Method and apparatus for preventing loss of service from hardware failure in a network

• US 20070076789A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thibeault, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2005 using redundant communication controllers

Abstract

A spare receiver in a CMTS is used to prevent loss of service to subscribers during a failure of a receiver. The beginning of a mass modem de-registration event is detected by the operator or automatically by the CMTS. Upon detection of the beginning of the mass modem de-registration event, the spare receiver matrices to the troubled receiver and is configured according the communication parameters of the troubled receiver. The spare receiver sends communications to one or modems normally registered with the troubled receiver to determine if the mass de-registration event is the result of a failed receiver or a connection problem. In the event of a failed receiver, the spare receiver stays matriced with the troubled receiver and passes communications to/from from modems normally registered with it. The cable operator may swap out the troubled receiver and repair the system without significant loss of service to the subscribers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing loss of service in network comprising:

a plurality of receivers, each receiver being capable of receiving signals according to predetermined communication protocols from a plurality of modems;

a switching unit which selectively connects a spare receiver to a signal line associated with one of the plurality of receivers, enabling the spare receiver to receive signals sent to a selected one of the plurality of receivers from a modem associated with the selected one of the plurality of receivers; and

a controller configured to instruct the switching unit to connect the spare receiver to a communication line of a troubled receiver of the plurality of receivers in response to a beginning of a mass modem deregistration event for modems registered with the troubled receiver, and configured to configure the spare receiver to communicate with modems associated with the troubled receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect mass modem deregistration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the spare receiver to send a communication request signal to one or more modems associated with the troubled receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein if the spare receiver receives a response communication from the one or more modems in a predetermined period of time, the spare receiver remains connected to the communication line of the troubled receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller provides an indication to an operator that there is a receiver failure.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein if the spare receiver does not receive a response communication from the one or more modems in a predetermined period of time, the spare receiver is disconnected from the communication line of the troubled receiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller provides an indication to an operator that there is a connection problem.

8. A method of preventing loss of service in network having a plurality of receivers, each receiver being capable of receiving signals according to predetermined communication protocols from a plurality of modems, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a beginning of a mass modem deregistration event for modems associated with a troubled receiver of the plurality of receivers;

connecting a spare receiver to a communication line of the troubled receiver of the plurality of receivers in response to the mass modem deregistration of modems registered with the troubled receiver;

configuring the spare receiver to communicate with modems associated with the troubled receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of determining if the troubled receiver was intentionally brought to a down state by an operator.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of sending a communication request signal to one or more modems associated with the troubled receiver from the spare receiver.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the spare receiver receives a response communication from the one or more modems in a predetermined period of time, the method further comprising the step of keeping the spare receiver connected to the communication line of the troubled receiver.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing an indication to an operator that there is a receiver failure.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein if the spare receiver does not receive a response communication from the one or more modems in a predetermined period of time, the method further comprising the step of disconnecting the spare receiver from the communication line of the troubled receiver.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing an indication to an operator that there is a connection problem.

15. A computer readable medium bearing instruction for a processor to perform a method of preventing loss of service in network having a plurality of receivers, each receiver being capable of receiving signals according to predetermined communication protocols from a plurality of modems, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a beginning of a mass modem deregistration event for modems associated with a troubled receiver of the plurality of receivers;

connecting a spare receiver to a communication line of the troubled receiver of the plurality of receivers in response to the mass modem deregistration of modems registered with the troubled receiver;

configuring the spare receiver to communicate with modems associated with the troubled receiver.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions to perform the step of determining if the troubled receiver was intentionally brought to a down state by an operator.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions to perform the step of sending a communication request signal to one or more modems associated with the troubled receiver from the spare receiver.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein if the spare receiver receives a response communication from the one or more modems in a predetermined period of time, the computer readable medium further contains instructions to keep the spare receiver connected to the communication line of the troubled receiver.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprises instructions to perform the step of providing an indication to an operator that there is a receiver failure.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein if the spare receiver does not receive a response communication from the one or more modems in a predetermined period of time, the computer readable medium further contains instructions to disconnect the spare receiver from the communication line of the troubled receiver.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions to perform the step of providing an indication to an operator that there is a connection problem.