What did DOCSIS 1.1 introduce to enhance quality of service management?

DOCSIS 1.1 introduced the concept of Service Flow within its MAC (Media Access Control) protocol to enhance quality of service (QoS) management. This feature allows operators to define and manage service flows for various types of data transmissions, ensuring that different types of traffic receive appropriate levels of bandwidth and priority based on their requirements.

By utilizing Service Flow, DOCSIS 1.1 helps ensure that latency-sensitive services like voice over IP (VoIP) or video conferencing can be prioritized over less time-sensitive traffic, resulting in a more stable and reliable user experience. This capability was a significant advancement for managing network resources effectively and providing differentiated services for users, addressing the needs of both real-time and non-real-time data applications.