Methods for ingress remediation in cable communication systems

• US 9,577,746 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Steven E., Totten, Ronald, Halky, Travis
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US14/803,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20160173195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 398/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/03 Arrangements for fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0773 Network aspects, e.g. central monitoring of transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25751 Optical arrangements for CATV or video distribution adaptations of television systems for optical transmission H04N7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/50 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via two-conductor transmission lines H04B3/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/00 Time-division multiplex systems H04J14/00 takes precedence; relay systems H04B7/14; selecting techniques H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/225 Calculation of statistics, e.g. average, variance

Abstract

Potential points of neighborhood node ingress in a cable communication system are identified based on a neighborhood node ingress map. One or more local test signals are then transmitted at or proximate to the potential point(s) of ingress. A local test signal amplitude is received/monitored at or proximate to the potential point(s) of ingress, wherein the amplitude represents a strength of a received test signal based on ingress of the transmitted test signal into one or more faults of the cable communication system. Accordingly, the one or more faults may be identified based on relatively higher received/monitored test signal amplitudes pursuant to transmission of the test signal(s) at or proximate to the potential point(s) of ingress.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating detection of ingress in at least one neighborhood node of a cable communication system, the cable communication system comprising:

a headend or hub comprising;

a headend optical/radio frequency (RF) converter; and

a cable modem system coupled to the headend optical/RF converter; and

a first neighborhood node of the at least one neighborhood node, the first neighborhood node having an infrastructure comprising;

a first fiber optic cable coupled to the headend optical/RF converter;

a first node optical/RF converter coupled to the first fiber optic cable;

a first RF hardline coaxial cable plant, coupled to the first node optical/RF converter and traversing the first neighborhood node, to convey to the headend or hub at least first upstream information from a plurality of first subscriber premises over an upstream path bandwidth including a range of frequencies from approximately 5 MHz to at least approximately 42 MHz; and

a plurality of first subscriber service drops, coupled to the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant and to the plurality of first subscriber premises, to provide the first upstream information from the plurality of first subscriber premises to the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant,

the method comprising;

A) directing a mobile broadcast apparatus including a transmitter along a first neighborhood node drive path proximate to the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to effectively traverse and ensure substantially full coverage of the first subscriber neighborhood;

B) during A), broadcasting from the transmitter a test signal at a plurality of locations distributed along at least a substantial portion of the first neighborhood node drive path, the test signal having at least one test signal frequency falling within the upstream path bandwidth;

C) during A), electronically recording first geographic information corresponding to respective positions of the mobile broadcast apparatus along at least the substantial portion of the first neighborhood node drive path so as to generate a first record of the first geographic information;

D) during A) and throughout traversing at least the substantial portion of the first neighborhood node drive path, recording, via an analyzer coupled to a first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or a second junction of the hardline cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter, a plurality of signal amplitudes at the test signal frequency so as to generate a second record, the plurality of signal amplitudes representing a strength of a received upstream test signal as a function of time, based on B) and test signal ingress of the test signal into at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant;

E) based on the first record generated in C) and the second record generated in D), electronically generating a first neighborhood node ingress map comprising;

a first graphical representation of the first neighborhood node drive path; and

a second graphical representation, overlaid on the first graphical representation, of the plurality of signal amplitudes, at least along the substantial portion of the first neighborhood node drive path, so as to illustrate the test signal ingress of the test signal into at least the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant of the first neighborhood node;

F) based on the first neighborhood node ingress map generated in E), identifying at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress into the first RF hardline cable plant of the first neighborhood node;

G) transmitting at least one first local test signal at or proximate to the at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress into the first RF hardline cable plant, the at least one first local test signal having at least one first local test signal frequency;

H) receiving, at or proximate to the at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress, at least one first local test signal amplitude representing a first strength, at the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the RF hardline coaxial cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter, of a received upstream first local test signal, based on G) and first local test signal ingress of the at least one first local test signal into the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant; and

I) based at least in part on the at least one first local test signal amplitude received in H), identifying, at or proximate to the at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress, the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein G) comprises:

sweeping a handheld transmitter across or along the first RF hardline cable plant proximate to the at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress while the handheld transmitter is transmitting the at least one first local test signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein G) comprises:

transmitting the at least one first local test signal at a sufficiently low power so as not to require licensure from one or more regulatory authorities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in G), the at least one first local test signal frequency is between 5 MHz and 16 MHz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein G) further comprises:

varying the at least one first local test signal frequency, as a function of time, across at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one first local test signal frequency includes a plurality of first local test signal frequencies; and

G) further comprises transmitting the at least one first local test signal at the plurality of first local test signal frequencies in the upstream path bandwidth.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one first local test signal includes a spread-spectrum local test signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein G) comprises:

G1) transmitting the at least one first local test signal during operative signaling in the upstream path bandwidth from at least some of the plurality of first subscriber premises, wherein the at least one first local test signal frequency falls within a frequency range of the operative signaling in the upstream path bandwidth.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein G1) further comprises:

varying the at least one first local test signal frequency, as a function of time, across a substantial portion of the frequency range of the operative signaling in the upstream path bandwidth.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein F) comprises:

F1) directing the mobile broadcast apparatus again along the first neighborhood node drive path proximate to the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant; and

F2) during F1), providing to a technician directing the mobile broadcast apparatus at least one indicator, based at least in part on the plurality of signal amplitudes recorded in D), so as to facilitate identification of the at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress into the first RF hardline cable plant of the first neighborhood node.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein in F2), the at least one indicator includes at least one audible indicator and/or at least one visual indicator based at least in part on the plurality of signal amplitudes recorded in D), wherein at least one aspect of the at least one audible indicator and/or the at least one visual indicator is based at least in part on the strength of the received upstream test signal as a function of time.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein F2) comprises:

F2a) displaying on a display device associated with the mobile broadcast apparatus the first neighborhood node ingress map generated in E); and

F2b) overlaying on the displayed first neighborhood node ingress map, in substantially real time, at least one dynamic mobile broadcast apparatus indicator to indicate respective positions of the mobile broadcast apparatus along the first neighborhood node drive path during F1).

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

J) generating a first neighborhood node fault map comprising a first map, the first map comprising at least one of;

the first neighborhood node ingress map generated in E);

a cable facilities map showing at least a portion of the infrastructure of the first neighborhood node;

an aerial image of at least a portion of the first neighborhood node; and

a street map of at least the portion of the first neighborhood node; and

K) overlaying on the first map at least one fault indicator representing the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant identified in I).

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

L) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the first neighborhood node fault map so as to facilitate remediation of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

M) generating a work order for remediation of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant, wherein the work order includes the first neighborhood node fault map; and

N) communicating the work order to a party responsible for attending to the remediation of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

J) repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant, based on I), so as to significantly reduce a noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress as measured by the analyzer coupled to the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the RF hardline coaxial cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

K) after J), re-transmitting the at least one first local test signal at or proximate to the at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress into the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant;

L) receiving, at or proximate to the at least one potential point of first neighborhood node ingress, at least one first local re-transmitted test signal amplitude representing a second strength, at the headend optical/RF converter, of a received upstream first re-transmitted local test signal, based on K); and

M) verifying the repair or replacement of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant by comparing the first strength of the received upstream first local test signal in H) and the second strength of the received upstream first re-transmitted local test signal in L).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein M) comprises:

verifying the repair or replacement of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant if the second strength of the received upstream first re-transmitted local test signal in L) is at least 3 decibels (dB) lower than the first strength of the received upstream first local test signal in H).

19. The method of claim 17, wherein M) comprises:

verifying the repair or replacement of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant if the second strength of the received upstream first re-transmitted local test signal in L) is at least 6 decibels (dB) lower than the first strength of the received upstream first local test signal in H).

20. The method of claim 16, wherein J) comprises:

J1) repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein J1) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 18 MHz.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein J1) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 16.4 MHz.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein J1) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 10 MHz.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein J) comprises:

repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant such that a highest value for an average noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least the portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least a 24 hour period at the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter, is less than 20 decibels (dB) above a noise floor associated with the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter of the first neighborhood node.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least the portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend, is less than 15 decibels (dB) above the noise floor associated with the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least the portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend, is less than 10 decibels (dB) above the noise floor associated with the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

28. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the upstream path bandwidth of the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one first modulated carrier wave having a first carrier frequency of approximately 19.6 MHz or lower, the at least one first modulated carrier wave being modulated with at least some of the first upstream information and defining a first upstream physical communication channel in the upstream path bandwidth, the at least one upstream physical communication channel having a first upstream average channel power; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant such that a highest value for an average noise power below approximately 20 MHz in the upstream path bandwidth assigned to the first neighborhood node, as measured over at least a 24 hour period at the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter, is at least 22 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 24 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 27 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 30 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 33 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 36 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein in J), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 38 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

36. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the upstream path bandwidth of the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one first modulated carrier wave having a first carrier frequency of approximately 19.6 MHz or lower, the at least one first modulated carrier wave being modulated with at least some of the first upstream information and defining a first upstream physical communication channel in the upstream path bandwidth, the at least one upstream physical communication channel having a first upstream average channel power; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to achieve a carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel of at least 25 dB.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein in J), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 28 dB.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein in J), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 31 dB.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein in J), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 34 dB.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein in J), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 37 dB.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

42. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the upstream path bandwidth of the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one first modulated carrier wave having a first carrier frequency of less than 19.6 MHz, the at least one first modulated carrier wave being modulated with at least some of the first upstream information and defining a first upstream physical communication channel in the upstream path bandwidth; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to achieve an unequalized modulation error ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel of at least 20 decibels (dB).

43. The method of claim 42, wherein in J), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 22 dB.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein in J), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 24 dB.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein in J), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 27 dB.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein in J), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 30 dB.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

48. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes a plurality of frequency-dependent or frequency-specific faults, and wherein:

I) comprises identifying, based at least in part on the at least one first local test signal amplitude received in H), the plurality of frequency-dependent or frequency-specific faults in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the plurality of frequency-dependent or frequency-specific faults in the hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress.

49. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one fitting;

the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one loose and/or defective fitting; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one loose and/or defective fitting so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the at least one loose and/or defective fitting comprises at least one of:

a loose and/or defective splice connector;

a loose and/or defective pin-type connector; and

a loose and/or defective splice block.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the at least one loose and/or defective fitting comprises at least one loose and/or defective pin-type connector, and wherein the at least one loose and/or defective pin-type connector comprises at least one of:

a loose and/or defective housing terminator;

a loose and/or defective extension fitting; and

a loose and/or defective 90-degree fitting.

52. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one hardline coaxial cable;

the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one hardline coaxial cable flaw; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one hardline coaxial cable flaw so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress.

53. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one electronics component;

the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes a compromised ground of the at least one electronics component; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one electronics component so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least one electronics component includes at least one of:

an amplifier;

a filter;

a distribution tap;

a line terminator; and

a directional coupler/splitter.

55. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes;

at least one fitting;

at least one hardline coaxial cable; and

at least one electronics component;

the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes;

at least one loose and/or defective fitting;

at least one hardline coaxial cable flaw; and

a compromised ground of at least one electronics component; and

J) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one loose and/or defective fitting, the at least one hardline coaxial cable flaw, and the at least one electronics component so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress.

56. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

K) based on the first neighborhood node ingress map, further identifying at least one additional potential point of first neighborhood node ingress into at least one of the plurality of first subscriber service drops and/or at least one of the plurality of first subscriber premises;

L) transmitting at least one second local test signal at or proximate to the at least one additional potential point of first neighborhood node ingress;

M) receiving, at or proximate to the at least one additional potential point of first neighborhood node ingress, at least one second local test signal amplitude representing a strength, at the headend optical/RF converter, of a received upstream second local test signal, based on L) and second local test signal ingress of the at least one second local test signal into the at least one of the plurality of first subscriber service drops and/or the at least one of the plurality of first subscriber premises;

N) based at least in part on the at least one second local test signal amplitude received in M), identifying, at or proximate to the at least one additional potential point of first neighborhood node ingress, at least one subscriber-related fault in the at least one of the plurality of first subscriber service drops and/or the at least one of the first subscriber premises; and

O) repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one subscriber-related fault, based on N), so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress.

57. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

K) after J), repeating A), B), C), D) and E) at least once so as to generate at least a second iteration of the first neighborhood node ingress map; and

L) based on at least the second iteration of the first neighborhood node ingress map, repeating F), G), H), I) and J) so as to;

identify at least one additional potential point of first neighborhood node ingress into the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant;

identify at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant; and

repair or replace the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant and thereby further reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one time-dependent or intermittent fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein K) further comprises:

generating the first neighborhood node ingress map and the second iteration of the first neighborhood node ingress map as an electronic visual rendering having a plurality of independently selectable and independently viewable layers comprising;

a first layer corresponding to the first neighborhood node ingress map; and

a second layer corresponding to the second iteration of the first neighborhood node ingress map.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein L) comprises:

L1) repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to further reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein L1) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 18 MHz.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein L1) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 16.4 MHz.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein L1) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to significantly reduce the noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 10 MHz.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein L) comprises:

repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant such that a highest value for an average noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least the portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least a 24 hour period at the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter, is less than 20 decibels (dB) above a noise floor associated with the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter of the first neighborhood node.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least the portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend, is less than 15 decibels (dB) above the noise floor associated with the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power associated with the first neighborhood node ingress in at least the portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend, is less than 10 decibels (dB) above the noise floor associated with the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the headend.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

68. The method of claim 57, wherein:

the upstream path bandwidth of the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one first modulated carrier wave having a first carrier frequency less than 19.6 MHz, the at least one first modulated carrier wave being modulated with at least some of the first upstream information and defining a first upstream physical communication channel in the upstream path bandwidth, the at least one upstream physical communication channel having a first upstream average channel power; and

L) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant such that a highest value for an average noise power below approximately 20 MHz in the upstream path bandwidth assigned to the first neighborhood node, as measured over at least a 24 hour period at the first junction of the cable modem system and the headend optical/RF converter or the second junction of the cable plant and the first node optical/RF converter, is at least 22 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 24 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 27 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 30 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 33 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 36 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

74. The method of claim 68, wherein in L), the highest value for the average noise power in the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz, as measured over at least the 24 hour period at the cable modem system, is at least 38 decibels (dB) below the first upstream average channel power.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

76. The method of claim 57, wherein:

the upstream path bandwidth of the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one first modulated carrier wave having a first carrier frequency of approximately 19.6 MHz or lower, the at least one first modulated carrier wave being modulated with at least some of the first upstream information and defining a first upstream physical communication channel in the upstream path bandwidth, the at least one upstream physical communication channel having a first upstream average channel power; and

L) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to achieve a carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel of at least 25 dB.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein in L), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 28 dB.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein in L), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 31 dB.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein in L), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 34 dB.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein in L), the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNIR) ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 37 dB.

81. The method of claim 76, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

82. The method of claim 57, wherein:

the upstream path bandwidth of the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least one first modulated carrier wave having a first carrier frequency less than 19.6 MHz, the at least one first modulated carrier wave being modulated with at least some of the first upstream information and defining a first upstream physical communication channel in the upstream path bandwidth; and

L) comprises repairing, replacing or adjusting the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant so as to achieve an unequalized modulation error ratio of the first upstream physical communication channel of at least 20 decibels (dB).

83. The method of claim 82, wherein in L), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 22 dB.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein in L), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 24 dB.

85. The method of claim 82, wherein in L), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 27 dB.

86. The method of claim 82, wherein in L), the unequalized MER of the first upstream physical communication channel is at least 30 dB.

87. The method of claim 82, wherein:

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant passes at least 200 premises;

the plurality of subscriber premises in the first neighborhood node includes at least 75 subscriber premises;

the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant includes at least 20 amplifiers;

a node mileage of the first neighborhood node is at least three miles; and

a cascade for the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant is at least five (NODE+5).

88. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

M) repeating K) at least once so as to generate at least a third iteration of the first neighborhood node ingress map to provide a time series of at least three first neighborhood node ingress maps.

89. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

J) generating a work order for remediation of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant based on I); and

K) communicating the work order to a first party responsible for attending to the remediation of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

L) receiving a notification from the first party that the remediation of the at least one fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant has been completed pursuant to the work order; and

M) after L), repeating A), B), C), D) and E) at least once so as to generate at least a second iteration of the first neighborhood node ingress map.

91. The method of claim 90, further comprising:

N) based on at least the second iteration of the first neighborhood node ingress map, repeating F), G), H), and I) so as to identify at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant;

O) generating a second work order for remediation of the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant based on N); and

P) communicating the second work order to the first party or a second party responsible for attending to the remediation of the at least one additional fault in the first RF hardline coaxial cable plant.