Reverse-direction tap (RDT), remote diagnostic management tool (RDMT), and analyses using the RDT and the RDMT
First Claim
1. A hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network comprising:
- a headend;
a first amplifier coupled to the headend;
a second amplifier; and
a tap coupled to the first amplifier and the second amplifier so that the first amplifier is positioned between the headend and the tap and the tap is positioned between the first amplifier and the second amplifier, the tap is configured to couple to a plurality of cable modems (CMs), and the tap comprises;
a diagnostic forward (DF) port configured to;
receive a downstream signal from the first amplifier, andinject an upstream test signal in an upstream direction for analysis at the headend of a first fault occurring upstream from the tap; and
a diagnostic reverse (DR) port configured to;
receive an upstream signal from the second amplifier, andinject a downstream test signal in a downstream direction for analysis at one of the CMs of a second fault occurring downstream from the tap.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coaxial cable tap comprises a housing, and a faceplate coupled to the housing. The faceplate comprises a first directional tap port, and a diagnostic reverse (DR) port configured to receive a first upstream signal originating downstream from the coaxial cable tap, and inject a downstream test signal in a downstream direction. A hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network comprises a headend, a first amplifier coupled to the headend, and a tap coupled to the first amplifier, configured to couple to a plurality of cable modems (CMs), and comprising a diagnostic forward (DF) port configured to receive a downstream signal originating from the first amplifier, and inject an upstream test signal in an upstream direction for reception at the headend.
14 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network comprising:
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a headend; a first amplifier coupled to the headend; a second amplifier; and a tap coupled to the first amplifier and the second amplifier so that the first amplifier is positioned between the headend and the tap and the tap is positioned between the first amplifier and the second amplifier, the tap is configured to couple to a plurality of cable modems (CMs), and the tap comprises; a diagnostic forward (DF) port configured to; receive a downstream signal from the first amplifier, and inject an upstream test signal in an upstream direction for analysis at the headend of a first fault occurring upstream from the tap; and a diagnostic reverse (DR) port configured to; receive an upstream signal from the second amplifier, and inject a downstream test signal in a downstream direction for analysis at one of the CMs of a second fault occurring downstream from the tap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14)
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6. A remote diagnostic management tool (RDMT) comprising:
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a Proactive Network Management (PNM) headend module configured to; couple to a diagnostic reverse (DR) port of a reverse-direction tap (RDT) located remote from a headend, provide diagnostic and testing functionality, monitor, capture, and analyze upstream signals originating downstream from the RDT and via the DR port, inject downstream test signals into the DR port, and measure local noise at the RDT; and a PNM cable modem (CM) module coupled to the PNM headend module and configured to; couple to a diagnostic forward (DF) port of the RDT, provide diagnostic and testing functionality, monitor, capture, and analyze downstream signals originating upstream from the RDT and via the DF port, perform timing and mapping for the headend, and inject upstream test signals into the DF port. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method implemented in a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, the method comprising:
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receiving a first signal from a first reverse-direction tap (RDT); analyzing the first signal with a first remote diagnostic management tool (RDMT) located remote from a headend at a first location, the first signal is a first upstream signal received via a first diagnostic reverse (DR) tap of the first RDT and a first Proactive Network Management (PNM) headend module of the first RDMT; receiving a second signal from a second RDT located downstream from the first RDT; analyzing the second signal with a second RDMT located remote from the headend at a second location, the second signal is a second upstream signal received via a second DR tap of the second RDT and a second PNM headend module of the second RDMT; comparing the first signal to the second signal; and determining, based on the comparing, a third location of a faulty component in the HFC network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification