Methods for determining localized outages and distributed signal verification of set-top boxes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016198152-A1
Application number	US-201514590216-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2015
Priority date	Jan 6, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments disclose systems and methods for testing and determining outages of communication systems. A server can receive signal-reception-related information from set-top boxes (STBs) in a particular geographical region, where a STB: receives signals having a predefined pattern, generates a comparison of the predefined pattern to reference patterns stored on the STB, generates the signal-reception-related information based on the comparison, and sends the signal-reception-related information. The server can determine an outage status for the particular geographical region based on the signal-reception-related information. The server can generate an output based on the outage status. The output is configured to provide information related to the outage status of the particular geographical region and information for possible responses related to the outage status. The server can send the output.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a server, signal-reception-related information provided by a plurality of set-top boxes, wherein one or more set-top boxes of the plurality of set-top boxes are located in a particular geographical region; determining an outage status for the particular geographical region using the server, wherein the outage status is based on the signal-reception-related information provided by the one or more set-top boxes located in the particular geographical region; generating an output of the server, wherein the output is configured to provide information related to the outage status of the particular geographical region and information for possible responses related to the outage status; and providing the output from the server.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the outage status for the particular geographical region comprises:
updating an outage-status value for the particular geographical region based on the signal-reception-related information provided by one or more set-top boxes located in the particular geographical region; after determining that the outage-status value exceeds a first threshold value,
setting the outage status to possibly degraded;
determining one or more possible causes for an outage;
determining a cause status for at least one possible cause for the outage of the one or more possible causes; and
determining a most likely cause for the outage based on the cause statuses for at least one possible cause for the outage.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the outage status for the particular geographical region further comprises:
after determining that the outage-status value does not exceed the first threshold value and does exceed a second threshold value:
setting the outage status to degraded;
determining one or more possible causes for a likely outage;
determining a cause status for at least one possible cause for the likely outage of the one or more possible causes for the likely outage; and
determining a likely cause of an outage based on the cause statuses for the at least one possible cause for the likely outage.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more possible causes for the outage and the one or more possible causes for the likely outage are each selected from the group of causes consisting of: a meteorologically-related cause, a satellite-related cause, a terrestrial-network-related cause, a network-traffic-related cause, and a solar-radiation-related cause.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the outage status for the particular geographical region further comprises:
after determining that the outage-status value does not exceed the second threshold value, setting the outage status to normal.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein generating the output of the server comprises:
determining whether the outage status is set to degraded; after determining that the outage status is set to degraded, generating an output to indicate an outage is occurring and to provide the most likely cause for the outage; otherwise, determining whether the outage status is set to possibly degraded; and after determining that the outage status is set to possibly degraded, generating an output to indicate an outage is likely and to indicate the likely cause for the outage.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving signal-reception-related information comprises:
determining a rate for receiving signal-reception-related information for the particular geographical region based on an outage-status value for the particular geographical region associated with the outage status for the particular geographical region.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving signal-reception-related information comprises:
sending one or more requests for the signal-reception-related information to the one or more set-top boxes located in the particular geographical area at the rate for receiving signal-reception-related information; and in response to the one or more requests for the signal-reception-related information, receiving one or more messages from the one or more set-top boxes within the particular geographical area, wherein the one or more messages include the signal-reception-related information.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving signal-reception-related information comprises:
sending the rate for receiving signal-reception-related information to a set-top box within the particular geographical area; and receiving one or more messages from the set-top box within the particular geographical area at the rate for receiving signal-reception-related information, wherein the one or more messages include the signal-reception-related information.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the output comprises one or more of: providing the output via at least one set-top box located in the geographical region, providing the output via a web site, providing the output via an e-mail, providing the output via a text message, and providing the output via a voice message.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving signal-reception-related information comprises receiving signal-reception-related information from a set-top box of the one or more set-top boxes located in the particular geographical area.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving signal-reception-related information from the set-top box comprises:
receiving one or more signals at the set-top box, wherein the one or more signals comprise a predefined pattern of data, wherein the set-top box stores one or more reference patterns of data; generating a comparison between data in the predefined pattern of received one or more signals and data in at least one reference pattern of the one or more reference patterns using the set-top box; generating signal-reception-related information based on the comparison using the set-top box; and sending a message from the set-top box, wherein the message comprises the signal-reception-related information.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving a request to provide the signal-reception-related information at the set-top box; and wherein the message comprises a response to the request to provide the signal-reception-related information.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the request to provide the signal-reception-related information comprises receiving the request to provide the signal-reception-related information via a user interface associated with the set-top box.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein one or more reference patterns comprise a plurality of reference patterns, wherein the predefined pattern is associated with a first plurality of predefined patterns, and wherein each reference pattern in the plurality of reference patterns corresponds to a predefined pattern in the first plurality of predefined patterns.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving the one or more signals comprises receiving the one or more signals from a channel dedicated for testing, wherein the channel dedicated for testing is configured to communicate a second plurality of predefined patterns, and wherein the second plurality of predefined patterns comprise the predefined pattern.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the comparison between data in the predefined pattern of the received one or more signals and data in at least one reference pattern comprises selecting the at least one reference pattern from the one or more reference patterns based on time.

18 . The metho

Assignees

• Directv Group Inc

Inventors

• Chin Kian-Vine
• Yee Woei-Shyang
• Huie Wesley W
• Talatinian Gerard V
• Yang Christopher
• Kim Heesoon E
• Greenwade Robert S

Classifications

• H04N21/2408

  Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests (monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60) · CPC title

• H04N21/6118

  involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem · CPC title

• H04N7/20

  Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite · CPC title

• H04N21/44209

  Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network (arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896) · CPC title

• H04N17/004

  for digital television systems · CPC title