Abstract: A test controller can be operable to diagnose a video condition experienced at a customer premises. The test controller can include a port coupled to the customer premises. The test controller can also include a processor operable to activate a diagnosis sequence, send a set of questions to equipment at the customer premises, and isolate a cause of the video condition to a portion of the network, in response to receiving test a video access device can include a first port coupled to particular test equipment and a second port coupled to video access devices. The test controller can be part of a system that includes methods used to diagnose the video condition experienced at the customer premises.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling router pairs, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for performing session establishment management. For example, the method detects an evolved packet system establishment success rate that is measured over a predefined period of time falling below a predefined threshold, and performs, via a rule management server, an analysis on a bearer portion. The method then associates, via the rule management server, a root cause that contributed to the evolved packet system establishment success rate falling below the predefined threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing video conditions experienced at one or more customer premises is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, network device including a port coupled with a first customer premises over a network, a memory storing computer instructions, and a controller. The controller can execute the computer instructions for identifying a video condition experienced at the first customer premises where the video condition is associated with video content transmitted over the network, sending a first query to first equipment at the first customer premises, receiving first responses to the first query from the first equipment, sending a second query to second equipment at a second customer premises, receiving second responses to the second query from the second equipment, and associating a cause of the video condition with the first customer premises in response to receiving the second responses. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling routers, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a transmission loop in an Internet protocol television (IPTV) network includes configuring the loop as an open loop and performing a single-ended loop test (SELT), configuring the loop as a terminated-loop and performing another SELT, subtracting a trace of the first SELT from a trace of the second SELT, and determining the length of the loop from the result. A service assurance system in an IPTV network includes a test module and a DSLAM coupled to a residential gateway by a transmission loop. The test module operates to determine that a fault condition on the IPTV network is caused by a fault in the loop, direct the DSLAM to perform an open loop SELT and a terminated-loop SELT on the loop, receive the results of the SELTs, and determine a location of a tap on the loop based upon the results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for addressing a congestion condition in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method receives an alert for at least one of: a trunk or a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC), where the trunk or the PVC is associated with a route. The method determines whether the alert is associated with a congestion condition by determining whether a trunk utilization has exceeded a first predetermined threshold for the trunk or for the at least one trunk supporting the PVC. The method then rebuilds the route if the first predetermined threshold is exceeded for the trunk or for the at least one trunk supporting said PVC.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling routers, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying first and second inter-network communication links of a communication system, identifying a first plurality of router pairs associated with the first inter-network communication link, identifying a second plurality of router pairs associated with the second inter-network communication link, partitioning the first plurality of router pairs into a first subset of router pairs and a second subset of router pairs, partitioning the second plurality of router pairs into a third subset of router pairs and a fourth subset of router pairs, during a first time interval, performing first reachability tests for respective ones of the first and third subsets of router pairs, and during a second time interval, performing second reachability tests for respective ones of the second and fourth subsets of router pairs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for addressing a congestion condition in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method receives an alert for at least one of: a trunk or a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC), where the trunk or the PVC is associated with a route. The method determines whether the alert is associated with a congestion condition by determining whether a trunk utilization has exceeded a first predetermined threshold for the trunk or for the at least one trunk supporting the PVC. The method then rebuilds the route if the first predetermined threshold is exceeded for the trunk or for the at least one trunk supporting said PVC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a wireless communication service provider to remotely provide wireless network service outage and/or degradation detection, isolation, and restoration relating to a base station are disclosed. For example, the method detects a wireless service problem, and isolates the wireless service problem to a base station of a plurality of base stations of the wireless communication network, wherein the wireless service problem comprises a wireless service degradation. The method then performs a recovery task remotely on the base station to address the wireless service degradation.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for performing mapping management are disclosed. For example, the method monitors network performance measurements of long term evolution mobility elements, monitors a class type and a bandwidth type of long term evolution interfaces, determines if an impairment state is detected based upon the monitoring network performance measurements and the monitoring the class type and the bandwidth type, determines if the impairment state is due to a class of service and a quality of service mismatch and reconfigures the quality of service if the impairment state is due to the class of service and the quality of service mismatch.