Spectrum Analysis and Plant Diagnostic Tool for Communication Systems

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus to allow an operator of a broadcast communication system, such as a cable television or satellite television service to provide some examples, to diagnose performance of this communication system remotely. The operator of a first communication device, such as a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to provide an example, may remotely diagnosis performance problems, or potential performance problems, occurring at a second communication device, such as a cable modem (CM) to provide an example, or a group of second communication devices. For example, the operator of the first communication device may view a spectrum analysis of communication signals being routed to, processed by, and/or provided by the second communication device, or group of second communication devices, to diagnose the performance problems, or the potential performance problems, in real time.

1 . A diagnostic apparatus comprising:
 a full band capture receiver configured to receive a full band communication signal comprising multiple channels and/or services from a communication network, and convert each of the channels and/or services of the full band communication signal from an analog representation to a digital representation;   a parameter measurement unit configured to generate one or more signal parameters using the full band communication signal based at least in part on the digital representation; and   a transmitter configured to transmit a transmission signal comprising the one or more signal parameters generated using the full band communication signal.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission signal allows performance of the communication network or full band communication signal to be evaluated remotely. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic apparatus is disposed in customer premises equipment that is coupled to the communication network. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the transmission signal allows performance of the communication network, including the customer premises equipment, to be evaluated remotely. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one of more signal parameters include spectral density, a received signal strength, a relative strength of different channels and services, noise floor and interference, or transmitter frequency offset. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a base band processor configured to process the one or more signal parameters in the time domain or the frequency domain. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission signal includes an in-band portion and an out-of-band portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the full band communication signal conforms with a DOCSIS standard or a MoCA standard. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the full band capture receiver comprises a full band analog to digital converter. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a diagnostic apparatus comprising:
 a full band capture receiver configured to receive a full hand communication signal comprising multiple channels and/or services from a communication network, and convert each of the channels and/or services of the full band communication signal from an analog representation to a digital representation; 
 a parameter measurement unit configured to generate one or more signal parameters using the full band communication signal based at least in part on the digital representation; and 
 a transmitter configured to transmit a transmission signal comprising the one or more signal parameters generated using the full band communication signal; and 
   a spectrum analyzer configured to receive the transmission signal, and present the one or more signal parameters.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the spectrum analyzer is disposed at a headend of the communication network, and the diagnostic apparatus is disposed remote from the spectrum analyzer. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the diagnostic apparatus is disposed in customer premises equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the spectrum analyzer comprises a user interface configured to present the one or more signal parameters to evaluate performance of the communication network. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the full band capture receiver comprises a full band analog to digital converter. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a diagnostic apparatus, a full band communication signal comprising multiple channels and/or services from a communication network;   converting, by the diagnostic apparatus, each of the channels and/or services from the full band communication signal from an analog representation to a digital representation;   generating, by the diagnostic apparatus, one or more signal parameters using the full band communication signal based at least in part on the digital representation; and   transmitting, from the diagnostic apparatus, a transmission signal comprising the one or more signal parameters generated using the full band communication signal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising evaluating the transmission signal remotely from a customer premises equipment to determine performance of the communication network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the diagnostic apparatus is disposed in customer premises equipment that is coupled to the communication network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising evaluating the transmission signal remotely from the customer premises equipment to determine performance of the customer premises equipment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one of more signal parameters include spectral density, a received signal strength, a relative strength of different channels and services, noise floor and interference, or transmitter frequency offset. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising processing, by the diagnostic apparatus, the one or more signal parameters in the time domain or the frequency domain. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein transmitting the transmission signal includes transmitting the transmission signal with an in-band portion and an out-of-band portion. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the full band communication signal conforms with a DOCSIS standard or a MoCA standard.