Abstract: A method in a server for monitoring an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) service for a customer premises is disclosed. A first geographical location of a customer premises is retrieved, and a second geographical location of an amplitude modulation broadcasting facility within a threshold distance from the customer premises is retrieved. A first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility during daytime hours is retrieved, as is second signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility during nighttime hours. A time of day that the IPTV service failure occurs is determined based on the first signal transmission power rating for the daytime hours and the second signal transmission power rating for the nighttime hours.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for predicting failures in power supplies. A count of exception messages is set to zero. When a exception message is received, the count of exception messages is incremented and compared to a threshold value. When the count of exception messages equals the threshold value, a cooling fan is determined to be failed, and a prediction is made that a power supply is proceeding towards failure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a mitigation strategy to limit a potential source of interference on an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) system. A new user installation request is received at a server in the IPTV system. A first geographical location of a customer premises associated with the new user installation request is received. A second geographical location of an amplitude modulation broadcasting facility is received. The first geographical location and the second geographical location are plotted. A first distance between the first geographical location and the second geographical location is determined. A first signal transmission power rating for the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility is retrieved. A first mitigation strategy to limit a first interference of the amplitude modulation broadcasting facility on an IPTV signal provided to the first geographical location when the first distance is less than the first threshold distance is determined.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage port resources are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a static threshold associated with a network parameter and receiving a current value associated with the network parameter. The example method also includes invoking a first response when the current value exceeds the static threshold, when the current value does not exceed the static threshold, receiving a second threshold associated with a rate of change value of the network parameter, and invoking a second response when the rate of change value exceeds the second threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect an error condition in a communication network are disclosed herein. An example method of detecting an error condition in a communication network includes collecting first metric data from a first endpoint device, the first metric data being related to a first connection between the first endpoint device and a communication network; collecting second metric data from a second endpoint device, the second metric data being related to a second connection between the second endpoint device and the communication network; determining if at least one of the first and second metric data are indicative of the error condition; when the at least one of the first and second metric data are indicative of the error condition, identifying a point of correlation between the first and second connections; identifying a network element based on the point of correlation; and performing an evaluation of the network element.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to pre-qualify user communities for communication services are disclosed. An example method comprises configuring a first remote network demarcation associated with a first loop to a loop-back state, interrogating the first loop to determine a first parameter representative of the first loop, configuring a second remote network demarcation associated with a second loop to the loop-back state, interrogating the second loop to determine a second parameter representative of the second loop, and compiling a report based on the first and second parameters, the report containing a value that represents a degree to which a communication service can be provided to a user community associated with the first and second loops.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to trigger maintenance and upgrades of access networks are disclosed. An example method comprises obtaining a first value representing a number of unassigned ports associated with a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), obtaining a second value representing a projected number of ports associated with the first DSLAM needed to satisfy at least one of anticipated, projected or pending service requests, and determining whether to automatically submit a preventative maintenance trouble ticket for the first DSLAM based on the first and second values.

Abstract: A method for providing a cable service dispatch ticket is disclosed. A new user installation request is received at a server in an Internet Protocol television system. An upstream data rate test is performed for each of a plurality of user connections in the Internet Protocol television system in response to the new user installation request. An upstream data rate that is determined for each of the user connections during the upstream data rate test is recorded. A cable service dispatch ticket for each of the plurality of user connections is provided when a number of the upstream data rates are below a threshold upstream data rate. A device that implements the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for providing user support includes a setter configured to set up at least one communication service for a user including providing a unique communication identifier of character strings to access the communication services, and an accessor configured to access customer support including providing a unique customer support identifier character string to the user, the customer support identifier character string comprising at least a portion of the unique communication identifier character string.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to deliver media content across foreign networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request from a subscriber of a media provider, the media provider associated with a native network and identifying a foreign network associated with a current location of the subscriber. The example method also includes identifying at least one quality of service (QoS) parameter associated with the foreign network, comparing the at least one foreign network QoS parameter with a first threshold value, and at least one of prohibiting a service delivered by the media provider when the at least one foreign network QoS parameter fails to meet the first threshold value, or enabling the service when the at least one foreign network QoS parameter meets the first threshold value.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive first operational data from a portable testing device that is temporarily connected to a network interface device of a network where the network interface device is customer premises equipment and where the first operational data is associated with an undesired condition being experienced by the customer premises equipment, determine a service action to be performed by a technician associated with the portable testing device based at least in part on the first operational data, and transmit service information that is representative of the service action to the testing device for servicing the customer premises equipment where the service information is adapted for presentation by the testing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that by correlating the network fault management, circuit provisioning data and cable inventory data, it can identify the most critical network elements that can be fixed in order to restore the services quickly in a network outage that involves high number of collapsed rings. This method can also be used for proactive network maintenance, to avoid chokepoints when provisioning circuits for mission critical facilities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating transactions accomplished over a data network utilizes a "cookie" containing both static information (user-identifying information) and dynamic information (transaction-based information). The transaction-oriented dynamic information portion comprises a random number and a sequence number, the latter tracking the number of billing transactions conducted by the user associated with the account number. The cookie, sent to the user's cookie file upon a previous transaction, is valid for only a single new transaction. A billing server, upon receiving the cookie containing the static and dynamic information portions, identifies the user from the account number in the static portion and accesses from an associated database the expected random number and sequence number that the billing server last sent to that user in the transaction-oriented dynamic portion.

Abstract: A universal telephone located in a foreign country provides a consistent home country telephone appearance and functions for a caller visiting the foreign country. This service includes providing consistent dialing sequences, consistent directory services, and other operations that would be consistent with originating the call from the caller's home country. The universal telephone includes a smart card reader that receives a smart card presented by the caller, bearing information of the caller's ID, the caller's home country, and other information. A database of national telephone features that are characteristic of the caller's home country can be included in the universal telephone or can be contained on the smart card. When the caller inserts his smart card into the universal telephone, the caller's home country information is read from the card. The universal telephone accesses the database to obtain the telephone appearance and functions of the home country.