Abstract: A bi-directional communication system advantageously automatically senses and reports problems to a central operator network management station and operates with fewer subscriber service interruptions by detecting and correcting such conditions before they result in subscriber service interruption. Specifically, a system adaptively varies upstream transmission power level to prevent communication interruption in a cable modem network. A method for adaptively adjusting communication operation by varying a transmission parameter involves retrieving a communication parameter from memory and comparing the retrieved parameter with a predetermined threshold. A message is transmitted to a CATV head-end at a remote site representing that the parameter value indicates adjustment of the parameter is necessary.

Abstract: Processing functions in a communication device are partitioned into a sequence of operational levels having corresponding status indications which are captured prior to a fault or other abnormal condition and retained during re-cycling of the sequence of operations for use in status monitoring or fault diagnosis. In a modem performing a sequence of operations including groups of one or more individual operations having an associated status indication, a method is used for capturing an indication of system status. The method involves generating hierarchically ordered status indications reflecting the status of completion of sequentially performed groups of operations in which individual status indications are associated with corresponding groups of operations. The generated status indications are captured and retained following initiation of repetition of the groups of operations and are provided as identification of an attained operational status of the system for operation diagnosis (e.g.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing remote bi-directional communication device diagnostics and network management. The method and apparatus includes retrieving IP addresses dynamically provided to each of a plurality of bi-directional communication devices respectively coupled to at least one termination system (TS). The retrieved IP addresses are associated with respective media access control (MAC) addresses, and an indicia of updated association of retrieved IP addresses and MAC addresses are stored in a local database. An IP address may be remotely accessed from the local database to perform diagnostics for a subscriber bi-directional communication device.

Abstract: A bi-directional communication system advantageously automatically senses and reports problems to a central operator network management station and operates with fewer subscriber service interruptions by detecting and correcting such conditions before they result in subscriber service interruption. Specifically, a system adaptively varies upstream transmission power level to prevent communication interruption in a cable modem network. A method for adaptively adjusting communication operation by varying a transmission parameter involves retrieving a communication parameter from memory and comparing the retrieved parameter with a predetermined threshold. A message is transmitted to a CATV head-end at a remote site representing that the parameter value indicates adjustment of the parameter is necessary.