Distributed network performance monitoring

• US 9,930,327 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Salinger, Jorge Daniel, Garcia, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US13/932,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20130305302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 725 22, 725 23, 725 14, 725 9
• 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 21/64723 Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

A probe is configured to monitor one or more communication parameters on one or more downstream frequency channels carried on a communication medium of an access network. Results of repeated monitoring are stored over a predetermined period. At the conclusion of the monitoring period, data reports reflecting the stored results are transmitted in upstream frequency channels carried on the same medium. The probe can also be configured to send immediate messages if a parameter exceeds predefined limits and can store a plurality of monitoring programs and can be reprogrammed remotely. The probe can be contained within a cable tap if the medium is, e.g., a coaxial cable. Numerous probes can be deployed throughout an access network so as to provide monitoring data from each of many locations over a prolonged period.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

monitor one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of a plurality of downstream channels;

detect one or more data payloads within an encoded data stream being transmitted on the one or more of a plurality of downstream channels, the encoded data stream comprising a plurality of video packets that comprise a watermark corresponding to one of the data payloads;

store, from the plurality of video packets, one or more video frames that comprise the watermark;

transmit, towards a source of the encoded data stream, the stored one or more video frames that comprise the watermark; and

transmit a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellation diagram generated from one of the plurality of downstream channels towards the source of the encoded data stream.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein monitoring one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of the plurality of downstream channels comprises:

monitoring a first signal quality parameter on a first downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a first periodic basis; and

monitoring a second signal quality parameter on the first downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a second periodic basis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein monitoring one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of the plurality of downstream channels comprises:

monitoring a first signal quality parameter on a first downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a first periodic basis; and

monitoring the first signal quality parameter on a second downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a second periodic basis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to

store a measured value for each of the one or more monitored signal quality parameters.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to report measured values for each of the monitored signal quality parameters upon receipt of a trigger in a downstream message.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to report a measured value of a monitored signal quality parameter responsive to a determination that a measured value of a first monitored signal quality parameter exceeds a predefined limit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

compare the QAM constellation diagram with a QAM constellation snapshot stored in a memory associated with the apparatus; and

transmit a report if the QAM constellation snapshot varies from the QAM constellation diagram by a predetermined amount.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

receive a confirmation that the reported measured values for each of the monitored signal quality parameters was successfully received; and

erase the reported measured values.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

receive a confirmation that the reported measured value was successfully received; and

erase the reported measured value.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores multiple monitoring programs to monitor the one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of the plurality of downstream channels.

11. A method comprising:

monitoring, by a computing device, one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of a plurality of downstream channels;

detecting one or more data payloads within an encoded data stream being transmitted on the one or more of a plurality of downstream channels, the encoded data stream comprising a plurality of video packets that comprise a watermark corresponding to one of the data payloads;

storing, from the plurality of video packets, one or more video frames that comprise the watermark;

transmitting, from the computing device and towards a source of the encoded data stream, the stored one or more video frames that comprise the watermark; and

transmitting, from the computing device and towards the source of the encoded data stream, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellation diagram generated from one of the plurality of downstream channels.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring, by the computing device, one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of the plurality of downstream channels comprises:

monitoring a first signal quality parameter on a first downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a first periodic basis; and

monitoring a second signal quality parameter on the first downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a second periodic basis.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising reporting a measured value of a monitored signal quality parameter responsive to a determination that a measured value of a first monitored signal quality parameter exceeds a predefined limit.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a confirmation that the reported measured value was successfully received; and

erasing the reported measured value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring, by the computing device, one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of the plurality of downstream channels comprises:

monitoring a first signal quality parameter on a first downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a first periodic basis; and

monitoring the first signal quality parameter on a second downstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels on a second periodic basis.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing a measured value for each of the one or more monitored signal quality parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising reporting measured values for each of the monitored signal quality parameters upon receipt of a trigger in a downstream message.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a confirmation that the reported measured values for each of the monitored signal quality parameters was successfully received; and

erasing the reported measured values.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the QAM constellation diagram with a QAM constellation snapshot stored in a memory associated with the computing device; and

transmitting a report if the QAM constellation snapshot varies from the QAM constellation diagram by a predetermined amount.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing multiple monitoring programs to monitor the one or more signal quality parameters for one or more of the plurality of downstream channels.