Method and apparatus for predicting successful DSL line optimization

A method of predicting improved performance of a digital subscriber line (DSL) line before a DSL optimizer in the DSL management system optimizes performance of the DSL line, the method comprising:

• obtaining from a DSL controller:
• a current state of performance of the DSL line before optimization;
• a target state of performance of the DSL line after optimization;
• and a measure of DSL line characteristics of the DSL line;
• identifying, from among a plurality of records associated with optimizing performance of a plurality of DSL lines, a subset of the records associated with optimizing performance of a subset of DSL lines having a similar measure of DSL line characteristics as the DSL line for which improved performance is to be predicted;
• obtaining a probability that the DSL optimizer will optimize the performance of the DSL line from the current state of performance to the target state of performance, based on a statistical analysis of the identified subset of records associated with optimizing performance of the subset of DSL lines that detects instances when the DSL optimizer previously has optimized the performance of the subset of DSL lines from a same or similar state as the current state of performance to a same or similar state as the target state of performance;
• and using the obtained probability to allocate DSL system resources in a DSL network.