Distributed Network Performance Monitoring

Abstract

A probe is configured to monitor one or more communication parameters on one or more downstream frequency channels carried on a communication medium of an access network. Results of repeated monitoring are stored over a predetermined period. At the conclusion of the monitoring period, data reports reflecting the stored results are transmitted in upstream frequency channels carried on the same medium. The probe can also be configured to send immediate messages if a parameter exceeds predefined limits and can store a plurality of monitoring programs and can be reprogrammed remotely. The probe can be contained within a cable tap if the medium is, e.g., a coaxial cable. Numerous probes can be deployed throughout an access network so as to provide monitoring data from each of many locations over a prolonged period.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a hardware connector configured for attachment to a physical communication medium of an access network;   at least one tuner communicatively coupled to the hardware connector; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one tuner, wherein the processor is configured to
 monitor communication parameters in a first downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, 
 monitor communication parameters in a second downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, and 
 transmit the stored monitoring results for the first and second downstream frequency channels, on an upstream frequency channel carried on the physical communication medium, wherein
 the processor is configured to perform multiple repetitions of the monitoring for at least one of the first and second downstream frequency channels prior to transmitting the stored monitoring results, and 
 the transmitted stored monitoring results include the monitoring results from the multiple repetitions. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the physical communication medium comprises a coaxial cable of a cable plant. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 the processor is configured to monitor communication parameters on each of 10 downstream frequency channels and store the results from monitoring each of the 10 downstream frequency channels, and   the transmitted stored monitoring results include the stored results from monitoring of the at least 10 downstream frequency channels.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least 10 downstream frequency channels are located between 108 MHz and 1002 MHz. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the communication parameters comprise RF signal level and at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters that includes modulation error ratio, forward error correction codeword error rate, signal to noise ratio, bit error rate and carrier to noise ratio. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein monitoring communication parameters in the first and second downstream frequency channels comprises determining whether specific data has been transmitted. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring communication parameters in the first and second downstream frequency channels comprises determining whether specific data has been transmitted. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to repeatedly measure a first communication parameter for each of the first and second downstream frequency channels according to a first schedule and to repeatedly measure a second communication parameter for each of the first and second downstream frequency channels according to a second schedule, and wherein the first schedule requires measurement of the first communication parameter more frequently than the second schedule requires measurement of the second communication parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the hardware connector is a connector configured for attachment to a forward RF input coaxial feeder cable, and further comprising a plurality of connectors configured for attachment to coaxial drop cables. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to receive programming instructions, via the coaxial cable, causing the processor to
 monitor communication parameters in a third downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring,   monitor communication parameters in a fourth downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, and   transmit the stored monitoring results for the third and fourth downstream channels subsequent to the monitoring of the communications parameters in third and fourth the fourth downstream frequency channels.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to download instructions, and wherein the downloaded instructions cause the processor to monitor a different communication parameter. 
     
     
         12 . An cable tap, comprising:
 a housing;   a feeder cable connector located on or attached to the housing and configured for attachment to a coaxial feeder cable of a cable plant;   an RF signal line located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the feeder cable connector;   a plurality of drop cable connectors, wherein each of the drop cable connectors is configured for attachment to a different coaxial drop cable and is communicatively coupled to the RF signal line;   at least one tuner located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the RF signal line; and   a processor located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the at least one tuner, wherein the processor is configured to cause the tuner to tune to a first downstream channel carried on the RF signal line, monitor a first communication parameter in the first downstream frequency channel and store the results of the monitoring, and transmit the stored monitoring results on an upstream frequency channel carried on the RF signal line.   
     
     
         13 . The cable tap of  claim 12 , wherein
 the processor is configured to perform multiple repetitions of the monitoring for the first downstream frequency channel and for a second downstream frequency channel prior to transmitting the stored monitoring results, and   the transmitted stored monitoring results include the monitoring results from the multiple repetitions.   
     
     
         14 . The cable tap of  claim 12 , wherein
 the processor is configured to monitor the communication parameter on each of at least 10 downstream frequency channels and store the results from monitoring the communication parameter on each of the at least 10 downstream frequency channels, and   the transmitted stored monitoring results include the stored results from monitoring of the at least  10  downstream frequency channels.   
     
     
         15 . The cable tap of  claim 14 , wherein the at least 10 downstream frequency channels are located between 108 MHz and 1002 MHz. 
     
     
         16 . The cable tap of  claim 12 , wherein the first communication parameter comprises RF signal level, and wherein the processor is further configured to monitor a second parameter selected from a group of parameters that includes modulation error ratio, forward error correction codeword error rate, signal to noise ratio, bit error rate and carrier to noise ratio, to store results of monitoring the second parameter, and to transmit the stored second parameter monitoring results upstream. 
     
     
         17 . The cable tap of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether specific data has been transmitted downstream, to store the results of the determination, and to transmit the stored determination results upstream. 
     
     
         18 . The cable tap of  claim 12 , wherein the first communication parameter comprises whether specific data has been transmitted. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 receiving communication parameter monitoring data from multiple probes distributed throughout a coaxial cable plant, wherein
 each of the probes is connected to the coaxial cable plant outside of a subscriber location, and 
 each of the probes repeatedly monitors communication parameters on multiple downstream channels for a period of time, stores the results of the monitoring, and transmits the stored results upstream over the coaxial cable plant at the conclusion of the time period; 
   transmitting instructions to a portion of the plurality of probes through the coaxial cable plant, said instructions changing the manner in which the portion of the plurality of probes monitors communication parameters; and   receiving additional data from the portion of the plurality of probes in response to the transmitted instructions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of probes are contained within cable taps.