TWI481211B - Fault monitoring system for catv structure with cable modem termination system - Google Patents

Description

Fault monitoring system for cable television architecture with cable modem terminal systems System

The present invention relates to a fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture, and more particularly to a fault monitoring system for monitoring whether a terminal device of a cable television architecture is faulty.

Please refer to paragraphs 1a and 1b, for example, in the new patent case of "Cable TV Reverse Loop Control Device" of the Republic of China Announcement No. M241893, which discloses a conventional cable television monitoring device 9 for setting up a cable C and The cable amplifier monitoring device 9 includes a bit address decoder 91, a control signal receiving module 92 and at least one electronic control switch 93 between the inverting amplifiers A connected to the cable C (as shown in FIG. 1a). The control signal receiving module 92 is connected between the cable C and the address decoder 91. The electronic control switch 93 is connected to the address decoder 91, the inverting amplifier A and a ground terminal (such as FIG. 1b). Shown).

Among them, the cable room (not shown) provides service content to the user terminal by several cables C. In order to provide good communication quality, the equipment room needs to monitor the communication status of each cable C, for example: each cable Whether the C is faulty or the like, when the equipment room wants to detect whether the cable C is faulty, the cable television monitoring device 9 connected to each cable C can issue a disconnection command, and each disconnection command can be sent to each control signal receiving module 92. The address decoder 91 controls the respective electronic control switches 93 to switch, thereby disconnecting the connection state between each of the inverting amplifiers A and the cable C, so as to detect the noise state before and after the disconnection command is issued, and according to The noise state of each cable C is found to be possible The location of the faulty cable.

However, when it is necessary to detect whether the cable C is faulty, the equipment room must issue a disconnection command one by one to the cable television monitoring device 9 connected to each cable, so that the possible fault location can be found by the noise state of each cable C. Therefore, the cable television monitoring device 9 cannot monitor the fault status of all cables in real time. Moreover, when detecting the fault state of the cable, the electronic control switch 93 is controlled by the disconnection command to disconnect the reverse amplifier and the cable, if the electronic control switch 93 to which the cable belongs is faulty. If the cable is disturbed by other noise, the computer room will not be able to obtain the correct noise state of the cable, resulting in inaccurate fault detection results of the cable.

In summary, the conventional cable television monitoring device 9 detects the fault state of the cable (ie, the communication medium), in addition to causing the problem that "the operating state of the system cannot be monitored immediately", and the "detection result" is caused. Inaccuracies and doubts have different limitations and shortcomings in actual use. There are inconveniences, and further improvements are needed to improve their practicality.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the above-discussed shortcomings to provide a fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture to instantly know the location of failure of all communication media and terminal devices.

The present invention is applied to a fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system. The cable modem terminal system is connected to a head end device, and the cable modem terminal system and a plurality of return nodes are connected to each other to form a network. a structure, each reporting node is connected to at least one data terminal, and the cable modem terminal system obtains operating parameters of the data terminal via each reporting node The operation parameter includes a network card number, an address, and a connection status, wherein the head device determines whether the data terminal is normal according to the operation parameter, and converts the operation parameter into a monitoring webpage content, when the When the cable modem terminal system has not received the operational parameters of any data terminal backhaul, the cable modem terminal system searches for the upstream communication medium that is connected by the data terminals that are not returned later, and monitors the upstream communication medium. The webpage displays the message of the upstream communication medium failure, and the fault message is a fault location, and the fault location is displayed in an electronic map.

The cable modem terminal system and the plurality of return nodes are interconnected to form a ring network structure.

The cable modem terminal system and the plurality of reporting nodes are interconnected to form a tree network structure.

Wherein, when each reporting node connects a plurality of data terminals, the connection between the reporting node and the data terminal forms a tree network structure.

Wherein, when the cable data terminal system has not received the operation parameter of any data terminal backhaul, the management device displays the message of the data terminal failure that is not returned later on the monitoring webpage.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more <RTIgt;

The "Head Apparatus" as used throughout the present invention refers to a device for providing service content such as video or data in a cable television network, including: a cable television signal transmitter ( CATV A transmitter, a router, an optical protection switch (OPS), a server, and combinations thereof can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

The "management apparatus" as used throughout the present invention refers to a device for transferring service content such as video or data in a cable television network, such as a hub or cable modem terminal system ( Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS), etc., can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

The term "data terminator" as used throughout the present invention refers to a device for receiving service content such as data in a cable television network, such as a cable data machine, etc., which has the technical field of the present invention. Usually the knowledge person can understand.

The term "Video Terminator" as used throughout the text of the present invention refers to a device for receiving video service content in a cable television network, such as a cable television receiver (STB), etc., which belongs to the present invention. Those with ordinary knowledge in the field can understand.

