Signal level measurement and data connection quality analysis apparatus and methods

• US 20050286436A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acterna LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Flask, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/205 jitter monitoring

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a coupling, a signal level measurement circuit, a communication circuit and a processing circuit. The coupling is configured to connect to and received broadband RF signals from a coaxial cable termination of a communication network. The signal level measurement circuit is operably coupled to the coupling, and is operable to generate signal level measurements regarding a first set of the broadband RF signals. The communication circuit operable to obtain voice over internet protocol data packets from a second set of broadband RF signals. The processing circuit is operably connected to the communication circuit, and is operably connected to receive signal level measurements from the signal level measurement circuit. The processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic data relating to the second set of broadband RF signals. The processing circuit is further operable to cause communication of information representative of the signal level measurements and the diagnostic data in human-perceptible form.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a coupling configured to connect to a coaxial cable termination of a communication network, the coupling operable to receive broadband RF signals;

a signal level measurement circuit operably coupled to the coupling, the signal level measurement operable to generate signal level measurements regarding the a first set of the broadband RF signals;

a communication circuit operable to obtain voice over internet protocol data packets from a second set of broadband RF signals;

a processing circuit operably connected to the communication circuit, the processing circuit operable to receive signal level measurements from the signal level measurement circuit and obtain diagnostic data relating to the second set of broadband RF signals, the processing circuit further operable to cause communication of information representative of the signal level measurements and the diagnostic data in human-perceptible form.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuit further operable to cause visible display of information representative of the signal level measurements and the diagnostic data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tuning circuit interposed between the coupling and the signal level measurement circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal level measurement circuit includes an analog to digital converter and a digital signal processor coupled to the analog to digital converter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal level measurement circuit is operable to generate signal level measurements regarding an analog television signal within the first set of the broadband RF signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal level measurement circuit is operable to generate signal level measurements regarding a digital television signal within the first set of the broadband RF signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuit includes a plurality of processors.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit includes a processor, the processor further comprising at least a portion of the processing circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit further includes a DOCSIS modem and a multimedia terminal adapter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic information including an identification of an upstream channel employed in the established first type of data connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic information including an identification of a modulation type employed in the established first type of data connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic information including an identification of an output gain level employed in the established first type of data connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic information including a packet loss measurement of the established second type of data connection.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain second diagnostic information including a jitter measurement of the established second type of data connection.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic information including a packet delay measurement of the established second type of data connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a splitter operably connecting the coupling to each of the signal level measurement circuit and the communication circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an LCD display.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 including a handheld housing that supports the coupling, the communication circuit and the processing circuit.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the display has a diagonal measurement of less than five inches.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a broadband signal input operable to receive broadband RF signals;

a signal level measurement circuit operably coupled to the broadband signal input, the signal level measurement operable to generate signal level measurements regarding a first set of the broadband RF signals;

a communication circuit operable to obtain voice over internet protocol data packets from a second set of broadband RF signals;

a processing circuit operably connected to the communication circuit, the processing circuit operable to receive signal level measurements from the signal level measurement circuit and obtain diagnostic data relating to the second set of broadband RF signals, the processing circuit further operable to cause communication of information representative of the signal level measurements and the diagnostic data in human-perceptible form.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a splitter operably connecting the broadband signal input to each of the signal level measurement circuit and the communication circuit.