DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

• US 20100315942A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah, Jackson, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a condition responsive device for connection with a communication system. The device includes a receiver configured to receive a physical parameter status signal from a connector of the communication system, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition of the connector connection. The device further includes a processing circuit configured to analyze the data to determine whether a communications signal adjustment is appropriate, wherein the processing circuit is configured to initiate a communications signal adjustment in the communication system if the processing circuit determines that adjustment is appropriate, based on a predetermined set of parameters.

Claims

1. A condition responsive device for connection with a communication system, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a physical parameter status signal from a connector of the communication system, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition of the connector connection; and

a processing circuit configured to analyze the data to determine whether a communications signal adjustment is appropriate, wherein the processing circuit is configured to initiate a communications signal adjustment in the communication system if the processing circuit determines that adjustment is appropriate, based on a predetermined set of parameters.

2. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is a microprocessor.

3. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter status signal is sent wirelessly from the connector.

4. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to analyze the data to determine if there is a problem in the connection of the connector with the monitored port.

5. The condition responsive device of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter configured to send a response signal to a device of the communication system when the processing circuit determines that there is a problem in the connection of the connector with the monitored port, the response signal initiating an alert display of the device.

6. The condition responsive device of claim 5, wherein the transmitter is configure to send the response signal to the device wirelessly.

7. The condition responsive device of claim 5, wherein the device is a television and the response signal initiates a message displayed on a screen of the television.

8. The condition responsive device of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter configured to send a response signal to a head end when the microprocessor determines that there is a problem in the connection of the connector with the monitored port.

9. The condition responsive device of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter configured to send a graduated response when the microprocessor determines that the problem in the connection of the connector with the monitored port persists.

10. The condition responsive device of claim 9, wherein the graduated response becomes increasingly intrusive the longer the problem persists.

11. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter status signal corresponds with an error code, the error code pertaining to a particular problem in the connection of the connector with the port.

12. The condition responsive device of claim 11, wherein the error code is sent by the connector once every predetermined time interval, wherein the storage unit is configured to store a plurality of the error codes.

13. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the communications signal adjustment comprises an adjustment selected from the group consisting of increasing the signal attenuation, shutting down an unused return path leg, amplification, filtering and equalization.

14. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the communications system is a CATV system.

15. A condition responsive device for connection with a communications system, the device comprising:

a means for receiving a physical parameter status signal from a connector of the communication system, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition of the connector connection;

a means for determining whether a response signal is appropriate, the response signal being appropriate if there is a problem in the connection of the connector with the port; and

a means for sending the response signal to a device of the CATV system, the response signal initiating an alert generated by the device.

16. The condition responsive device of claim 15, further comprising a means for storing data sent by the connector.

17. The condition responsive device of claim 15, further comprising a means for analyzing the data to determine whether a communications signal adjustment is appropriate.

18. A method of monitoring a communication system comprising:

receiving a physical parameter status signal from a connector of the communication system, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition of the connector connection;

storing the data pertaining to the condition of the connector;

determining whether a response signal is appropriate, the response signal being appropriate if there is a problem in the connection of the connector with the port; and

transmitting the response signal to a device of the communication system, the response signal configured to alert a party of the problem.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising analyzing the data to determine whether a bandwidth adjustment is appropriate based on a comparison with a predetermined set of parameters.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting a communications signal in the communication system.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting the response signal wirelessly.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a graduated response to a device, the graduated response configured to alert the subscriber of problem.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the graduated response gets increasingly intrusive the longer the problem persists.

24. The method of claim 18, further including sending, by the party, a notification to a subscriber when the party is alerted of the problem.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the party is a head end.

26. A condition responsive device for connection with a communication system, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a physical parameter status signal from a connector of the communication system, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition of the connector connection;

a storage unit configured to store the data;

a processing circuit configured to analyze the data to determine whether a response signal is appropriate, the response signal being appropriate if there is a problem determined in the connection of the connector with the monitored port; and

a transmitter configured to send the response signal to a device of the communication system, the response signal initiating an alert mechanism of the device.

27. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the processing circuit is a microprocessor.

28. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the processing circuit is configured to analyze the data to determine whether a communications signal adjustment is appropriate,

29. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the processing circuit is configured to initiate adjustment of bandwidth in the communication system if the processing circuit determines that adjustment is appropriate.

30. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the communications signal adjustment comprises an adjustment selected from the group consisting of increasing the signal attenuation, shutting down an unused return path leg, amplification, filtering and equalization.

31. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the physical parameter status signal is sent wirelessly from the connector.

32. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the data pertains to a condition selected from the group consisting of tightness, pressure, moisture, temperature, amperage, voltage, signal level, signal frequency, impedance, return path activity, connection location, service type, installation date, previous service call dates, and serial number.

33. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the device is a television and the response signal initiates a message displayed on a screen of the television.

34. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the physical parameter status signal corresponds with an error code, the error code pertaining to a particular problem in the connection of the connector with the port.

35. The condition responsive device of claim 34, wherein the error code is sent by the connector once every predetermined time interval, wherein the storage unit is configured to store a plurality of the error codes.

36. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to send a response signal to a home office when the processing circuit determines that there is a problem in the connection of the connector with the monitored port.

37. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to send a graduated response when the processing circuit determines that the problem in the connection of the connector with the monitored port persists.

38. The condition responsive device of claim 37, wherein the graduated response becomes increasingly intrusive the longer the problem persists.

39. The condition responsive device of claim 26, wherein the communications system is a CATV system.