Distributed Network Performance Monitoring
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a hardware connector configured for attachment to a physical communication medium of an access network;
at least one tuner communicatively coupled to the hardware connector; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one tuner, wherein the processor is configured tomonitor communication parameters in a first downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring,monitor communication parameters in a second downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, andtransmit the stored monitoring results for the first and second downstream frequency channels, on an upstream frequency channel carried on the physical communication medium, whereinthe processor is configured to perform multiple repetitions of the monitoring for at least one of the first and second downstream frequency channels prior to transmitting the stored monitoring results, andthe transmitted stored monitoring results include the monitoring results from the multiple repetitions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe is configured to monitor one or more communication parameters on one or more downstream frequency channels carried on a communication medium of an access network. Results of repeated monitoring are stored over a predetermined period. At the conclusion of the monitoring period, data reports reflecting the stored results are transmitted in upstream frequency channels carried on the same medium. The probe can also be configured to send immediate messages if a parameter exceeds predefined limits and can store a plurality of monitoring programs and can be reprogrammed remotely. The probe can be contained within a cable tap if the medium is, e.g., a coaxial cable. Numerous probes can be deployed throughout an access network so as to provide monitoring data from each of many locations over a prolonged period.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a hardware connector configured for attachment to a physical communication medium of an access network; at least one tuner communicatively coupled to the hardware connector; and a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one tuner, wherein the processor is configured to monitor communication parameters in a first downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, monitor communication parameters in a second downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, and transmit the stored monitoring results for the first and second downstream frequency channels, on an upstream frequency channel carried on the physical communication medium, wherein the processor is configured to perform multiple repetitions of the monitoring for at least one of the first and second downstream frequency channels prior to transmitting the stored monitoring results, and the transmitted stored monitoring results include the monitoring results from the multiple repetitions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An cable tap, comprising:
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a housing; a feeder cable connector located on or attached to the housing and configured for attachment to a coaxial feeder cable of a cable plant; an RF signal line located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the feeder cable connector; a plurality of drop cable connectors, wherein each of the drop cable connectors is configured for attachment to a different coaxial drop cable and is communicatively coupled to the RF signal line; at least one tuner located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the RF signal line; and a processor located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the at least one tuner, wherein the processor is configured to cause the tuner to tune to a first downstream channel carried on the RF signal line, monitor a first communication parameter in the first downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, and transmit the stored monitoring results on an upstream frequency channel carried on the RF signal line. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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receiving communication parameter monitoring data from multiple probes distributed throughout a coaxial cable plant, wherein each of the probes is connected to the coaxial cable plant outside of a subscriber location, and each of the probes repeatedly monitors communication parameters on multiple downstream channels for a period of time, stores the results of the monitoring, and transmits the stored results upstream over the coaxial cable plant at the conclusion of the time period; transmitting instructions to a portion of the plurality of probes through the coaxial cable plant, said instructions changing the manner in which the portion of the plurality of probes monitors communication parameters; and receiving additional data from the portion of the plurality of probes in response to the transmitted instructions. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification