DOCSIS 3.1 introduced many new features into the access network, including variable bit loading across a channel and the use of multiple modulations profiles for downstream and upstream channels. For multicast, the CMTS should attempt to maximize the link utilization by only sending packets to a multicast group on a single profile when a CM joins or leaves. Currently, there is no definition about the multicast profile management mechanism.
In this paper, the DOCSIS multicast profile management mechanisms based on different implementations were proposed, which can be regarded as the supplement methods of the DOCSIS 3.1 and SDN-Cable TR about the downstream profile management.