Cable Modem Spectrum Analysis for Intermittent Ingress Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face challenges in detecting and locating intermittent burst noise (ingress) in upstream spectra, as existing methods are costly, slow, and often fail to identify the source accurately, especially when noise is intermittent or masked by legitimate transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A cable modem is configured to perform background spectrum analysis, measuring power levels over time in multiple frequency bands, aggregating data to create a histogram that highlights consistent power levels, allowing for the detection of ingress before it affects service and reducing the search area for noise sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If field technicians manually search for noise sources, then the source can be located, but the process is costly and slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise source location accuracyVSAvoidtime to locate noise source

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cable modem performs self-diagnosis by autonomously measuring power levels in upstream frequency bands and generating spectrum analysis data to identify ingress sources, eliminating the need for manual field technician intervention and enabling automatic noise source localization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical searching by field technicians with automated electronic spectrum analysis performed by the cable modem, using signal processing to measure power levels across frequency bands and identify noise sources without physical inspection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If upstream spectrum analysis is performed by CMTS, then ingress presence can be confirmed, but the location of ingress cannot be pinpointed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveingress detection accuracyVSAvoidingress location information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the upstream spectrum into multiple frequency bands and performs power level measurements in each band, allowing the cable modem to identify specific frequency ranges affected by ingress and correlate them with physical locations in the cable network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cable modem acts as an intermediary between the CMTS and the cable plant, performing local spectrum analysis to detect ingress and provide location information to the CMTS, thereby bridging the gap between centralized monitoring and distributed noise sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If upstream spectrum analysis is performed in the CM, then fault detection is possible, but intermittent ingress may be missed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidintermittent ingress detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cable modem continuously measures power levels in upstream frequency bands over an extended period, accumulating spectrum analysis data that captures intermittent ingress events that would be missed by periodic or on-demand measurements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs background spectrum analysis to establish a baseline of normal operating conditions before ingress occurs, enabling comparison with subsequent measurements to detect deviations indicating intermittent noise sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of time

If pre-equalizer-based proactive plant fault detection is used, then plant faults can be detected early, but ingress source location cannot be determined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to detect plant faultVSAvoidingress location data

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a spectral dimension to fault detection by measuring power levels across multiple frequency bands, transforming the detection process from simple signal presence/absence to frequency-resolved analysis that enables both early detection and location identification of ingress sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11683064B2Cable modem, apparatus, device, and method for a cable modem, apparatus, device, and method for a cable communication system

Publication Date: 2023.06.20 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Examples relate to a cable modem, to an apparatus, device and method for a cable modem, and to an apparatus, device and method for a cable communication system. The apparatus or device for the cable modem comprises interface circuitry/communication means for communicating with transceiver circuitry/transceiving means of the cable modem, and processing circuitry/processing means. The processing circuitry/means is configured to determine information on a power level of received transmissions at a plurality of points in time in a plurality of frequency bands of an upstream spectrum via the transceiver circuitry, to determine, for each of the plurality of frequency bands, numeric information on an occurrence of one or more power levels of the received transmissions in the respective frequency band, and aggregate the numeric information on the occurrence of the one or more power levels of the received transmissions by frequency band.