Early warning fault identification and isolation system for a two-way cable network
First Claim
1. A method of determining an operational status of a segment of a distribution network comprising:
- accessing a ping datastore to acquire ping data associated with a plurality of subscriber premises units (SPUs) connected to the distribution network through a common node, wherein the ping data comprise for each SPU of the plurality of SPUs a ratio of a number of ping responses to a number of ping queries;
selecting a primary SPU, wherein the primary SPU has the highest ratio of ping responses to ping queries and wherein the primary SPU is associated with a primary SPU IP address; and
selecting a secondary SPU, wherein the secondary SPU has the second highest ratio of ping responses to ping queries and wherein the secondary SPU is associated with a secondary SPU IP address;
pinging the primary SPU IP address;
when a response from the ping is received from the primary SPU, then setting a primary SPU operational status of the primary SPU to responsive and setting a node operational status of the common node to responsive;
when a response from the ping is not received from the primary SPU, pinging the secondary SPU IP address;
when a response from the ping is received from the secondary SPU, then setting a secondary SPU operational status of the secondary SPU to responsive and setting a node operational status of the common node to responsive;
when a response from the ping is not received from the secondary SPU, then setting the secondary SPU operational status of the secondary SPU to non-responsive and setting the node operational status of the common node to non-responsive; and
determining an operational status of a network component upstream from the common node based on the node operational status of all nodes serviced by the upstream network component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining an operational status of a segment of a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network. Subscriber premises units (SPUs) connected to the HFC cable network are “pinged” and their responses recorded. The two most responsive SPUs in each node of the HFC cable network are identified. The most responsive SPU is added to a primary ping list and the next most responsive SPU is added to a secondary ping list. The SPUs on the primary list are “pinged” and their responses recorded. If an SPU on the primary list fails to respond, the secondary SPU associated with the node is pinged. If both the primary and secondary SPU associated with a node fail to respond to the “ping,” the node is identified as non-responsive. If all of the nodes associated with a modulator (or a demodulator) are identified as non-responsive, the modulator (or demodulator) is identified as “non-responsive.” Additionally, network devices are pinged and their responses noted. Using the responsiveness of nodes and network devices, faults in segments in an HFC cable network can be identified and located.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of determining an operational status of a segment of a distribution network comprising:
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accessing a ping datastore to acquire ping data associated with a plurality of subscriber premises units (SPUs) connected to the distribution network through a common node, wherein the ping data comprise for each SPU of the plurality of SPUs a ratio of a number of ping responses to a number of ping queries; selecting a primary SPU, wherein the primary SPU has the highest ratio of ping responses to ping queries and wherein the primary SPU is associated with a primary SPU IP address; and selecting a secondary SPU, wherein the secondary SPU has the second highest ratio of ping responses to ping queries and wherein the secondary SPU is associated with a secondary SPU IP address; pinging the primary SPU IP address; when a response from the ping is received from the primary SPU, then setting a primary SPU operational status of the primary SPU to responsive and setting a node operational status of the common node to responsive; when a response from the ping is not received from the primary SPU, pinging the secondary SPU IP address; when a response from the ping is received from the secondary SPU, then setting a secondary SPU operational status of the secondary SPU to responsive and setting a node operational status of the common node to responsive; when a response from the ping is not received from the secondary SPU, then setting the secondary SPU operational status of the secondary SPU to non-responsive and setting the node operational status of the common node to non-responsive; and determining an operational status of a network component upstream from the common node based on the node operational status of all nodes serviced by the upstream network component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for determining an operational status of a segment of a distribution network comprising:
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a ping list generator, configured for; accessing a ping datastore to acquire ping data associated with a plurality of subscriber premises units (SPUs) connected to the distribution network through a common node, wherein the ping data comprise for each SPU of the plurality of SPUs a ratio of a number of ping responses to a number of ping queries; selecting a primary SPU, wherein the primary SPU has the highest ratio of ping responses to ping queries and wherein the primary SPU is associated with a primary SPU IP address; selecting a secondary SPU, wherein the secondary SPU has the second highest ratio of ping responses to ping queries and wherein the secondary SPU is associated with a secondary SPU IP address; and an SPU pinger, wherein the SPU pinger is configured for; pinging the primary IP address of the primary SPU; setting an SPU operational status of the primary SPU as responsive and setting a node operational status of the common node to responsive when a response from the ping is received; pinging the secondary SPU when a response from the ping is not received from the primary SPU; setting an SPU operational status of the secondary SPU as responsive and setting the node operational status of the common node to responsive when the response from the ping of the secondary SPU is received; and a results processor, wherein the results processor is configured for determining an operational status of a network component upstream from the common node based on the node operational status of all nodes serviced by the upstream network component. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification