Patent ID: 9136943
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. An automated method of characterizing impairments detected by equalization on a channel of a network, comprising, in at least one processor: estimating a first equalization stress of an observed channel equalization response of an end device of the network required for equalization; calculating a second equalization stress of a channel equalization response of the end device mathematically based on the observed channel equalization response and a removal of a suspected impairment from the network; repeating said calculating step separately for each of a plurality of suspected impairments stored in a database of suspected impairments; and determining a highest ranking suspected dominant impairment from the database of suspected impairments that, if removed from the network, would provide a greatest reduction of an equalization stress of a channel equalization response of the end device; wherein equalization stress is measured by at least one metric selected from a group of metrics consisting of Main Tap Compression (MTC), Non Main Tap to Total Tap Energy Ratio (NMTTER), Pre Main Tap Energy Ratio (PreMTTER), Post Main Tap Energy Ratio (PostMTTER), Pre/Post Energy Symmetry Ratio (PPESR), and Pre/Post Tap Symmetry Ratio (PPTSR) wherein, during said determining step, an ordered series of next highest ranking suspected dominant impairments are identified from the database of suspected impairments that, if removed from the network, would provide next greatest reductions of the equalization stress of the channel equalization response of the end device.