Cable plant certification procedure using cable modems
First Claim
1. A method of testing a cable network, using one or more cable modems on the cable network, while allowing live data traffic at an original frequency, the method comprising:
- (a) identifying a group of time increments, associated with live data transmission, during which cable modems on the network are not scheduled to transmit data;
(b) instructing a first one of the one or more cable modems(i) to send a first test signal of a first frequency at a first power during a first one of the time increments, and(ii) to send the first test signal while the first cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency;
(c) measuring the power of the first test signal received at a specified location on the cable network;
(d) instructing the first cable modem(i) to send a second test signal of a second frequency during an available time increment, and(ii) to send the second test signal while the first cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency;
(e) measuring the power of the second test signal received at the specified location on the cable network; and
(f) recording a power versus frequency spectrum of the first modem at at least the first and second frequencies,wherein the first and second frequencies belong to different transmission channels.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for testing a cable network during normal operation interleaves test signals with live data traffic. Installed cable modems are used to generate the test signals. During live communication, such modems send upstream data at allotted time periods. Periodically, there are time slots when no modem is transmitting on the network. During these times, specific modems may be directed to transmit specific test signals. A controller such as a cable modem termination system directs specific modems to transmit signals at defined frequencies and powers during specific time slots. In this manner, the system can monitor the frequency response of the cable network at various locations, and thereby determine “on-the-fly” when maintenance or modification is required.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of testing a cable network, using one or more cable modems on the cable network, while allowing live data traffic at an original frequency, the method comprising:
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(a) identifying a group of time increments, associated with live data transmission, during which cable modems on the network are not scheduled to transmit data; (b) instructing a first one of the one or more cable modems (i) to send a first test signal of a first frequency at a first power during a first one of the time increments, and (ii) to send the first test signal while the first cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency; (c) measuring the power of the first test signal received at a specified location on the cable network; (d) instructing the first cable modem (i) to send a second test signal of a second frequency during an available time increment, and (ii) to send the second test signal while the first cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency; (e) measuring the power of the second test signal received at the specified location on the cable network; and (f) recording a power versus frequency spectrum of the first modem at at least the first and second frequencies, wherein the first and second frequencies belong to different transmission channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 28)
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12. A method of testing a cable network, using one or more cable modems on the cable network, while allowing live data traffic at an original frequency, the method comprising:
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(a) identifying a group of time increments during which cable modems on the network are not scheduled to transmit data at the original frequency; (b) instructing a first one of the one or more cable modems (i) to send a first test signal of a first frequency at a first power during a first one of the time increments, and (ii) to send the first test signal while the first cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency; (c) measuring the power of the first test signal received at a specified location on the cable network; (d) instructing the first cable modem (i) to send a second test signal of a second frequency during an available time increment at the original frequency, and (ii) to send the second test signal while the first cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency; (e) measuring the power of the second test signal received at the specified location on the cable network; and (f) recording a power versus frequency spectrum of the first modem at least the first and second frequencies, wherein the one or more cable modems are selected by a method comprising; identifying separate geographic regions of the cable network for testing; and selecting at least one cable modem at each geographic location.
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13. A method of testing a cable network while allowing live data traffic at an original frequency, the method comprising:
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(a) instructing a first cable modem (i) to send test signals of a first frequency and power during a first group of time increments at which times cable modems on the network are not scheduled to transmit data, and (ii) to send the test signals of the first frequency while the first cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency; (b) measuring and recording at least one of the frequency and the power of the test signals from the first cable modem; (c) instructing a second cable modem (i) to send test signals of a second frequency and power during a second group of time increments at which times cable modems on the network are not scheduled to transmit data, and (ii) to send the test signals of the second frequency while the second cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency; and (d) measuring and recording at least one of the frequency and the power of the test signals from the second cable modem, wherein the first and second frequencies belong to different transmission channels. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A cable network headend allowing testing of the cable network, the headend comprising:
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(a) an amplitude detector that can measure, at a specified location in the cable network, the amplitude of a signal received from a cable modem in the cable network; (b) a MAC layer means for identifying a group of time increments, associated with live data transmission at an original frequency, during which cable modems on the cable network are not scheduled to transmit data; and (c) test logic means for instructing a cable modem on the cable network (i) to send test signals at least two different frequencies during one or more of the time increments, and (ii) to send the test signals while the cable modem is on line and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency and for directing the headend to record the power of said test signals at said different frequencies as detected by the amplitude detector, wherein the different frequencies belong to different transmission channels. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A cable network headend allowing testing of the cable network, the headend comprising:
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(a) an amplitude detector that can measure, at a specified location in the cable network, the amplitude of a signal received from a cable modem in the cable network; (b) one or more processors configured to (i) identify a group of time increments, associated with live data transmission at an original frequency, during which cable modems on the cable network are not scheduled to first data and (ii) to generate instructions to cause specific cable modems on the cable network to transmit test signals of specified power and frequencies and to transmit said test signals while the cable modems are on lie and engaged in live data transmission at the original frequency, which signals can be measured by the amplitude detector; and (c) memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing power and frequency data for the specific cable modems, wherein the test frequencies belong to different transmission channels. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification