IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,573,828
Granted Patent B2
US 7,573,828 · App. 12/023,078 · Granted Aug 11, 2009

Fault isolation system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,573,828
App. No.
12/023,078
Granted
Aug 11, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fault isolation system and method. A hierarchical numbering system is applied to devices within a cable network. Each subscriber is associated with a “last active device” or “LAD” providing service to that subscriber. The numbering system provides “genealogical” information about the subscriber's LAD so that the LAD can be located within the network. By correlating trouble reports from subscribers, a fault in an active device can be isolated to a particular segment of a cascade if not a particular active device. The number system comprises a continuously concatenated string that provides a relative location of each active device with a cable network.

Claims (21)

1. A system for isolating a fault in a cable network comprising:

a correlator, wherein the correlator comprises instructions for:

identifying non-responsive subscriber devices connected to the network through an active device;

obtaining a device identifier of the last active device through which each non-responsive subscriber device connects to the network, wherein the device identifier comprises:

a first character field comprising a hub identifier;

a second character field concatenated with the first character field, wherein the second character field comprises a node identifier;

subsequent character fields concatenated with the second character field, wherein a subsequent character field comprises a cascade number and wherein the value of the cascade number identifies a branch of the network relative to a device from which the branch emanates;

a first separator interposed into the device identifier before a subsequent character field indicative of a branch from a first level active device that terminates at a second level active device; and

a second separator interposed into the device identifier before a subsequent character field indicative of a branch from an active device that terminates at a passive device;

correlating the last active device identifiers associated with the non- responsive subscriber devices to identify a furthest upstream active device as a likely common cause of the non-responsiveness of the non-responsive subscriber devices.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second character field is concatenated to the right of the first character field.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second character field concatenated with the first character field is concatenated to the left of the first character field.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first level active device comprises a bridger/amplifier.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second level active device is selected from the group consisting of a line extender and an apartment amplifier.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the passive device comprises a line tap.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instruction for identifying non-responsive subscriber devices comprises receiving trouble reports from subscribers.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a network poller, wherein the network poller comprises instructions for:

polling the subscriber devices connected to the network through an active device;

