Abstract: The application relates to modular electronic apparatus (1) for distribution of RF communication signals. The apparatus comprises a chassis (2) arranged to removably receive plural modules (3), at least some of which are arranged to receive and process RF communication signals. A communication path (17) is provided for modules to communicate with each other and/or with the chassis. Plural modules received in the chassis. When a module is received in the chassis, it is arranged to broadcast a message over the communication path indicating its presence in the chassis and its type. At least one other module is arranged to adapt its behaviour in response to the message.

Abstract: System, methods, and devices for measuring the performance of a component of a communications network recently installed by a technician using proactive network maintenance parameters, and further assessing the installation performed by the technician.

Abstract: Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising means configured for: obtaining echo response data representative of the echo response of a communication line, wherein the echo response data specifies the echo response based on two dimensions and includes first dimension data and second dimension data, determining at least one property of the communication line based on processing the echo response data with a neural network, wherein the neural network comprises at least: a first convolutional branch for processing the first dimension data, a second convolutional branch for processing the second dimension data, a dense part for processing the outputs of the first and second convolutional branches.

Abstract: A system and method for reassignment of tickets in a live event via network communications for scheduling data transfers between systems. One or more data requesting systems may request access to particular data for one or more tickets to a venue for the live event causing a task to be performed to exchange the particular data between a data accessing system having access to the particular data and a data requesting system requesting access to the particular data. In some embodiments, the communication exchange may be initiated based on a parameter included in the request that the task be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus having an agent that includes a processor and a memory coupled with the processor and communicates with at least one of a fault, configuration, accounting, performance, security module. The processor effectuates operations including determining that a service is operating properly. The processor further effectuates operations including if the service is operating properly and the service is disabled, enabling the service. The processor further effectuates operations including if the service is not operating properly, generating an alarm and if the service is enabled, disabling the service.

Abstract: A method is presented of determining whether a digital subscriber line is susceptible to radio frequency interference. The method measures the signal to noise ratio (SNR) margin on the digital subscriber line over a number of 24 hour periods. The measured SNR margin over a given 24 hour period is then compared to a reference function of SNR margin over time (24 hours), where the SNR margin of the reference function is higher during the day and lower during the night, and also repeats daily. A measure of the interference susceptibility is generated based on the degree of similarity between the measured SNR margin and the reference function.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an activity of a connected object including a monitoring device, includes: performing, by a measurement stage of the monitoring device, a first periodic measurement of an internal signal representative of an activity of the connected object; performing, by a computation stage of the monitoring device, a first non-cryptographic computation of an activity parameter representative of the activity from the internal signal measured during the first periodic measurement; comparing, by a comparison stage of the monitoring device, between the activity parameter on completion of the first non-cryptographic computation and a range of settings of corresponding to the activity parameter; and triggering, by a control stage of the monitoring device, a safety action in response to a determination that the activity parameter is outside of the range of settings.

Abstract: An exchange capable of, when a failure occurs, preventing a service from deteriorating without requiring an operation performed by a user is provided. An exchange (1) includes a notification control unit (2) configured to, when the exchange enters an operating state, request a server apparatus to transmit a notification for making a predetermined application installed in a communication terminal registered in the server apparatus register the application in the exchange, and a terminal control unit (3) configured to register the predetermined application in the exchange.

