VOD Transaction Error Correlator for HFC Network Fault Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video-on-demand (VOD) systems in hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable networks face challenges in correlating errors reported by divergent systems, making it difficult for technicians to identify and isolate faults in real-time, as XOD servers and VOD content servers provide incomplete or inaccurate error characterization.
Innovation Solution
A VOD correlation system comprising a VOD analysis server that processes transaction error data from both XOD and VOD content servers, correlates errors, and provides a graphical interface to facilitate the identification of error sources, including descriptive naming of network devices, enabling near-real-time fault isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If error data is collected from multiple divergent systems (XOD server and VOD content server), then the quantity of error information increases, but the difficulty of correlating and analyzing errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary correlation system that receives error data from both the XOD server and VOD content server, processes and correlates the data using timestamp matching and transaction ID correlation, and presents unified error information to technicians. This intermediary system resolves the complexity of directly correlating errors from multiple divergent systems by providing a centralized correlation layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges error data from multiple independent systems (XOD server error logs and VOD content server error logs) into a unified error report. By combining the error information, transaction data, and system logs into a single correlated view, the system reduces the perceived complexity for end users while maintaining the detailed information needed for fault isolation.
2Measurement precision
If detailed error characterization is provided from multiple systems, then the accuracy of error identification improves, but the time required to analyze and isolate faults increases
Solution Approach 1:
The correlation system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and correlating error data in the background before fault isolation is needed. It continuously monitors error logs from both systems, matches errors using timestamp and transaction ID correlations, and prepares unified error reports in advance, so that when a fault occurs, technicians receive pre-analyzed information immediately rather than having to manually correlate errors in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where error data from both XOD and VOD systems is continuously fed into the correlation engine, which processes the feedback and generates correlated error reports. This feedback loop enables automatic updating of error status and facilitates rapid fault isolation by providing real-time correlated information without requiring manual analysis time.
3Reliability
If a comprehensive error correlation system is implemented, then the reliability of fault identification improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary correlation system that receives error data from both the XOD server and VOD content server, processes and correlates the data using timestamp matching and transaction ID correlation, and presents unified error information to technicians. This intermediary system resolves the complexity of directly correlating errors from multiple divergent systems by providing a centralized correlation layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The correlation system creates copies of relevant error data and transaction information from both the XOD server and VOD content server, storing them in a unified format that enables easy correlation. By working with copies rather than directly modifying the original systems, the solution maintains reliability while managing complexity through standardized data representations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for analyzing video-on-demand (VOD) transaction errors in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network. Raw XOD transaction error data is acquired from an XOD server. XOD-related subscriber information is acquired from a subscriber datastore. VOD transaction data is acquired from a VOD server. A correlator acquires the raw XOD transaction error, determines from the XOD-related subscriber information that a subscriber is not entitled to receive XOD service, creates filtered XOD transaction error data by removing from the raw XOD transaction error data XOD transaction errors associated with the subscriber, and correlates a filtered XOD transaction error with VOD transaction data to identify a network path of the filtered XOD transaction error. A result processor reviews the correlated transaction error data to determine whether correlated transaction error data entries are related by a common cause.