System for fault detection in an internet protocol television communication system

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an interactive television network element having a wireless transceiver, a wireline transceiver, and a controller. The controller can be adapted to process multimedia signals received from an upstream network element, transmit the processed multimedia signals to one or more downstream network elements, monitor communications on a wireline interface capable of accessing a fault management system (FMS), and cause the wireless access transceiver to wirelessly transmit to the FMS telemetry information collected responsive to detecting one or more faults in the wireline interface. The controller can also cause the wireline transceiver to transmit to the FMS over the wireline interface the telemetry information responsive to detecting no fault in the wireline interface that impedes communication with the FMS over the wireline interface. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a network element of an interactive television system, a multimedia signal from a media service provider, the network element corresponding to a headend element of a plurality of connected network elements and comprising a processor, a wireline transceiver and a first wireless transceiver;   processing, by the network element, the multimedia signal to generate a processed multimedia signal;   monitoring, by the network element, communications on a wireline interface of the network element, the wireline interface providing access to a fault management system, wherein a downstream element of the plurality of network elements comprises a second wireless transceiver for accessing the fault management system, wherein the downstream element communicates with the wireline interface only via the headend element;   registering, by the network element, a fault condition responsive to monitoring for internal faults in the network element or for faults in the multimedia signal;   monitoring, by the network element, for faults in the wireline interface;   responsive to detecting no fault in the wireline interface that impedes communication with the fault management system over the wireline interface:
 causing, by the network element, the wireline transceiver to transmit to the fault management system over the wireline interface telemetry information collected responsive to the fault condition; and 
   responsive to detecting a fault in the wireline interface:
 causing, by the network element, the first wireless transceiver to wirelessly transmit the telemetry information to the fault management system, and 
 testing, by the network element, the wireline interface to detect a restoration of service. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the telemetry information to the fault management system over the wireline interface responsive to detecting the restoration of service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of communications on the wireline interface comprises monitoring for a first message of a periodic test cycle to the network element from the fault management system via the wireline interface, wherein the periodic test cycle comprises the first message and a second message, responsive to the first message, from the network element to the fault management system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first message comprises a test packet from the fault management system over the wireline interface to monitor faults on the wireline interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the fault condition includes failing to detect the first message of the periodic test cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the processed multimedia signal to the downstream element, and wherein the fault management system monitors the downstream element via the wireline interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in case of a previous detection of a fault in the wireline interface, the downstream element transmits via the second wireless transceiver to the fault management system telemetry information associated with an internal fault of the downstream element or a fault in the processed multimedia signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a test signal to the fault management system over the wireline interface; and   receiving a response signal from the fault management system to monitor faults on the wireline interface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the response signal is received by way of a wireless access transceiver. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the response signal is received by way of the wireline interface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network element corresponds to a super headend office server. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a network element of an interactive television system, multimedia signals from an upstream network element;   testing, by the network element, for a fault in the multimedia signals or for an internal fault in the network element;   responsive to detecting a fault, determining, by the network element, a state of communications between the network element and a fault management system, wherein the state of communications includes an operating condition of a wireline interface of the network element to the fault management system;   responsive to determining that the operating condition indicates a malfunction of the wireline interface:
 transmitting, by the network element over a wireless network, telemetry information associated with the detected fault to the fault management system, and 
 periodically testing, by the network element, the wireline interface for a restoration of service; and 
   responsive to determining that the operating condition indicates normal operation of the wireline interface:
 transmitting, by the network element, the telemetry information to the fault management system over the wireline interface. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising monitoring for a fault in the wireline interface by receiving a test signal at the network element from the fault management system, and transmitting a response signal from the network element to the fault management system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the response signal comprises a response packet transmitted by a video headend office corresponding to a downstream element coupled to a headend element corresponding to a super headend office, and wherein the downstream element communicates with the wireline interface only via the headend element. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the response packet is transmitted over a wireless network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting a restoration of service on the wireline interface, transmitting the telemetry information to the fault management system over the wireline interface.   
     
     
         17 . A machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 receiving, by a network element of an interactive television system, multimedia signals from an upstream network element;   testing for a fault in the multimedia signals or for an internal fault in the network element;   responsive to detecting a fault, determining an operating condition of a wireline interface of the network element to a fault management system;   responsive to determining that the operating condition indicates a malfunction of the wireline interface:
 transmitting, over a wireless network, telemetry information associated with the detected fault to the fault management system, and 
 periodically testing the wireline interface for a restoration of service; and 
   responsive to determining that the operating condition indicates normal operation of the wireline interface:
 transmitting the telemetry information to the fault management system over the wireline interface. 
   
     
     
         18 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operating condition is determined by checking a state of communications between the network element and the fault management system. 
     
     
         19 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 responsive to detecting a restoration of service on the wireline interface, transmitting the telemetry information to the fault management system over the wireline interface.   
     
     
         20 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 monitoring for a fault in the wireline interface by receiving a test signal at the network element from the fault management system; and   transmitting a response signal from the network element to the fault management system.