IP Library Granted Patent US 10,798,597
Granted Patent B2
US 10,798,597 · App. 16/594,678 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

Network implementation of spectrum analysis

Inventors: Lawrence Wolcott (Denver, CO); Justin Riggert (Denver, CO); David Leach (Centennial, CO); Thomas Emerson Bach (Englewood, CO); James Russell (Highlands Ranch, CO); Edward David Monnerat (Parker, CO); Todd Szuter (Glauchester, MA); Bryan Thomas (Castle Rock, CO)
Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
H04W24/08H04B17/345
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,798,597
App. No.
16/594,678
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Access devices may receive signals over a network and calculate a frequency spectrum of the received signals. An analyzer system may collect the frequency spectrum data from multiple access devices, and based on the collected data, detect, identify, and locate sources of anomalies in a communication network.

Claims (92)

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:

determine an assigned frequency range associated with one or more access devices;

receive, from the one or more access devices, frequency spectrum data;

determine a signal characteristic of the frequency spectrum data for frequencies outside the assigned frequency range;

perform a comparison of the signal characteristic of the frequency spectrum data for frequencies outside the assigned frequency range, to a plurality of pre-characterized signal characteristics; and

determine, based on the comparison, a signal anomaly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frequency spectrum data corresponds to a plurality of access devices connected to a network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the assigned frequency range corresponds to signals that are phase or amplitude modulated.

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

determine a signal characteristic of the frequency spectrum data for frequencies within the assigned frequency range.

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

determine that a noise level in the assigned frequency range satisfies a threshold amplitude; and

determine a location of a noise ingress based on the noise level.

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

determine that an energy level in the assigned frequency range satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

determine a location of a wideband interference based on the energy level.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frequency spectrum data comprises multiple sets of data collected at different time periods, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

determine, based on comparing a first set of data of the multiple sets of data to other sets of data of the multiple sets of data, difference values; and

determine the signal characteristic based on the difference values.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frequency spectrum data comprises frequency spectrum data for a plurality of signal channels.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frequency spectrum data comprises time sampled data received via a network by a plurality of access devices.

10. A system comprising:

an apparatus and

an access device;

wherein the apparatus comprises:

one or more processors; and

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

determine, an assigned frequency range associated with one or more access devices;

receive, from the one or more access devices, frequency spectrum data;

determine, a signal characteristic of the frequency spectrum data for frequencies outside the assigned frequency range;

perform a comparison of the signal characteristic of the frequency spectrum data for frequencies outside the assigned frequency range, to a plurality of pre-characterized signal characteristics; and

determine, based on the comparison, a signal anomaly; and

wherein the access device comprises:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the access device, cause the access device to send at least a portion of the frequency spectrum data.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the frequency spectrum data corresponds to a plurality of access devices connected to a network.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the assigned frequency range corresponds to signals that are phase or amplitude modulated.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus, when executed by the one or more processors of the apparatus, further cause the apparatus to:

determine a signal characteristic of the frequency spectrum data for frequencies within the assigned frequency range.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus, when executed by the one or more processors of the apparatus, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that a noise level in the assigned frequency range satisfies a threshold amplitude; and

determine a location of a noise ingress based on the noise level.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus, when executed by the one or more processors of the apparatus, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that an energy level in the assigned frequency range satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

determine a location of a wideband interference based on the energy level.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the frequency spectrum data comprises multiple sets of data collected at different time periods, and wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus, when executed by the one or more processors of the apparatus, further cause the apparatus to:

determine, based on comparing a first set of data of the multiple sets of data to other sets of data of the multiple sets of data, difference values; and

determine the signal characteristic based on the difference values.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the frequency spectrum data comprises frequency spectrum data for a plurality of signal channels.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the frequency spectrum data comprises time sampled data received via a network by a plurality of access devices.

19. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

determine, for signals outside an assigned frequency range for communication channels in a network, a plurality of frequency characteristics;

perform a comparison of the plurality of frequency characteristics to a plurality of pre-characterized fault types;

determine, based on the comparison, that a fault exists; and

locate, based on the plurality of frequency characteristics, the fault in the network.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

determine frequency signatures for each of a plurality of access devices;

determine, based on a comparison of the plurality of frequency characteristics to the frequency signatures, a difference approximation associated with a first access device; and

compare the difference approximation to the plurality of pre-characterized fault types.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

detect, by curve fitting, a slope value that satisfies a predetermined slope threshold.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

perform an analysis on frequency spectrum data for the communication channels; and

generate, based on the analysis, the plurality of frequency characteristics of the signals in the network.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of frequency characteristics correspond to time sampled data of the signals received via the network by a plurality of access devices.

24. A system comprising:

an apparatus; and

an access device;

wherein the apparatus comprises:

one or more processors; and

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

determine, for signals outside an assigned frequency range for communication channels in a network, a plurality of frequency characteristics;

perform a comparison of the plurality of frequency characteristics to a plurality of pre-characterized fault types;

determine, based on the comparison, that a fault exists; and

locate, based on the plurality of frequency characteristics, the fault in the network; and

wherein the access device comprises:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the access device, cause the access device to send at least a portion of the signals.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus, when executed by the one or more processors of the apparatus, further cause the apparatus to:

determine frequency signatures for each of a plurality of access devices;

determine, based on a comparison of the plurality of frequency characteristics to the frequency signatures, a difference approximation associated with a first access device; and

compare the difference approximation to the plurality of pre-characterized fault types.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus, when executed by the one or more processors of the apparatus, further cause the apparatus to:

detect, by curve fitting, a slope value that satisfies a predetermined slope threshold.

27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus, when executed by the one or more processors of the apparatus, further cause the apparatus to:

perform an analysis on frequency spectrum data for the communication channels; and

generate, based on the analysis, the plurality of frequency characteristics of the signals in the network.

28. The system of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of frequency characteristics correspond to time sampled data of the signals received via the network by a plurality of access devices.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2019
From: WOLCOTT, LAWRENCE; RIGGERT, JUSTIN; LEACH, DAVID; BACH, THOMAS EMERSON; RUSSELL, JAMES; MONNERAT, EDWARD DAVID; SZUTER, TODD; THOMAS, BRYAN
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 050644/0168 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15790422 · Oct 23, 2017
Continuation 15167349 · May 27, 2016
Continuation 13834962 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61773138 · Mar 5, 2013
Related Publication 20200045570A1 · Feb 6, 2020
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