System and method for digitally monitoring a cable plant
First Claim
1. A method for digitally testing a hybrid fiber coaxial cable plant, comprising:
- sending a query to a plurality of cable modems the query including a request for information;
receiving a plurality of replies from the plurality of cable modems wherein a reply includes a unique identifier portion;
storing the plurality of replies in a database;
correlating each of the plurality of replies in the database to a specific cable modem using the unique identifier portion in each reply; and
developing a performance baseline report from data in the database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for digitally certifying and monitoring a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) cable plant. The present invention may be used to automate the characterization of the upstream and/or downstream channels of the cable plant and provide a path for establishing a performance baseline for the cable plant. After certification of the plant, the present invention provides for monitoring of cable plant performance and the use of a performance baseline to provide warnings and alerts prior to system downtime. The present invention also discloses cable plant characterization and monitoring functions being provided from a single site to a plurality of remote cable plant operators.
96 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for digitally testing a hybrid fiber coaxial cable plant, comprising:
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sending a query to a plurality of cable modems the query including a request for information;
receiving a plurality of replies from the plurality of cable modems wherein a reply includes a unique identifier portion;
storing the plurality of replies in a database;
correlating each of the plurality of replies in the database to a specific cable modem using the unique identifier portion in each reply; and
developing a performance baseline report from data in the database. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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2. A method for digitally testing a hybrid fiber coaxial cable plant, comprising:
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digitally characterizing an upstream frequency band by querying a plurality of cable modems installed within the plant and receiving uniquely identified replies in response to each query;
identifying useful upstream frequencies from the digital frequency characterization wherein the identification corresponds to a predetermined performance baseline; and
restricting use of upstream frequencies to the identified useful upstream frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (3, 21, 22)
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4. A system for digitally testing a hybrid fiber coaxial cable plant comprising:
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means for sending a query to a plurality of cable modems, the query including a request for information;
means for receiving a plurality of replies from the plurality of cable modems wherein a reply includes a unique identifying portion;
means for storing the plurality of replies in a database, the plurality of replies being correlated to a specific cable modem using the unique identifier portion in each reply; and
means for developing a performance baseline report from data in the database.
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5. A method for maintaining performance of a hybrid fiber coaxial cable system comprising:
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establishing a performance baseline, the performance baseline reflecting at least one minimum performance parameter of a cable system;
requesting information from a plurality of cable system components coupled to the cable system wherein the acquired information corresponds to a particular cable system component;
determining whether a cable system component coupled to the cable system fails to meet the at least one minimum performance parameter of the cable system;
requesting further information from the cable system component coupled to the cable system wherein the cable system component fails to meet the at least one minimum performance parameter of the cable system; and
determining whether a maintenance response servicing the cable system component coupled to the cable system is appropriate based on, at least, a correlation of the at least one minimum performance parameter of the cable system component with the performance baseline. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification