Patent ID: 6711135
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
In a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) access network, a management system for monitoring and controlling communication between a plurality of information service providers and a plurality of network elements, the management system comprisinga plurality of service-connected elements, each service-connected element in communication with each service provider of the plurality of information service providers; a plurality of element-connected modules, each element-connected module in communication with each element of the plurality of network elements, the plurality of element-connected modules coupled to the plurality of service-connected elements for providing monitoring and management of each provided service and the operability of each network element; a service manager coupled to each service provider and used to provision various services between each service provider and the plurality of network elements, said service manager including a mapping of each service provider to a subset of selected network elements owned or controlled by said service provider; a quality of service (QoS) monitor coupled to each service provider for analyzing the error rate associated with various information signals communicated between the plurality of service providers and the plurality of network elements; a diagnosis element responsive to requests from each service provider for performing testing functions on selected ones of the network elements; and a direct network access element for permitting access of predetermined service providers to selected ones of the plurality of network elements in association with the mapping between the service providers and the network elements owned or controlled by the service providers.