Total spectrum reception for upstream monitoring

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for monitoring upstream signals and for providing the total bandwidth to a base station for analysis of any disruptions. In an example, the present methods and systems include at least a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is coupled to a cable input-output port. The first circuit is configured for providing upstream signals from broadband signals of the upstream feed. The second circuit is configured for processing the upstream signals by adjusting its dynamic range to provide processed signals with an adjusted dynamic range. The second circuit is also configured for analyzing a spectrum of the processed signals and for providing information characterizing the processed signals to a processor of a modem.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to modem technology and to monitoring and capturing total signal spectrums in data communications using novel integrated circuits at the subscriber end of a communications network.

BACKGROUND

A network for communications, including for cable television, phone, and internet data traffic, typically includes a base station, one or more head-ends, one or more intermediate hubs, and the subscriber facilities. The subscriber facilities typically represent the end of the line and include one or more modems, routers, and the consuming technology—phones, televisions, computers, laptops, electronic tablets, smartphones, InternetOfThings (IoT) devices, and other internet-enabled devices.

Any incident causing disruption in service at the subscriber facilities typically requires an in-person review of the cause. In various embodiments, disruption in service can include, for example, abnormality in the upstream feed compared to, for example, a perfect signal. For example, a disruption for review includes poor signal quality, interference, loss of data or signals, and other related disruptions. A service provider of the services on the communications network or an agent or owner of the communications network is typically responsible for the review and subsequent rectification of the disruption. An in-person review is time consuming, expensive, and inefficient.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure resolves deficiencies in typical processes for reviewing and subsequent rectification of a disruption in a communications network. Pertinently, the present disclosure monitors signal spectrums in data communications using novel integrated circuits at the subsriber end of a communications network

In an exemplary implementation, the present disclosure includes at least a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is coupled to a cable input-output port. The first circuit is configured for communicating broadband signals of an upstream feed. The first circuit provides upstream signals from the broadband signals. The second circuit is configured for adjusting a dynamic range of the upstream signals to provide processed signals with an adjusted dynamic range. The second circuit is also configured for providing information characterizing the processed signals to a processor of a modem.

In another exemplary implementation, the present disclosure includes a method with a function for communicating broadband signals in a first circuit that is coupled to an upstream feed of a cable input-output port. The method includes providing, via the first circuit, upstream signals from the broadband signals. A processing function of the method, in the second circuit, adjusts a dynamic range of the upstream signals to provide processed signals of an adjusted dynamic range. Analyzing is performed in the second circuit that is in communication with the first circuit. The analyzing function analyzes a spectrum of the processed signals to provide information characterizing the processed signals to a processor of a modem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure may overcome one or more of the aforementioned and other deficiencies experienced in conventional approaches to review and subsequently rectify a disruption in a communications network. Embodiments herein provide a method for integrated circuit implementation, and that monitors upstream feed and provides information characterizing processed signals associated with the upstream signals in the upstream feed from a modem to a base station. Pertinently, the disclosure herein configures a system to monitor and capture a full or total spectrum, and to transmit information pertaining to disruption of the full or total spectrum for analysis at the base station. In an example, a first circuit, which is in communication with a cable input-output port. is configured for communicating broadband signals from the upstream feed. The method includes using a low pass filter for providing upstream signals from the broadband signals. In an embodiment, the upstream signals may be formatted as differential input signals. A processing function of the method, in a second circuit, processes the upstream signals at a predetermined dynamic range to provide processed signals. For example, the processing function is an adjusting function to adjusting a dynamic range of the upstream signals to provide processed signals with an adjusted dynamic range. Analysis is performed in the second circuit that is in communication with the first circuit. The analysis is to a spectrum of the processed signals and to provide information characterizing the processed signals, from the second integrated circuit to a processor of a modem.

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary communications network100in accordance with various embodiments. The communications network100includes at least a base station130, a head-end110, and subscriber facilities105a-f. The base station130is typically in communication with the head-end via fiber120, although other communication systems, including physical and virtual (e.g., wired and wireless) systems may connect the base station130to the head-end110. The head-end is in communication with the subscriber facilities105via cable115a-f, although other communication systems, including fiber (similar to the base station's connection with the head-end), or other physical and virtual (e.g., wired and wireless) systems may connect the head-end110to the subscriber facilities105. The communications network100supports upstream and downstream traffic via both the fiber125—where the traffic is illustrated as element numeric125a-b, and the cable115.

The subscriber facilities105include modems and, optionally, routers, both of which may be wired or wireless type devices. The upstream and downstream signals from cable115transmit digital signals carrying data for voice, telephony, television, and other services, over radio frequency (RF) carrier signals to the modem. In a two-way communication network, one or more carrier signals are designated to transmit data in the downstream direction, from the head-end to the modem at a subscriber facility105, while other carrier signals are designated to transmit data in the upstream direction, from the subscriber facility105to upstream components in the communications network100, e.g., the head-end110, and subsequently, the base station130. The modems at each subscriber facility105convert the data as required for the upstream or downstream transmission—for e.g., from a digital format to a RF modulated signals in the upstream direction into the communications network100, and from RF signals to digital format for the downstream direction consuming devices. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) performs the opposite operation for multiple subscribers at the cable operator's head-end.

The downstream and upstream transmissions can occur in, for example, a 6 MHz bandwidth channel. As described above, the downstream portion is designated to a predetermined portion of the available bandwidth, with the upstream portion designated to the remainder. Moreover, subscriber facilities that are condominium-styled facilities are designated to share bandwidth from singular cables, in some instances. Accordingly, monitoring the entire spectrum, as well as, transmission characteristics of the entire spectrum is beneficial for review and subsequent rectification of any disruption in a communications network without an in-person intervention.

FIG. 2, in conjunction withFIG. 3, illustrates exemplary block diagram components200/300at a subscriber facility for performing the present disclosure, in accordance with various embodiments. Pertinently, the example inFIGS. 2 and 3illustrates block diagrams of a modem printed circuit board (PCB) system200/300with integrated circuits205-235/310-350as further exemplary components that connect to a consuming technology in one of subscriber facilities105. In an example, the integrated circuits205-235/310-350may, together or individually, form one or more of semiconductor die or chips that are either implemented from wafer-scale integration (WFI), system-on-a-chip (SOC), or three dimensional integrated circuit (3D-IC) processes. The one or more semiconductor chips include multi-core chips, multi-chip packages, stacked die packages, and multi-die packages. The modem PCB system200, for instance, connects to the consuming technology (e.g., phones, televisions, computers, laptops, electronic tablets, smartphones, InternetOfThings (IoT) devices, and other internet-enabled devices) to convert signals from the upstream cable to the downstream consuming technology, and from the downstream consuming technology to the upstream cable. The signals on the upstream and downstream directions are routed through cable245/305extending out of the modem PCB system200/300.

Exemplary system200/300includes one or more of a first circuit205/310, a second circuit220/325, a cable input-output port250, and other auxiliary components or sub-components, such as amplifiers330, inductors, transformers320, switches315, and splitters. In an example, the cable input-output port250includes a digital subscriber line (DSL) port, and registered jack 45 (RJ45) data and network port, F-connector (RF/COAX) port, and Ethernet 8P8C port. The cable input-output port250is coupled to a cable245from the head-end110or an intervening component, such as a hub or a cable signal splitter. The cable input-output port250is coupled to a diplexer230. The diplexer230implements a frequency domain multiplexing to provide upstream and downstream signals from the input signals of the cable245, and without interferences between the signals. For example, using low pass filter235and high pass filter240, the output of the diplexer is the downstream signals (received signals) on a downstream line235B and the upstream signals (transmitted signals) on the upstream line235A. The upstream signals are optionally switched via signal tap225, such as a switch, which intercepts or switches the upstream signals on the upstream line235A and provides the upstream signals to a second circuit220. In an implementation, the first circuit may include a transformer that generates or causes differentially formatted versions of the upstream signals from the input signals, thereby disallowing effects of electromagnetic interference or noise from distorting the signal. It is possible that a signal splitter is used in the same manner as the transformer to generate the upstream signals from the input signals.

FIG. 2also illustrates aspects of the present disclosure featuring a diplexer230, which comprises a low pass filter235to separate the upstream signal and a high pass filter240to separate the downstream signal from the input signal on cable245as explained above. The present disclosure also features a switch225that connects the transmitter circuit210to the low pass filter235in order to intercept the upstream signals from the diplexer230. The switch225also connects the low pass filter235to the spectrum analyzer circuit220, which performs the functions of analyzing the quality of the upstream network, using the spectrum of the upstream signals, to detect any possible reason for disruption of service such as interference by providing information characterizing the spectrum.

The second circuit220is configured for processing upstream signals at a predetermined dynamic range or to adjust the dynamic range of the upstream signals by extracting information characterizing the upstream signals. In conjunction with the circuit block diagram ofFIG. 3, the second circuit220and its circuit interactions as detailed herein. For example, the second circuit220includes a linear operational amplifier (op amp)330coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)335and a digital signal processor (DSP)340to form an automatic gain control loop (AGC). The DSP340is also coupled to memory345to buffer the extracted data or information, from the upstream signals, prior to passing to the cable silicon-on-chip (SOC) integrated circuit—illustrated as the processor or central processing unit (CPU)205/350. The CPU205/350drives the upstream feed. The AGC of the spectrum analyzer325is a closed-loop system for regulating amplitude output from the upstream signals. The liner op amp330is configured as a high dynamic range amplifier and balances an inherent feature of an AGC to compress the dynamic range. As a result, the AGC, using the linear op amp330, captures a high dynamic range of the differential input signals. The ADC335is a wide band analog-to-digital converter and also functions to retain the high dynamic range of the differential input signals. Further, the DSP340is designed using field effect transistors (FET) to maintain discrete features of the digital signal from the ADC335.

The second circuit220is in communication with the first circuit230and is configured for integrating the characterizing data or information buffered in memory345into subsequent upstream signals for analysis at a base station130. For example, the extracted data is treated as part of subsequent upstream signals for the upstream feed into the cable input-output port250, which then transmits the subsequent upstream signals to the head-end110. The head-end110transmits the subsequent upstream signals to the base station130for analysis to review any disruption in a communications network—including poor signal quality, interference, loss of data or signals, and other related disruptions. Rectification of the identified disruption is sometimes possible by resetting components remotely or by in-person repair.

FIG. 4is a flow chart illustrating an algorithm for software or firmware400that performs the present disclosure using the components200/300at a subscriber facility, in accordance with various embodiments. The method400of the present disclosure includes a communication function405for communicating broadband signals, in a first integrated circuit that is in communication with a cable input-output port. The method includes a function410for providing, via the first circuit, upstream signals from the broadband signals. A processing function415, via a second circuit—such as the spectrum analyzer circuit ofFIGS. 2/3—processes the upstream signals at a predetermined dynamic range to provide processed signals. For example, processing function415is an adjusting function, via a second circuit—such as the spectrum analyzer circuit ofFIGS. 2/3—that adjusts a dynamic range of the upstream signals at to provide processed signals with an adjusted dynamic range. The adjustment to the dynamic range may be by a predetermined value or function. Analyzing function of block420performs an analysis of a spectrum of the processed signals in a second circuit that is in communication with the first integrated circuit. Function425provides, from the second circuit to a processor of a modem, information characterizing the processed signals as obtained from the analyzing block420. Block430concludes the method400of the present disclosure. After the conclusion, the head-end110transmits the subsequent upstream signals to the base station130for analysis to review any disruption in a communications network—including poor signal quality, interference, loss of data or signals, and other related disruptions for the upstream signals. Rectification of the identified disruption is sometimes possible by resetting components remotely or by in-person repair.

The various embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety of operating environments, which in some cases can include one or more user electronic devices, integrated circuits, chips, and computing devices—each with the proper configuration of hardware, software, and/or firmware as presently disclosed. Such a system can also include a number of the above exemplary systems working together to perform the same function disclosed herein—to monitor upstream signals in an upstream feed and to provide the spectrum to the base station for analysis.

Most embodiments utilize at least one communications network that would be familiar to those skilled in the art for supporting communications using any of a variety of commercially-available protocols, such as TCP/IP, FTP, UPnP, NFS, and CIFS. The communications network can be, for example, a cable network, a local area network, a wide-area network, a virtual private network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a public switched telephone network, an infrared network, a wireless network and any combination thereof.