identifying the subscriber devices that fail to respond to the poll; and

reporting the non-responding subscriber devices to the correlator, and wherein, the instruction for identifying non-responsive subscriber devices comprises receiving reports from the poller of the non-responding subscriber devices.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instruction for correlating the last active device identifiers comprises sorting the last active device identifiers in ascending order.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2018
From: BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INTERNET LLC
To: WELLS FARGO TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 046630/0193 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2018
From: ADCAST NORTH CAROLINA CABLE ADVERTISING, LLC; ALABANZA LLC; AMERICA'S JOB EXCHANGE LLC; COAXIAL COMMUNICATIONS OF CENTRAL OHIO LLC; DUKENET COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC; DUKENET COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; ICI HOLDINGS, LLC; INSIGHT BLOCKER LLC; INSIGHT CAPITAL LLC; INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LLC; INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, L.P; INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS MIDWEST, LLC; INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS OF CENTRAL OHIO, LLC; INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS OF KENTUCKY, L.P.; INSIGHT INTERACTIVE, LLC; INSIGHT KENTUCKY CAPITAL, LLC; INSIGHT KENTUCKY PARTNERS I, L.P.; INSIGHT KENTUCKY PARTNERS II, L.P.; INSIGHT MIDWEST HOLDINGS, LLC; INSIGHT MIDWEST, L.P.; INSIGHT PHONE OF INDIANA, LLC; INSIGHT PHONE OF KENTUCKY, LLC; INSIGHT PHONE OF OHIO, LLC; INTERACTIVE CABLE SERVICES, LLC; INTREPID ACQUISITION LLC; NAVISITE LLC; NEW WISCONSIN PROCUREMENT LLC; OCEANIC TIME WARNER CABLE LLC; PARITY ASSETS, LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE BUSINESS LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (ALABAMA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (ARIZONA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (CALIFORNIA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (COLORADO), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (HAWAII), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (IDAHO), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (ILLINOIS), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (INDIANA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (KANSAS), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (KENTUCKY), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (MAINE), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (MASSACHUSETTS), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (MICHIGAN), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (MISSOURI), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (NEBRASKA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (NEW HAMPSHIRE), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (NEW JERSEY), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (NEW MEXICO) LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (NEW YORK), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (NORTH CAROLINA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (OHIO), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (PENNSYLVANIA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (SOUTH CAROLINA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (TENNESSEE), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (TEXAS), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (VIRGINIA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (WASHINGTON), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (WEST VIRGINIA), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES (WISCONSIN), LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INTERNATIONAL LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INTERNET HOLDINGS III LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INTERNET HOLDINGS LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE INTERNET LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE MEDIA LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE MIDWEST LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE NEW YORK CITY LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE NORTHEAST LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE PACIFIC WEST LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE SERVICES LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE SOUTHEAST LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE SPORTS LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE TEXAS LLC; TWC ADMINISTRATION LLC; TWC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; TWC DIGITAL PHONE LLC; TWC MEDIA BLOCKER LLC; TWC NEWCO LLC; TWC NEWS AND LOCAL PROGRAMMING HOLDCO LLC; TWC NEWS AND LOCAL PROGRAMMING LLC; TWC REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORK I LLC; TWC SECURITY LLC; TWC SEE HOLDCO LLC; TWC WIRELESS LLC; TWC/CHARTER DALLAS CABLE ADVERTISING, LLC; TWCIS HOLDCO LLC; WISCONSIN PROCUREMENT HOLDCO LLC; BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS, LLC; BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS INFORMATION SERVICES (ALABAMA), LLC; BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS INFORMATION SERVICES (CALIFORNIA), LLC; BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS INFORMATION SERVICES (FLORIDA), LLC; BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS INFORMATION SERVICES (INDIANA), LLC; BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS INFORMATION SERVICES (MICHIGAN), LLC; BHN SPECTRUM INVESTMENTS, LLC; BHN HOME SECURITY SERVICES, LLC; AMERICAN CABLE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LLC; ATHENS CABLEVISION, LLC; AUSABLE CABLE TV, LLC; BRESNAN BROADBAND HOLDINGS, LLC; BRESNAN BROADBAND OF COLORADO, LLC; BRESNAN BROADBAND OF MONTANA, LLC; BRESNAN BROADBAND OF UTAH, LLC; BRESNAN BROADBAND OF WYOMING, LLC; BRESNAN COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; BRESNAN DIGITAL SERVICES, LLC; BRESNAN MICROWAVE OF MONTANA, LLC; CABLE EQUITIES COLORADO, LLC; CABLE EQUITIES OF COLORADO MANAGEMENT LLC CC 10, LLC; CC FIBERLINK, LLC; CC MICHIGAN, LLC; CC SYSTEMS, LLC; CC V HOLDINGS, LLC; CC VI FIBERLINK, LLC; CC VI OPERATING COMPANY, LLC; CC VII FIBERLINK, LLC; CC VIII FIBERLINK, LLC; CC VIII HOLDINGS, LLC; CC VIII OPERATING, LLC; CC VIII, LLC; CCO FIBERLINK, LLC; CCO HOLDCO TRANSFERS VII, LLC; CCO LP, LLC; CCO NR HOLDINGS, LLC; CCO PURCHASING, LLC; CCO SOCAL I, LLC; CCO SOCAL II, LLC; CCO SOCAL VEHICLES, LLC; CCO