System and method for locating faults in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network

• US 7,706,252 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCaffrey, Ennis, Saunders, Scott C., Catter, Bruce L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HANH N
• Application Number:
  US11/186,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 370/469, 370/352, 370/216, 370/241, 370/218, 370/220, 370/341, 370/344, 370/419, 370/420, 370/431, 370/432, 725/86, 725/91, 725/93, 725/97, 725/105, 725/106, 725/108, 725/111, 725/113, 725/114, 725/115, 725/116
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A fault location system (FLS) for a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network. The FLS comprises an interactive map, a datastore, an object generator, and a display server. The datastore receives identifying information and status information of customer premises equipment (CPE) units connected to the HFC cable network. The object generator associates the identifying information and the status of CPE units with an object and further associates graphical attributes with the object. The display server graphically displays the object on the interactive map at location coordinates indicative of the street address, and graphically displays the object according to its graphical attributes. When used with a processor, the FLS applies algorithms to non-responsive CPE units selected from the interactive map to identify possible common sources of a fault.

Claims

1. A method of locating a fault in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network, wherein the HFC cable network comprises customer premises equipment (CPE) units and network components, and the method comprises:

defining boundaries of a geographic region, wherein the geographic region contains the HFC cable network;

assigning geographical information elements of the geographic region to graphical information layers, wherein the layers are independently selectable and displayable;

configuring a processor to create a network component display object for each network component, wherein the network component display object comprises network component graphical attributes and wherein the network component display object is associated with network component status information and network component identifying information;

configuring the processor to create a CPE display object for each CPE unit, wherein the CPE display object comprises CPE graphical attributes and wherein the CPE display object is associated with CPE status information and CPE identifying information;

configuring the processor to assign each network component display object to a network layer, wherein the network layer is independently selectable and displayable and wherein the network layer is scaled to overlay the selected geographic region and to map each network component display object to a component location according to its network component identifying information;

configuring the processor to assign each CPE display object to a CPE layer, wherein the CPE layer is independently selectable and displayable and wherein the CPE layer is scaled to overlay the selected geographic region and to map each CPE display object to a CPE location according to its CPE identifying information;

configuring the processor to display an interactive map, wherein the interactive map comprises at least one graphical information layer, at least one network layer and at least one CPE layer;

configuring the processor to identify one or more CPE units as “

non-responding,”

wherein a CPE is non-responding when an upstream signal from the CPE unit cannot be detected;

configuring the processor to associate a non-responder attribute with the CPE display object associated with each of the one or more non-responding CPE units;

configuring the processor to define a first closed area of the interactive map comprising the one or more non-responding CPE units;

configuring the processor to identify a first network component related to the one or more non-responding CPE units within the first closed area;

configuring the processor to determine whether the first network component is a likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the one or more non-responsive CPE units within the first closed area; and

configuring the processor to assign a graphical attribute to the first network component indicative of a failure of the first network component and to display the graphical attribute at the location of the first network component when the first network component is the likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the one more non-responsive CPE units within the closed area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein CPE identifying information comprises one or more data elements selected from the group consisting of a subscriber address, a CPE MAC address, a CPE serial number, a CPE part number, a CPE release number, a CPE manufacturer identifier, and a subscriber number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that an upstream signal from a CPE unit cannot be detected is performed before a complaint is received from a subscriber associated with the non-responding CPE unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that an upstream signal from a CPE unit cannot be detected is performed at a headend of the HFC cable network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-responder attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a shape, a blinking graphic, and an audible warning.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the processor to define a first closed area of the interactive map comprising the one or more non-responding CPE units comprises configuring the processor to define a first selection area on the interactive map in response to a shaped selection tool.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the processor to define a first closed area of the interactive map comprising the one or more non-responding CPE units comprises configuring the processor to define a first selection area on the interactive map in response to a freehand selection tool.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

configuring the processor to define a second closed area of the interactive map comprising at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units; and

configuring the processor to exclude the at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units from the first closed area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein configuring the processor to define a second closed area of the interactive map comprising at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units comprises configuring the processor to define a second closed area of the interactive map comprising at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units in response to a shaped selection tool.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein configuring the processor to define a second closed area of the interactive map comprising at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units comprises configuring the processor to define a second closed area of the interactive map comprising at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units in response to a freehand selection tool.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises configuring the processor to display the status information and the identifying information of network component and each CPE unit within the first closed area.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the processor to assign each of the one or more non-responding CPE units to a trouble ticket.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring the processor to associate a trouble ticket attribute with the CPE display object associated with each of the one or more non-responding CPE unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the trouble ticket attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a shape, a blinking graphic, and an audible warning.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the processor to:

determine whether each of the one or more non-responding CPE units is assigned to a current trouble ticket; and

when a non-responding CPE unit is not assigned to a current trouble ticket, then assigning that non-responding CPE unit to a new trouble ticket.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the processor to:

display a list of trouble tickets;

select a trouble ticket from the list; and

display the CPE display object of each CPE unit associated with the selected trouble ticket on the interactive map.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the CPE identifying information comprises a trouble history of a CPE unit and wherein configuring the processor to determine whether the first network component is a likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the one or more non-responsive CPE units within the closed area comprises configuring the processor to:

determine from the identifying information the status information of the network components and the CPE units related to the one or more non-responding CPE units and a trouble history of at least one of the one or more the non-responding CPE units a location of a failed network component that is a likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the one or more non-responsive CPE units; and

determine whether the location of the failed network component that is a likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the one or more non-responsive CPE units is the location of the first network component.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the processor to assign each network component display object to a network layer comprises configuring the processor to assign network design display objects to a design layer, network strand display objects to a strand layer and network fiber display objects to a fiber layer.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the processor to determine a distance between a selected network component display object or a selected CPE display object and a selected location.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the CPE unit is a video termination device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the video termination device is selected from the group consisting of a set top box, an OpenCable-compliant standalone device, and a consumer device integrated with an OpenCable-compliant device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the CPE unit is selected from the group consisting of a cable modem and a media terminal adapter.

23. A fault location system for a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network, wherein the HFC cable network comprises CPE units and network components and wherein the system comprises:

a datastore, wherein the datastore is configured with software executable instructions to cause the datastore to perform operations comprising;

receiving identifying information of each CPE unit, wherein the identifying information comprises a street address of a subscriber associated with the CPE unit; and

receiving status information of each CPE unit, wherein the status information comprises a “

responding”

state indicative of a CPE unit for which an upstream signal has been detected and a non-responder state indicative of a CPE unit for which an upstream signal has not been detected;

an interactive map, wherein the interactive map comprises;

boundaries of a geographic region, wherein the geographic region contains the HFC cable network;

geographical information layers, wherein each graphical information layer comprises graphical information elements of the geographic region;

network layers, wherein the network layer comprises selected network component display objects and wherein the network layer is scaled to overlay the selected geographic region and to map each network component display object to a component location according to its network component identifying information; and

CPE layers, wherein the CPE layer comprises selected CPE display objects and wherein the CPE layer is scaled to overlay the selected geographic region and to map each CPE display object to a CPE location according to its CPE identifying information, and

wherein the graphical information layers, the network component layers and the CPE layers are each individually and independently selectable and displayable; and

a processor, wherein the processor is configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

displaying the interactive map;

creating a network component display object for each network component, wherein the network component display object comprises network component graphical attributes and wherein the network component display object is associated with network component status information and network component identifying information;

creating a CPE display object for each CPE unit, wherein the CPE display object comprises CPE graphical attributes and wherein the CPE display object is associated with CPE status information and CPE identifying information;

assigning each network component display object to a network layer, wherein the network layer is independently selectable and displayable and wherein the network layer is scaled to overlay the selected geographic region and to map each network component display object to a component location according to its network component identifying information;

assigning each CPE display object to a CPE layer, wherein the CPE layer is independently selectable and displayable and wherein the CPE layer is scaled to overlay the selected geographic region and to map each CPE display object to a CPE location according to its CPE identifying information;

identifying one or more CPE units as “

non-responding,”

wherein a CPE is non-responding when an upstream signal from the CPE unit cannot be detected;

associating a non-responder attribute with the CPE display object associated with each of the one or more non-responding CPE units;

defining a first closed area of the interactive map comprising the one or more non-responding CPE units;

identifying a first network component related to the one or more non-responding CPE units within the first closed area;

determining whether the first network component is a likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the one more non-responsive CPE units within the first closed area; and

assigning a graphical attribute to the first network component indicative of a failure of the first network component and to display the graphical attribute at the location of the first network component when the first network component is the likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the one or more non-responsive CPE units within the closed area.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein identifying information further comprises one or more data elements selected from the group consisting of a CPE unit MAC address, a CPE unit serial number, a CPE unit part number, a CPE unit release number, a CPE unit manufacturer identifier, and a subscriber number.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the status information of a non-responder CPE unit is received before a complaint is received from a subscriber associated with the non-responder CPE unit.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the HFC cable network further comprises a headend and wherein the headend comprises instruction to permit the headend to determine the status information of the CPE unit.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the non-responder attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a shape, a blinking graphic, and an audible warning.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is responsive to a user input and wherein the user input comprises a shaped selection tool.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is responsive to a user input and wherein the user input comprises a freehand selection tool.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

defining a second closed area of the interactive map comprising at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units; and

excluding the at least one of the one or more non-responding CPE units from the first closed area.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is responsive to a user input and wherein the user input comprises a shaped selection tool.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is responsive to a user input and wherein the user input comprises a freehand selection tool.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising displaying the status information and the identifying information of the network component and each CPE unit within the first closed area.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising associating a trouble ticket attribute with the CPE display object associated with each of the one or more non-responding CPE units.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the trouble ticket attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a shape, a blinking graphic, and an audible warning.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

displaying a list of trouble tickets; and

in response to the selection of a trouble ticket from the list, displaying the CPE object of each CPE unit associated with the selected trouble ticket on the interactive map.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein the fault isolation server is further configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

associating the identifying information of the CPE unit with a trouble history of the CPE unit; and

determining from the identifying information the status information of the network components and the CPE units related to the non-responding CPE unit and a trouble history of the non-responding CPE unit a location of a failed network component that is a likely cause of the non-responsiveness of the non-responsive CPE unit.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein the network layer is selected from the group consisting of a design layer, a strand layer, and a fiber layer.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising determining a distance between a selected network component display object or a selected CPE display object and a selected location.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein the CPE unit is a video termination device.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the video termination device is selected from the group consisting of a set top box, an OpenCable-compliant standalone device, and a CPE unit integrated with an OpenCable-compliant device.

42. The system of claim 23, wherein the CPE unit is selected from the group consisting of a cable modem and a media terminal adapter.

43. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured with software executable instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining whether each of the one or more non-responding CPE units is assigned to a current trouble ticket; and

when a non-responding CPE unit is not assigned to a current trouble ticket, then assigning that non-responding CPE unit to a new trouble ticket.