Abstract: A portable network test meter device for a CATV network is disclosed which permits simultaneous operation of a measurement system including a first tuner and a communication system including a cable modem including a second tuner. Only a single RF input/output port is necessary for connection to the CATV network.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying and locating points of impairment in a cable plant, such as that used for cable television (CATV). The methods utilize both known characteristics of signals as well as propagation times in free space and within the cable in conjunction with accurate determination of locations at which measurements are taken. The methods can be applied to both RF cable leaks as well as points of ingress of interference.

Abstract: A method for an automated upgrade of hardware devices of a specialized network, such as wireless communication devices or automated teller machines, with new software programs is described. The upgrade is performed over the network and is controlled by a control center of the network. The control center has an access to a software program repository for storing new programs. The automated upgrade is performed by selecting suitable new software programs from the repository, each of the programs being associated with a validity time window and a threshold hardware profile, performing corresponding checks of upgrade time windows and hardware profiles of the hardware devices being upgraded, and downloading the new software programs to the memory medium of the hardware devices being upgraded.

Abstract: The testing equipment of the present invention calculates a single “AGC stress” value, which provides an indication of the stability of the level of a digital carrier based on the change in gain required to stabilize the power of an incoming cable signal over time. Ideally the AGC stress value is rated on a scale, e.g. 1 to 10 or 0 to 5, and is fed into the DQI measurement system as a new data model.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for testing susceptibility of a receiver to intermodulation distortion of a digital channel, the method including selecting a first digital channel from channels in a composite signal, determining a first power measurement from the first digital channel, determining a total power measurement from other channels in the composite signal, and determining susceptibility of the first digital channel to intermodulation distortion by comparing the first power measurement and the total power measurement with intermodulation distortion characteristics of the receiver.

Abstract: A computer program product is embodied on a computer readable medium for using voice data traffic to reproduce a user experience for facilitating troubleshooting of at least one of a plurality of VoIP stations. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions for retrieving packets of the voice data traffic associated with the VoIP station, and identifying time stamps associated with the retrieved packets. An amount of jitter associated with each of the retrieved packets is determined at least partially dependently upon the identified time stamps, and it is determined whether each of the retrieved packets will fit into a jitter buffer at least partially dependently upon the determined amounts of jitter. The instructions include dropping select ones of the retrieved packets dependently upon the determination of whether each of the retrieved packets will fit into the jitter buffer and, filling a buffer with at least select ones of the retrieved data packets not dropped.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a VoIP telephone line are provided, the method including determining which of a plurality of VoIP call control protocols and/or CODECs is compatible with the telephone line, and conducting a series of tests on the telephone line in accordance therewith. The method and apparatus also includes steps and the means to connect to a network and capturing a stream of data therefrom to determine configuration settings of a VoIP telephone connected thereto to facilitate the previous testing.

Abstract: A test device enables DOCSIS link testing in a HFC network without requiring the CMTS or other router at the headend of the HFC network to respond to ICMP messages. The test device includes a test packet generator for generating test packets having a destination Internet protocol (IP) address associated with a test device, a memory for storing transmission parameters of the test packets, and a test packet evaluator associated with the IP address in the generated test packets. The test packet evaluator receives the generated test packets after the test packets have been routed through a router at a head end of a HFC network and compares reception parameters for the received test packets to the transmission parameters stored in the memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a testing system for generating a plurality of independently controllable streams of Ethernet frames, e.g. voice, data and video, in which the bandwidth utilization thereof can be held constant or ramped up to test the effects thereof on the other streams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of RFID technology to identify specific cables in a bundle, and in particular to a cable identification device in which RFID devices are connected to the far end of a plurality of cables and splitters, and an RF measurement device is used to identify each cable from the central location. The RF measurement device provides the AC RF electrical signal power required to pass through the at least one AC couple splitter to operate the plurality of RFID devices, and includes means to identify the unique identification numbers associated with the plurality of coaxial cables from the plurality of identification signals received simultaneously.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards (PCB's) with edge connectors undergo bending stresses whenever the edge connectors are plugged into mating connectors. The bending stresses causes deformation of the printed circuit board, which can have deleterious effects on electrical components thereon. Slots are provided on the PCB to enable the portion of the PCB surrounding the edge connector to bend relative to the remainder of the PCB, thereby confine the bending to a localized area between the ends of the slots, and isolate the electrical components from any stresses caused thereby.

