Communication parameter adjustment system in an internet compatible bi-directional communication system

• US 20020141544A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Gervais, John Alan, Brown, Larry Cecil
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/29.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/54 Signalisation aspects of the TPC commands, e.g. frame structure

Abstract

A bi-directional communication system advantageously automatically senses and reports problems to a central operator network management station and operates with fewer subscriber service interruptions by detecting and correcting such conditions before they result in subscriber service interruption. Specifically, a system adaptively varies upstream transmission power level to prevent communication interruption in a cable modem network. A method for adaptively adjusting communication operation by varying a transmission parameter involves retrieving a communication parameter from memory and comparing the retrieved parameter with a predetermined threshold. A message is transmitted to a CATV head-end at a remote site representing that the parameter value indicates adjustment of the parameter is necessary.

Claims

1. In a device for bi-directionally communicating with a remote site, a method for providing warning of impaired communication, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a communication parameter value from memory;

comparing said retrieved parameter with a predetermined threshold to identify an excessive communication parameter value indicative of a potential communication link impairment; and

initiating substantially periodic transmission of a message to said remote site indicating a system adjustment is necessary, in response to said comparison.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said message includes said parameter value.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said parameter represents transmission upstream power level for communicating from said device to said remote site.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said device is a cable modem and said transmission uses simple network management protocol(SNMP), and including the step of

comparing said retrieved parameter with minimum and maximum predetermined threshold values.

5. A method according to claim 1, including the step of

receiving said predetermined threshold value from said remote site.

6. A method according to claim 5, including the step of

using a default predetermined threshold value prior to said receiving of said predetermined threshold value from said remote site.

7. A method according to claim 5, including the step of

configuring said device with said received predetermined threshold during an initialization operation.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said step of initiating substantially periodic transmission of said message comprises initiating transmission on one of, (a) a schedule, and (b) a repetition frequency, received from said remote site.

9. A method according to claim 1, including the step of

using default schedule or repetition frequency values prior to receiving said schedule or repetition frequency values from said remote site.

10. A method according to claim 1, including the step of

terminating transmission of said message upon said comparison step indicating said retrieved parameter no longer exceeds said predetermined threshold.

11. A method according to claim 1, including the step of

displaying at least one of, (a) said parameter, (b) said predetermined threshold and (c) repetition frequency of said periodic transmission, in response to User command.

12. A method according to claim 11, including the step of

generating a web page for said displaying of said at least one of, (a) said parameter, (b) said predetermined threshold and (c) repetition frequency of said periodic transmission.

14. A method according to claim 13, including the step of

receiving said predetermined threshold value from said remote site.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein

said parameter represents transmission upstream power level for communicating from said device to said remote site.

17. A method according to claim 16, including the step of

terminating transmission of said message upon said comparison step indicating said transmission power level value no longer exceeds said predetermined threshold.

13. In a device for bi-directionally communicating with a remote site, a method for providing warning of impaired communication, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a communication parameter value from memory;

comparing said retrieved parameter with a predetermined threshold to identify an excessive communication parameter value indicative of a potential communication link impairment; and

initiating substantially periodic transmission of a message including said parameter value to said remote site indicating a system adjustment is necessary, in response to said comparison.

16. In a modem device for bi-directionally communicating with a remote site, a method for providing warning of impaired communication, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a transmission power level value from memory;

comparing said retrieved transmission power level value with a predetermined threshold to identify an excessive transmission power level value indicative of a potential communication link impairment; and

initiating substantially periodic transmission of a message including said transmission power level value to said remote site indicating a system adjustment is necessary, in response to said comparison.