US 11,974,159 B1
Systems and methods for reducing communication network congestion
John C. Bahr, Superior, CO (US); and Luther E. Smith, Fort Lupton, CO (US)
Assigned to Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., Louisville, CO (US)
Filed by Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., Louisville, CO (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/649,813.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/145,386, filed on Feb. 3, 2021.
Int. Cl. H04W 28/02 (2009.01); H04W 48/10 (2009.01); H04W 88/10 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 28/0252 (2013.01) [H04W 48/10 (2013.01); H04W 88/10 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for reducing communication network congestion, the method comprising:
obtaining, from a first communication device, a scan of a first communication channel for presence of a first network identifier;
determining, from the scan of the first communication channel, that the first network identifier is being broadcasted on the first communication channel by a communication device other than the first communication device;
in response to determining from the scan of the first communication channel that the first network identifier is being broadcasted on the first communication channel, inhibiting broadcasting of the first network identifier on the first communication channel by the first communication device at least partially by reducing how frequently the first communication device broadcasts the first network identifier on the first communication channel, without stopping the first communication device from broadcasting the first network identifier on the first communication channel;
obtaining, from the first communication device, a second scan of the first communication channel for presence of the first network identifier;
determining, from the second scan of the first communication channel, that the first network identifier is no longer being broadcasted on the first communication channel by a communication device other than the first communication device; and
in response to determining from the second scan of the first communication channel that the first network identifier is no longer being broadcasted on the first communication channel, permitting broadcasting of the first network identifier on the first communication channel by the first communication device.