System and method for detecting continuity of network lines

• US 20070195705A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Shrikhande, Kapil, Savoor, Raghvendra, Blackburn, Stuart, Cauble, Sam
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13092 Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system and method for detecting faults related to lines linked to provide network services. The method includes storing a synthetic value for the performance of a line, receiving a measured value of a performance parameter of the line measured at a customer end and comparing the synthetic value with the measured value to determine if a fault condition exists.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium accessible to a processor for executing instructions contained in a computer program embedded in the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:

an instruction to store a synthetic value for at least one parameter relating to performance of a network line;

an instruction to receive over a communications network a measured value of the at least one parameter, measured at a customer end; and

an instruction to compare the measured value with the synthetic value to detect fault with the network line.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the measured value is one of:

upstream attenuation and downstream attenuation.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the instruction to compare includes:

an instruction to determine a difference between the measured value and the synthetic value; and

an instruction to indicate detection of the fault if the difference is outside a selected value.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer program further comprises an instruction to at least periodically retrieve the measured value from a customer gateway over the communications network.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the measured value and the synthetic value correspond to a selected length and gauge of a pair of copper wires.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer program further comprises an instruction to send a message if the detected fault corresponds to a repair condition.

7. A computer readable medium accessible to a processor for executing instructions contained in a computer program embedded in the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:

an instruction to receive over a network a measured value at a customer end for upstream attenuation and downstream attenuation for a line that provides a network service; and

an instruction to send indication of a fault condition for the line if the difference between the downstream attenuation and upstream attenuation is less than a selected value.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the selected value is a negative number.

9. A method for detecting a fault condition with a line linked to a network service, comprising:

storing a synthetic value for at least one parameter relating to performance of the line;

receiving over a communications network a measured value of the at least one parameter that is measured at a customer end;

determining a difference between the measured value with the synthetic value; and

providing an indication of a fault with the line if the difference between the measured value and the synthetic value is outside a selected value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the measured value is one of:

upstream attenuation, downstream attenuation, upstream bit rate, and downstream bit rate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the synthetic value is one of:

attenuation based on a standard and attenuation measured in a laboratory set up.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising periodically retrieving the measured value from a data collection server operatively coupled to retrieve the measured value from the line.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the measured value and the synthetic value correspond to a selected length and gauge of a copper wire.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising sending a message upon detection of the fault.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the selected value is negative.

15. A method of determining a fault condition for a line used for providing a network service, comprising:

retrieving over a network from a customer gateway an upstream attenuation value and downstream attenuation value for the line; and

indicating a fault condition for the line if a difference between the downstream attenuation value and the upstream attenuation value is less than a selected value.

17. A system for determining a fault condition for a line providing a network service, comprising:

a database that stores a synthetic value for the line;

a processor having access to the database and a computer program to execute instructions contained in the computer program, the computer program comprising;

an instruction to receive over the network a measured value of at least one parameter that is measured at a customer end;

an instruction to determine difference between the measured value and the synthetic value; and

indicating a fault condition with the line if the difference does not meet a selected criterion.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one parameter is one of:

upstream attenuation and downstream attenuation.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one parameter is one of:

upstream bit rate and downstream bit rate.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer program further comprises an instruction to periodically retrieve the measured value from a customer premise equipment over the network.