Selective MTA Reset in EMTAs to Reduce VoIP Downtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reset strategies for Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapters (EMTAs) cause unnecessary downtime for VoIP and Internet services by resetting the entire device when only the Multimedia Terminal Adapter (MTA) portion needs to be reset, leading to longer service outages and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for resetting network devices, specifically the MTA portion of EMTAs, by receiving host names and security keys, creating qualified names and security data, and sending reset signals to allow the MTA to operate from a different switch in the HFC network without disrupting other EMTA components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire EMTA is reset when only the MTA portion needs resetting, then the MTA can be restarted to apply updated configuration, but VoIP service and Internet service experience unnecessary downtime and service disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The EMTA is divided into independent functional segments (MTA portion and other portions providing VoIP and Internet services). The patent applies selective resetting by targeting only the MTA segment while leaving other segments operational, enabling independent reset operations that minimize overall system downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The reset operation is extracted and isolated to specifically affect only the MTA portion of the EMTA. By using selective resetting mechanisms, the patent separates the reset operation from the broader EMTA system, allowing the MTA to be restarted without propagating the reset to other functional components.
2Reliability
If the entire EMTA is reset, then all components are restarted ensuring complete system refresh, but the reset time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independently resettable components. The MTA portion can be reset independently without requiring reset of the entire EMTA, enabling faster reset operations that maintain reliability by ensuring complete refresh of only the necessary segment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing a complete reset of the entire EMTA, the patent applies partial resetting action that targets only the MTA portion. This partial action is sufficient to achieve the reset objective without the excessive cost of resetting the entire system.
3Loss of time
If selective resetting of the MTA portion is implemented, then service downtime is reduced and Internet access remains available, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A control mechanism or intermediary system is introduced to manage selective resetting operations. This intermediary enables the system to identify and target the MTA portion for resetting while preserving other services, adding controlled complexity to achieve the benefit of reduced service downtime.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of network devices may be reset. In order to reset the plurality of network devices, a first file may be received including a plurality of host names corresponding to a plurality of network devices. Next, a second file may be received comprising a plurality of security keys respectively indexed with a plurality of network device IDs. Then, data may be created based on the first file and the second file. The data may include a plurality of qualified names each respectively corresponding to each of the plurality of network devices. The data may also include a plurality of security keys each respectively corresponding to each of the plurality of network devices. Next, the data may be sent to a programming module configured to send reset signals to each of the plurality of network devices.