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for performing session establishment management. For example, the method detects an evolved packet system establishment success rate that is measured over a predefined period of time falling below a predefined threshold, and performs, via a rule management server, an analysis on a bearer portion. The method then associates, via the rule management server, a root cause that contributed to the evolved packet system establishment success rate falling below the predefined threshold.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a femtocell having a controller operable to establish communications with a gateway and transmit authentication information to the gateway. The gateway transmits the authentication information and a gateway identifier to a remote server to authenticate the femtocell. The controller is also operable to detect enablement of services responsive to the remote server identifying a subscriber account according to the gateway identifier, and the remote server authenticating the femtocell by comparing the authentication information to information retrieved from the subscriber account. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of managing lip synchronization error in a multimedia content delivery network includes identifying a video packet and an audio packet associated with the video packet and determining a synchronization offset between the audio and video packets at a first monitoring point in the network. The audio and video packets are then detected at a second monitoring point in the network and a second synchronization offset is determined. When a delta between the first synchronization offset and the second synchronization offset exceeds a threshold, lip synchronization error information may be automatically recorded and/or reported to a service provider and corrective action may be taken if potential sources of the lip synchronization error are within the domain of the service provider. The video packet may be identified by a timestamp within the packet and the audio packet may be identified by audio data within the audio packet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to characterize and predict network health status are presented. A particular method of characterizing and predicting a health status of a network node includes receiving a plurality of report values associated with the network node, where each report value is one of alert and normal, and where each report value is received at a corresponding time. The method includes calculating a current report weight associated with a current report value received at a current time. When a first previous report value was received at a first previous time before the current time, the current report weight is calculated based at least partially on the current report value and at least partially on a first previous report weight associated with the first previous value. The method includes storing the current report weight at a memory device.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a transmission loop in an Internet protocol television (IPTV) network includes configuring the loop as an open loop and performing a single-ended loop test (SELT), configuring the loop as a terminated-loop and performing another SELT, subtracting a trace of the first SELT from a trace of the second SELT, and determining the length of the loop from the result. A service assurance system in an IPTV network includes a test module and a DSLAM coupled to a residential gateway by a transmission loop. The test module operates to determine that a fault condition on the IPTV network is caused by a fault in the loop, direct the DSLAM to perform an open loop SELT and a terminated-loop SELT on the loop, receive the results of the SELTs, and determine a location of a tap on the loop based upon the results.

Abstract: A test controller operable to test a video access device can include a first port coupled to particular test equipment and a second port coupled to video access devices. Each video access device can include a wideband link and a test port. The particular test equipment and each of the video access devices can be remotely located as compared to one another. The test controller can include a processor that is operable to send a command to connect the test port of a first particular video access device of the video access devices to its corresponding wideband link, and establish connectivity between the test equipment and a second particular video access device of the video access devices. The test controller can be part of a system that includes methods used to test video access devices.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing video conditions experienced at one or more customer premises is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, network device including a port coupled with a first customer premises over a network, a memory storing computer instructions, and a controller. The controller can execute the computer instructions for identifying a video condition experienced at the first customer premises where the video condition is associated with video content transmitted over the network, sending a first query to first equipment at the first customer premises, receiving first responses to the first query from the first equipment, sending a second query to second equipment at a second customer premises, receiving second responses to the second query from the second equipment, and associating a cause of the video condition with the first customer premises in response to receiving the second responses. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying first and second inter-network communication links of a communication system, identifying a first plurality of router pairs associated with the first inter-network communication link, identifying a second plurality of router pairs associated with the second inter-network communication link, partitioning the first plurality of router pairs into a first subset of router pairs and a second subset of router pairs, partitioning the second plurality of router pairs into a third subset of router pairs and a fourth subset of router pairs, during a first time interval, performing first reachability tests for respective ones of the first and third subsets of router pairs, and during a second time interval, performing second reachability tests for respective ones of the second and fourth subsets of router pairs.