Patent ID: 7694323

Claim:
A system comprising: a digital cable host device; a point-of-deployment module coupled to the digital cable host device; a communications network at least initially having a connection to the digital cable host device; a server comprising an interface for receiving, from the digital cable host device, signals through the communications network, the signals indicating continuity of the connection, each of the signals containing information identifying the device; and a database associated with the server, the database comprising a record with contact information for a user of the digital cable host device together with the information identifying the device, the database being populated based on an authorization process for the digital cable host device and the point-of-deployment module; wherein: the digital cable host device is configured to generate the signals with the information identifying the device; and the server is configured such that: responsive to receipt of a first one of the signals, the server determines whether a second one of the signals is received within a period from the receipt of the first signal; and the server generates an alert to prompt an operator of the communications network to contact the user of the device if it is determined that the second signal is not received within the period, the alert including the contact information for the user from the database, the contact information being identified based on the information identifying the device.