Abstract: The present invention presents a method of identifying faults in a DSL line using upstream and downstream attenuation measurements, which can be obtained directly from the DSLAM or CPE, thus requiring no specialist test equipment nor disrupting service. A downstream over upstream attenuation ratio is calculated for a line, with calculations repeated over a population of lines. The distribution of ratios, as well as upper and lower thresholds, is determined based on the population. A line is identified as being potentially faulty if it has an attenuation ratio above the upper threshold or below the lower threshold. Specifically, an attenuation ratio below the lower threshold is identified as having a high resistance joint fault (caused by an imperfect connection or corrosion at a joint in at least one of the pairs of a line), and a ratio above the upper threshold as a shunt (caused by degradation of the insulation between the pairs of a line, and often coupled with water ingress).

Abstract: The invention measures the rates of a whole population of existing lines together with a line characteristic, such as capacitance, that can be measured prior to provisioning. Using these measures, a rating we refer to as a “quality figure” is generated for each distribution point by looking at the rate of the lines running through that distribution point, and comparing those rates to the rates of other lines having the same line characteristic across the whole population of lines. Distribution points that have lines operating better (faster) than the average for their given line characteristic will have higher quality figures. To estimate the rate of a new line, the quality figure of the distribution point that the new line passes through is used in conjunction with the measured line characteristic as a look up on the whole population of lines.

Abstract: The invention presents a method of identifying faults on a DSL line, typically intermittent faults arising from unstable joints in the DSL line. The method collects errored seconds data at the DSLAM and at the customer's premises equipment (CPE, typically a home hub or router). The error data collected at the DSLAM are termed near-end errors, and the error data collected at the CPE are termed far-end errors. The near-end and far-end data is then analyzed by applying regression analysis to determine if there is a correlation or match between the two sets of data. Matching data patterns are indicative of unstable or bad joints in the DSL line, and are typically intermittent and located near the customer's premises.

Abstract: The invention presents a method of identifying faults on a DSL line, typically intermittent faults arising from unstable joints in the DSL line. The method collects errored seconds data at the DSLAM and at the customer's premises equipment (CPE, typically a home hub or router). The error data collected at the DSLAM are termed near-end errors, and the error data collected at the CPE are termed far-end errors. The near-end and far-end data is then analysed by applying regression analysis to determine if there is a correlation or match between the two sets of data. Matching data patterns are indicative of unstable or bad joints in the DSL line, and are typically intermittent and located near the customer's premises.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method of identifying faults in a DSL line using upstream and downstream attenuation measurements, which can be obtained directly from the DSLAM or CPE, thus requiring no specialist test equipment nor disrupting service. A downstream over upstream attenuation ratio is calculated for a line, with calculations repeated over a population of lines. The distribution of ratios, as well as upper and lower thresholds, is determined based on the population. A line is identified as being potentially faulty if it has an attenuation ratio above the upper threshold or below the lower threshold. Specifically, an attenuation ratio below the lower threshold is identified as having a high resistance joint fault (caused by an imperfect connection or corrosion at a joint in at least one of the pairs of a line), and a ratio above the upper threshold as a shunt (caused by degradation of the insulation between the pairs of a line, and often coupled with water ingress).

Abstract: The invention measures the rates of a whole population of existing lines together with a line characteristic, such as capacitance, that can be measured prior to provisioning. Using these measures, a rating we refer to as a “quality figure” is generated for each distribution point by looking at the rate of the lines running through that distribution point, and comparing those rates to the rates of other lines having the same line characteristic across the whole population of lines. Distribution points that have lines operating better (faster) than the average for their given line characteristic will have higher quality figures. To estimate the rate of a new line, the quality figure of the distribution point that the new line passes through is used in conjunction with the measured line characteristic as a look up on the whole population of lines, which have also been given quality figures according to their line characteristic and line rate measurements.

Abstract: A method is proposed for calculating a line performance, or stability, measure for a telephone line. Various physical parameters associated with the line, such as insulation resistance, capacitance and DC voltages, are measured. The values for each of the parameters are compared to expected values, which are based on historical values measured for that line. Individual performance measures for each parameter are calculated based on the difference between the actual and expected values, normalised by the deviation of that parameter. The deviation accounts for general fluctuations across all the lines. A weighting value is also applied, based on knowledge of values relevant to the good operation of lines. The deviation effectively gives a scaling, and the weighting gives a context to the measured values for a single line. The individual performance measures are summed to get the final performance measure for the line.

Abstract: A method is proposed for calculating a line performance, or stability, measure for a telephone line. Various physical parameters associated with the line, such as insulation resistance, capacitance and DC voltages, are measured. The values for each of the parameters are compared to expected values, which are based on historical values measured for that line. Individual performance measures for each parameter are calculated based on the difference between the actual and expected values, normalised by the deviation of that parameter. The deviation accounts for general fluctuations across all the lines. A weighting value is also applied, based on knowledge of values relevant to the good operation of lines. The deviation effectively gives a scaling, and the weighting gives a context to the measured values for a single line. The individual performance measures are summed to get the final performance as measure for the line.