Dynamic Line Management for DSL Connection Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Dynamic Line Management (DLM) techniques for DSL connections are inadequate as they often require frequent monitoring, which is resource-intensive and unnecessary, leading to inefficient detection of line instabilities and profile changes, resulting in temporary service losses and user dissatisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A two-fold approach to DLM that quickly moves unstable connections to less aggressive profiles within a short period and uses longer-term monitoring for stable connections, allowing for real-time detection and correction of spontaneous resynchs, and periodic bulk processing of performance data to optimize profile selection based on multiple metrics, including error rates and uptime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If frequent monitoring of DSL connections is performed to detect line instabilities, then detection precision is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring with variable intervals based on connection stability. Stable connections are monitored less frequently (reducing resource consumption) while unstable connections receive more intensive monitoring (improving detection precision when needed). This resolves the contradiction by making monitoring frequency adaptive rather than uniform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses event-driven notifications from the network infrastructure itself to trigger monitoring actions. Instead of continuously polling all connections, the system responds to actual instability events when they occur, allowing the network to self-report issues and reducing unnecessary monitoring resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If intensive monitoring at short intervals is applied to all connections, then reliability of detection is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of detectionVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different monitoring intensities to different connections based on their individual stability characteristics. Rather than uniform intensive monitoring across all connections, each connection receives monitoring appropriate to its local condition - unstable connections get intensive monitoring while stable connections receive lighter monitoring, improving overall processing efficiency without sacrificing detection reliability for problematic lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If profile changes are made frequently to stabilize connections, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of connection stability and only triggers profile changes when actual instability is detected. Rather than frequently changing profiles preemptively, the system waits for concrete evidence of instability before making changes, reducing unnecessary reconfigurations and simplifying system operation while maintaining connection stability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Manufacturing precision

If long-term monitoring is used for all connections, then manufacturing precision of profile selection is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile selection precisionVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic monitoring intervals that adapt based on connection stability. For unstable connections, the system uses shorter monitoring intervals to enable faster profile changes and reduce service disruption. For stable connections, longer intervals are used to reduce processing overhead. This dynamic approach balances response time needs against processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes baseline monitoring parameters in advance and only intensifies monitoring when instability events occur. This preliminary setup allows the system to respond quickly to actual problems without maintaining high-level monitoring continuously, reducing average response time while preserving the ability to make precise profile selections when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2458785B1Data communication
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 BRITISH TELECOM PLC
  • EP2458785B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2458785B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2458785B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A management device (100) for use in an access network (19,20,30,40,100) including a plurality of data connections between end user devices (10) and an aggregation transceiver device (20) where the connections are aggregated for onward connection through the access network, the device (100) being operable, in respect of each of the connections, to monitor the stability of the connection over at least a first and a second time scale, wherein the monitoring over a first time scale detects a situation in which more than a predetermined number of problematic events occur within a first period and altering one or more parameters of the operation of the data connection in an effort to improve the connection if such a situation is detected, and wherein the monitoring over a second time scale involves monitoring the connection over a longer period and modifying the parameters of operation on an infrequent basis, the infrequent basis having a period between modifications at least an order of magnitude greater than the first period.