Home Network Testing

• US 20080013612A1
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acterna LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Flask, Robert, Miller, Walter, Gotwals, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24

Abstract

A home network testing device includes an input port with any one or more of a variety of different connectors for receiving different types of communication cables, e.g. coaxial cable, telephone cable, and electrical cable; and a testing apparatus section with a variety of different testing apparatuses for testing for the presence of different forms of home networks, e.g. MoCA, HomePlug, and HPNA. The present invention uses discrete components to analyze the physical layer in the time domain, looking for a specifically timed RF power pulse that is characteristic of and different in each of the network protocols.

Claims

1. A testing device for home networks comprising:

an input port for inputting a home network signal, the input port including connectors for mating with at least one cable selected from the group consisting of coaxial cables, telephone cables, and electrical cables;

a first filtering apparatus for removing all signals from the home network signal except those in a measurement band of a first home network technology generating a first filtered signal;

a second filtering apparatus for removing all signals from the home network signal except those in a measurement band of a second home network technology, different than the first home network technology, generating a second filtered signal;

measuring means connected to said first and second filtering apparatuses for determining which home network technology is present on a home network; and

a switching means for selecting which one of the connectors to be connected with which one of the first and second filtering apparatuses, and which one of the first and second filtering apparatuses to be connected with the measuring means.

2. The testing device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means comprises:

an amplitude demodulator for generating a resultant voltage signal; and

transforming means for conducting a fast Fourier transform on the resultant voltage signal generating a transformed signal.

3. The testing device according to claim 2, wherein the first home network technology is MoCA;

and wherein the measuring means detects a MoCA signal by identifying a product selected from the group consisting of 100 Hz, 1.2 KHz, 1.4 KHz, and 2.8 KHz products in the transformed signal.

4. The testing device according to claim 3, wherein the first filtering means comprises a 50 MHz low pass filter.

5. The testing device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means comprises an amplitude demodulator for generating a resultant voltage signal from the first or second filtered signal;

wherein the first home network technology is MoCA; and

wherein the measuring means detects a MoCA signal by identifying a pulse in the voltage signal that is about 90 μ

s to 110 μ

s wide and repeats approximately every 10 ms.

6. The testing device according to claim 5, wherein once a MoCA pulse is identified, the measuring means takes a first power measurement during the time the pulse is active, and second power measurement while the pulse is inactive;

whereby the measuring means determines power, noise floor, and signal-to-noise ratio of a given home network at a particular test point.

7. The testing device according to claim 6, wherein the measuring means includes:

a comparator for conditioning and shaping the resultant voltage signal into a digital pulse; and

a microprocessor with an analog to digital converter for determining the power input into the amplitude demodulator.

8. The testing device according to claim 2, wherein the second home network technology is HPNA version 3;

and wherein the measuring means detects an HPNA version 3 signal by identifying a product at approximately 66.7 Hz in the transformed signal.

9. The testing device according to claim 8, wherein the second filtering means comprises a 4 MHz to 12 MHz band pass filter or a 12 MHz to 28 MHz band pass filter.

10. The testing device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means comprises an amplitude demodulator for generating a resultant voltage signal;

wherein the second home network technology is HPNA; and

wherein the measuring means detects an HPNA signal by identifying a pulse in the voltage signal that is about 165 μ

s to 185 μ

s wide and repeats approximately every 15 ms.

11. The testing device according to claim 10, wherein once the pulse is identified, the measuring means takes a first power measurement during the time the pulse is active, and a second power measurement while the pulse is inactive;

whereby the measuring means determines power, noise floor, and signal-to-noise ratio of a given home network at a particular test point.

12. The testing device according to claim 11, wherein the measuring means includes:

a comparator for conditioning and shaping the resultant voltage signal into a digital pulse; and

a microprocessor with an analog to digital converter for determining the power input into the amplitude demodulator.

13. The testing device according to claim 1, further comprising a third filtering apparatus for removing all signals from the home network signal except those in a measurement band of a third home network technology generating a third filtered signal.

14. The testing device according to claim 13, wherein the input port includes connectors for mating with electrical wires;

and wherein the third home network technology is HomePlug.

15. The testing device according to claim 12, wherein the third filtering means comprises a 30 MHz low pass filter.

16. A testing device for home networks comprising:

an input port for inputting a home network signal, the input port including connectors for mating with a coaxial cable;

a filtering apparatus for removing all signals from the home network signal except those in a measurement band of a MoCA home network technology generating a filtered signal; and

measuring means comprising an amplitude demodulator for generating a resultant voltage signal from the filtered signal connected to said filtering apparatus for determining whether a pulse that is about 90 μ

s to 110 μ

s wide and repeats approximately every 10 ms is present in the voltage signal, which is indicative of a MoCA home network technology being present on a home network.

17. The testing device according to claim 16, wherein once a MoCA pulse is identified, the measuring means takes a first power measurement during the time the MoCA pulse is active, and second power measurement while the MoCA pulse is inactive;

whereby the measuring means determines power, noise floor, and signal-to-noise ratio of the MoCA home network at a particular test point.

18. A testing device for home networks comprising:

an input port for inputting a home network signal, the input port including connectors for mating with at least one cable selected from the group consisting of coaxial cables and telephone cables;

a filtering apparatus for removing all signals from the home network signal except those in a measurement band of a HPNA home network technology generating a filtered signal; and

measuring means comprising an amplitude demodulator for generating a resultant voltage signal from the filtered signal connected to said filtering apparatus for determining whether a pulse that is about 165 μ

s to 185 μ

s wide and repeats approximately every 15 ms is present in the voltage signal, which is indicative of a HPNA home network technology being present on a home network.

19. The testing device according to claim 18, wherein once a HPNA pulse is identified, the measuring means takes a first power measurement during the time the HPNA pulse is active, and second power measurement while the HPNA pulse is inactive;

whereby the measuring means determines power, noise floor, and signal-to-noise ratio of the HPNA home network at a particular test point.

20. A testing device for home networks comprising:

an input port for inputting a home network signal, the input port including connectors for mating with at least one cable selected from the group consisting of coaxial cables, telephone cables, and electrical cables;

filtering means for removing all signals from the home network signal except those in a measurement band of a selected home network technology generating a first filtered signal; and

measuring means connected to said filtering means for determining which home network technology is present on a home network;

wherein the measuring means comprises;

an amplitude demodulator for generating a resultant voltage signal; and

transforming means for conducting a fast Fourier transform on the resultant voltage signal generating a transformed signal;

wherein the measuring means detects a MoCA signal by identifying a product at approximately 100 Hz in the transformed signal; and

wherein the measuring means detects an HPNA version 3 signal by identifying a produce at approximately 66.7 Hz in the transformed signal.