IP Library Granted Patent US 12,549,466
Granted Patent B2
US 12,549,466 · App. 18/751,230 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Systems and methods for identifying defects in local loops

Inventors: Thomas C. Woldahl (Phoenix, AZ); Leigh A. Benson (Nederland, CO)
Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
H04L43/10G06N5/022
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,549,466
App. No.
18/751,230
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.

Claims (48)

1 . A computer-implemented method for analyzing local loops of telecommunications networks, the method comprising:

obtaining trace data for a local loop of a telecommunications network;

decomposing the trace data to generate a subsignal;

extracting features from the trace data and the subsignal; and

providing the features to a classifier, wherein the classifier identifies a class of the local loop based on the features, wherein the class corresponds to a local loop status indicating a presence of a defect of the local loop, wherein the features include at least a standard deviation of a first derivative, and wherein the features correspond to the defect.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the trace data includes at least one of bits-per-tone data, signal-to-noise ratio data, quiet-line-noise data, or hlog data.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the subsignal is an empirical orthogonal function.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the features further include at least one of:

a spectral entropy;

a local binary pattern;

a degree of linearity;

a linear trend;

a degree of non-linearity;

a curvature;

a vanishing point;

a stability of signal mean;

a stability of signal variance;

a median cross;

a fractional differencing order;

a volatility;

a peak;

a trough;

a speed provision ratio; and

a line capacity ratio.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an indicator corresponding to the status, wherein, when received by a computing device, the indicator causes the computing device to display the status and, when a defect is present, to provide access to technical information for resolving the defect.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the classifier includes one or more machine learning models, and wherein providing the features to a classifier includes providing the features to each of the one or more machine learning models.

7 . A computing device comprising:

one or more data processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which, when executed by the one or more data processors, cause the one or more data processors to perform operations including:

obtaining trace data for a local loop of a telecommunications network;

decomposing the trace data to generate a subsignal;

extracting features from the trace data and the subsignal; and

providing the features to a classifier, wherein the classifier identifies a class of the local loop based on the features, wherein the class corresponds to a local loop status indicating a presence of a defect of the local loop, wherein the features include at least a standard deviation of a first derivative, and wherein the features correspond to the defect.

8 . The computing device of claim 7 wherein the subsignal is an empirical orthogonal function.

9 . The computing device of claim 8 wherein the features further includes at least one of:

a spectral entropy, a local binary pattern, a degree of linearity, a linear trend, a degree of non-linearity, a curvature, a vanishing point, a stability of signal mean, a stability of signal variance, a median cross, a fractional differencing order, a volatility, a peak, a trough, a speed provision ratio, and a line capacity ratio.

10 . The computing device of claim 7 wherein the trace data includes at least one of bits-per-tone data, signal-to-noise ratio data, quiet-line-noise data, or hlog data.

11 . The computing device of claim 7 wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which, when executed by the one or more data processors, cause the one or more data processors to transmit an indicator corresponding to the status, wherein, when received by a computing device, the indicator causes the computing device to display the status and, when a defect is present, to provide access to technical information for resolving the defect.

12 . The computing device of claim 7 wherein the classifier includes one or more machine learning models, and wherein providing the feature to a classifier includes providing the feature to each of the one or more machine learning models.

13 . A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a computing device to perform operations including:

obtaining trace data for a local loop of a telecommunications network;

decomposing the trace data to generate a subsignal;

extracting features from the trace data and the subsignal; and

providing the features to a classifier, wherein the classifier identifies a class of the local loop based on the features, wherein the class corresponds to a local loop status indicating a presence of a defect of the local loop, wherein the features include at least a standard deviation of a first derivative, and wherein the features correspond to the defect.

14 . The computer-program product of claim 13 , wherein the trace data includes at least one of bits-per-tone data, signal-to-noise ratio data, quiet-line-noise data, or hlog data.

15 . The computer-program product of claim 13 , wherein the subsignal is an empirical orthogonal function.

16 . The computer-program product of claim 13 , further comprising transmitting an indicator corresponding to the status, wherein, when received by a computing device, the indicator causes the computing device to display the status and, when a defect is present, to provide access to technical information for resolving the defect.

17 . The computer-program product of claim 13 , wherein the classifier includes one or more machine learning models, and wherein providing the features to a classifier includes providing the features to each of the one or more machine learning models.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0749 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2024
From: WOLDAHL, THOMAS C.; BENSON, LEIGH A.
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067808/0486 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17812858 · Jul 15, 2022
Provisional Application 63222355 · Jul 15, 2021
Related Publication 20240348525A1 · Oct 17, 2024
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