Abstract: Embodiments provided describe detections of RF leakage test signal emanating from cable plant. In one embodiment a single mobile receive antenna, connected to a complex demodulator mobile receiver, receives a stabilized test signal radiating from the cable plant. The test signal may be a known continuous wave (CW) carrier or other deterministic signal. The received test signal varies in phase as a function of a position of the mobile receive antenna relative to the location of a leakage antenna. The phase variance forms a Doppler shift as the test antenna moves relative to the leakage antenna. The receiver generates multiple in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) test signal samples over a SPA (synthetic phased array) distance as the test antenna's travels, and the samples are inserted into a Fourier transform. The result of the transform is instantaneous Doppler frequency shift, from which a bearing angle can be computed.

Abstract: Embodiments described provide detection of RF leaks in a coaxial cable of a cable plant. One embodiment comprises a mobile device that includes an antenna, a quadrature demodulator, and a controller. The antenna receives an RF signal from an RF leak in the coaxial cable. The quadrature demodulator demodulates the RF signal to generate IQ data. The controller determines changes in a phase angle of the RF signal based on the IQ data generated as the mobile device is in motion, and identifies that the mobile device is travelling toward the RF leak responsive to determining that the phase angle is advancing. The controller identifies that the mobile device is travelling away from the RF leak responsive to determining that the phase angle is retarding.

Abstract: Scheduling of transmission opportunities to prevent collisions is contemplated. The transmission opportunities may be scheduled for terminal units where transmissions of one terminal unit may collide or otherwise interfere with transmissions of another terminal unit. The transmission opportunities may be scheduled according to a time-frequency grid to prevent collisions in a time domain and/or a frequency domain.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for isolating an upstream noise source in a cable television network. In one embodiment, a cable television network is communicatively coupled to a plurality of CPEs through a node. The cable television network comprises a CMTS with a CPE polling module and a noise monitor communicatively coupled to the CMTS through the node of the cable television network. The noise monitor is operable in a band of frequencies unused by the CPEs for upstream communications to determine when noise in the band breaches a threshold level, and to indicate when the noise breaches the threshold level to the CPE polling module. The CPE polling module then polls each of the CPEs to retrieve transmit power levels and locations of the CPEs, and identifies the first CPE with the intermittently noisy connection based on the retrieved transmit power level and location of the first CPE.

Abstract: Scheduling of transmission opportunities to prevent collisions is contemplated. The transmission opportunities may be scheduled for terminal units where transmissions of one terminal unit may collide or otherwise interfere with transmissions of another terminal unit. The transmission opportunities may be scheduled according to a time-frequency grid to prevent collisions in a time domain and/or a frequency domain.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for improved access to data. In one embodiment, a communication system includes an RF communication link that is operable to receive first communications from a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or other “user equipment”). The communication system also includes a processor operable to determine a location of the mobile device based on the first communications and a plurality of directional communication links. Each directional communication link is operable to transfer data to the mobile device based on the location of the mobile device as determined by the processor. The processor is also operable to coordinate the transfer of data from each of the directional communication links to the mobile device.

Abstract: Estimation of noise within signaling is contemplated. The noise estimation may be beneficial in detecting noise within signaling in order to facilitate error correction or other corrective measures without having to process transmitted data being transmitted within the signaling. The noise estimation may be based on pilot tones included within frequency division multiplexed signaling.

Abstract: Embodiments described provide detection of RF leaks in a coaxial cable of a cable plant. One embodiment comprises a mobile device that includes an antenna, a quadrature demodulator, and a controller. The antenna receives an RF signal from an RF leak in the coaxial cable. The quadrature demodulator demodulates the RF signal to generate IQ data. The controller determines changes in a phase angle of the RF signal based on the IQ data generated as the mobile device is in motion, and identifies that the mobile device is travelling toward the RF leak responsive to determining that the phase angle is advancing. The controller identifies that the mobile device is travelling away from the RF leak responsive to determining that the phase angle is retarding.

Abstract: A method to test a signal path with vacant bandwidth by sending a test signal twice and processing two resulting nonlinear distortion signals captured in the vacant bands to determine presence of nonlinear distortion. If the signals correlate, the energy in the vacant bands is nonlinear distortion. If the test signal is sent followed by an inverse (in time-domain) of itself, and a resulting correlation peak is negative, the nonlinear distortion is determined to have been created by odd-order nonlinear distortion.

Abstract: A method to capture random data signals at an end point in a broadband network and process them via digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to determine both linear distortions and nonlinear distortions. In a distribution network, such as a tree and branch cable network, the location of the impairment addition can be identified by determining location of terminals have a distortion and locations of terminals that do not have a distortion. Linear distortions may be determined by an autocorrelation of the captured signal with itself. Nonlinear distortions may be determined by processing measured energy in a vacant band with manufactured energy in the vacant band. If a vacant band is not available, one can be created by demodulating a signal occupying the band, and subtracting the demodulated signal from the measured signal plus interference in a band, leaving only the interference.

