Patent ID: 8161517

Claim:
A system for determining a fault in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network segment comprising: a local area network, wherein the local area network is distinct from the HFC cable network segment; a cable service technician (“CST”) client remote from the customer's premises and connected to the local area network; a two-way query processor remote from a customer's premises and connected to the local area network, wherein the two-way query processor comprises instructions for: receiving a query from the CST client, wherein the query comprises a subscriber account number; in response to the receipt of the subscriber account number, executing validation instructions to obtain a response indicative of a two-way operational status of each of two or more CPE units associated with the subscriber account number and located at a common location; and a result analyzer remote from the customer's premises and connected to the two-way query processor, wherein the result analyzer comprises instructions for: receiving the responses from each of the two or more CPE units; determining that a fault is present in network facilities other than the two or more CPE units when the responses from the two or more CPE units are not indicative of two-way operational capability; determining that a fault is present in at least one of the two or more CPE units when at least one of the responses from the two or more CPE units are indicative of two-way operational capability and one or more responses from the two or more CPE units are not indicative of two-way operational capability; and a display server, wherein the display server comprises instructions for; receiving a fault determination from the result analyzer; and communicating the fault determination to the CST client via the local area network for display.