Device and method for monitoring a communications system

• US 8,854,947 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, David, Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): RIYAMI, ABDULLAH A
• Application Number:
  US12/646,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216, 370/217, 370/218, 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/220, 370/219, 725/125, 725/107, 725/127, 725/13, 725/106, 725/128, 725/121, 725/124, 725/118, 725/141, 455/3.04, 455/3.01, 455/62, 340/635, 340/568.1, 340/568.4, 340/572.7, 340/596, 348/194, 348/187
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a condition responsive device for connection with a communication system. The device includes a receiver configured to receive a physical parameter status signal from a connector of the communication system, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition of the connector connection. The device further includes a processing circuit configured to analyze the data to determine whether a communications signal adjustment is appropriate, wherein the processing circuit is configured to initiate a communications signal adjustment in the communication system if the processing circuit determines that adjustment is appropriate, based on a predetermined set of parameters.

Claims

1. A condition responsive device for connection with a communication system, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a physical parameter status signal from a smart connector of the communication system, the smart connector having a first circuit configured to execute logic to generate the physical parameter status signal, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition associated with the smart connector; and

a second circuit configured to analyze the data to determine whether a communications signal adjustment is appropriate, wherein the second circuit is configured to initiate a communications signal adjustment in the communication system in response to the determination that the communications signal adjustment is appropriate, wherein the communications signal adjustment is operable to modify the condition of a monitored port associated with the smart connector.

2. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the second circuit is a microprocessor.

3. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter status signal is sent wirelessly from the smart connector.

4. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the condition relates to a connection of the smart connector to a monitored port, and the second circuit is configured to analyze the data to determine if there is a problem.

5. The condition responsive device of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter configured to send a response signal to a second device of the communication system when the second circuit determines that there is a problem in the connection of the smart connector with the monitored port, the response signal initiating an alert display of the second device.

6. The condition responsive device of claim 5, wherein the transmitter is configured to send the response signal to the second device wirelessly.

7. The condition responsive device of claim 5, wherein the second device is a television and the response signal initiates a message displayed on a screen of the television.

8. The condition responsive device of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter configured to send a response signal to a head end after the second circuit determines that the problem occurs.

9. The condition responsive device of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter configured to send a graduated response after the second circuit determines that the problem persists.

10. The condition responsive device of claim 9, wherein the graduated response becomes increasingly intrusive the longer the problem persists.

11. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter status signal corresponds with an error code, the error code pertaining to a particular problem in a connection of the smart connector with a port.

12. The condition responsive device of claim 11, wherein the error code is sent by the smart connector once every predetermined time interval, wherein a storage unit is configured to store a plurality of the error codes.

13. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the communications signal adjustment comprises an adjustment selected from the group consisting of increasing the signal attenuation, shutting down an unused return path leg, amplification, filtering and equalization.

14. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the communications system is a CATV system.

39. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit includes a memory device, the memory device storing the logic.

40. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit includes a sensing circuit having a logic control unit, the sensing circuit including at least one sensor operative to sense the physical parameter of the connector and the logic control unit operative to execute logic pertaining to connector functionality.

41. The condition responsive device of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to be electrically connected to a center conductor of the connector to energize the sensing circuit.

42. The condition responsive device of claim 41, wherein the physical parameter status signal is generated automatically at regulated time intervals.

15. A condition responsive device for connection with a communications system, the device comprising:

a means for receiving a physical parameter status signal from a smart connector of the communications system, the smart connector having a means for executing logic to generate the physical parameter status signal, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition associated with the smart connector;

a means for determining whether a response signal is appropriate, the determination being based on whether there is a problem with connectivity of the smart connector with a monitored port; and

a means for sending the response signal to a second device of the communications system, the response signal initiating an alert generated by the second device, wherein a communications signal adjustment is operable to modify the condition of the monitored port associated with the smart connector.

16. The condition responsive device of claim 15, further comprising a means for storing data sent by the smart connector.

17. The condition responsive device of claim 15, further comprising a means for analyzing the data to determine whether the communications signal adjustment is appropriate.

18. A method of monitoring a communication system comprising:

receiving a physical parameter status signal from a smart connector of a communications system, the smart connector having a circuit configured to execute logic to generate the physical parameter status signal, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition associated with the smart connector;

storing the data pertaining to the condition;

determining whether a response signal is appropriate by determining whether there is a problem with connectivity of the smart connector with a monitored port; and

transmitting the response signal to a device of the communication system, the response signal configured to alert a party of the problem, wherein a communications signal adjustment is operable to modify the condition of a monitored port associated with the smart connector.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising analyzing the data to determine whether a bandwidth adjustment is appropriate based on a comparison with a predetermined set of parameters.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting the response signal wirelessly.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a graduated response to the device, the graduated response configured to alert a subscriber of the problem.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the graduated response gets increasingly intrusive the longer the problem persists.

