Systems and methods for establishing a diagnostic transmission mode and communicating over the same

• US 8,634,449 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TQ Delta LLC (Techquity Capital Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: TQ Delta LLC (Techquity Capital Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Krinsky, David M., Pizzano, Robert Edmund Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khanh C
• Application Number:
  US13/004,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375224-225, 375/227, 375/220, 375/284, 370/252, 370/282, 370/241, 379/22.02, 379/22.04, 379/27.01, 379/27.03
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/245 by using the properties of transmission codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3461 in order to transmit a subchannel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1438 Negotiation of transmission parameters prior to communication modified according to link quality H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2209 for lines also used for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2227 Quality of service monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/28 Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/304 and using xDSL modems xDSL line qualification H04M3/306

Abstract

Upon detection of a trigger, such as the exceeding of an error threshold or the direction of a user, a diagnostic link system enters a diagnostic information transmission mode. This diagnostic information transmission mode allows for two modems to exchange diagnostic and/or test information that may not otherwise be exchangeable during normal communication. The diagnostic information transmission mode is initiated by transmitting an initiate diagnostic link mode message to a receiving modem accompanied by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). The receiving modem determines, based on the CRC, if a robust communications channel is present. If a robust communications channel is present, the two modems can initiate exchange of the diagnostic and/or test information. Otherwise, the transmission power of the transmitting modem is increased and the initiate diagnostic link mode message re-transmitted to the receiving modem until the CRC is determined to be correct.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a transceiver operable to complete one or more portions of an initialization sequence; and

a device, in communication with the transceiver, configurable to cause the transceiver to enter into a diagnostic mode when the one or more portions of the initialization sequence are not successfully completed,

wherein the transceiver is also operable to transmit at least one message during the diagnostic mode and wherein the at least one message has a higher immunity to noise than at least one message transmitted during the one or more portions of the initialization sequence.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further operable to transmit a message to enter the diagnostic mode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further operable to receive a message comprising one or more of a signal to noise ratio per subchannel, a frequency domain idle channel noise per subchannel, and a power level per subchannel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the message is received a plurality of times.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver includes at least one digital signal processor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver includes at least one ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit internet access data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is a central office transceiver.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is a customer premises equipment.

10. A method for communicating diagnostic information in a telecommunication network comprising:

configuring a device, in communication with a transceiver, to cause the transceiver to enter into a diagnostic mode when one or more portions of an initialization sequence is not successfully completed; and

transmitting, by the transceiver, at least one message during the diagnostic mode wherein the at least one message has a higher immunity to noise than at least one message transmitted during the one or more portions of the initialization sequence.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting a message to enter the diagnostic mode.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a message comprising one or more of a signal to noise ratio per subchannel, a frequency domain idle channel noise per subchannel, and a power level per subchannel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the message is received a plurality of times.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the transceiver is installed in a central office.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the transceiver is located in a customer premises.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the transceiver is installed in a central office and a second transceiver located in a customer premises and the transceivers are connected using a telephone line that experiences disturbances from other data services on adjacent telephone lines.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the telephone line is used to transport internet access data.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a service provider determines problems on the telephone line premises without a truck roll.

19. A telecommunications system comprising:

a first transceiver connected to a telephone line that experiences disturbances from other data services on adjacent telephone lines;

a second transceiver connected to the telephone line and located in a customer premises; and

a device, in communication with the first transceiver, configurable to cause the first transceiver to enter into a diagnostic mode when one or more portions of an initialization sequence are not successfully completed,

wherein at least one message transmitted during the diagnostic mode has a higher immunity to noise than at least one message transmitted during the one or more portions of the initialization sequence.