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: A method and an apparatus for detection and prevention of a slow response on a network are disclosed. For example, the method selects a router automatically for testing in response to a ticket indicating a slow response, and performs a diagnostic test on the router, wherein the diagnostic test comprises at least one of: a protocol diagnostic test, a circuit diagnostic test or, a congestion diagnostic test. The method then performs at least one remedial step to address a root cause that is identified by the diagnostic test, wherein the root cause is associated with the slow response.

Abstract: A process and system for user-controlled configuration of an Internet-protocol (IP) network wherein the user may supply input for generating a network classification profile (NCP), which includes a number of classes of service (COSs) for prioritizing network traffic. Network packets belonging to a COS may be classified according to a packet parameter. The NCP may be used to prioritize packets sent to the network from a network ingress router. A queuing profile for scheduling packets received from the network based on the NCP may also be generated and used by a network egress router. The packet parameter may be based on information in the packet header.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect border gateway protocol (BGP) session failures are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a database interface to obtain provisioned configuration information for a provider edge (PE) router, a BGP engine to receive one or more BGP messages from a route reflector, the one or more BGP messages representing a list of active routes for the PE router, and a session analyzer to compare the list of active routes with the provisioned configuration information to determine whether a provisioned route is not present in the list of active routes, and to declare a BGP session failure when the provisioned route is not present in the list of active routes.

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 process and system for user-controlled configuration of an Internet protocol network. The user may supply input for generating a network classification profile, which includes a number of classes of service (COSs) for prioritizing network traffic, including video transmission. A quality of service (QOS) may be measured and compared with a COS for video transmission. Depending on the measured QOS, a network alert may be issued and a priority of packets associated with the COS for video transmission may be increased.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect border gateway protocol (BGP) session failures are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a database interface to obtain provisioned configuration information for a provider edge (PE) router, a BGP engine to receive one or more BGP messages from a route reflector, the one or more BGP messages representing a list of active routes for the PE router, and a session analyzer to compare the list of active routes with the provisioned configuration information to determine whether a provisioned route is not present in the list of active routes, and to declare a BGP session failure when the provisioned route is not present in the list of active routes.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting utility consumption telemetry data from a customer served by a plurality of utility companies, and providing a consumption report for the customer to each of the plurality of utility companies serving the customer. The system includes a utility server that is adapted for receiving the utility consumption telemetry data from the utility customer. The utility server is disposed at a network service provider that serves the customer with bundled network services. Utility consumption telemetry data is stored in a database and consumption reports for the customer may be generated for each of the plurality of utility companies serving the customer.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that detects the onset of failing optical subnetwork network elements and minimizes the volume of Performance Monitoring (PM) parameter data that must be acquired and trend across a provisioned path by monitoring digital (SONET/SDH) section PM parameter data first, which is used to trigger an examination to determine which optical subnetwork is experiencing degradation. Threshold Crossing Alerts (TCAs) are set for digital section PM parameter data and when a digital section PM parameter is greater than or equal to its TCA, the method identifies which subnetwork is degrading. Once a subnetwork is identified, analog PM parameter data is acquired for network elements employed in the identified subnetwork and determines from monitoring the network elements' analog PM parameter data the network element(s) that is degrading. A maintenance ticket is issued identifying the failing network element(s).

Abstract: A test system can include a test controller, a source system, and a measurement system. The source system can provide a test video clip or test packetized data stream that is injected into a broadcast portion of a service provider's access network at a point similar where other broadcast content would be introduced. The measurement system can be coupled to network equipment downstream or to a capture device, which is coupled to network equipment downstream. Configurations allow for more than one source system, measurement system, or capture system to allow flexibility in implementation for a particular application. The test system can be used to detect a problem or other issue before a customer at a customer premises would experience degradation in quality of experience.

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 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: A method can be used to address a condition experienced by a customer when using a network. The method can include receiving a first communication from the customer, wherein the first communication is related to the condition of a video content as experienced by the customer, reviewing a log for an alarm, and testing a portion of the network that would process the video content, wherein testing generates a test result. The method can also include correlating the condition to a service parameter, an alarm, a maintenance event, a test result, or any combination thereof. The method can further include sending a second communication to the customer related to the condition. In one embodiment, the method can be fully or partly automated using a system.

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 method and apparatus for managing networks across multiple domains are disclosed. For example, the method stores a mapping table that correlates one or more Customer Edge Routers (CERs) with one or more Route Processing Modules (RPMs) in at least one seed-file distributor, where each of the one or more Customer Edge Routers (CERs) is monitored by one of the at least one availability manager. The method receives an alarm associated with one of the one or more RPMs that affects one of the one or more CERs, where the alarm is received by one of the at least one availability manager that is monitoring the affected one of the one or more CERs. The method then provides a status associated with the one of said one or more RPMs in accordance with the alarm.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method is presented for displaying power and heat faults that occur in a network. A server initiates a variety of power alarm display methods. Each method is directed at receiving specific types of power alarm information and displaying or inhibiting the display of this information on a wallboard. The methods operate simultaneously and update the wallboard with power alarm information in near real time. Further, the methods continue to operate and update the display of the power alarm information when tickets associated with the alarms are received or when an operator acknowledges the alarm.