System and method for mapping potential internet protocol television interference

• US 8,315,181 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griesmer, Stephen J., Mallya, Arvind R., Beattie, James G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US12/549,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/244 Interferences in heterogeneous networks, e.g. among macro and femto or pico cells or other sector / system interference [OSI]

Abstract

A method is disclosed for determining a mitigation strategy to limit a potential source of interference on an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) system. A new user installation request is received at a server in the IPTV system. A first geographical location of a customer premises associated with the new user installation request is received. A second geographical location of an amplitude modulation broadcasting facility is received. The first geographical location and the second geographical location are plotted. A first distance between the first geographical location and the second geographical location is determined. A first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility is retrieved. A first mitigation strategy to limit a first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on an IPTV signal provided to the first geographical location when the first distance is less than the first threshold distance is determined.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a memory storing computer instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising;

receiving a new user installation request at a server in an Internet protocol television system;

retrieving a first geographical location of a customer premises associated with the new user installation request;

retrieving a second geographical location of an amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

plotting the first geographical location of the customer premises and the second geographical location of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

determining a first distance between the first geographical location and the second geographical location;

retrieving a first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

comparing the first distance to a first threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining a first mitigation strategy to limit a first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on an Internet protocol television signal provided to the first geographical location when the first distance is less than the first threshold distance.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising:

retrieving a third geographical location of equipment of an amateur radio operator;

plotting the third geographical location of the equipment of the amateur radio operator;

determining a second distance between the first geographical location and the third geographical location;

retrieving a second signal transmission power rating for the equipment of the amateur radio operator;

comparing the second distance to a second threshold distance that is based on the second signal transmission power rating for the equipment of the amateur radio operator; and

determining a second mitigation strategy to limit a second interference of the equipment of the amateur radio operator on the Internet protocol television signal provided to the first geographical location when the second distance is less than the second threshold distance.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising:

retrieving a third geographical location of a video ready access device associated with the new user installation request;

plotting the third geographical location of the video ready access device;

determining a second distance between the second geographical location and the third geographical location;

comparing the second distance to a second threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining a second mitigation strategy to limit a second interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on the Internet protocol television signal provided from the second geographical location to the first geographical location when the second distance is less than the second threshold distance.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions performs operations comprising:

determining a projected route of an Internet protocol television cable between the third geographical location and the first geographical location;

plotting the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable;

determining a third distance between the second geographical location and the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable;

comparing the third distance to a third threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining a third mitigation strategy to limit a third interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on the Internet protocol television signal provided over the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable when the third distance is less than the third threshold distance.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility causes a signal degradation of the Internet protocol television signal.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility causes pixelization of an output of the Internet protocol television signal.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the first mitigation strategy causes filters to filter the Internet protocol television signal according to a frequency range associated with a signal of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility, wherein the filters are installed at the customer premises.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising at least one processor, a new user installation request at a server in an Internet protocol television system;

retrieving, by the system, a first geographical location of a customer premises associated with the new user installation request;

retrieving, by the system, a second geographical location of an amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

plotting, by the system, the first geographical location of the customer premises and the second geographical location of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

determining, by the system, a first distance between the first geographical location and the second geographical location;

retrieving, by the system, a first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

comparing, by the system, the first distance to a first threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining, by the system, a first mitigation strategy to limit a first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on an Internet protocol television signal provided to the first geographical location when the first distance is less than the first threshold distance.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

retrieving, by the system, a third geographical location of equipment of an amateur radio operator;

plotting, by the system, the third geographical location of the equipment of the amateur radio operator;

determining, by the system, a second distance between the first geographical location and the third geographical location;

retrieving, by the system, a second signal transmission power rating for the equipment of the amateur radio operator;

comparing, by the system, the second distance to a second threshold distance that is based on the second signal transmission power rating for the equipment of the amateur radio operator; and

determining, by the system, a second mitigation strategy to limit a second interference of the equipment of the amateur radio operator on the IPTV signal provided to the first geographical location when the second distance is less than the second threshold distance.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

retrieving, by the system, a third geographical location of a video ready access device associated with the new user installation request;

plotting, by the system, the third geographical location of the video ready access device;

determining, by the system, a second distance between the second geographical location and the third geographical location;

comparing, by the system, the second distance to a second threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining, by the system, a second mitigation strategy to limit a second interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on the Internet protocol television signal provided from the second geographical location to the first geographical location when the second distance is less than the second threshold distance.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining, by the system, a projected route of an Internet protocol television cable between the third geographical location and the first geographical location;

plotting, by the system, the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable;

determining a third distance between the second geographical location and the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable;

comparing, by the system, the third distance to a third threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining, by the system, a third mitigation strategy to limit a third interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on the Internet protocol television signal provided over the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable when the third distance is less than the third threshold distance.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility causes a signal degradation of the Internet protocol television signal.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility causes pixelization of an output of the Internet protocol television signal.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the first mitigation strategy causes filters to filter the Internet protocol television signal according to a frequency range associated with a signal of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility, wherein the filters are installed at the customer premises.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising at least one processor, a request to display a plurality of potential sources of interference with an Internet protocol television signal within an area;

retrieving, by the system, a first geographical location of a customer premises associated with the area;

retrieving, by the system, a second geographical location of an amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

plotting, by the system, the first geographical location of the customer premises and the second geographical location of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

determining, by the system, a first distance between the first geographical location and the second geographical location;

retrieving, by the system, a first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility;

comparing, by the system, the first distance to a first threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining, by the system, a first mitigation strategy to limit one of the potential sources of interference with the Internet protocol television signal that is caused by the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on an Internet protocol television signal provided to the first geographical location when the first distance is less than the first threshold distance.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

retrieving, by the system, a third geographical location of equipment of an amateur radio operator;

plotting, by the system, the third geographical location of the equipment of the amateur radio operator;

determining, by the system, a second distance between the first geographical location and the third geographical location;

retrieving, by the system, a second signal transmission power rating for the equipment of the amateur radio operator;

comparing, by the system, the second distance to a second threshold distance that is based on the second signal transmission power rating for the equipment of the amateur radio operator; and

determining, by the system, a second mitigation strategy to limit one of the potential sources of interference with the Internet protocol television signal that is caused by the equipment of the amateur radio operator on the Internet protocol television signal provided to the first geographical location when the second distance is less than the second threshold distance.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein one of the potential sources of interference with the Internet protocol television signal causes a signal degradation of the Internet protocol television signal.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein one of the potential sources of interference with the Internet protocol television signal causes pixelization of an output of the Internet protocol television signal.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

retrieving, by the system, a third geographical location of a video ready access device associated with the new user installation request;

plotting, by the system, the third geographical location of the video ready access device;

determining, by the system, a second distance between the second geographical location and the third geographical location;

comparing, by the system, the second distance to a second threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining, by the system, a second mitigation strategy to limit one of the potential sources of interference with the Internet protocol television signal that is caused by the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on the Internet protocol television signal provided from the second geographical location to the first geographical location when the second distance is less than the second threshold distance.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

determining, by the system, a projected route of an Internet protocol television cable between the third geographical location and the first geographical location;

plotting, by the system, the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable;

determining, by the system, a third distance between the second geographical location and the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable;

comparing, by the system, the third distance to a third threshold distance that is based on the first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility; and

determining, by the system, a third mitigation strategy to limit one of the potential sources of interference with the Internet protocol television signal that is caused by the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on the Internet protocol television signal provided over the projected route of the Internet protocol television cable when the third distance is less than the third threshold distance.