REAL TIME MONITORING AND CONTROL OF COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS AND RADIO FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

• US 20130246005A1
• Filed: 05/02/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: United States Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Warren, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/30 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0661 by reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring a communications network having a plurality of wired communication cables is characterized by a central computer and a plurality of remote sensors connected with the cables at spaced locations for sampling data at the locations and providing an indication when a fault occurs. The central computer transmits measurement request signals to each remote sensor. In response to a request, the remote sensor samples data on the network at the unit location and sends a measurement of the sample to the central computer where the measurement is compared with baseline measurements for the location. If the measured data from the unit deviates from the baseline measurement, a fault is indicated.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a communications network, comprising

(a) a plurality of communication cables which transmit modulated radio frequency signals bi-directionally within the network, said communication cables comprising at least one of coaxial cables, radiating cables, and fiber-optic cables;

(b) a plurality of sensors each having a unique identifier connected with said communication cables at sequentially spaced locations along said communication cables configured to monitor and measure an amplitude of said bi-directional modulated radio frequency signals at said locations within the network and to transmit the measured amplitudes via uplink signals, respectively; and

(c) a central computer including a comparator connected with said sensors configured to receive said uplink signals, analyze the amplitude of said bi-directional modulated radio frequency signals from said sensors, compare said measured amplitudes with a baseline amplitude for said signals, and produce a fault signal when a measured amplitude of said signals detected at one of said sensors deviates from the baseline amplitude by a predetermined amount, whereby separate quantitative measurements of gains and losses in uplink and in downlink modulated radio frequency signals are obtained.

2. A monitoring system as defined in claim 1, wherein said central computer further includes a database containing baseline measurement information for each remote sensor.

3. A monitoring system as defined in claim 2, wherein each remote sensor includes a receiver for receiving said requests for measurement information from said central computer, a microprocessor for producing said measurement information as a function of network data at said location, and a transmitter for transmitting measurement information to said central computer.

4. A monitoring system as defined in claim 3, wherein said central computer quantitatively measures the RF performance of the signal levels throughout the communications network.

6. A monitoring system as defined in claim 2, wherein said requests and said measurement information do not interfere with data transmitted within the communications system.

7. A monitoring system as defined in claim 6, wherein said communications network comprises a radio frequency distribution network.

5. A monitoring system as defined in clam 4, wherein the communication cables of the communications system include a plurality of spaced bi-directional amplifiers, said remote sensors being connected with said communications cables adjacent to said bi-directional amplifiers.

8. A method for monitoring a communications network having a plurality of wired communication cables, comprising the steps of

(a) tapping the communication cables at spaced locations;

(b) monitoring network data at each of said spaced locations;

(c) comparing the monitored network data with baseline data; and

(d) providing a fault indication when said network data at one of said locations varies from said baseline data.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said monitoring step occurs sequentially at each of said spaced locations.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said monitoring step does note interfere with data transmitted within the communications system.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein said monitoring step includes measuring the flow of data at each location.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the communications system is bi-directional and said monitoring step includes monitoring network data flowing in both directions.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said communications network comprises a radio frequency network.