Patent ID: 8000254
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a dominant impairment on an impaired communication channel, comprising the steps of: measuring initial total power loading which is equal to total power of RF energy present within a bandwidth of interest on a test channel; selecting and remotely instructing a network element to transmit a first test signal on the test channel at initial total power loading; monitoring the first test signal at a headend of the test channel and measuring at the headend at least one of modulation error ratio (MER after said above steps, remotely instructing the network element to transmit a second test signal on the test channel at a different power level such that initial total power loading is adjusted by a pre-determined amount (X); monitoring the second signal at the headend of the test channel and measuring at the headend at least one of modulation error ratio (MER comparing the measurement taken for the first test signal to the measurement taken for the second test signal and determining whether the measurement degraded, improved, or stayed substantially equal.