23. The method of claim 18, further including sending, by the party, a notification to a subscriber when the party is alerted of the problem.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the party is a head end.

43. The condition responsive device of claim 18, wherein the circuit includes a memory device, the memory device storing the logic.

44. The condition responsive device of claim 18, wherein the circuit includes a sensing circuit having a logic control unit, the sensing circuit including at least one sensor operative to sense the physical parameter of the connector and the logic control unit operative to execute logic pertaining to connector functionality.

25. A condition responsive device for connection with a communication system, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a physical parameter status signal from a smart connector of the communication system, the smart connector having a first circuit configured to execute logic to generate the physical parameter status signal, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a condition associated with the smart connector;

a storage unit configured to store the data;

a second circuit configured to analyze the data to determine whether a response signal is appropriate by determining whether there is a problem with connectivity of the smart connector with a monitored port; and

a transmitter configured to send the response signal to a second device of the communication system, the response signal initiating an alert generatable by the second device, wherein a communications signal adjustment is operable to modify the condition of the monitored port associated with the smart connector.

26. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the second circuit is a microprocessor.

27. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the second circuit is configured to analyze the data to determine whether the communications signal adjustment is appropriate.

28. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the second circuit is configured to initiate adjustment of bandwidth in the communication system after the second circuit determines that adjustment is appropriate.

29. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the communications signal adjustment comprises an adjustment selected from the group consisting of increasing the signal attenuation, shutting down an unused return path leg, amplification, filtering and equalization.

30. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the physical parameter status signal is sent wirelessly from the smart connector.

31. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of tightness, pressure, moisture, temperature, amperage, voltage, signal level, signal frequency, impedance, return path activity, connection location, service type, installation date, previous service call dates, and serial number.

32. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the second device is a television and the response signal initiates a message displayed on a screen of the television.

33. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the physical parameter status signal corresponds with an error code, the error code pertaining to a particular problem in a connection of the smart connector with the monitored port.

34. The condition responsive device of claim 33, wherein the error code is sent by the smart connector once every predetermined time interval, wherein the storage unit is configured to store a plurality of the error codes.

35. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the transmitter is configured to send a response signal to a home office after the second circuit determines that there is a problem in a connection of the smart connector with the monitored port.

36. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the transmitter is configured to send a graduated response after the second circuit determines that the problem in a connection of the smart connector with the monitored port persists.

37. The condition responsive device of claim 36, wherein the graduated response becomes increasingly intrusive the longer the problem persists.

38. The condition responsive device of claim 25, wherein the communications system is a CATV system.

45. The condition responsive device of claim 25 wherein the first circuit includes a sensing circuit having a logic control unit, the sensing circuit including at least one sensor operative to sense the physical parameter of the connector and the logic control unit operative to execute logic pertaining to connector functionality.

46. The condition responsive device of claim 25 wherein the first circuit includes a memory device, the memory device storing the logic.

47. The condition responsive device of claim 45, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to be electrically connected to a center conductor of the connector to energize the sensing circuit.

48. The condition responsive device of claim 47, wherein the physical parameter status signal is generated automatically at regulated time intervals.

49. The condition responsive device of claim 48, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to be electrically connected to a center conductor of the connector to energize the sensing circuit.

50. The condition responsive device of claim 49 wherein the physical parameter status signal is generated automatically at regulated time intervals.

51. A condition responsive device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a physical parameter status signal from a smart connector which is electrically coupled to a communication system, the smart connector storing logic configured to automatically generate the physical parameter status signal, the physical parameter status signal containing data pertaining to a function of the smart connector; and

a circuit configured to determine whether an adjustment is appropriate based on the data and initiate a command in the communication system in response to the determination, the command being operable to cause the function of a monitored port associated with the smart connector to be modified.

52. The condition responsive device of claim 51, wherein the smart connector has a memory device which stores logic, and the smart connector has a connector circuit which is operable to execute the logic.

53. The condition responsive device of claim 51, wherein the circuit is configured to analyze the data to determine whether the response signal is appropriate, the response signal being appropriate based on a determination that there is a problem with connectivity of the smart connector to a monitored port.

54. The condition responsive device of claim 52, further comprising a transmitter configured to send the response signal to a device of the communication system, the response signal initiating an alert display of the second device.

55. The condition responsive device of claim 54, wherein the transmitter is configured to send the response signal to the device wirelessly.

56. The condition responsive device of claim 55, wherein the device is a television and the response signal initiates a message displayed on a screen of the television.