TRANSFERS, LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (AL), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (CA), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (CO), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (CT), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (GA), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (IL), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (IN), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (KY), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (LA), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (MA), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (MD), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (MI), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (MN), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (MO), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (MS), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (MT), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (NC), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (NE), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (NH), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (NV), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (NY), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (OH), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (OR), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (PA), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (SC), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (TN), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (TX), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (UT), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (VA), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (VT), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (WA), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (WI), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (WV), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES (WY), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES VIII (MI), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES VIII (MN), LLC; CHARTER ADVANCED SERVICES VIII (WI), LLC; CHARTER ADVERTISING OF SAINT LOUIS, LLC; CHARTER CABLE OPERATING COMPANY, LLC; CHARTER CABLE PARTNERS, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS ENTERTAINMENT I, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS ENTERTAINMENT II, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS ENTERTAINMENT, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OF CALIFORNIA, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING CAPITAL CORP.; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS PROPERTIES LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS V, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS VENTURES, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS VI, L.L.C.; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS VII, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; CHARTER DISTRIBUTION, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - ALABAMA, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - GEORGIA, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - ILLINOIS, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - MARYLAND II, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - MICHIGAN, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - MISSOURI, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - NEBRASKA, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - PENNSYLVANIA, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK - TENNESSEE, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK AR-CCVII, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK CA-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK CC VIII, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK CT-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK LA-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK MA-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK MS-CCVI, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK NC-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK NH-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK NV-CCVII, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK NY-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK OH-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK OR-CCVII, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK SC-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK TX-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK VA-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK VT-CCO, LLC; CHARTER FIBERLINK WA-CCVII, LLC; CHARTER HELICON, LLC; CHARTER HOME SECURITY, LLC; CHARTER LEASING HOLDING COMPANY, LLC; CHARTER LEASING OF WISCONSIN, LLC; CHARTER RMG, LLC; CHARTER STORES FCN, LLC; CHARTER VIDEO ELECTRONICS, LLC; FALCON CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; FALCON CABLE MEDIA, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; FALCON CABLE SYSTEMS COMPANY II, L.P.; FALCON CABLEVISION, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; FALCON COMMUNITY CABLE, L.P.; FALCON COMMUNITY VENTURES I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; FALCON FIRST CABLE OF THE SOUTHEAST, LLC; FALCON FIRST, LLC; FALCON TELECABLE, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; FALCON VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, L.P.; HELICON PARTNERS I, L.P.; HOMETOWN T.V., LLC; HPI ACQUISITION CO. LLC; INTERLINK COMMUNICATIONS PARTNERS, LLC; LONG BEACH, LLC; MARCUS CABLE ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.; MARCUS CABLE OF ALABAMA, L.L.C.; MARCUS CABLE, LLC; MIDWEST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; PEACHTREE CABLE TV, L.P.; PEACHTREE CABLE TV, LLC; PHONE TRANSFERS (AL), LLC; PHONE TRANSFERS (CA), LLC; PHONE TRANSFERS (GA), LLC; PHONE TRANSFERS (NC), LLC; PHONE TRANSFERS (TN), LLC; PHONE TRANSFERS (VA), LLC; PLATTSBURGH CABLEVISION, LLC; RENAISSANCE MEDIA LLC; RIFKIN ACQUISITION PARTNERS, LLC; ROBIN MEDIA GROUP, LLC; SCOTTSBORO TV CABLE, LLC TENNESSEE, LLC; THE HELICON GROUP, L.P.; VISTA BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; VOIP TRANSFERS (AL), LLC; VOIP TRANSFERS (CA) LLC; VOIP TRANSFERS (GA), LLC; VOIP TRANSFERS (NC), LLC; VOIP TRANSFERS (TN), LLC; VOIP TRANSFERS (VA), LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 046567/0090 →
CHANGE OF APPLICANT'S ADDRESS Recorded Jul 28, 2017
From: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
To: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 043360/0992 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2016
From: BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS, LLC; CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC; TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038747/0507 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2009
From: NAKAMURA, NEAL Y.; ISHIHARA, EARL M.
To: TIME WARNER CABLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 022590/0713 →