DSL system estimation and parameter recommendation
View Patent ↗Estimates of a communication system configuration, such as a DSL system, are based on operational data collected from a network element management system, protocol, users and/or the like. The operational data collected from the system can include performance-characterizing operational data that typically is available in an ADSL system via element-management-system protocols. Generated estimates and/or approximations can be used in evaluating system performance and directly or indirectly dictating/requiring changes or recommending improvements in operation by transmitters and/or other parts of the communication system. Data and/or other information may be collected using “internal” means or may be obtained from system elements and components via email and/or other “external” means. The likelihood of a model's accuracy can be based on various data, information and/or indicators of system performance, such as observed normal operational data, test data and/or prompted operational data that shows operating performance based on stimulation signals. One example of such prompted data uses frequency carrier masks to approximate the Hlog of a given channel, including information regarding bridged taps, attenuation, etc.
1. A method of computing the mean-square-error (MSE) noise of a line in a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system, the method comprising:
estimating the Hlog function of the line;
obtaining the power spectral density (PSD) function of the line;
obtaining the signal to noise ratio (SNR) function of the line;
computing the MSE noise by subtracting the SNR from the sum of the PSD and Hlog; and
storing or recording the computed MSE noise in a memory.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the SNR function comprises computing a SNR function or collecting a reported SNR function.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the SNR function is computed based on at least one of the following:
reported past bit distributions;
reported current bit distributions;
an initial PSD;
an Hlog function; or
quiet line noise (QLN).
4. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the PSD function comprises estimating a PSD function or collecting a reported PSD function.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein estimating the Hlog function of the line comprises:
generating a plurality of attenuation data points, wherein each attenuation data point corresponds to a different frequency carrier mask and comprises an attenuation value, further wherein generating a single attenuation data point comprises:
setting a data-bearing frequency carrier mask;
transmitting data using one or more frequencies in the carrier mask;
receiving an attenuation value for the transmitted data; and
plotting the attenuation value; and
performing at least one of the following:
storing at least one of the following:
each generated attenuation data point; or
each plotted attenuation values; or
generating a graphical depiction of the estimated Hlog function based on the plurality of generated attenuation data points.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein estimating the Hlog function of the line comprises:
prompting the DSL system to generate operational data, wherein prompting the DSL system to generate operational data comprises:
setting an operational mode for the DSL system based on one or more of the model parameters; and
operating the DSL system using the set operational mode to generate the operational data;
collecting the generated operational data;
using the collected operational data to generate one or more model parameter values; and
recording or storing one or more of the generated model parameter values in a memory, wherein Hlog is a model parameter.
7. A Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system estimator for computing the mean-square-error (MSE) noise of a line in a DSL system, the estimator comprising:
means for obtaining the power spectral density (PSD) function of the line;
means for obtaining the signal to noise ratio (SNR) function of the line;
estimating means configured to estimate an Hlog function of the line;
computing means coupled to the estimating means and configured to compute the MSE noise by subtracting the SNR from the sum of the PSD and the Hlog; and
means for storing or recording the computed MSE noise in a memory.
8. The DSL system estimator of claim 7 , wherein the means for obtaining the SNR function further comprises a collecting means configured to collect a directly reported SNR function.
9. The DSL system estimator of claim 7 , wherein the means for obtaining the SNR function further comprises:
a computing means configured to compute the SNR based on at least one of the following:
a reported past bit distribution;
a reported current bit distribution;
an initial PSD;
an Hlog function; or
quiet line noise (QLN).
10. The DSL system estimator of claim 7 , wherein the means for obtaining the PSD function further comprises an estimating means configured to estimate a PSD function or collecting means configured to collect a reported PSD function.
11. The DSL system estimator of claim 7 , wherein the estimating means configured to estimate the Hlog function of the line further comprises:
a means for generating a plurality of attenuation data points, wherein each attenuation data point corresponds to a different frequency carrier mask and comprises an attenuation value, further wherein a means for generating a single attenuation data point comprises:
means for setting a data-bearing frequency carrier mask;
means for transmitting data using one or more frequencies in the carrier mask;
means for receiving an attenuation value for the transmitted data; and
means for plotting the attenuation value; and
a means for performing at least one of the following:
storing at least one of the following:
each generated attenuation data point; or
each plotted attenuation values; or
generating a graphical depiction of the estimated Hlog function based on the plurality of generated attenuation data points.
12. The DSL system estimator of claim 7 , wherein the estimating means configured to estimate the Hlog function of the line further comprises:
means for prompting the DSL system to generate operational data, wherein prompting the DSL system to generate operational data comprises:
setting an operational mode for the DSL system based on one or more of the model parameters; and
operating the DSL system using the set operational mode to generate the operational data;
means for collecting the generated operational data;
means for using the collected operational data to generate one or more model parameter values; and
means for recording or storing one or more of the generated model parameter values in a memory, wherein Hlog is a model parameter.
13. A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium upon which is stored instructions for computing the mean-square-error (MSE) noise of a line in a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system, the instructions comprising:
estimating the Hlog function of the line;
obtaining the power spectral density (PSD) function of the line;
obtaining the signal to noise ratio (SNR) function of the line;
computing the MSE noise by subtracting the SNR from the sum of the PSD and Hlog; and
storing or recording the computed MSE noise in a memory.
14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the SNR function is directly reported.
15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the SNR function is computed based on at least one of the following:
reported past bit distributions;
reported current bit distributions;
an initial PSD;
an Hlog function; or
quiet line noise (QLN).
16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein obtaining the PSD function comprises estimating a PSD function or collecting a reported PSD function.
17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein estimating the Hlog function of the line comprises:
generating a plurality of attenuation data points, wherein each attenuation data point corresponds to a different frequency carrier mask and comprises an attenuation value, further wherein generating a single attenuation data point comprises:
setting a data-bearing frequency carrier mask;
transmitting data using one or more frequencies in the carrier mask;
receiving an attenuation value for the transmitted data; and
plotting the attenuation value; and
performing at least one of the following:
storing at least one of the following:
each generated attenuation data point; or
each plotted attenuation values; or
generating a graphical depiction of the estimated Hlog function based on the plurality of generated attenuation data points.
18. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein estimating the Hlog function of the line comprises:
prompting the DSL system to generate operational data, wherein prompting the DSL system to generate operational data comprises:
setting an operational mode for the DSL system based on one or more of the model parameters; and
operating the DSL system using the set operational mode to generate the operational data;
collecting the generated operational data;
using the collected operational data to generate one or more model parameter values; and
recording or storing one or more of the generated model parameter values in a memory, wherein Hlog is a model parameter.