Abstract: Methods, devices and techniques are disclosed where vectoring is adapted to lines becoming inactive and active, for example in a discontinued operation. In some embodiments, the vectoring is modified based on already present coefficients.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an activity of a connected object including a monitoring device, includes: performing, by a measurement stage of the monitoring device, a first periodic measurement of an internal signal representative of an activity of the connected object; performing, by a computation stage of the monitoring device, a first non-cryptographic computation of an activity parameter representative of the activity from the internal signal measured during the first periodic measurement; comparing, by a comparison stage of the monitoring device, between the activity parameter on completion of the first non-cryptographic computation and a range of settings of corresponding to the activity parameter; and triggering, by a control stage of the monitoring device, a safety action in response to a determination that the activity parameter is outside of the range of settings.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a memory configured to store executable code; and a processor configured to execute the executable code and cause the apparatus to perform the operations of generating and training. The generating generates a dataset specifying, for a plurality of communication lines, i) a channel frequency response of a communication line having one or two bridged taps, and ii) a set of M lengths of bridged taps associated with the communication line, with M greater than one. The training trains, based on the dataset, a machine learning model, the machine learning model configured for determining, based on the channel frequency response of a communication line, a set of M lengths of bridged taps associated with the communication line.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an uplink noise figure and gain in a distributed antenna system network comprising at least one intermediate radio unit and one or more remote radio heads connected via a respective link to the at least one intermediate radio unit. The method comprises: establishing a target noise figure, an adjusting, for each link between the one or more remote radio heads and the intermediate radio unit, attenuation such as to obtain the target noise figure for each remote radio head connected to the at least one intermediate radio unit. The disclosure also relates to corresponding distributed antenna system network, devices, computer programs, and computer program products.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a receiver coupled to a digital subscriber line (DSL) between an exchange site and a customer premise equipment (CPE) and configured to send a feedback error message to train a precoder coupled to the exchange site, wherein the feedback error message comprises a plurality of error components and an indication of a quantity of bits per error component, a quantization accuracy per error component, or both. Included is a method comprising sending an error feedback message to a DSL crosstalk precoder to train the crosstalk precoder, wherein the error feedback message comprises an error vector and a quantization scaling factor of the error vector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, a communication processing portion, a switch processing portion, and a connection determination processing portion. To the switch processing portion, the first connection portion and the second connection portion are connected in parallel. The switch processing portion breaks a communication path between the second connection portion and the switch processing portion when the facsimile communication process is executed by the communication processing portion. The connection determination processing portion, when a predetermined determination start condition is satisfied, causes the switch processing portion to break the communication path, and then when a predetermined line voltage is applied to the switch processing portion, determines that a connection between the first connection portion and the public switched telephone network is normal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting a predicted future or current failure of a microphone of a headset. The failure may have been caused by organic matter buildup creating a signal path or short circuit across the microphone's circuitry. The headset is connected to a mobile device having a network interface that is used to send a notification message to a remote supply management system server. A failure detection circuit detects the failure based on a decrease in a microphone bias signal or increase in headset temperature over time. In some cases, the failure is based on an increase in a microphone bias signal over time. Upon detection of the failure, it signals that a failure notification be transmitted to the remote supply management system. The notification may then cause a new headset to be sent to the owner of the mobile device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a two-wire loop having first and second conductors that connect a monitoring system with a plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices of the monitoring system, the two-wire loop having first and second ends connected to the monitoring system, a memory that contains first respective resistance values of the first and second conductors and second respective resistance values between the first and second ends and each of the plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices, and a processor that detects a fault in the two-wire loop by measuring third resistance values from opposing ones of the first and second ends of the two-wire loop during a scan of the plurality of addressable sensors and alarm devices and compares the third resistance values with corresponding ones of the first and second respective resistance values in the memory.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described that may allow a network element to analyze the performance of a network without using external equipment external to the network. In one example, a method includes injecting a plurality of data units onto the network, forwarding the plurality of data units around the network loop, injecting at least one timing data unit on to the network, forwarding the at least one timing data unit around the network loop, and determining at least one latency statistic correlated to the at least one characteristic of the forwarded plurality of data units.

Abstract: The described implementations relate to migrating from a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system implementing Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) equipment that handles analog communication signals to a DSL system that implements All Digital (AD) enabled equipment capable of handling DSL data and Internet Protocol (IP) telephony traffic.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a receiver coupled to a digital subscriber line (DSL) between an exchange site and a customer premise equipment (CPE) and configured to send a feedback error message to train a precoder coupled to the exchange site, wherein the feedback error message comprises a plurality of error components and an indication of a quantity of bits per error component, a quantization accuracy per error component, or both. Included is a method comprising sending an error feedback message to a DSL crosstalk precoder to train the crosstalk precoder, wherein the error feedback message comprises an error vector and a quantization scaling factor of the error vector.

Abstract: A system and method of testing call performance of a plurality of mobile telephones is provided. In one embodiment the method comprises storing in a memory of a test device, data for one or more test scenarios that each comprises associated test parameters for attempting a plurality of telephone calls, causing the mobile telephone to attempt to establish a plurality of telephone calls of the test scenarios, and monitoring the plurality of telephone calls of the mobile telephone to determine test results data. The method further includes attempting and monitoring a plurality of telephone calls of the mobile telephone to determine test results data with one or more remote call servers and outputting the test results data to a remote computer system for processing to determine the number of dropped calls, call set up times, number of calls successfully initiated, number of calls having two way speech, and other data.

Abstract: A capability for subscriber cable pair identification is presented. The capability for subscriber cable pair identification may be configured to support subscriber cable identification for Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) cable pairs, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) cable pairs, or both POTS and ISDN cable pairs. The subscriber cable pair identification may be performed using a subscriber cable pair identification assembly including a computing device, a probe interface device, and a probe, where the computing device is configured to run a control program configured to control subscriber cable pair identification, the probe interface device is configured as an interface between the computing device and the probe, and the probe is configured to be connected to a unit supporting subscriber cable pairs.

Abstract: A method and a device for data processing in a digital subscriber line environment. A virtual noise level for a digital subscriber line is determined based on measurement information of at least one network element connected to the digital subscriber line.

Abstract: A system comprises a communications network configured to support transmission of a plurality of communications streams and a resource manager communicatively coupled to the communications network and configured to provision resources of the communications network to the plurality of communications streams. The system may further comprise a performance test manager communicatively coupled to said communications network and configured to identify a communication stream from said plurality of communications streams, identify a test network path for said identified communication stream that is substantially free of other network traffic, and perform a performance test over said test network path.

Abstract: A method for establishing a call over a packet network may include receiving a call request via an originating trunk on a packet network from an originating call device. Status of an originating trunk and terminating segment may be determined. If the status of the originating trunk and terminating segment are within a first range, the call between the originating and terminating call device over the determined transmission path at a first data rate may be established. Otherwise, if the status of the originating trunk or terminating segment is within a second range, a determination as to whether the originating trunk and terminating segment can operate at a lower data rate may be made, and, if so, the call may be established over the transmission path between the originating call device and terminating call device at the lower data rate.

Abstract: Through the use of a least squares minimization concept, the loop length, the number of bridged taps and length of the bridged taps on a transmission line can be determined from readily available modem data. In particular, the loop length, the number of bridge taps and the length of bridged taps can be estimated by comparing a measured frequency domain channel impulse response of the transmission line to a model of a loop that is comprised of multiple sections and multiple bridge taps.

Abstract: A device for detecting absence of a Plain Old Telephony Service or POTS splitter on a Digital Subscriber Line, includes a device for collecting channel transfer function data or the Digital Subscriber Line, and a device for detecting a single hole in the channel transfer function data.

Abstract: A system may include a memory configured to store a number of workflows and a system interface configured to communicate with other systems associated with provisioning a broadband service. The system may also include logic configured to receive input from a user identifying a first one of the workflows, where the first workflow includes actions associated with provisioning the broadband service and an output of at least some of the actions are linked to other actions associated with provisioning the broadband service. The logic is also configured to execute the first workflow, where when executing the first workflow, the logic is configured to transmit and receive information to and from the other systems via the system interface.

Abstract: A data collector combiner, a network management system, a DSL Optimizer (DSLO), or any combination thereof collects data, parameter(s), characteristic(s), information, or any combination thereof from two or more data sources. The data collector probabilistically combines at least the first and second data to estimate at least one DSL characterizing parameter.

Abstract: A particular method includes receiving first data indicating a measured strength of an ambient electromagnetic signal in a particular frequency range during a particular time period and at a particular location. The method also includes receiving second data indicating a bit loading within a portion of a wireline network in the particular frequency range during the particular time period. The portion of the wireline network provides service within a service area proximate to the particular location. The method also includes determining a correlation of changes in the second data during the particular time period to changes in the first data during the particular time period. The method further includes identifying at least one issue associated with the wireline network based on the correlation.

Abstract: A system and method for telephone service technicians to retrieve telephone line assignment information, including receiving a telephone call from a telephone service technician. A telephone number assigned to a customer of a communications carrier may be received, where the telephone number is associated with a telephone operating on a wired communications network, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Telephone line assignment information may be requested, where the telephone line assignment information includes cable and line pair information. The telephone line assignment information may be converted into speech synthesized audible signals and communicated to the telephone service technician during the telephone call. The conversion of the telephone line assignment information may be performed by an interactive voice response system.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool is adapted to include the capability of initiating one or more diagnostic tests, collecting the raw data from the diagnostic test(s) and transporting the raw diagnostic data to an OSS. The OSS interprets the raw diagnostic data and stores the results in a database. The stored results can be searched, sorted, manipulated, analyzed, and the like. The results of any of these operations can then be, for example, displayed to one or more entities such as customer support, network operators, network planners, or the like.

