DISTRIBUTED NETWORK PERFORMANCE MONITORING
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- monitoring an encoded data stream for one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to one or more of a plurality of different physical locations;
detecting the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations; and
responsive to detecting the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations, transmitting a confirmation, said confirmation indicating that the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations were detected within the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations.
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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.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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monitoring an encoded data stream for one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to one or more of a plurality of different physical locations; detecting the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations; and responsive to detecting the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations, transmitting a confirmation, said confirmation indicating that the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations were detected within the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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locating one or more of a plurality of network monitoring probes at one or more of a plurality of different physical locations, each of the plurality of different physical locations being located between a source of an encoded data stream and one or more service recipient devices configured to decode the encoded data stream; monitoring, by each of the plurality of network monitoring probes, the encoded data stream for one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to one or more of the plurality of different physical locations; detecting, by at least one of the plurality of network monitoring probes, the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations, the at least one of the plurality of network monitoring probes being located within the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations; and responsive to detecting the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations, transmitting, by the at least one of the plurality of network monitoring probes, a communication confirming detection of the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations within the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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a source device configured to transmit an encoded data stream; a plurality of service recipient devices configured to decode the encoded data stream; and a plurality of network monitoring probes, each of the plurality of network monitoring probes being located between the source device and at least one of the plurality of service recipient devices, and each of the plurality of network monitoring probes being configured to; monitor the encoded data stream for one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to one or more of a plurality of different physical locations; detect the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations; and responsive to detecting the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations, transmit a communication confirming detection of the one or more particular data payloads designated for transmission to the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations within the one or more of the plurality of different physical locations. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification