Performance characterisation of the MCNS DOCSIS 1.0 CATV protocol with prioritised first come first served scheduling

The Multimedia Cable Networks Systems (MCNS) Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) is established as the primary cable network data communications standard. The head-end scheduling algorithm is not defined within the standard but it is the key function for providing the required performance capability. Computer simulation, using the Common Simulation Framework (CSF) 12 version of the CableLabs DOCSIS 1.0 computer model, has been used to predict the upstream system throughput and mean access delay. A prioritised first come first served scheduling algorithm has been considered to provide a baseline reference set of performance statistics against which other algorithms can be compared. The simulations, with theoretical confirmation, have shown that the maximum sustainable system throughput is 1965 kbps for a channel capacity of 2560 kbps and a packet size of 1500 octets, whereas for packet size of 100 octets the maximum sustainable throughput is only 1550 kbps. The mean access delay is found to vary between 10-900 ms depending on the offered load and assuming that the offered load does not exceed the capacity of the channel. Excess offered load causes service starvation according to the assigned priority.