Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing loops based on frequency domain reflectometry single-ended line testing (FDR-SELT) are described. One embodiment includes a method for determining whether a straight-loop departure condition exists on a loop under test. First, an un-calibrated echo signal is received. A region associated with the loop under test, a platform type, and estimated the length of the loop under test are then used together with the received un-calibrated echo signal to determine whether the loop is not a straight loop is determined through determining whether at least one differentiating feature is present in the received signal. Another embodiment includes a method for determining a loop gauge for a loop under test through analyzing characteristics relating to local maxima and local minima of the received un-calibrated echo signal using the region, platform type, and the estimated loop length.

Abstract: Impulse noise from nearby or intense electrical sources can disrupt communications over digital subscriber lines (DSL). The characterization of the nature, timing and length of impulse noise sources present on a DSL loop is a critical first step in mitigating the effect of impulse noise on DSL communications. DSL standards provide histograms for impulse length and inter-arrival time of impulses. These histograms can be used to derive the nature, maximum frequency and other statistics related to impulse noise on a DSL line.

Abstract: Crosstalk interference induced by the adjacent pairs is one of the major performance limiting factors of DSL systems. As there is a rapid increase in the deployment of DSL services worldwide, the need to provide information about noise related parameters to the operators and the service providers is of utmost importance. Satisfying such a need enables operators to anticipate the line capacity and understand the noise level characteristics of the loop environment. Specifically, crosstalk and more particularly upstream near end crosstalk (NEXT) in the presence of narrowband interference can be classified to isolate the particular service type causing the upstream NEXT. The identification of the service type of the upstream NEXT would enable operators to address the disturber.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for determining a state of loop termination. One embodiment comprises receiving an un-calibrated echo signal for the loop under test using frequency domain reflectometry single-ended line testing (FDR-SELT) and determining the state of loop termination based on phase of the un-calibrated echo signal. The step of determining the state of loop termination comprises determining whether the loop is terminated by an open termination or a short termination by correlating the phase of the echo signal with an expected phase of the echo signal derived from measurements taken at the same loop length for open and short terminations. For other embodiments, the amplitude of the un-calibrated echo signal is analyzed to determine whether the loop is terminated by a matched-impedance termination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing loop analysis are described. Some embodiments are directed to determining loop characteristics such as loop gauge, loop termination, and straight-loop departure. One embodiment includes a method for performing loop length estimation which comprises receiving an un-calibrated echo signal for a loop under test using frequency domain reflectometry single-ended line testing (FDR-SELT), a region associated with the loop under test, and a platform type. The method comprises classifying the loop under test and outputting a loop length estimate based on the classification of the loop under test and based on one of a ripple-period approach and a template-matching approach.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring impulse noise are described. At least one embodiment is a method, which comprises detecting whether impulse noise is present and in response to detecting the presence of impulse noise, performing time domain analysis to determine whether one or more impulse noise sources are present based on minimum interarrival time and maximum impulse length. The method further includes performing frequency domain analysis to estimate frequencies associated with the one or more impulse noise sources and based on the time domain analysis and frequency domain analysis, providing a total number of impulse noise sources and frequencies associated with the impulse noise sources. In this regard, the embodiments described herein provide dual-speed monitoring of impulse noise in the form of short-term and long-term monitoring.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for determining a state of loop termination. One embodiment comprises receiving an un-calibrated echo signal for the loop under test using frequency domain reflectometry single-ended line testing (FDR-SELT) and determining the state of loop termination based on phase of the un-calibrated echo signal. The step of determining the state of loop termination comprises determining whether the loop is terminated by an open termination or a short termination by correlating the phase of the echo signal with an expected phase of the echo signal derived from measurements taken at the same loop length for open and short terminations. For other embodiments, the amplitude of the un-calibrated echo signal is analyzed to determine whether the loop is terminated by a matched-impedance termination.

Abstract: Impulse noise from nearby or intense electrical sources can disrupt communications over digital subscriber lines (DSL). The characterization of the nature, timing and length of impulse noise sources present on a DSL loop is a critical first step in mitigating the effect of impulse noise on DSL communications. DSL standards provide histograms for impulse length and inter-arrival time of impulses. These histograms can be used to derive the nature, maximum frequency and other statistics related to impulse noise on a DSL line.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing loops based on single-ended line test (SELT) are described. One embodiment includes a method for determining whether a straight-loop departure condition exists on a loop under test. In accordance with such embodiments, the method comprises receiving an un-calibrated echo signal for the loop under test using frequency domain reflectometry single-ended line testing (FDR-SELT), a region associated with the loop under test, a platform type, and a length of the loop under test. Based on the region, platform type, and loop length, the method further comprises determining whether the loop is not a straight loop, wherein determining whether the loop is not a straight loop comprises determining whether at least one differentiating feature is present in the un-calibrated echo signal. Another embodiment includes a method for determining a loop gauge for a loop under test.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing loop analysis are described. Some embodiments are directed to determining loop characteristics such as loop gauge, loop termination, and straight-loop departure. One embodiment includes a method for performing loop length estimation which comprises receiving an un-calibrated echo signal for a loop under test using frequency domain reflectometry single-ended line testing (FDR-SELT), a region associated with the loop under test, and a platform type. The method comprises classifying the loop under test and outputting a loop length estimate based on the classification of the loop under test and based on one of a ripple-period approach and a template-matching approach.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring impulse noise are described. At least one embodiment is a method, which comprises detecting whether impulse noise is present and in response to detecting the presence of impulse noise, performing time domain analysis to determine whether one or more impulse noise sources are present based on minimum interarrival time and maximum impulse length. The method further includes performing frequency domain analysis to estimate frequencies associated with the one or more impulse noise sources and based on the time domain analysis and frequency domain analysis, providing a total number of impulse noise sources and frequencies associated with the impulse noise sources. In this regard, the embodiments described herein provide dual-speed monitoring of impulse noise in the form of short-term and long-term monitoring.

Abstract: Crosstalk interference induced by the adjacent pairs is one of the major performance limiting factors of DSL systems. As there is a rapid increase in the deployment of DSL services worldwide, the need to provide information about noise related parameters to the operators and the service providers is of utmost importance. Satisfying such a need enables operators to anticipate the line capacity and understand the noise level characteristics of the loop environment. Specifically, crosstalk and more particularly upstream near end crosstalk (NEXT) in the presence of narrowband interference can be classified to isolate the particular service type causing the upstream NEXT. The identification of the service type of the upstream NEXT would enable operators to address the disturber.