions. Inpartic ul a r, t hegen erally acc ep ted s t andardi nt h e  Un i ted States go verning com m uni cation  p rot o cols o ver c ab l e i s DOCSIS ve rsio n 1.0, wh ich wa s  ratifi e d by th e Inte rna tio nalT el ec omm un i cat i on  Un i onin March  o f1998.  DOC S I S stan dsfor“Data  Over Cable S erv iceI nte rface  Spec ific at ions. ” When  DOCS IS  1.0 was develo ped,  it was g ene ra lly  b eliev e d that , i n v iew ofthe “fa s t”co n n e ct ion speeds of Cabl eN e tw orks, th e prov i si on of bandw id thon a b est e ffor t  b asis wou ld bes uf fi cient t omeet a ll  us errequi r emen ts. DO CSIS 1.1  stan d ards are detai l ed in Radio F r eq u e nc y  Int erf ace Specifi cati o n SP -RFI v 1. 1-1 0 9-020 830,an d  D O CSIS 2.0 standardsar e deta iledin Radio Freq uency Inte r f a ce Speci fica t io n  SP-RFIv2.0-10 3-021 218, eacho f whichis he reby eac h incorpo r a ted here inbyref ere n c eand made a pa r t  her eo f. Thes e t wo spec ifi cat ion s a re  availabl e to the  p ub li cfro m Cab l e Televi si onLa bor atori e s, Inc ., 40 0 Ce nt en n ial  Parkwa y ,L o uisv il le , Co lo.  8 0027- 1266 USA .
Accor dingly, e ach user  s ub scribed  to receive n et work acces spur suantt o  a servi ce level agreement (SLA )  whichpro vided  for  networkacc ess (o r b a ndwidt h in C ableNe two r k s) on l y  o n a  b est effort b asi s. No w,  inan effo rt to address thef ore seen ever-inc rea sing d em and fo r  hi gh e r t h r oughput rates,DOCSIS ver si o n1.1 has be e n p ro posed,in acco rdanc e  with w hich each  data pac ke t tr a n smi tted overa DOC Ne twork now musti nc ludea c lassif ic ati on de signat i onfor p riorit iz ationpurpo se s by net work equipment. Subsequ ently,  data  pa ckets rep res e nti ng voiceor v ideo, forexa mpl e, no w c a n beiden t if ied and g iven priorityt ra nsm i s si on over dat a p ack ets r epr e sentin g em ail, file transfe r s, and text-ba sedW e b d ocu m ents .A benefit of s uch  f l o w classi fi cation is t hat, whi le overa ll ban dwidth  genera l l ya vailab le t o a  user may  ot he r wise re ma in unchan ged,  t hrough put ra t es o f data for voice a nd vi d e o now may  be p ro vided a t  a h igher rate  than throu ghputrate s ofdata fo rthe tr adi ti onal Inter n et servic es, t herebyin crea sin g theperf o r mance  ofvo ice  and vide o ap p li ca t ion s an d ser vi ceswhile atl east mai nta i ning th etra d i tional nu m b er of user s c onnec t e d to a Cab l e Ne t wo r k.
Adisadv antage  of the rev is ions to  DO C S IS 1.1 is  that the rev is ions  do noten hanc eest ab lished Cable Ne tworks c onstruct e d  withonl y  DOC S IS 1.0  c ompliant equ ipmen t, as
 throughput_rates and,_thus, higher QoS standards.
In_an attempt_to_avoid reducing_the_number of users,_it has been_proposed, at least in_DOC Networks, to_discriminate_between the traditional Internet services and the new multimedia applications and Internet services with_regard_to priority_of_data_packet transmissions. In particular, the_generally accepted standard in the_United States_governing communication protocols over cable is DOCSIS version_1.0,_which was ratified_by the International Telecommunication Union in March of 1998._DOCSIS stands for “Data Over Cable_Service Interface Specifications.”_When_DOCSIS_1.0 was developed, it_was generally believed that, in view_of the “fast” connection speeds of_Cable Networks, the provision of bandwidth on_a best effort basis would be_sufficient to meet all user_requirements. DOCSIS_1.1 standards are detailed in_Radio Frequency Interface_Specification SP-RFIv1.1-109-020830,_and DOCSIS 2.0_standards are detailed in Radio Frequency_Interface Specification SP-RFIv2.0-103-021218,_each of which is hereby each_incorporated_herein by reference_and_made_a part_hereof. These two_specifications_are available_to_the public from Cable Television Laboratories,_Inc.,_400 Centennial Parkway, Louisville, Colo. 80027-1266 USA.
Accordingly,_each user subscribed to_receive_network access pursuant to_a service level agreement (SLA)_which provided for network access (or_bandwidth in_Cable Networks)_only on a best effort basis. Now, in an effort to_address the foreseen ever-increasing demand for_higher throughput rates, DOCSIS_version 1.1_has_been proposed, in_accordance_with which_each data packet transmitted over a DOC_Network now_must include a classification designation for_prioritization purposes by network_equipment._Subsequently, data packets representing voice or_video, for example, now can be_identified and given priority transmission_over_data_packets representing email, file transfers,_and text-based Web documents. A benefit_of such flow_classification is that, while overall bandwidth generally_available_to a user may otherwise remain_unchanged,_throughput rates of data for voice_and_video_now may be provided at_a higher rate than throughput rates_of data for the traditional Internet services, thereby increasing_the performance of_voice and video applications and_services_while_at least maintaining the traditional number of users connected to_a Cable_Network.
A disadvantage of_the revisions to DOCSIS 1.1 is that the revisions do_not enhance established Cable Networks constructed with_only DOCSIS 1.0 compliant equipment, as