IP Library Granted Patent US 8,958,466
Granted Patent B2
US 8,958,466 · App. 14/227,827 · Granted Feb 17, 2015

Systems and methods for loop length and bridged tap length determination of a transmission line

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,958,466
App. No.
14/227,827
Granted
Feb 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Through the use of a least squares minimization concept, the loop length, the number of bridged taps and length of the bridged taps on a transmission line can be determined from readily available modem data. In particular, the loop length, the number of bridge taps and the length of bridged taps can be estimated by comparing a measured frequency domain channel impulse response of the transmission line to a model of a loop that is comprised of multiple sections and multiple bridge taps.

Claims (37)

1. A modem-based upstream data loop length and bridged tap length estimation system comprising:

a reverb signal determination device configured to determine a measured transfer function by averaging a plurality of consecutive frames of a reverb signal;

a controller configured to determine a frequency domain propagation function for a specified wire gauge input from a storage device;

an impedance determination device configured to determine a frequency domain impedance of the specified wire gauge;

the controller further configured to:

determine a transmit impedance of a customer-premises equipment, CPE, modem;

determine a receive impedance of a central office, CO, modem;

determine a matrix representing frequency domain responses of a plurality of sections of the loop, the matrix further including a frequency response of a bridged tap, and an F S matrix and an F L matrix respectively representing analog front end circuitry for source (TX) and load (RX) paths;

estimate an actual transfer function (H) based on the frequency domain responses of the plurality of sections of the loop, the frequency response of the bridged tap, the F S matrix, and the F L matrix; and

input a calibrated and a compensated reverb signal in the frequency domain, and a reference gauge of a wire from the storage device; and

a modem identification determining device configured to determine an identification of the CO modem collecting the reverb signal, and the identification of the CPE modem transmitting the reverb signal,

wherein since the number of elements in a receive function is known, the controller is further configured to minimize a difference between the actual transfer function and the measured transfer function, and output, with the cooperation of a loop length output device and a bridged tap output device, the estimated loop length and the estimated bridged tap length, respectively.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the loop includes a communication line and an assumption is made that the communication line is not perfectly terminated.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the CO or CPE modem being initialized.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the specified wire gauge is input to the storage device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transmission line connects the CO modem and the CPE modem.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the estimated loop length and the estimated bridged tap length are also applicable to a downstream direction.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the loop length output device outputs the estimated loop length to one or more of a computer, a laptop, a terminal, and a transmission line testing device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridged tap output device outputs the estimated bridged tap length to one or more of a computer, a laptop, a terminal, and a transmission line testing device.

9. A modem-based upstream data loop length and bridged tap length estimation method comprising:

determining a measured transfer function by averaging a plurality of consecutive frames of a reverb signal;

determining a frequency domain propagation function for a specified wire gauge input from a storage device;

determining a frequency domain impedance of the specified wire gauge;

determining a transmit impedance of a customer-premises equipment, CPE, modem;

determining a receive impedance of a central office, CO, modem;

determining a matrix representing frequency domain responses of a plurality of sections of the loop, the matrix including a frequency response of a bridged tap, and an F S matrix and an F L matrix respectively representing analog front end circuitry for source (TX) and load (RX) paths;

determining an actual transfer function (H) based on the frequency domain responses of the plurality of sections of the loop, the frequency response of the bridged tap, the F S matrix, and the F L matrix; and

inputting a calibrated and a compensated reverb signal in the frequency domain, and a reference gauge of a wire from the storage device; and

determining an identification of the CO modem collecting the reverb signal, and the identification of the CPE modem transmitting the reverb signal,

wherein since the number of elements in a receive function is known, a difference between the actual transfer function and the measured transfer function may be determined, and the estimated loop length and the estimated bridged tap length are output respectively by a loop length output device and a bridged tap output device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the loop includes a communication line and an assumption is made that the communication line is not perfectly terminated.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the CO or CPE modem being initialized.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the specified wire gauge is input to the storage device.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein a transmission line connects the CO modem and the CPE modem.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the estimated loop length and the estimated bridged tap length are also applicable to a downstream direction.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the loop length output device outputs the estimated loop length to one or more of a computer, a laptop, a terminal, and a transmission line testing device.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bridged tap output device outputs the estimated bridged tap length to one or more of a computer, a laptop, a terminal, and a transmission line testing device.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 9,385,856 TO 9,385,756 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 47349 FRAME: 001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 22, 2019
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051144/0648 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EFFECTIVE DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047229 FRAME 0408. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS 09/05/2018. Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047349/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 4, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047229/0408 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 041706/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2014
From: AWARE, INC.
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033705/0585 →