Monitoring system and method implementing a channel plan and test plan
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a plurality of nodes communicating signals pursuant to a single channel plan, said channel plan having predefined characteristics for each of a plurality of signal channels;
a spectrum analyzer;
a switch capable of selectively connecting one of said nodes, out of the plurality of nodes, with said spectrum analyzer; and
a controller controlling said switch to select said one node, said controller capable of testing communication of signals on at least one of said nodes by conducting a test plan, said test plan being designed based upon said channel plan, said test plan prescribing measurement of at least one signal parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A channel plan with a corresponding test plan are implemented in connection with a plurality of nodes that communicate signals. The channel plan has one or more predefined specifications for each of one or more signal channels on each of the nodes. The channel plan may comprise a specification of the following, for example, for each of the channels: a label describing use of the corresponding channel, a center frequency, a bandwidth, a power level, information regarding the carrier roll-off, a default status indicator identifying whether the corresponding channel is currently allocated or reserved for future use, one or more default threshold levels for various tests, and an alternate center frequency that may be utilized by the corresponding channel. The channel plan enables a monitoring system to, among other things, conduct automatic periodic test plans, comprising tests, on the nodes, based upon the predefined data specified in the channel plan. Each test plan prescribes measurement of at least one signal parameter, pertaining to one or more nodes as a whole and/or to one or more channels contained within the nodes. The monitoring system includes a spectrum analyzer, a switch enabling the spectrum analyzer to interface with the nodes, and a controller controlling the switch and the spectrum analyzer. The controller is configured to enable creation of and display the channel plan and test plan, based upon user inputs. Notably, the test plan may include alarm limits that are triggered and tracked when a signal parameter of a node or channel exceeds an alarm limit.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of nodes communicating signals pursuant to a single channel plan, said channel plan having predefined characteristics for each of a plurality of signal channels;
a spectrum analyzer;
a switch capable of selectively connecting one of said nodes, out of the plurality of nodes, with said spectrum analyzer; and
a controller controlling said switch to select said one node, said controller capable of testing communication of signals on at least one of said nodes by conducting a test plan, said test plan being designed based upon said channel plan, said test plan prescribing measurement of at least one signal parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for enabling efficient monitoring of electrical signals communicated along a plurality of nodes, each node having a plurality of signal channels, comprising:
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communicating said signals along each of said plurality of said nodes pursuant to a channel plan, said channel plan having predefined characteristics for each of said signal channels; and
testing communication of said signals on at least one of said nodes, selectively tested from among the plurality of nodes, by conducting a test plan, said test plan being designed based upon said channel plan, said test plan prescribing measurement of at least one signal parameter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of nodes communicating signals pursuant to a single channel plan, said channel plan having predefined characteristics for each of a plurality of signal channels;
a spectrum analyzer;
a switch capable of connecting one of said nodes with said spectrum analyzer;
a controller controlling said switch to select said one node, said controller capable of testing communication of signals on at least one of said nodes by conducting a test plan, said test plan being designed based upon said channel plan, said test plan prescribing measurement of at least one signal parameter; and
an editor for enabling a user to define said channel plan by;
retrieving a plurality of device templates corresponding with respective specific devices, each of said device templates defining signal characteristics associated with each said respective specific device; and
defining said channel plan by combining a plurality of said device templates.
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28. A computer readable medium comprising computer readable code enabling efficient monitoring of signals communicated along a plurality of nodes, each node having a plurality of signal channels, the signals being measured by a spectrum analyzer, the computer readable code controlling of a:
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receiving signal data sampled by the spectrum analyzer; and
testing communication of said signals on at least one of said nodes, selectively tested from among the plurality of nodes, by conducting a test plan on said signal data, said test plan being designed based upon a channel plan, said test plan prescribing measurement of at least one signal parameter, said channel plan defining signal characteristics of each of said signal channels on each of said nodes.
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29. A method for enabling efficient monitoring of electrical signals communicated along a plurality of nodes, each node having a plurality of signal channels, comprising:
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communicating said signals along each of said plurality of said nodes pursuant to a channel plan, said channel plan having predefined characteristics for each of said signal channels;
testing communication of said signals on at least one of said nodes by conducting a test plan, said test plan being designed based upon said channel plan, said test plan prescribing measurement of at least one signal parameter, wherein said test plan includes comparing a signal parameter with an alarm limit;
performing said testing step periodically over time;
generating an alarm when said alarm limit is exceeded; and
counting alarms that a particular node generates.
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Specification