Abstract: Skipping, spreading or otherwise metering signaling across multiple transmission opportunities is contemplated. The contemplated signal processing may be beneficial in ameliorating the influence of burst noise and other interferences on signal transmissions. The contemplated signal processing may be operable to facilitate supplementing and/or replacing other error correction techniques aimed at reducing signaling interference.

Abstract: Skipping, spreading or otherwise metering signaling across multiple transmission opportunities is contemplated. The contemplated signal processing may be beneficial in ameliorating the influence of burst noise and other interferences on signal transmissions. The contemplated signal processing may be operable to facilitate supplementing and/or replacing other error correction techniques aimed at reducing signaling interference.

Abstract: A method to capture random data signals at an end point in a broadband network and process them via digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to determine both linear distortions and nonlinear distortions. In a distribution network, such as a tree and branch cable network, the location of the impairment addition can be identified by determining location of terminals have a distortion and locations of terminals that do not have a distortion. Linear distortions may be determined by an autocorrelation of the captured signal with itself. Nonlinear distortions may be determined by processing measured energy in a vacant band with manufactured energy in the vacant band. If a vacant band is not available, one can be created by demodulating a signal occupying the band, and subtracting the demodulated signal from the measured signal plus interference in a band, leaving only the interference.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for monitoring of noise and other interfering energy on a communication link. One system includes an interface coupled to the communication link to receive a signal conveyed over the communication link. The system also includes a monitor operable to: track energy across a frequency spectrum of the signal conveyed over the communication link for a predetermined period of time; flag, at intervals of the predetermined period of time, energy levels across the frequency spectrum of the signal that breach a threshold energy level to identify where in the frequency spectrum a breach of the threshold energy level occurs; and add the flags to determine how long the threshold energy level was breached during the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A method to capture random data signals at an end point in a broadband network and process them via digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to determine both linear distortions and nonlinear distortions. In a distribution network, such as a tree and branch cable network, the location of the impairment addition can be identified by determining location of terminals have a distortion and locations of terminals that do not have a distortion. Linear distortions may be determined by an autocorrelation of the captured signal with itself. Nonlinear distortions may be determined by processing measured energy in a vacant band with manufactured energy in the vacant band. If a vacant band is not available, one can be created by demodulating a signal occupying the band, and subtracting the demodulated signal from the measured signal plus interference in a band, leaving only the interference.

Abstract: A method to test a signal path with vacant bandwidth by sending a test signal twice and processing two resulting nonlinear distortion signals captured in the vacant bands to determine presence of nonlinear distortion. If the signals correlate, the energy in the vacant bands is nonlinear distortion. If the test signal is sent followed by an inverse (in time-domain) of itself, and a resulting correlation peak is negative, the nonlinear distortion is determined to have been created by odd-order nonlinear distortion.

Abstract: A digital (fiber optic) link transports one or more RF digital signal blocks, that when converted into analog and (optionally) converted to a RF center frequency with an D-A converter, form RF analog signal blocks. The RF analog signal block occupies a specified frequency band and is preferably capable of being distributed over a downstream coaxial portion of a HFC network and/or being broadcast. The D-A conversion is performed in a fiber node at a remote location where the transmission medium converts from digital optical fiber preferably to coaxial cable. The multiple RF digital signal blocks may be broadcast to multiple nodes or unicast to a single node. The RF signal blocks allow for any type of band-limited RF signal to be transported. The optical digital traffic to compose a RF analog signal blocks using a D-A converter may be point-to-point Ethernet, or may utilize a software-defined networking controller such as the one described in the OpenFlow™ specification, and may use buffering as necessary.

Abstract: Estimation of noise within signaling is contemplated. The noise estimation may be beneficial in detecting noise within signaling in order to facilitate error correction or other corrective measures without having to process transmitted data being transmitted within the signaling. The noise estimation may be based on pilot tones included within frequency division multiplexed signaling.

Abstract: Scheduling of transmission opportunities to prevent collisions is contemplated. The transmission opportunities may be scheduled for terminal units where transmissions of one terminal unit may collide or otherwise interfere with transmissions of another terminal unit. The transmission opportunities may be scheduled according to a time-frequency grid to prevent collisions in a time domain and/or a frequency domain.

Abstract: Signal interleaving of multiple signals, such as those associated with transmissions within a high-speed data network from subscribers to the Internet or other locations, is contemplated. The transmitted signals may be interleaved by adding signals from one subscriber with those transmitted from another subscriber. The transmitted signals may include spectral holes such that when one or more spectral holes of the signal sent from one subscriber add together with signals from another subscriber, or other simultaneously transmitting device, it fills spectral holes in a manner that maximizes transmission capabilities.