Testing upstream cable channels
US8310940B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L43/50
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In order to measure the performance of a DOCSIS upstream channel as well as to locate impairments, a special test signal is transmitted in a time slot of the upstream channel by a test instrument positioned anywhere within the CATV plant. A second test instrument, located at the termination point of the upstream plant, then detects, recovers, and processes the test signal in order to complete the measurement. The typical methods used to detect and recover bursted signals within a DOCSIS upstream channel use precise timing information transmitted in a corresponding DOCSIS downstream channel. Unfortunately, the downstream channel and thus the precise timing information are not always available to the secondary test instrument. The present invention also describes an apparatus and method for detecting a bursted test signal without the use of the DOCSIS upstream channel timing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.