Systems and methods for detecting faults in a telecommunication system using retrain data

A method of identifying fault conditions at a distribution point of a telecommunication system, the method comprising:

• selecting, by at least one processor, a plurality of ports located at the distribution point, wherein the plurality of ports are associated with a hardware component of the distribution point;
• collecting, by the at least one processor, data regarding retrain events occurring at each port of the plurality of ports;
• storing, in memory, the collected retrain event data for the plurality of ports;
• identifying, by the at least one processor, a plurality of evaluation metrics;
• grouping, by the at least one processor, the collected retrain event data for the plurality of ports into a plurality of categories associated with the plurality of evaluation metrics, wherein each category of the plurality of categories includes at least one retrain event from the collected retrain event data, and wherein at least one of the plurality of categories includes retrain events for more than one of the plurality of ports;
• generating a value for each evaluation metric of the plurality of evaluation metrics based on a number of retrain events in each category of the plurality of categories associated with the evaluation metric, the generated values including a value that is based on a number of retrain events occurring for more than one of the plurality of ports;
• and
• determining, by the at least one processor, whether a fault condition is present at the hardware component based on the generated values for the plurality of evaluation metrics conforming to a pattern.

A telecommunication system having a distribution point communicatively coupled between a network and a plurality of customer premises, comprising:

• a plurality of hardware components at the distribution point, wherein each hardware component of the plurality of hardware components is associated with a plurality of ports at the distribution point, each port of the plurality ports having a transceiver coupled to a respective one of a plurality of subscriber lines;
• memory configured to store information relating to retrain events for each port of the plurality of ports;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• select a target site at the distribution point, the target site corresponding to a group of ports of the plurality of ports, wherein the group of ports is associated with a hardware component of the plurality of hardware components;
• select a screening criteria for the target site, wherein the screening criteria is associated with the fault condition;
• group the stored retrain event data for the group of ports into a plurality of categories, wherein at least one of the plurality of categories includes retrain events for more than one of the plurality of ports;
• calculate a number of retrain events in each category of the plurality of categories;
• calculate a plurality of values for the selected screening criteria based on the calculated number of retrain events in the plurality of categories, the calculated plurality of values including a value that is based on a number of retrain events occurring for more than one of the plurality of ports;
• and
• determine whether a fault condition is present at the target site based on the calculated plurality of values for the selected screening criteria for the target site.

A method of identifying a fault condition at a distribution point of a telecommunication system, the method comprising:

• selecting, by at least one processor, a plurality of ports at the distribution point;
• collecting, by the at least one processor, data regarding retrain events occurring at each port of the plurality of ports;
• storing, in memory, the collected retrain event data;
• selecting, by the at least one processor, a screening criteria associated with the fault condition;
• identifying, by the at least one processor, a plurality of evaluation metrics for the selected screening criteria;
• evaluating, by the at least one processor, the plurality of evaluation metrics, wherein the evaluation of the plurality of evaluation metrics is based on the stored retrain event data, and wherein at least one of the evaluation metrics is based on a number of retrain events occurring at more than one of the plurality of ports;
• determining, by the at least one processor, whether the plurality of evaluation metrics are satisfied;
• and
• determining, by the at least one processor, whether the screening criteria is satisfied based on the determination of the satisfaction of the plurality of evaluation metrics, wherein the determination that the screening criteria is satisfied indicates that the fault condition is present at the distribution point.