The "connection" as used throughout the text of the present invention means that in a cable television network, the head end device, the management device, the data terminal and the video terminal are connected by a communication medium for transmitting video or data data, etc. The service content can be understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

"Communication Media" as used throughout the text of the present invention refers to a medium for transmitting service content such as data in a cable television system, such as an optical fiber, a coaxial cable, or a hybrid fiber. Coaxial cable (HFC), etc., but not limited to this, this is It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is a system architecture diagram of a preferred embodiment of a fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system, wherein the fault monitoring system includes a management device 1. a plurality of reporting nodes 2, a plurality of data terminals 3 and a head end device 4, wherein the management device 1 and the plurality of reporting nodes 2 are interconnected to form a network structure, such as a ring network structure and a tree. Tree network structure or other network structure, the ring and tree structure are well understood by those skilled in the art, and are not described here; each reporting node 2 is connected to at least one data terminal 3, when each When the reporting node 2 is connected to the plurality of data terminals 3, the reporting node 2 and the data terminal 3 can be connected to form a tree network structure; the head end device 4 is connected to the management device 1.

The management device 1 can select a device having a data and signal processing function, for example, a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) or the like. The management device 1 can obtain the operating parameters of the data terminal 3, such as the network card number (MAC), the address and the connection status, and the information about the data terminal 3 via the respective reporting nodes 2, as a determination of whether each data terminal 3 can The basis for normal communication. At the same time, the management device 1 can convert the operation parameter into a content of a monitoring webpage, wherein the manner of making the monitoring webpage is well understood by those skilled in the art, and is not described herein. In this embodiment, the management device 1 can be connected to an optical switch (for example, an Optical Switch) 12 and a receiver (for example, Receiver) 13 by a controller (CMTS) 11, and the optical switch 12 and the receiver. The device 13 is respectively connected to a first monitor (for example: OPS) 14 and a second monitor (eg, OPS) 15 for connecting a cable monitor 41 of the head end device 4, wherein the cable monitor 41 is connectable to a router 42 A server 43 is used to connect the reward node 2, but not limited thereto. Thereby, the management device 1 can control the data service content between the reward node 2 and the head end device 4, for example, uploading or downloading a data flow, and the reward node 2 The operational parameters of the data terminal 3 are obtained.

In addition, the management device 1 can also be connected to the controller 11 and an optical receiver 17 by a transmitter (Transmitter) 16. The transmitter 16 and the optical receiver 17 are respectively connected to a splitter. 18 and a third monitor (for example, OPS) 19 for connecting a plurality of video terminals, and the third monitor 19 is for connecting to a video transmitter 44 of the head device 4. In this way, the management device 1 can be used to control the content of the video service transmitted by the head device 4, for example, the program content of different channels, etc., which is well understood by those skilled in the art and will not be described herein.

The reward node 2 selects a device having a signal processing function, such as an optical transceiver or an amplifier, for processing a data signal. The plurality of reporting nodes 2 and the management device 1 are connected to each other to form a node ring, and each of the reporting nodes 2 is connected to at least one data terminal 3 for obtaining the operating parameters of the data terminal 3 and transmitting to the node Management device 1. In this embodiment, a plurality of return nodes 2 and a second monitor 15 of the management device 1 are connected to each other to form a node ring R as an implementation aspect, but not limited thereto.

The data terminal 3 selects a device having a data processing function, such as a cable modem, for modulating and de-modulating data signals. In this embodiment, a plurality of data terminals 3 and a node tree T are connected to the node 2 as an implementation manner, but not limited thereto.

When the present invention is applied to a fault monitoring system of a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system, the management device 1 can collect the network card number, address and connection of all the data terminals 3 via the return nodes 2 of the node ring. The operating parameter of the line state, the server 43 of the head end device 4 can execute a monitoring program for determining whether the data terminal is normal according to the operating parameter, and converting the operating parameter to the content of the monitoring webpage. For the relevant personnel to monitor whether each data terminal 3 itself or its connected communication medium is faulty or the like.

When the management device 1 has not received the operational parameters returned by any of the data terminals 3 (such as the data terminal 3a shown in FIG. 2), the server 43 of the headend device 4 can generate the monitoring webpage. a message for displaying the failure of the data terminal 3 that is not returned later, such as a fault location, a device number, or an abnormal situation, wherein the monitoring webpage can be displayed on the server 43 or via the mobile communication network via the server 43 Transfer to mobile communication equipment (such as smart phones or tablets) carried by maintenance personnel.

Alternatively, when the management device 1 does not receive the operational parameters returned by any of the group data terminals 3 (such as the data terminals 3b to 3d shown in FIG. 2), the head end device 4 can look for the delays. The upstream communication medium (such as U shown in FIG. 2) connected to the data terminal 3 is transmitted, and the message of the upstream communication medium U failure is displayed on the monitoring webpage.

Moreover, the information of the data terminal 3 or the upstream communication medium U failure can be further displayed in an electronic map (for example, Google Map, etc.), and combined with technologies such as electronic navigation (for example, GPS, etc.), so that the cable television system provider Quickly dispatch personnel to the fault location for repairs.

The main features of the preferred embodiment of the fault monitoring system of the present invention for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system are as follows: since the management device 1 is connected to the head end device 4, and The plurality of reporting nodes 2 are interconnected to form the network structure, and each of the reporting nodes 2 is connected to at least one data terminal 3. Therefore, the management device 1 can obtain the operating parameters of the data terminal 3 via the respective reporting nodes 2, such as a network card number (MAC), an address, and a connection status, as a basis for determining whether each data terminal 3 can communicate normally. At the same time, the head end device 4 can convert the operation parameter into the content of the monitoring webpage to display a message of the failure of the single data terminal 3 or the upstream communication medium U, and the fault message can also be displayed on the electronic map. And combined with electronic navigation technology.

Therefore, the network administrator of the cable television system can control the working status of all the data terminals 3 and the communication medium in real time by the monitoring webpage; and when the data terminal 3 or the communication medium fails, the network management personnel can immediately transmit the fault location. The maintenance personnel or the maintenance personnel can regularly browse the monitoring webpage to shorten the troubleshooting time, thereby improving the time limit of fault repair and reducing the amount of customer complaint messages of the cable television system to the cable television system.

The present invention is applied to a preferred embodiment of a fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system, which can instantly know the fault locations of all communication media and terminal devices, thereby achieving the "instant control system operation" And "improving the aging of failures" and other effects.

While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments described above, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is protected, and therefore the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

〔this invention〕

1‧‧‧Management device

11‧‧‧ Controller

12‧‧‧Light exchanger

13‧‧‧ Receiver

14‧‧‧First monitor

15‧‧‧Second monitor

16‧‧‧Transmitter

17‧‧‧Optical Receiver

18‧‧‧Differentiator

19‧‧‧ Third monitor

2‧‧‧Return node

3,3a~3d‧‧‧data terminal

4‧‧‧ head device

41‧‧‧ Cable Monitor

42‧‧‧ router

43‧‧‧Server

44‧‧‧Video transmitter

R‧‧‧ node ring

T‧‧‧ node tree

U‧‧‧ upstream communication medium

[study]

9‧‧‧Learning cable TV monitoring device

91‧‧‧ address decoder

92‧‧‧Control signal receiving module

93‧‧‧Electric control switch

A‧‧‧inverter

C‧‧‧ cable

Figure 1a: System architecture diagram of a conventional cable TV monitoring device (1).

Figure 1b: System architecture diagram of the conventional cable TV monitoring device (2).

2 is a system architecture diagram of a preferred embodiment of a fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system.

1‧‧‧Management device

11‧‧‧ Controller

12‧‧‧Light exchanger

13‧‧‧ Receiver

14‧‧‧First monitor

15‧‧‧Second monitor

16‧‧‧Transmitter

17‧‧‧Optical Receiver

18‧‧‧Differentiator

19‧‧‧ Third monitor

2‧‧‧Return node

3,3a~3d‧‧‧data terminal

4‧‧‧ head device

41‧‧‧ Cable Monitor

42‧‧‧ router

43‧‧‧Server

44‧‧‧Video transmitter

R‧‧‧ node ring

T‧‧‧ node tree

U‧‧‧ upstream communication medium

Claims (5)

A fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system, the cable modem terminal system is coupled to a head end device, and the cable modem terminal system and the plurality of return nodes are interconnected to form a network structure Each of the reporting nodes is connected to at least one data terminal, and the cable modem terminal system obtains the operating parameters of the data terminal via the respective reporting nodes, the operating parameters including the network card number, the address, and the connection state, wherein the head end The device determines, according to the operating parameter, whether each data terminal is in normal communication, and converts the operating parameter into a content of a monitoring webpage. When the cable modem terminal system has not received any operational parameters returned by the data terminal, The cable modem terminal system searches for an upstream communication medium that is connected by the data terminals that are not returned later, and displays a message of the upstream communication medium failure on the monitoring webpage, the fault message is a fault location, and the fault location is displayed. In an electronic map. The fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system according to claim 1, wherein the cable modem terminal system and the plurality of return nodes are interconnected to form a ring network. structure. The fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system according to claim 1, wherein the cable modem terminal system and the plurality of reward nodes are interconnected to form a tree network structure. . For the purpose of containing the cable data machine as described in item 1 of the patent application scope A fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture of an end system, wherein when each reporting node connects a plurality of data terminals, the connection between the reporting node and the data terminal forms a tree network structure. The fault monitoring system for a cable television architecture including a cable modem terminal system according to claim 1, wherein when the cable modem terminal system has not received any operating parameters of the data terminal backhaul When the management device displays the message of the data terminal failure that is not returned later on the monitoring webpage.