Abstract: The present invention enables flexible deployment of testing agents within a firewalled network without the concern of needing to change security policies on routers and switches inside the firewalled network. Accordingly, remote diagnostic testing of networks and network devices can be conducted in which the firewalled network security is maintained and not compromised. The long-term diagnostic monitoring of networks is possible including an evolvable solution in which remote upgrades of the application agents are utilized.

Abstract: The problem is that a measurement of the average signal quality (average modulation error ratio), does not identify poor quality signals that may be originating from an individual cable modem. The device of the present invention displays the modulation error ratio (MER) for each packet received. Since the media access control (MAC) address is associated with a packet received from an individual cable modem, a graph displaying the MER for each packet received is also displaying the MER for signals from the individual cable modems. Thus a technician viewing the display will be able to identify whether a low MER is a result of an impairment in the network or the from an individual cable modem.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards (PCB's) with edge connectors undergo bending stresses whenever the edge connectors are plugged into mating connectors. The bending stresses causes deformation of the printed circuit board, which can have deleterious effects on electrical components thereon. Slots are provided on the PCB to enable the portion of the PCB surrounding the edge connector to bend relative to the remainder of the PCB, thereby confine the bending to a localized area between the ends of the slots, and isolate the electrical components from any stresses caused thereby.

Abstract: Determination of the location of an error condition or a failure includes receiving at a network interface a first framed digital signal from customer premises equipment, and determining whether the first framed digital signal indicates a failure. Overhead bits are modified in the first framed digital signal to generate a second framed digital signal, such that the modification is equivalent to insertion of errors into the first framed digital signal at a bit error ratio (BER) of not greater than a predetermined ratio, if the first framed digital signal indicates a failure. The second framed digital signal is then sent from the network interface in place of the first framed digital signal to indicate that the failure reported by the first framed digital signal is located in the customer premises equipment. Otherwise, if no failure is indicated, the first framed digital signal is transmitted without any modifications.

Abstract: A device for checking a transmission line carrying a plurality of digital and/or analogue transmission channels is provided. The device includes a measurement block designed to evaluate performances, search for faults and determine the quality of the line and services transmitted through the said line. A system for measuring disturbances is also provided. The system measures disturbances in a transmission line firstly connecting a subscriber to a high speed server through an xDSL modem, and secondly to a switched telephone network.

Abstract: In conventional testing, the user is using an on-hand computing device to control testing; however, for the present invention the user is at the access point and the computer is remote, e.g. nearby or in the technician's vehicle, and not being used by the user to run the tests. The present invention provides a means to conveniently connect a customer provided network access device, e.g. a USB “dongle” modem, via a wireless link to the remote computer, which is providing the test application. The computer is remote, and the remote module device extends the reach of the commercial dongle modem so it is not necessary to carry the computer to the test access point.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a coupling, a signal level measurement circuit, a communication circuit and a processing circuit. The coupling is configured to connect to and received broadband RF signals from a coaxial cable termination of a communication network. The signal level measurement circuit is operably coupled to the coupling, and is operable to generate signal level measurements regarding a first set of the broadband RF signals. The communication circuit operable to obtain voice over internet protocol data packets from a second set of broadband RF signals. The processing circuit is operably connected to the communication circuit, and is operably connected to receive signal level measurements from the signal level measurement circuit. The processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic data relating to the second set of broadband RF signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of performing measurements with a portable meter and reporting measurement data from the portable meter to a central office over a secure channel. The method includes synchronizing the portable meter and the central office though a trusted interface prior to taking measurements at a customer location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for measurement and monitoring of in-band optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR). A two channel optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) is advantageously applied in acquiring wavelength division multiplex (WDM) signal data after it has been split according to polarization, then deriving the in-band OSNR from acquired data due to its narrow bandwidth, selective spectral shape, and capability to analyze two components of a polarized signal simultaneously. The in-band OSNR can be measured without interrupting optical transmission traffic in the network.