Network measurements and diagnostics

• US 9,042,245 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tzannes, Marcos C., Tzannes, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Application Number:
  US13/146,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/253
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A network diagnostics equipped device(s), such as a Domain Master, node, test and measurement system, transceiver, or the like, is configured to be capable of performing one or more of data rate measurements in a network, Signal-to-Noise Ratio per subcarrier (SNRps) measurements in a network, Bit Allocation Value per subcarrier (BATVps) measurements in a network, Channel Attenuation per subcarrier (CATps) measurements in a network, Quiet Line Noise per subcarrier (QLNps) measurements in a network and Nonlinear Noise per subcarrier (NLNps) measurements in a network. The above information can be further used to address network performance issues as well as to map and assist with identification of one or more problems within the network.

Claims

1. A method of measuring data rate in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of time slots comprising:

transmitting or receiving a first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting or receiving a second message indicating one or more time slots to be used for data rate measurement;

transmitting or receiving the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the data rate measurement;

transmitting or receiving a signal to be used for the data rate measurement during the one or more time slots; and

measuring one or more data rates during the one or more time slots using the signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal includes a data rate measurement parameter that is represented as a plurality of data rate values, where each data rate value represents the data rate that is achievable in one of the plurality of time slots.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a media access plan, in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of TXOPs, is determined using a plurality of data rate values to allocate TXOPs to ports in the network, wherein each data rate value represents the data rate that is achievable by a port in the network in one of the plurality of TXOPs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a media access plan, in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of TXOPs, is determined using a plurality of data rate values to allocate TXOPs to ports in the network, wherein each data rate value represents a data rate that is achievable by a port in the network in one of the plurality of TXOPs for receiving data from one of a plurality of transmitting nodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters indicates whether Pseudo-Random Bit Sequence (PRBS) reinitialization is to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters indicates a cyclic prefix length to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters indicates a window length to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters indicates active carriers to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters indicates a signal/subcarrier power level to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message.

10. A system capable of measuring data rate in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of time slots comprising:

means for transmitting or receiving a first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting or receiving a second message indicating one or more time slots to be used for data rate measurement;

means for transmitting or receiving the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the data rate measurement;

means for transmitting or receiving a signal to be used for the data rate measurement during the one or more time slots; and

means for measuring one or more data rates during the one or more time slots using the signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is a device comprising a transceiver configured to receive, from a second device, the first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting the second message.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit, to the second device, the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the data rate measurement.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive, from the second device, the signal to be used for the data rate measurement during the one or more time slots.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more parameters indicates at least one of:

whether Pseudo-Random Bit Sequence (PRBS) reinitialization is to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message, a cyclic prefix length to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message, a window length to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message, active carriers to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message, and a signal/subcarrier power level to be used for transmitting or receiving the second message.

15. A system capable of measuring data rate in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of time slots comprising:

a transceiver configured to

transmit or receive a first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting or receiving a second message indicating one or more time slots to be used for data rate measurement; and

transmit or receive the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the data rate measurement; and

transmit or receive a signal to be used for the data rate measurement during the one or more time slots; and

a measurement module, processor and memory capable of measuring one or more data rates during the one or more time slots using the signal.

16. A diagnostic mode, in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of time slots, comprising:

transmitting or receiving a message indicating entry into the diagnostic mode;

transmitting or receiving a first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting or receiving a second message indicating one or more time slots to be used for data rate measurement;

transmitting or receiving the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the data rate measurement;

transmitting or receiving a predefined signal to be used for the data rate measurement during the one or more time slots;

measuring one or more data rates during the one or more time slots using the predefined signal; and

transmitting or receiving a message comprising the one or more data rates.

17. A method of measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratio per subcarrier (SNRps) in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of time slots, the method comprising:

transmitting or receiving a first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting or receiving a second message indicating one or more time slots to be used for SNRps measurement;

transmitting or receiving the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the SNRps measurement;

transmitting or receiving a signal to be used for SNRps measurement during the one or more time slots; and

measuring one or more SNRps during the one or more time slots using the signal.

18. A system capable of measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratio per subcarrier (SNRps) in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of time slots comprising:

means for transmitting or receiving a first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting or receiving a second message indicating one or more time slots to be used for SNRps measurement;

means for transmitting or receiving the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the SNRps measurement;

means for transmitting or receiving a signal to be used for SNRps measurement during the one or more time slots; and

means for measuring one or more SNRps during the one or more time slots using the signal.

19. A system capable of measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratio per subcarrier (SNRps) in a network that divides transmission time into a plurality of time slots comprising:

an SNR message module, transceiver, processor and memory configured to;

transmit or receive a first message indicating one or more parameters to be used for transmitting or receiving a second message indicating one or more time slots to be used for SNRps measurement;

a transmit or receive the second message indicating the one or more time slots to be used for the SNRps measurement;

transmit or receive a signal to be used for the SNRps measurement during the one or more time slots and

measure one or more SNRps during the one or more time slots using the signal.