Method and apparatus for determining micro-reflections in a network
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for monitoring a network comprising:
- a microprocessor configured to provide instructions to a network element within a cable modem termination system (CMTS) serving group to tune to a test frequency and to transmit a test signal at a test symbol rate;
a receiver configured to receive the test signal from a network element; and
an equalizer which is configured to measure micro-reflections contained in the received test signal,wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine an optimal communication channel to communicate with the network element based on the measured micro-reflections, further wherein the microprocessor is configured to assign the determined optimal communication channel to the CMTS serving group.
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Abstract
The presence of micro-reflections is determined in a network by determining micro-reflections from amplifier and diplex filter impedance mismatches and micro-reflections from drop cable impedance mismatches. The micro-reflections from impedance mismatches are determined by instructing network element to transmit a test signal at a first symbol rate and a first resolution for amplifier and diplex filter impedance mismatches and a second frequency with a second symbol rate and second resolution for micro-reflections from drop cable impedance mismatches. The tests are performed with several frequencies and the channels with the least micro-reflections are identified.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring a network comprising:
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a microprocessor configured to provide instructions to a network element within a cable modem termination system (CMTS) serving group to tune to a test frequency and to transmit a test signal at a test symbol rate; a receiver configured to receive the test signal from a network element; and an equalizer which is configured to measure micro-reflections contained in the received test signal, wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine an optimal communication channel to communicate with the network element based on the measured micro-reflections, further wherein the microprocessor is configured to assign the determined optimal communication channel to the CMTS serving group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for monitoring a network comprising the steps of:
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selecting a network element within a cable modem termination system (CMTS) serving group as a test network element; instructing the test network element to transmit a test signal at a first frequency f1 as a test frequecy and a test symbol rate; measuring micro-reflections on the test frequency by measuring micro-reflections in the test signals transmitted by the test network element; instructing the test network element to transmit the test signal on a second frequency as the test frequency; repeating the step of measuring micro-reflections on the test frequency as the second frequency by measuring micro-reflections in the test signal transmitted by the test network element; determining optimum frequency channels for communications based on the micro-reflections in the test frequency as the first frequency and the second frequency; and assigning the determined optimal frequency channels to the CMTS serving group. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying instructions for a computer to perform a method for monitoring a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a network element within a cable modem termination system (CMTS) serving group as a test network element; instructing the test network element to transmit a test signal at a first frequency f1 as a test frequecy and a test symbol rate; measuring micro-reflections on the test frequency by measuring micro-reflections in the test signals transmitted by the test network element; instructing the test network element to transmit the test signal on a second frequency as the test frequency; repeating the step of measuring micro-reflections on the test frequency as the second frequency by measuring micro-reflections in the test signal transmitted by the test network element; determining optimum frequency channels for communications based on the micro-reflections in the test frequency as the first frequency and the second frequency; and assigning the determined optimal frequency channels to the CMTS serving group. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification