Patent ID: 7801054

Claim:
A method for monitoring performance of a network providing content to an Internet Protocol device, comprising: assigning an Internet Protocol address to a network monitoring system to establish a communication between the network monitoring system and an Internet Protocol device associated with the Internet Protocol address; gathering performance data corresponding to the network; and providing the Internet Protocol device with access to the performance data corresponding to the network via the Internet Protocol address, the access provided through a residential gateway and a modem in communication with the Internet Protocol device; wherein the Internet Protocol device comprises a set top box; wherein the performance data is segmented into one or more location-specific regions, wherein access to the performance data by an end user of the Internet Protocol device is restricted to location-specific regions providing local service to the Internet Protocol device, the method further comprising: comparing the gathered performance data to parameter values established for the Internet Protocol device and the network; analyzing data from external sources when the performance data reflects values that are outside of the parameter values established, the data from external sources determined to impact performance of the Internet Protocol device when location-specific information associated with the data matches location-specific information associated with the Internet Protocol device; and recording results of the analyzing in a storage location.