Cable diagnostic and monitoring system
First Claim
1. A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network, comprising:
- sending a polling message to a plurality of modems forming a part of a plurality of television set top boxes from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top boxes;
wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top boxes to obtain at least one operational parameter of each of the television set top boxes;
receiving a plurality of response messages from the cable television set top boxes, each containing the at least one operational parameter of the television set top boxes;
determining that one of the operational parameters from one of the television set top boxes is outside of a specified range of values;
aggregating the operational parameters of the plurality of set top boxes received in the response messages to determine if the same operational parameter is outside the range of specified values for more than the one of the television set top boxes;
if not, generating an error notification for the one television set top box;
if so, determining if a common signal path or node exists in the cable television network for the more than one television set top box; and
if a common signal path or node exists in the cable television network for the more than one television set top box, generating an error notification for the common signal path or node.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network consistent with certain embodiments involves sending a polling message to a plurality of modems forming a part of a plurality of television set top boxes from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top boxes; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top boxes to obtain at least one operational parameter of each of the television set top boxes; receiving a plurality of response messages from the cable television set top boxes, each containing the at least one operational parameter of the television set top boxes; determining that one of the operational parameters from one of the television set top boxes is outside of a specified range of values; and aggregating the operational parameters of the plurality of set top boxes received in the response messages to determine if the same operational parameter is outside the range of specified values for more than the one of the television set top boxes. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network, comprising:
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sending a polling message to a plurality of modems forming a part of a plurality of television set top boxes from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top boxes;
wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top boxes to obtain at least one operational parameter of each of the television set top boxes;
receiving a plurality of response messages from the cable television set top boxes, each containing the at least one operational parameter of the television set top boxes;
determining that one of the operational parameters from one of the television set top boxes is outside of a specified range of values;
aggregating the operational parameters of the plurality of set top boxes received in the response messages to determine if the same operational parameter is outside the range of specified values for more than the one of the television set top boxes;
if not, generating an error notification for the one television set top box;
if so, determining if a common signal path or node exists in the cable television network for the more than one television set top box; and
if a common signal path or node exists in the cable television network for the more than one television set top box, generating an error notification for the common signal path or node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 11)
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5. A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network, comprising:
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sending a polling message to a plurality of modems forming a part of a plurality of television set top boxes from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top boxes;
wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top boxes to obtain at least one operational parameter of each of the television set top boxes;
receiving a plurality of response messages from the cable television set top boxes, each containing the at least one operational parameter of the television set top boxes;
determining that one of the operational parameters from one of the television set top boxes is outside of a specified range of values; and
aggregating the operational parameters of the plurality of set top boxes received in the response messages to determine if the same operational parameter is outside the range of specified values for more than the one of the television set top boxes. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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12. A cable television method for a cable television network, comprising:
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sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box;
wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to report a currently tuned channel of the television set top box;
receiving a response message from the cable television set top box transmitted by the modem and containing the currently tuned channel of the television set top box; and
compiling the currently tuned channel information from a plurality of set top boxes received in response messages to determine actual program viewing statistics for a television time slot during which the polling responses were sent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network, comprising:
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sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box;
wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to obtain an operational parameter that can be correlated to user rights associated with the set top box;
receiving a response message from the cable television set top box containing the operational parameter of the television set top box;
retrieving usage rights inforination associated with the television set top box that indicates what usage rights a user has paid for;
comparing the operational parameter with the usage rights information to determine if the operational parameter indicates that the television set top box is being used outside of authorized usage rights paid for; and
if the set top box is being used outside the authorized usage rights paid for, taking a corrective action. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification