Using equalization coefficients of end devices in a cable television network to determine and diagnose impairments in upstream channels
First Claim
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1. A system for identifying suspect cable network plant components causing an upstream impairment, the system comprising:
- a data storage device configured to store an impairment threshold for at least one impairment contribution; and
a testing module configured to perform a testing process, the testing module includingan equalization coefficient receiving module (ECRC) configured to receive equalization coefficients from a plurality of end devices; and
an impairment level determination (ILD) module configured to determine whether an impairment exists for each of the end devices and to determine a type of impairment using the received equalization coefficients and the impairment threshold.
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Abstract
A system estimates impairment contributions for upstream communications in a cable television system. The system receives equalization coefficients used by end devices in the cable television system. The equalization coefficients are used by equalizers to mitigate distortion in upstream channels for the end devices. The system analyzes the coefficients based on impairment thresholds to determine whether impairment problems exist and to identify the types of impairment problems that exist.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for identifying suspect cable network plant components causing an upstream impairment, the system comprising:
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a data storage device configured to store an impairment threshold for at least one impairment contribution; and a testing module configured to perform a testing process, the testing module including an equalization coefficient receiving module (ECRC) configured to receive equalization coefficients from a plurality of end devices; and an impairment level determination (ILD) module configured to determine whether an impairment exists for each of the end devices and to determine a type of impairment using the received equalization coefficients and the impairment threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for estimating impairments for a plurality of end devices, the method comprising:
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retrieving an impairment threshold for at least one impairment contribution from a data storage device; receiving equalization coefficients for the plurality of end devices; determining whether an impairment exists for each of the plurality of end devices using the equalization coefficients and a determination of whether the impairment threshold for the at least one impairment contribution is exceeded; and if an impairment exists for one or more of the plurality of end devices, then determining a type of impairment for each existing impairment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer readable storage device storing at least one computer program that when executed by a computer system performs a method comprising:
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retrieving an impairment threshold for at least one impairment contribution from a data storage device; receiving equalization coefficients for a plurality of end devices; determining whether an impairment exists for each of the plurality of end devices using the equalization coefficients and a determination of whether the impairment threshold for the at least one impairment contribution is exceeded; and if an impairment exists for one or more of the plurality of end devices, then determining the type of impairment for each existing impairment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification