Patent ID: 12238464

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

As used herein, the terminology “server”, “computer”, “computing device or platform”, or “cloud computing system” includes any unit, or combination of units, capable of performing any method, or any portion or portions thereof, disclosed herein. For example, the “server”, “computer”, “computing device or platform”, or “cloud computing system” may include at least one or more processor(s).

As used herein, the terminology “processor” indicates one or more processors, such as one or more special purpose processors, one or more digital signal processors, one or more microprocessors, one or more controllers, one or more microcontrollers, one or more application processors, one or more central processing units (CPU) s, one or more graphics processing units (GPU) s, one or more digital signal processors (DSP) s, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) s, one or more application specific standard products, one or more field programmable gate arrays, any other type or combination of integrated circuits, one or more state machines, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the terminology “memory” indicates any computer-usable or computer-readable medium or device that can tangibly contain, store, communicate, or transport any signal or information that may be used by or in connection with any processor. For example, a memory may be one or more read-only memories (ROM), one or more random access memories (RAM), one or more registers, low power double data rate (LPDDR) memories, one or more cache memories, one or more semiconductor memory devices, one or more magnetic media, one or more optical media, one or more magneto-optical media, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the terminology “instructions” may include directions or expressions for performing any method, or any portion or portions thereof, disclosed herein, and may be realized in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. For example, instructions may be implemented as information, such as a computer program, stored in memory that may be executed by a processor to perform any of the respective methods, algorithms, aspects, or combinations thereof, as described herein. For example, the memory can be non-transitory. Instructions, or a portion thereof, may be implemented as a special purpose processor, or circuitry, that may include specialized hardware for carrying out any of the methods, algorithms, aspects, or combinations thereof, as described herein. In some implementations, portions of the instructions may be distributed across multiple processors on a single device, on multiple devices, which may communicate directly or across a network such as a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet, or a combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “application” refers generally to a unit of executable software that implements or performs one or more functions, tasks, or activities. For example, applications may perform one or more functions including, but not limited to, telephony, web browsers, e-commerce transactions, media players, scheduling, management, smart home management, entertainment, and the like. The unit of executable software generally runs in a predetermined environment and/or a processor.

As used herein, the terminology “determine” and “identify,” or any variations thereof includes selecting, ascertaining, computing, looking up, receiving, determining, establishing, obtaining, or otherwise identifying or determining in any manner whatsoever using one or more of the devices and methods are shown and described herein.

As used herein, the terminology “example,” “the embodiment,” “implementation,” “aspect,” “feature,” or “element” indicates serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Unless expressly indicated, any example, embodiment, implementation, aspect, feature, or element is independent of each other example, embodiment, implementation, aspect, feature, or element and may be used in combination with any other example, embodiment, implementation, aspect, feature, or element.

As used herein, the terminology “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X includes A or B” is intended to indicate any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X includes A; X includes B; or X includes both A and B, then “X includes A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form.

Further, for simplicity of explanation, although the figures and descriptions herein may include sequences or series of steps or stages, elements of the methods disclosed herein may occur in various orders or concurrently. Additionally, elements of the methods disclosed herein may occur with other elements not explicitly presented and described herein. Furthermore, not all elements of the methods described herein may be required to implement a method in accordance with this disclosure and claims. Although aspects, features, and elements are described herein in particular combinations, each aspect, feature, or element may be used independently or in various combinations with or without other aspects, features, and elements.

Further, the figures and descriptions provided herein may be simplified to illustrate aspects of the described embodiments that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein disclosed processes, machines, and/or manufactures, while eliminating for the purpose of clarity other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill may thus recognize that other elements and/or steps may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art in light of the discussion herein.

Described herein is a system and method for remote management of smart amplifiers with include a radio frequency (RF) amplifier units and a transponder to capture and stream telemetry data, monitor, report, and manage operational status and configuration of the smart amplifier and RF amplifier unit, where the transponder is a transponder component integrated with a telemetry agent. Remote management provides cost effective and minimizes truck rolls to diagnose and resolve the cable fault issues. It provides a non-intrusive method to detect and analyze the type and location of a cable fault in near real time. Machine Learning Model (MLM) algorithms and/or platforms can be used to provide proactive action based on the identified cable fault type and location. The MLM algorithms and/or platforms can be adaptive and flexible to include other cable fault components and conditions such as weather-related issues. The smart amplifier enables addition of new functional capabilities using the capabilities of the transponder and controller. Real-time and/or latest operational status and performance of the smart amplifiers can be obtained. This data can be used to provide real-time cable plant diagnostics by analyzing the streaming telemetry data from various coaxial cable trunks with cascaded amplifiers.

FIG.1is a diagram of an example network architecture1000. The network architecture1000can include customer premises equipment (CPE)1100,1110, and1120, a service provider back-office system1200, a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable (HFC), a coaxial cable system, and/or combinations thereof (collectively “cable system”)1300, a cable modem termination system (CMTS)1310, smart amplifiers1320and1330, and taps1340and1350. The CPEs1100,1110, and1120are connected to or in communication with (collectively “connected to”) the service provider back-office system1200via the cable system1300using the taps1340and1350, the smart amplifiers1320and1330, and the CMTS1310, as appropriate and applicable. The CPEs1100and1110are connected to the tap1340, which in turn is connected to the smart amplifier1320, the CMTS1310, and the service provider back-office system1200. The CPE1120is connected to the tap1350, which in turn is connected to the smart amplifier1330, the smart amplifier1320, the CMTS1310, and the service provider back-office system1200. The number of components shown herein are illustrative and there may be more or less in the network architecture1000. The network architecture1000and the components therein may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

The CPEs1100,1110, and1120can be routers, set-top boxes, and the like which provides connectivity including Internet connectivity, wired connectivity, wireless connectivity, data, voice over IP, and combinations thereof. The CPEs1100,1110, and1120can be deployed, for example, at a customer premises, residences, offices, and the like.

The service provider back-office system1200can include multiple components to provide services to customers via the CPEs1100,1110, and1120. The service provider back-office system1200can include service provider servers, networks, or clouds including, but not limited to, a provisioning server1210, a network management system (NMS)1220, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server1230, and a streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform and/or server1240. The provisioning server1210can provide configuration information and data to components in the network architecture1000including, for example, the CPE1100,1110, and1120. The configuration information and data enable operation of the CPE1100,1110, and1120. The NMS1220can include applications which monitor, maintain, and optimize a network. The DHCP server1230can manage Internet Protocol (IP) addresses it allocates to network nodes.

The streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform and/or server1240can receive the streamed telemetry data from the smart amplifiers1320and1330, analyze the streamed telemetry data to determine issues and/or impairments, isolate components potentially causing the issues, and send instructions, as appropriate and applicable, to correct certain issues. The streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform and/or server1240can include, but is not limited to, the components described herein with respect to streaming and analytics processing platform and/or server1640inFIG.1A.

The CMTS1310can provide cable, television, Internet, voice, and like services to the CPEs1100,1110, and1120. The CMTS1310can communicate via an optical-to-electrical (O2E) converter1315(also known as a fiber node) with the smart amplifiers1320and1330and the service provider back-office system1200with respect to telemetry data and configuration instructions.

The smart amplifiers1320and1330can be a RF amplifier unit with a controller and a transponder component integrated with a smart telemetry agent to monitor and report the operational status of the RF amplifier unit in the cable plant to the service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform1240and are further described with respect toFIGS.2-5. The smart amplifiers1320and1330can provide operational intelligence to the service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform1240, which can be used to optimize the RF amplifier unit performance for a specific cable network in a specific geographical area, for example.

The taps1340and1350are used to connect premises, which include the CPEs1100,1110, and1120connected to cable modems (CM)1102,1112, and1122, respectively, to the cable system1300. In implementations, the CMs1102,1112, and1122can be or include voice gateways and an internal or external battery, cable modems, and/or Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapters (eMTAs).

FIG.1Ais a diagram of an example network architecture1500. The network architecture1500can include one or more CPEs1512and1514deployed on a local area network (LAN)1510and connected to network components1520in a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network or cable network1502. The HFC network1502can include any number of smart amplifiers1505,1507, and1509, and any number of network components including, but not limited to, network components1520and1530. In implementations, the HFC network1502may terminate at cable modem, such as CM1522,1524,1532, and1534. As such, the CPEs1512and1514and the CM1522, for example, form a home network1515. The network components1520and1530can be connected to a converged interconnect network (CIN)1600in a service provider's back-office network1504. The service provider's back-office network1504can include, but is not limited to, a NMS1610, a provisioning system1620, a service provider cloud network1630, and a service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform1640. The network architecture1500and the components therein may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

The smart amplifiers1505,1507, and1509can be a RF amplifier unit with a controller and a transponder component integrated with a smart telemetry agent to monitor and report the operational status of the RF amplifier unit in the cable plant to the service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform1640and are further described with respect toFIGS.2-5. The smart amplifiers1505,1507, and1509can provide operational intelligence to the service operator's streaming and analytics platform1640, which can be used to provide information, instructions, and/or commands to the controller to optimize the RF amplifier unit performance for a cable network in a specific geographical area, for example. In implementations, RF amplifier unit configuration files can be sent to the controller to fine tune the various amplifier stages' components as described with respect toFIGS.5and6.

The CPEs1512and1514can be routers, set-top boxes, and the like which provides connectivity including Internet connectivity, wired connectivity, wireless connectivity, data, voice over IP, and combinations thereof. The CPEs1512and1514can be deployed, for example, at a customer premises, residence, office, and the like.

The provisioning server1610can provide configuration information and data to components in the network architecture1500including, for example, the CPEs1512and1514. The configuration information and data enable operation of the CPEs1512and1514. The NMS1610can include applications which monitor, maintain, and optimize a network.

The network components1520and1530can include, but are not limited to, cable modems (CM)1522,1524,1532, and1534, optical-to-electrical (O2E) converters1526and1536, and aggregators1528and1538, respectively. The aggregators1528and1538can be, for example, a CMTS or a Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP), or virtual CMTS (vCMTS). In implementations, the CMs1522,1524,1532, and1534can include a voice gateway and external battery backup (EBBU) in case of external power failure, cable modems, and/or Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapters (eMTAs).

The service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform1640can include, but is not limited to, a Kafka connector source for the MQTT server1700which is connected to data analytics tools1800, which in turn is connected to a dashboard1900for displaying results. The data analytics tools1800can include, but is not limited to, a SnowFlake component1810, an ELK component1820, a MySQL component1830, and a SPLUNK component1840. A Machine Learning Model (MLM) or platform1850may be used to parse the received telemetry data, recognize patterns, and provide predictions to the data analytics tools1800. The MLM platform1850is further described with respect toFIG.8. The dashboard1900can be a multi-platform open-source analytics and interactive visualization web application that users may customize to create complex monitoring dashboards.

In some embodiments, the service provider cloud network1630can include a message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) server1632that is configured to support various forms of authentication and/or various data security mechanisms (e.g., using a script to generate security certificates). In some embodiments, the service provider cloud network1630can be an OpenSync™ Cloud that is configured to provide the operator with various command and control services, including network status, IP address, network mask, DHCP status, parental control, speed test initiation and results, reset and reboot device, etc. The service operator's streaming and analytics platform1640can be a computing system that includes one or more computing devices in a centralized or distributed architecture.

FIG.2is a block diagram of an example smart amplifier2000in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. In implementations, the smart amplifier2000can be the smart amplifiers1320,1330,1505,1507, and1509as shown inFIGS.1and1A. The smart amplifier2000can include, but is not limited to, a RF amplifier unit2100, a transponder2200, and a management system and/or controller2300. The smart amplifier2000and the components therein may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

The management system and/or controller2300can include an information model for the RF amplifier unit2100, electronically control various components in the RF amplifier unit2100as well as interact with the transponder2200to execute specific test scripts to obtain up-to-date operational status and performance of the RF amplifier unit2100in the field and/or provide instructions or commands to remotely configure the RF amplifier unit2100. The management system and/or controller2300may include an interface, such as a digital interface to the transponder2200. In implementations, the instructions or commands can be based on the up-to-date operational status and performance data and the streamed telemetry data as described herein. In addition, the management system and/or controller2300can provide remote control capabilities with the service provider back office in terms of day-to-day operation, remote diagnostic, monitoring, and security capabilities. Local management of the amplifier can be conducted by adding a wireless transceiver (not shown) that can be plugged into a local management interface in the smart amplifier2000. In implementations, the local management access interface can be disabled remotely for security reasons. In implementations, the management system and/or controller2300may be a low-cost digital signal processor running a Linux operating system (OS).

The RF amplifier unit2100can be a two-port RF amplifier with multiple attenuation, equalization, tilt, and amplifier stages as shown inFIG.5. The RF amplifier unit2100can be trunk and distribution RF amplifiers. The RF amplifier unit2100can process signals received over a cable network in either an upstream signal flow or downstream signal flow. The signals can be, for example, content signals, data signals, instruction signals, and the like.

The transponder2200can include, but is not limited to, a transponder component2210integrated with a smart telemetry agent2220, which can collectively collect and stream telemetry data to a service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform for impairment detection, fault analysis, operational analysis, and the like. In implementations, the transponder2200may collect telemetry data including but not limited to, the RF amplifier's metrics such as the temperature, equalization coefficients, and gain parameters for each amplifier stage. The streaming telemetry data sent by the transponder2200(e.g., the smart telemetry agent2220), can be analyzed by the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform to assess not only the specific amplifier status and performance, but also to assess the cable plant or cable network conditions, particularly for a coaxial cable trunk with cascaded amplifiers, and their impact on a customer's quality of experience (QoE).

The transponder2200location in the service provider's HFC or cable network is important for remote diagnostic of field issues. The transponder2200are typically cascaded on the coaxial cable between a fiber node and a coaxial tap as shown for example inFIG.1. The operation and performance of each RF amplifier unit2100depends on many factors such as the type and model of the amplifier, the location of the amplifier on the cascaded link, the distance between the nearest neighbor amplifiers, underground or aerial amplifier location, and weather conditions in the local area. In implementations, the transponder2200can include or embed Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities or functionality in the transponder2200for providing a location of the integrated transponder2200as deployed in the cable network. In implementations, the transponder2200can add a location management information base (MIB) object. In this instance, location or information model MIB objects can be defined for a transponder management system.

In implementations, the controller2300has information data model objects (read-only objects), which are organized in tree-like structures, to identify the specific amplifier such the amplifier model number, serial number, amplifier's description, name, vendor OUI (3-byte hex-binary string that contains the IEEE Company Identifier for the vendor), current software version, and/or hardware version. Other information data model objects (read/write) provides system configuration information, amplifier geographical location, reset capabilities to support different type of reset, reset control and management, and various event logs and notifications. Depending on the data types, the data models can use either SNMP MIBs, XML schemas, or YANG (Yet Another Next Generation) data model modules, which has a hierarchical data structure, with NETCONF or RESTCONF configuration protocols, to manage the amplifier configuration and to automate the operation in the field.

In implementations, the transponder2200can be a cable modem (a transponder component), such as an OpenWrt D4.0/D3.1 cable modem, which is integrated with a smart telemetry agent to monitor and report the operational status of the RF amplifier unit2100to the service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. The cable modem can provide a range of telemetry data, including but not limited to, downstream (DS) and upstream (US) RF spectrum capture, DS and US RF spectrum capture to detect co-channel interference due to LTE signals in the downstream and ingress noise in the upstream direction, DS and US channel parameters including received and transmitted power per channel, DS Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) channel's receiver modulation error ratio (R×MER) per subcarrier to identify, for example, over-the-air UHF ingress interference in LTE 4G and 5G bands, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) channel's impulse response and group delay to identify, for example, cable plant signal distortions due to the changes in the RF amplifier operation, switchable diplexer configuration, and data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) and Syslogs.

In implementations, the transponder2200can be a Full Band Capture (FBC) receiver or modem (collectively “FBC device”) (a transponder component) with a smart telemetry agent to stream captured spectrum telemetry data to the service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. The FBC device can provide a spectrum analyzer capability or component at a low-cost in contrast to the cable modem. The FBC device can provide a low-cost discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based technology to support spectrum analyzer-like functionality that is found in many DOCSIS 3.0 and all DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems.

FIG.3is a block diagram of an example of a digital spectrum analyzer3000. The digital spectrum analyzer3000can include, but is not limited to, an analog front end3100, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)3200, a digital tuner3300, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) component3400, a squarer component3500, and a converter3600. The digital spectrum analyzer3000and the components therein may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

An input signal, which is a full upstream or downstream band from the cable network, is input to the analog front end3100. The analog frontend3100amplifies the signal and provides RF gain control. The ADC320, which can be a high-speed broadband ADC, provides digital samples of the signal from the analog frontend3100. The digital tuner3300, which can include a digital oscillator and lowpass filter, selects the desired analysis band around a specified center frequency. The signal from the selected band is applied to the FFT3400, which multiplies the signal by a DFT matrix. Each bin of the FFT output comprises a complex value consisting of two numbers, real (I) and imaginary (Q), giving the correlation of the input signal with a particular frequency corresponding to a single row of the DFT matrix. Typically, a spectrum analyzer is only concerned with the magnitude, not the phase, of the FFT output. As such, the squarer3500computes the power (magnitude-squared) of each bin, i.e., I2+Q2for each bin. If spectrum smoothing is to be applied, the previously described process is repeated with a fresh set of data from the same band, and the power values from several captures are averaged at each bin location. The converter3600converts the smoothed bins to decibels by taking 10*log 10 of each bin power value. The decibel values can be used for analysis by components in a service operator's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. If the entire band is able to be processed as a single analysis band, then the digital tuner3300is not needed.

FIG.4is a block diagram of an example of a full band capture (FBC) receiver4000for use as a transponder component in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. The full band capture receiver4000can include, but is not limited to, a FBC frontend4100, an N-bit ADC4200, a channelizer4300, a variable decimator4400, a phase recovery/equalizer4500, a forward error correction (FEC) encoder4600, and output interface4700. The FBC receiver4000and the components therein may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

The FBC frontend4100consists of a direct sampling analog frontend to digitize the downstream signal using the N-bit ADC4200. In implementations, N is 12 bits or higher. The channelizer4300selects the desired frequency range for processing the signal via the variable decimator4400, the phase recovery/equalizer4500, and the forward error correction (FEC) encoder4600and outputting via the output interface4700for spectral analysis. The output interface provides a serial output of the sampled data. Instead of using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to remotely access the FBC spectrum, the low-cost FBC receiver4000may include or be integrated with a smart and efficient telemetry agent (as shown inFIG.2as the transponder2200) to stream the FBC spectrum data to the service provider's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform to detect cable faults from the field-deployed amplifiers.

FIG.5is a block diagram of an example of a smart RF amplifier5000in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. The smart RF amplifier5000can be the smart amplifiers1320,1330,1505,1507,1509, and2000. The smart RF amplifier5000is a smart two-port RF amplifier configuration with multiple stages, collectively RF amplifier unit5005, integrated with a transponder5500such as an OpenWrt D4.0/D3.1 modem with streaming telemetry or a FBC receiver running on a processor with an integrated streaming telemetry agent. The smart RF amplifier5000can include, but is not limited to, a diplex filter5100connected to a diplex filter5300via a downstream signal flow or path and an upstream signal flow or path. The downstream signal flow can include multiple stages which can include, but is not limited to, an attenuator5200, an equalizer5210, an amplifier5220, an attenuator5230, a tilt component5240, and an amplifier5250. In implementations, the amplifier5220can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit5222and the amplifier5250can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit5252. The upstream signal flow can include multiple stages which can include, but is not limited to, an amplifier5400, an equalizer5410, and an attenuator5420. In implementations, the amplifier5400can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit5402. A transponder5500can be connected to one end or port of the smart RF amplifier5000. The smart RF amplifier5000and the components therein may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

In implementations, the attenuator5200, the equalizer5210, the amplifier5220, the attenuator5230, the tilt component5240, the amplifier5250, the amplifier5400, the equalizer5410, and the attenuator5420can be controlled and/or configured by a controller such as the controller2300, which can be connected to the transponder5500. Configuration of each stage needs to use the values within the operating range of the stage component, i.e., the attenuator, the equalizer, the amplifier, and/or the tilt component.

Operationally, a transmitted downstream signal (from a cable network) enters the smart RF amplifier5000and is directed along the downstream signal flow by the diplex filter5100, which filters a downstream signal component (H) and an upstream signal component (L). The attenuator5200ensures the signal level is in the optimal range for the preamplifier gain stages (i.e., the amplifier5220and the amplifier5250) and the equalizer5210removes any frequency tilt remaining in the signal after traversing the cable network and passives in a previous network segment. Interstage attenuation (i.e., the attenuator5230) controls the output level, while slope control (i.e., the tilt component5240) sets the output tilt. The signal then goes through the diplex filter5300to be reunited with the upstream signal and exits the smart RF amplifier5000. In the upstream signal flow, the signal flow is simpler, as losses at low frequency are smaller, allowing for a single gain stage, i.e., the amplifier5400. Operationally, an upstream signal enters the smart RF amplifier5000and is directed along the upstream signal flow by the diplex filter5300. The upstream signal is equalized, attenuated, and reunited with the downstream signal via the amplifier5400, the equalizer5410, the attenuator5420, and the diplex filter5100. Attenuation and equalization are generally accomplished using plug-in components such as attenuators and equalizers, which can be varied to achieve the desired levels.

In implementations, the temperature compensation circuit5222, the temperature compensation circuit5252, and the temperature compensation circuit5402can provide temperature compensation as the attenuation of components, such as the cable, increase with higher temperatures. In certain locales or locations, without temperature compensation, amplifiers that are set up on a hot day may amplify signals beyond specified levels on a cold day, and amplifiers set up on a cold day may not amplify signals enough as the temperature rises. Signal level changes due to temperature swings are more significant in the downstream signal flow because the attenuation is greater. Downstream temperature compensation systems use a feedback control loop, which attempts to keep a specific portion of the signal at a specified power level. If the level drops the system increases the gain, and if the level increases the system lowers the gain. In the upstream signal flow, a thermal attenuator can provide some compensation without the need for a control loop.

FIG.6is a block diagram of an example of a smart RF amplifier6000in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. The smart RF amplifier6000can be the smart amplifiers1320,1330,1505,1507,1509, and2000. The smart RF amplifier6000is a smart two-port RF amplifier configuration with multiple stages, collectively RF amplifier unit6005, integrated with a transponder such as an OpenWrt D4.0/D3.1 modem with streaming telemetry. In this instance, the smart RF amplifier6000has 6 stages of equalization and attenuation blocks in the downstream signal flow, and 4 stages of equalization and attenuation blocks in the upstream signal flow. In this example, the equalization block precedes the attenuation block in the downstream direction.

The smart RF amplifier6000can include, but is not limited to, a diplex filter6100connected to a diplex filter6300via a downstream signal flow or path and an upstream signal flow or path. The downstream signal flow can include multiple stages which can include, but is not limited to, an equalizer6200, an attenuator6210, an amplifier6220, an equalizer6230, an attenuator6240, an amplifier6250, an equalizer6260, an attenuator6270, and an amplifier6280. In implementations, the amplifier6220can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit6222, the amplifier6250can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit6252, and the amplifier6280can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit6282. The upstream signal flow can include multiple stages which can include, but is not limited to, an attenuator6400, an amplifier6410, a switch6420, an attenuator6430, an amplifier6440, an equalizer6450, and an attenuator6460. In implementations, the amplifier6410can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit6412and the amplifier6440can be connected to a temperature compensation circuit6442. A transponder6500can be connected to one end or port of the smart RF amplifier6000. The smart RF amplifier6000and the components therein may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

In implementations, the equalizer6200, the attenuator6210, the amplifier6220, the equalizer6230, the attenuator6240, the amplifier6250, the equalizer6260, the attenuator6270, the amplifier6280, the attenuator6400, the amplifier6410, the switch6420, the attenuator6430, the amplifier6440, the equalizer6450, and the attenuator6460can be controlled and/or configured by a controller such as the controller2300, which can be connected to the transponder6500. Configuration of each stage needs to use the values within the operating range of the stage component, i.e., the attenuator, the equalizer, the amplifier, and/or the tilt component.

In implementations, the temperature compensation circuit6222, the temperature compensation circuit6252, the temperature compensation circuit6282, the temperature compensation circuit6412, and the temperature compensation circuit6442can provide temperature compensation as described herein.

Operationally, a transmitted downstream signal and a transmitted upstream signal can be processed as described herein given the sequence of the stages described.

In implementations, the number of stages of components such as the equalization and attenuation components, can vary not only between the downstream and upstream signal flow, but also from one smart amplifier to another smart amplifier. This can depend on, for example, location of the smart amplifier in a cable portion of the cable or HFC network relative to a fiber node. For example, if the smart amplifier is further away from the fiber node in a cascaded amplifier link, higher downstream signal amplification may be needed compared with the upstream signal flow. In implementations, the number of ports in the smart amplifier can vary. For example, a smart amplifier can have 4 or more ports with 1 input and 3 output ports.

Operationally, the transponder, such as the transponder5500and/or6500can collect telemetry data, as described herein, from the RF amplifier unit5005and6006, respectively, and stream the collected telemetry data to a service provider's streaming and analytics platform processing or service provider processing, such as the streaming and analytics platform processing or service provider processing1240and/or the streaming and analytics platform processing or service provider processing1640to detect impairments and/or faults from the transponder5500and/or6500. In implementations, the service provider's streaming and analytics platform processing or service provider processing can initiate corrective measures at a determined fault site and/or location. In implementations, the service provider's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform can initiate optimization and/or performance measures at the smart amplifier and/or other network components. In implementations, the service provider's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform can provide instructions and/or commands based on the analyzed telemetry data to a faulty or impaired smart amplifier to remotely configure a RF amplifier unit via a controller such as the controller2300. In implementations, the service provider's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform can provide configuration instructions and/or commands based on the analyzed telemetry data to a smart amplifier to remotely optimize performance of a RF amplifier unit via a controller such as the controller2300.

In an illustrative example, the transponder5500and/or6500can collect or capture both upstream and downstream spectrum based on defined start and end frequencies. For example, in a High-Split cable network, the upstream start and end frequencies are 5 MHz and 204 MHz. The diplexer filter transition band starts at 204 MHz up to 258 MHz. The downstream start and end frequencies are 258 MHz and 1794 MHz for a Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) deployment (as shown inFIG.1A) with 1.8 GHz amplifiers.FIG.7is a photograph or image capture of an example of downstream spectrum data captured on a dashboard illustrating an issue in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. In implementations, the downstream spectrum data shown may be captured on a Grafana dashboard. In this instance, a 6 dB downstream spectral tilt is shown with respect to 32 single carrier quadrature amplitude modulation (SC-QAM) channels and 1 OFDM channel.

In implementations, the service provider's streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform can include a MLM platform, such as the MLM platform1850inFIG.1A, to detect any ingress, broadband noise, spectral tilt, LTE interference, or any anomality within a respective downstream and/or upstream band. The MLM platform can analyze the received telemetry data and provide predictive analysis of the smart amplifier potential failures and how to optimize smart amplifier performance.

FIG.8is a block diagram of an example of a MLM platform8000in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. The MLM platform8000includes an upstream MLM platform8100for upstream signal flow failure detection and a downstream MLM platform8200for downstream signal flow failure detection. For example, the upstream MLM platform8100is trained to detect any ingress, broadband noise, spectral tilt or any anomality within the upstream band and the downstream MLM platform8200is trained to detect any broadband noise, spectral tilt, LTE interference or any anomality within the downstream band.

The upstream MLM platform8100includes a machine learning algorithm trainer 18110connected to a machine learning algorithm model 18120in a feedback loop8130. The machine learning algorithm trainer 18110trains the machine learning model 18120. The downstream MLM platform8200includes a machine learning algorithm trainer 28210connected to a machine learning algorithm model 28220in a feedback loop8230. The machine learning algorithm trainer 28210trains the machine learning model 28220. For example, DataRobot, which is an enterprise AI platform with automated decision intelligence, can be used to select the best training algorithm that matches the collected smart amplifier telemetry data.

The machine learning model 18120and the machine learning model 28220can use, for example, a decision tree algorithm, which consists of series of decisions and actions based on the continuous monitoring of the streamed telemetry data received from the field-deployed smart amplifier (8300) and filtered for the appropriate one of the upstream MLM platform8100and a downstream MLM platform8200via filter8400to produce an output8140or8240, respectively. For example, an initial set of telemetry data can be used for selection of the machine learning model 18120or machine learning model 28220, respectively, and training of the machine learning model 18120or machine learning model 28220by the machine learning algorithm trainer 18110and the machine learning algorithm trainer 28210, respectively. Subsequent received real-time or near real-time telemetry data can be analyzed using the trained machine learning model 18120or machine learning model 28220, which in turn sends the output to the data analytics tools1800ofFIG.1A, for example. The machine learning models can be used to analyze the vast amount of telemetry data from the different data analytics database to provide predictive analysis of smart amplifier field behavior and issues. Performance comparison of different smart amplifiers at different points in a cable network can be done to predict failures and/or achieve smart amplifier operational optimization.

FIG.9is a block diagram of an example of a device9000in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. The device9000may include, but is not limited to, a processor9100, a memory/storage9200, a communication interface9300, and applications9400. In an implementation, the device9000may include a radio frequency device9500. The device9000may include or implement, for example, the CPE1100,1110,1120,1512, and1514, the service provider back-office system1200and components therein, the smart amplifiers1320,1330,1505,1507, and1509, the CMTS1310, HFC network1502and components therein, the back office network and components therein, the network components1520and1530and components therein, the CIN1600, the provisioning server1620, the NMS1610, the service provider network1630and components therein, the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform and/or server1640and components therein, the smart amplifier2000and components therein, the smart amplifier5000and components therein, and the smart amplifier6000and components therein. The applicable or appropriate techniques or methods described herein may be stored in the memory/storage9200and executed by the processor9100in cooperation with the memory/storage9200, the communications interface9300, the applications9400, and the radio frequency device9500(when applicable), as appropriate. The device9000may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein.

FIG.10is a flowchart of an example method10000for remote monitoring and configuration of a smart RF amplifier in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. The method10000includes collecting10100telemetry data by a smart amplifier deployed in a cable network; streaming10200the telemetry data by the smart amplifier to a service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform; receiving10300information based on the telemetry data at the smart amplifier from the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform; and remotely configuring10400the smart amplifier based on the information. The method10000can be implemented, for example, in the CPE1100,1110,1120,1512, and1514, the service provider back-office system1200and components therein, the smart amplifiers1320,1330,1505,1507, and1509, the CMTS1310, HFC network1502and components therein, the back office network and components therein, the network components1520and1530and components therein, the CIN1600, the provisioning server1620, the NMS1610, the service provider network1630and components therein, the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform and/or server1640and components therein, the smart amplifier2000and components therein, the smart amplifier5000and components therein, and the smart amplifier6000and components therein, the device9000, the processor9100, the memory/storage9200, the communications interface9300, the applications9400, and the radio frequency device9500when available, as appropriate and applicable.

The method includes collecting10100telemetry data by a smart amplifier deployed in a cable network. Smart amplifiers are deployed on a cable network, such as a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network or other cable access network. The smart amplifiers each include at least a RF amplifier unit, a controller, and a transponder which includes a transponder component and a telemetry agent. The smart amplifier receives upstream and/or downstream signal flow over the HFC network or other cable access network. The transponder component of the transponder samples, processes, and digitizes upstream and/or downstream signal flow at the smart amplifier to provide or collect telemetry data regarding the smart amplifier, the HFC network, and/or other network components on the HFC network. The telemetry data includes data as described herein.

The method includes streaming10200the telemetry data by the smart amplifier to a service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. The telemetry agent collects and streams the telemetry data to a service provider back-office network which includes the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform.

The method includes receiving10300information based on the telemetry data at the smart amplifier from the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. The service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform analyzes the telemetry data as described herein using, for example, MLM platforms as described herein. The service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform can initiate correction and/or optimization actions in view of the analyzed telemetry data. In implementations, the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform can transmit information such as configuration commands, configuration instructions, or configuration files to configure smart amplifiers, the HFC network, and/or other network components on the HFC network. For example, the configuration files are updated configuration files which were updated based on the telemetry data. The updated configuration file may be sent to the controller to optimize the performance of each amplifier stage in the RF amplifier unit.

The method includes remotely configuring10400the smart amplifier based on the command. The controller can configure the smart amplifier, such as the RF amplifier unit or components therein as described herein, to correct and/or optimize operation of the smart amplifier based on the command.

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for remote configuration and monitoring of smart amplifiers in cable systems. In implementations, a smart amplifier includes a radio frequency (RF) amplifier unit, a transponder, and a controller. The RF amplifier unit is configured to process a signal received via a cable access network. The transponder is configured to collect telemetry data from the received signal and stream the collected telemetry data to a service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. The controller is configured to remotely configure the RF amplifier unit based on information received from the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform, the information based on the streamed telemetry data.

In implementations, the transponder further includes a transponder component; and a telemetry agent integrated with the transponder component, where the transponder component and the telemetry agent collectively collect the telemetry data from the received signal, and where the transponder component and the telemetry agent collectively stream the collected telemetry data to the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. In implementations, the transponder is further configured to execute scripts to collect the telemetry data from the received signal. In implementations, the controller is further configured to execute scripts with the transponder to configure the RF amplifier unit based on the information received from the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. In implementations, the transponder includes at least a cable modem integrated with a telemetry agent. In implementations, the transponder includes at least a spectrum analyzer component integrated with a telemetry agent. In implementations, the transponder further includes a location component configured to provide a location of the smart amplifier in the HFC network. In implementations, the location component is a Global Positioning System type component. In implementations, the location component is a location management information base object.

In implementations, a system includes a service provider streaming and analytics processing platform, a cable access network configured to carry signals, and a plurality of smart amplifiers deployed on and connected to the cable access network. Each smart amplifier includes a radio frequency (RF) amplifier unit configured to process a signal received via the cable access network, and a transponder configured to collect telemetry data from the received signal; and stream the collected telemetry data to the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform, where the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform is configured to initiate an action based on an analysis of the streamed telemetry data.

In implementations, the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform is configured to transmit information based on the analysis of the streamed telemetry data, wherein each smart amplifier further comprises a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to remotely configure the RF amplifier unit based on the information. In implementations, each transponder further include a transponder component; and a telemetry agent integrated with the transponder component, where each smart amplifier further includes a controller, and where the controller, the transponder component and the telemetry agent collectively collect the telemetry data from the received signal, and where the transponder component and the telemetry agent collectively stream the collected telemetry data to the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. In implementations, the transponder is further configured to execute scripts to collect the telemetry data from the signal and stream the collected telemetry data to the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. In implementations, each smart amplifier further includes a controller configured to execute scripts with the transponder to configure the RF amplifier unit based on commands received from the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. In implementations, the transponder includes at least a cable modem integrated with a telemetry agent. In implementations, the transponder includes at least a spectrum analyzer component integrated with a telemetry agent. In implementations, the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform further includes a first machine learning platform configured to analyze upstream telemetry data from the streamed telemetry data to provide predictive analysis of smart amplifier and cable access network potential impairments and optimize performance, and a second machine learning platform configured to analyze downstream telemetry data from the streamed telemetry data to provide predictive analysis of smart amplifier and cable access network potential impairments and optimize performance.

In implementations, a method for remote monitoring and configuration of a smart amplifier, the method includes collecting, by a transponder of a smart amplifier deployed in a cable access network, telemetry data, streaming, by the transponder, the telemetry data to a service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform, receiving, by a controller at the smart amplifier from the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform, information based on the telemetry data, and remotely configuring, by the controller, a radio frequency amplifier at the smart amplifier based on the information.

In implementations, the method further includes executing, by the transponder, a script to collect the telemetry data from the radio frequency amplifier and stream the telemetry data to the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform, and executing, by the controller, a script to configure the radio frequency amplifier based on the command from the service provider streaming and analytics processing or service provider processing platform. In implementations, the method further includes analyzing, by a first machine learning platform, upstream telemetry data from the streamed telemetry data to provide predictive analysis of smart amplifier and cable network potential impairments and optimize performance, and analyzing, by a second machine learning platform, downstream telemetry data from the streamed telemetry data to provide predictive analysis of smart amplifier and cable access network potential impairments and optimize performance.

Although some embodiments herein refer to methods, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that they may also be embodied as a system or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “processor,” “device,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more the computer readable mediums having the computer readable program code embodied thereon. For example, the computer readable mediums can be non-transitory. Any combination of one or more computer readable mediums may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable storage medium include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to CDs, DVDs, wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions.

These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications, combinations, and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.