Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

Tivo Corporation

Lawrence Wolcott

Phillip Chang

Edward David Monnerat

David B Leach

Thomas Emerson Bach

Justin Riggert

James Russell

Todd Szuter

Bryan Thomas

Bryan Scott Johnston

Ross Gilson

William C VerSteeg

Kevin Christopher Johns

Philip F Chang

Jonathan Alan Leech

Nicholas Adam Pinckernell

Wilfredo Colon

Justin Riggett

Paras Kharwal

Bryan Johnston

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.

Network implementation of spectrum analysis

System and methods for locating events and/or devices on a network are described.

System and method for locating events and/or devices on a network

An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to determine whether a non-linear signal impairment is present in a network communication channel. For instance, a computing device may transmit equalization coefficients to a user device to modify future signals generated by the user device. If the equalization coefficients are unable to reduce a signal impairment, the signal impairment may be a non-linear signal impairment. The computing device may generate symbol placements based on signals received from the user device and transmit status messages.

Modulation analysis and distortion identification

A wired network may be used to carry signals for a wireless network, in a frequency-shifted manner, to extend the range of the wireless network. A wired network may detect signal interference emanating from a wireless service provider, and received through a leak in the wired network's infrastructure. Devices may be installed or leveraged in the vicinity of the interference to extend the wireless service to geographic areas that may have poor reception. The devices may amplify wireless downstream signals and transmit them wirelessly, and may receive upstream wireless communications and transmit them upstream in the wired network's protocol.

Communication network

An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to generate a symbol placement associated with a transmission scheme by transforming a retrieved set of equalization coefficients. Symbols included in the symbol placement may be analyzed and quantified in terms of their distance from a decision boundary. Symbols may be synthesized on an iterative basis in order to obtain visibility into the underlying performance of the transmission scheme over time. If equalization is unable to reduce a signal impairment below a threshold value within a predetermined amount of time, then a determination may be made that a non-linear distortion source is present in a network or communication system. Signals received from a plurality of user terminals may be compared with one another in order to determine a probable location or cause of the non-linear distortion.

Methods and systems are provided in which a network induces different distortions in signals traversing different segments of the network. The distortions may be used to identify locations on the network of devices that transmit and receive the signals. The distortions may be reflected in equalization coefficients programmed into transmitting or receiving devices, which may be used to pre or post filter the signals to compensate for the distortions.

Inducing response signatures in a communication network

An apparatus, method, and system are provided for determining a location of an error source. Equalization coefficients may be retrieved and an average period of time between localized peak amplitudes may be determined. The average period of time may be multiplied by a velocity of propagation associated with a communication channel to determine an approximate location of the error source. The equalization coefficients may correspond to the inverse of the frequency response associated with the communication channel and may be updated over time using replacement or combination (e.g., convolution) techniques.

Identification of a fault

Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and locating ingress of an over-the-air signal into a wired communications network. Computing devices located in a plurality of different areas may be configured to identify amplitude of signals transmitted over the wired communications network as it varies by signal frequency. In one embodiment, the system may determine expected amplitude of the over-the-air signal at the plurality of different areas. In other embodiments, the system may identify amplitudes received over the wired communication path at the computing devices. The system may determine a location at which the over-the-air signal has entered the wired communications network based on a comparison of the identified and expected amplitudes of the over-the-wire signal.

Remote detection and measurement of data signal leakage

An analyzer can obtain data regarding signal characteristics in each of multiple communication channels within an access network. The analyzer can use that data to create signatures corresponding to each of the multiple channels. Based on similarities between signatures, the analyzer may then identify clusters of signatures associated with devices that share channels or portions of channels.

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Denver, CO, United States of America

Lawrence Wolcott