Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.

Abstract: A method and system for computer network physical layer analysis is describe using signal analysis techniques and beginning with time-domain responses to yield highly quantitative analysis of the computer network's physical layer. Specifically, multiple transmissions are accumulated into a composite response of the computer network link. This composite response is then used as the basis for analysis of the computer network link. Further, an automated process is described for location of an arbitrary termination of a link.

Abstract: A network diagnostic device is disclosed that digitally samples the voltages on the cabling of the network, but does so at a much higher rate and with greater resolution then is required to minimally detect digital transmissions on the cabling. This sampling provides information on the analog characteristics of digital, noise, and interference signals on the network. Thus, network problems can be precisely diagnosed. The device includes a fast digitizer with a long memory and a system processor that statistically analyzes the signal events captured by the digitizer. The invention is also capable of performing time domain reflectometry (TDR) analysis of a functioning network. This is accomplished by placing a TDR signal on the network surrounded by a transmission that the network devices will interpret as a broadcast diagnostic packet. This will cause the network nodes to ignore the transmission. The digitizer, however, is able to detect the networks response to the TDR signal.

Abstract: A signal-based cable attenuation measurement device, system and methodology provides measurement of attenuation characteristics of a cable over a wide frequency spectrum. Located at a single location on a cable, a measurement device injects a signal on to the cable under measurement and receives the reflected signal, recording physical characteristics of the cable in response to the signal. A model, calibrated to estimate the effects of the cable with known impedances, evaluates the waveform generated from the cable's response to the signal and computes attenuation of the cable as a function of frequency. In some circumstances, when low signal-to-noise effects result, normally at high frequencies in long cables, the attenuation of the cable is further fitted to the model to correct the errors that occur as a result of the low signal-to-noise effects.

Abstract: A computer network includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a communication channel system interconnecting the transmitter and receiver. All components in the system may be physical equipment or may be models having predefined operational characteristics. The predefined operational characteristics may be monitored or modified to obtain benchmarking and error rates for the computer network.

Abstract: A method for performing time domain reflectometry contemporaneously with recurrent transmissions, such as idle transmissions, on a computer network, such as a 100 BASE T protocol network is disclosed. This method comprises detecting the recurrent transmissions and then storing representations of those transmissions. A probe signal, such as a TDR signal, is then generated onto the computer network during the recurrent transmissions. A response of the network to the probe signal combined with the recurrent transmissions is then detected. The signal transmission characteristics of the network are then analyzable based on the response to the probe signal using the stored representations of the recurrent transmissions, using deconvolution, for example.

Abstract: A signal-based cable attenuation measurement device, system and methodology provides measurement of attenuation characteristics of a cable over a wide frequency spectrum. Located at a single location on a cable, a measurement device injects a signal on to the cable under measurement and receives the reflected signal, recording physical characteristics of the cable in response to the signal. A model, calibrated to estimate the effects of the cable with known impedances, evaluates the waveform generated from the cable's response to the signal and computes attenuation of the cable as a function of frequency. In some circumstances, when low signal-to-noise effects result, normally at high frequencies in long cables, the attenuation of the cable is further fitted to the model to correct the errors that occur as a result of the low signal-to-noise effects.

Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.

Abstract: A cross-connect panel for a computer network is disclosed that provides a mechanism for connecting to the signal transmission media of the network. In the typical scenario, the inventive cross-connect panel replaces the common cross-connect panel that receives the various cables running between the remote nodes and the hub, switch, or other network communications device. The panel has a series of panel-node connectors that are adapted to receive the signal transmission media from the network nodes. The cross-connect panel also has panel-device connectors that in most embodiments will be of a standard type to connect to the network communications device. The panel-node connectors and the panel-device connectors are electrically interconnected to each other via a backplane to complete the communications links. The panel further includes a monitoring port that is also preferably connected to the backplane to provide physical layer access to the communications links.

Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.