Home Network Physical Layer Diagnosis Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residential home networks often experience poor quality physical layer connectivity due to sensitivity to interference, leading to reduced bandwidth and service disruptions, with end-users left to diagnose and resolve issues without assistance.
Innovation Solution
A home network physical layer diagnosis platform that collects and analyzes data from devices to identify connectivity problems, associates them with predetermined issues, and communicates problem information and solutions to users, integrating noise, channel frequency response, and transceiver non-linearity analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing in-house media (twisted pair phone wires, electrical power wires, coax-cables) are used for home network connectivity, then the home network can be established using already existing infrastructure, but the physical layer quality is poor and highly sensitive to interference and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a collection engine that continuously gathers information from home network devices about physical layer conditions, and an analysis engine that processes this data to identify connectivity problems. This feedback mechanism enables the system to monitor and respond to interference and noise conditions in real-time, improving reliability while maintaining ease of deployment using existing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnosis platform enables end-users to automatically diagnose and identify physical layer connectivity problems without requiring assistance from operators or technical experts. The system self-services by collecting device information, analyzing connectivity issues, and presenting diagnostic results to users, thereby resolving the contradiction between easy deployment and reliable operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional DSL modem or coax-cable modem is used for Internet access in home networks, then connectivity to the Internet can be established, but the available media suffers from low quality physical layer offering poor immunity for interference
Solution Approach 1:
The analysis engine collects information from multiple home network devices connected through the modem and existing media, continuously monitoring physical layer conditions. This feedback allows the system to detect noise and interference affecting Internet access connectivity, enabling diagnostic identification of problems caused by the harmful factors while maintaining adaptability to different media types.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnosis platform is designed to work with multiple types of existing media (twisted pair, power wires, coax-cables) and different modem types (DSL, coax-cable). This universal approach maintains adaptability for Internet access while providing comprehensive protection against noise and interference specific to each media type through unified diagnostic capabilities.
3Extent of automation
If end-users are left to diagnose and solve home network problems without assistance, then operator resources are conserved and responsibility is clearly defined, but users lack the capability to effectively diagnose and resolve physical layer connectivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service diagnosis platform that empowers end-users to automatically diagnose physical layer connectivity problems. The collection engine gathers information from network devices, the analysis engine processes this data to identify issues, and the system presents diagnostic results to users. This enables users to effectively diagnose and resolve problems themselves without requiring operator assistance, thereby improving both automation extent and problem resolution effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnosis platform acts as an intermediary between the complex physical layer infrastructure and the end-user. It mediates by automatically collecting technical information from devices, analyzing connectivity issues, and presenting simplified diagnostic results to users. This intermediary function bridges the gap between user capability and technical complexity, enabling effective self-diagnosis without requiring specialized knowledge.
4Quantity of substance
If the communication links between in-house devices are severely impacted by noise and interference, then the existing infrastructure can be maintained, but the usable bandwidth between nodes is drastically reduced such that intended services cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The collection engine continuously monitors physical layer conditions including bandwidth utilization and error rates. The analysis engine processes this feedback information to identify when noise and interference are causing bandwidth reduction that prevents service delivery. This enables the system to detect and report bandwidth degradation issues while maintaining the existing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnosis platform enables users to self-diagnose bandwidth and service delivery problems by automatically analyzing communication link quality between in-house devices. The system identifies when usable bandwidth is drastically reduced due to interference and presents diagnostic information to users, allowing them to take appropriate actions to restore service capability without requiring external assistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A home network physical layer analysis platform includes a collection engine adapted for receiving information indicative for stability and performance of an existing home network physical layer configuration from one or more home network devices. Each of the network devices are connected in the home network by a respective network technology. An analysis engine is adapted for analyzing the information to identify whether substantial network connectivity problems exist in the home network, and for associating the information with a problem out of a set of predetermined problems, if connectivity problems exist. The platform also includes a communication means for communicating the problem to a user interface, such that the respective user is informed about the problem.