Abstract: A method is proposed for calculating a line performance, or stability, measure for a telephone line. Various physical parameters associated with the line, such as insulation resistance, capacitance and DC voltages, are measured. The values for each of the parameters are compared to expected values, which are based on historical values measured for that line. Individual performance measures for each parameter are calculated based on the difference between the actual and expected values, normalised by the deviation of that parameter. The deviation accounts for general fluctuations across all the lines. A weighting value is also applied, based on knowledge of values relevant to the good operation of lines. The deviation effectively gives a scaling, and the weighting gives a context to the measured values for a single line. The individual performance measures are summed to get the final performance as measure for the line.

Abstract: Systems and methods of selecting a media path for data packets bearing the media of a telephone call to traverse during a voice over Internet protocol telephone call include testing the call quality of multiple potential media paths immediately before a call is setup. The potential media path with the highest call quality is used as the initial media path for the call. If the call quality of the media path currently in use declines below a threshold value during a call, potential alternate media paths are identified and tested for call quality. If one of the alternate media paths has better call quality than the media path presently in use, the call is switched to the alternate media path with the highest call quality.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a custom-developed service by a customer in a service directory of a network service provider are provided. The data defining the custom-developed service received by the network service provider may be tested, corrected, and verified. The service directory may be established in the provider's network to store the data associated with the custom-developed service. Once the custom-developed service is established and operational, the customer or its subscribers may be billed based on their use of the service.

Abstract: A particular method includes receiving first data indicating a measured strength of an ambient electromagnetic signal in a particular frequency range during a particular time period and at a particular location. The method also includes receiving second data indicating a bit loading within a portion of a wireline network in the particular frequency range during the particular time period. The portion of the wireline network provides service within a service area proximate to the particular location. The method also includes determining a correlation of changes in the second data during the particular time period to changes in the first data during the particular time period. The method further includes identifying at least one issue associated with the wireline network based on the correlation.

Abstract: A system and method for testing a subscriber loop. A maintenance port of a switch is configured to dial a phone number associated with a subscriber loop. A remote device is commanded to initiate a test for the subscriber loop utilizing a test bus. Test measurements of the subscriber loop are received from a remote test head.

Abstract: Delay is measured associated with the transfer of voice signals involving a telephone connected to a PSTN carrier (e.g., non VoIP based) where the call is terminated by an operator agent using a workstation connected to a VoIP based network. A test tone is provided to the telephone causing a tone to be generated at a headset of the workstation. An oscilloscope measures the delay using an input of a first signal associated with the generation of the test tone at the telephone, and a second signal associated with the generation of the resulting tone at the headset. The tone at the headset can be looped back into the headset microphone, causing a return signal to be generated and measured. Once the overall delay is known, and the delay of certain elements are estimated, the delay associated with other network elements, including the workstation, can be determined.

Abstract: A method and device for transmission line testing are provided. A particular modem device includes a transmission line interface to connect to a transmission line. The modem device also includes a memory to store a plurality of transmission line tests. The modem device also includes a controller coupled to the memory and to the transmission line interface. The controller selects one or more tests of the plurality of transmission line tests from the memory. The controller also performs the selected one or more tests on the transmission line and detects an electrical characteristic of the transmission line.

Abstract: Transceiver calibration is a critical issue for proper transceiver operation. The transceiver comprises at least one RF transmit chain and one RF receive chain. A closed loop path is formed from the digital block, the RF transmit chain, the substrate coupling, the RF receive chain back to the digital block and is used to estimate and calibrate the transceiver parameters over the operating range of frequencies. The substrate coupling eliminates the need for the additional circuitry saving area, power, and performance. In place of the additional circuitry, the digital block which performs baseband operations can be reconfigured into a software or/and hardware mode to calibrate the transceiver. The digital block comprises a processor and memory and is coupled to the front end of the RF transmit chain and the tail end of the RF receive chain.

