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The unique capabilities of the Cuda® CMTS (cable modem termination system) enable an MSO to offer tiered data services that range from a few Kb/s to 40 Mbps and more. The BigBand Cuda provides seamless scalability and port ratio flexibility, providing a cable operator the ability to configure the platform for a wide variety of data speeds. Additionally, a best-of-breed PCMM (PacketCable™ Multimedia) implementation allows dynamic allocation of capacity in response to real-time subscriber requests for additional bandwidth. Usage-based billing is achieved by implementation of IPDR (Internet Protocol Detail Records) and other record-keeping initiatives that ensure full interoperability with billing support systems.

The scalable Cuda platform holds up to 12 application modules, including high density DOCSIS® 2.0 HFC interface modules and GigE network interface modules. A variety of port ratios are available on the Cuda platform, including eight or twelve upstream and two downstream ports. A fully non-blocking, meshed switch fabric with over 200 Gb/s capacity, and 1.55 Gb/s data paths between modules, enable the platform to accommodate increasing numbers of subscribers and higher data rates.

The enhanced RF performance of the Cuda supports reliable delivery of high speed data even when signals are transmitted over areas of impaired HFC plant. Examples of the platform’s superior RF performance include intelligent upstream RF analysis and channel-hopping based on modulation channel-width, frequency and FEC (forward error correction) considerations, enabling effortless adjustments to rapidly changing network conditions; the ability to configure spectrum management profiles that allow the Cuda to be adapted to any HFC environment; and pre-equalization, post-equalization and ingress noise cancellation techniques that enable existing CPE to support higher QAM rates, removing the need for RF adjustments to the HFC plant.

The Cuda’s broad QoS (quality of service) functionality goes beyond DOCSIS specifications to enhance customer satisfaction. QoS features added on the HFC network include per-flow queuing on service flows and admission control, and other features include DiffServ and priority queuing, with the ToS (Type of Service) value propagated across the network to ensure that service flow delivery meets required levels.

High Availability for Superior Service Reliability

Several attributes of the BigBand Cuda enable the platform to meet the highest requirements for robustness and network availability. The platform supports N+1 redundancy of DOCSIS modules, 1+1 redundancy of management cards, and redundant power and cooling. Routing and forwarding functionality is distributed across multiple application modules, and the chassis backplane is passive. All modules and power supplies are hot-swappable and software upgrades are nonservice-affecting. Additionally, complete separation is maintained between data paths and the synchronization information needed to support switchover, to ensure survivability of traffic flows in the event of a management failure, and vice versa.

Capitalize Security

Several features have been implemented on the Cuda platform to prevent against unauthorized access and data loss, including support for the full PacketCable security specification. A wide variety of security-enabling mechanisms such as IPsec (IP Security), BPI+, RADIUS, IKE (Internet Key Exchange) and COPS (Common Open Policy Service) are supported, along with the Kerberos interface and PKINT (Public-Key Cryptography for Initial Authentication) extension.

Open Access Solution

BigBand High Speed Data enables a cable operator to connect subscribers to one or multiple ISPs, and allows seamless data exchange between entities. BigBand Networks’ implementation of Layer 2 routing with MPLS (multi-protocol label switching) enables IP packets to be transported across network boundaries without requiring individual packets to be examined. The number of ISPs that the scalable, high density Cuda platform can support is unlimited.