Patent ID: 9042236
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An automated method of estimating a location of a defect within a network, comprising steps of: receiving information of pre-equalization coefficients generated and in use by an adaptive pre-equalizer of a terminal network element on the network; determining from the information a total amount of equalization applied by a negative delay portion of the adaptive pre-equalizer relative to a main tap level of the adaptive pre-equalizer and a total amount of equalization applied by a positive delay portion of the adaptive pre-equalizer relative to the main tap level of the adaptive pre-equalizer; identifying the terminal network element as being affected by a defect if at least one of the total amount of equalization applied by the negative delay portion relative to the main tap level and the total amount of equalization applied by the positive delay portion relative to the main tap level is at an unacceptable level; and if the terminal network element is identified as being affected by a defect, estimating a location of a defect within the network based on the information of pre-equalization coefficients such that the location is estimated differently depending upon which one of the negative delay portion of the adaptive pre-equalizer and the positive delay portion of the adaptive pre-equalizer is being used to apply the greatest amount of equalization; wherein said receiving, determining, and identifying steps are repeated for each of a plurality of terminal network elements on the network, and wherein the plurality of terminal network elements are connected to a headend of the network via a common node of the network via paths arranged in a tree and branch network structure.