Abstract: A testing apparatus and a testing method for a telephone apparatus are disclosed. The testing apparatus includes an audio generator, an audio signal processor, and a noise analyzer. The audio generator transmits a testing audio signal to a receiver of the telephone apparatus. The audio signal processor receives the testing audio signal and an output audio signal. The audio signal processor performs a time-to-frequency transformation operation on a difference between the testing audio signal and the output audio signal to obtain a noise information. The noise analyzer receives the noise information and obtains a maximum noise component among a plurality of noise components respectively corresponding to frequencies in the noise information. The noise analyzer compares the maximum noise component with a predetermined threshold to generate a testing result of the telephone apparatus.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system to provide the ability for an analog telephone adapter (or other consumer electronics device) to provide spoken information to a consumer to help diagnose problems. The spoken diagnostics system and method for comprises a central analysis server and an analog telephone adapter (“ATA”). When in operation, when a consumer (as an end user) pick up a telephone which is connected to and/or operating through the ATA and enters a preset diagnostic code, defined a telephone number in one embodiment, the ATA and the central analysis server perform a series of diagnostic functions and cause one or more verbal messages relating to the status of the ATA as determined through the diagnostic functions to be spoken over the phone so as to be communicated to the consumer.

Abstract: A method for monitoring voice quality in a communication network. In a first embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: establishing a voice communication pathway (VCPW) between first and second telephone terminals; establishing speech cadence between first and second terminals, wherein the terminals alternate between opposing send and listen/receive modes such that when one of the terminals is sending a voice test message the other terminal is either listening for or receiving the voice test message and vice versa; and calculating a voice quality score for one or more received voice test messages. In a second embodiment, synchronous cadence is established between a plurality of telephone terminals and a voice recognition server (VRS).

Abstract: Through the use of a least squares minimization concept, the loop length, the number of bridged taps and length of the bridged taps on a transmission line can be determined from readily available modem data. In particular, the loop length, the number of bridge taps and the length of bridged taps can be estimated by comparing a measured frequency domain channel impulse response of the transmission line to a model of a loop that is comprised of multiple sections and multiple bridge taps.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for enabling DTMF signal processing in the core VoIP network. More specifically, the present invention enables a VoIP network to recognize and respond to special DTMF signals entered by a user and initiate the appropriate service logic response to satisfy the user's service request.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool is adapted to include the capability of initiating one or more diagnostic tests, collecting the raw data from the diagnostic test(s) and transporting the raw diagnostic data to an OSS. The OSS interprets the raw diagnostic data and stores the results in a database. The stored results can be searched, sorted, manipulated, analyzed, and the like. The results of any of these operations can then be, for example, displayed to one or more entities such as customer support, network operators, network planners, or the like.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to allocate ports to vectored digital subscriber line (DSL) groups are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes obtaining data representative of a statistical distribution of service penetration for a non-vectored DSL service, estimating an expected vectored DSL group size from the data, and configuring a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) to reserve a number of ports of the DSLAM for a vectored DSL group based on the expected vectored DSL group size.

Abstract: To enable addition or changes of functions with changes of communication standards in a mobile communication terminal test system. A mobile communication terminal test system includes a transceiver which has a control unit configured to append input information to acquired waveform data, a signal analysis unit which executes an analysis program, and a signal analyzer which is provided separately from the transceiver. The analysis program has a processing program which is provided for each type of arithmetic processing on the waveform data, a control program which is provided for each communication system, selects one or more processing programs for each test item, and executes the processing programs, and a switching program which specifies a communication system and a test item on the basis of the input information, and selects and executes a control program.

Abstract: An improper connection determination method includes a closed circuit forming step, a current detection step and a determination step. In the closed circuit forming step, a closed circuit from one of at least two contacts in a telephone connection terminal of a communication apparatus to another one of the at least two contacts in the telephone connection terminal is formed. In the current detection step, a current flowing in the closed circuit, when the closed circuit is formed in the closed circuit forming step, is detected. In the determination step, it is determined that the telephone line is improperly connected to the telephone connection terminal when the current is detected in the current detection step.

Abstract: A data analyzer operative to be located at a customer premises, causes the transmission of a probing signal into at least one telephone line. The data analyzer computes a parameter that represents a characteristic of at least one telephone line based upon at least a measured reflected probing signal.