System and method for fault identification
AssigneeBce Inc.
InventorJerome Olinski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel method and system for fault identification is provided. A test head that is operable to generate a test signal along a pathway is employed. The test head is based on time domain reflectometry, and is thus operable to provide an estimated physical distance of where a fault occurs along the pathway. The response test signal is matched with a known set of information about the cable and junctions and other components associated with the pathway, including information about the physical location of those components. As part of the matching, an actual real-world physical location can be identified as to where the fault likely occurs, thereby reducing the need for a service technician to attempt to physically locate the fault himself.
Claims24
A method for identifying a fault along a link comprising the steps of:
- receiving a response signal representing a test signal sent along said link;
- receiving data representing location information corresponding to a physical pathway of said link;
- comparing said response signal with said information;
- and,
- outputting at least one potential physical location of said fault based on said comparing step.
A system for identifying a fault along a link comprising a test head for sending a test signal along said link and for receiving a response signal corresponding to said test signal;
- a computing device for receiving said response signal from said test head, said computing device operable to access a storage device connected to said computing device for storing location information corresponding to said link, said computing device further operable to receive location information from said storage device and perform a comparison between said response signal and said location information to generate at least one potential physical location of said fault.
A computing device for identifying a fault along a link, said computing device connectable to a test head operable to send a test signal along said link, said test head further operable to receive a response signal corresponding to said test signal and deliver said response signal to said computing device;
- said computing device further operable to access a storage device connectable to said computing device for storing location information corresponding to said link;
- said computing device further operable to receive location information from said storage device and perform a comparison between said response signal and said location information to generate at least one potential physical location of said fault.
A computer readable medium containing a plurality of programming instructions for a computing device for identifying a fault along a link, said programming instructions including the steps of:
- receiving a response signal representing a test signal sent along said link;
- receiving data representing location information corresponding to a physical pathway of said link;
- comparing said response signal with said information;
- and,
- outputting at least one potential physical location of said fault based on said comparing step.
A method for identifying fault along a pathway comprising the steps of:
- receiving data representing said pathway from a source location to a target location;
- generating a test signal along said pathway;
- receiving a response signal along at least a portion of said pathway;
- receiving data representing cable information associated with said pathway, said cable information including a plurality of physical locations;
- matching said response signal with said cable information;
- and,
- determining a potential physical location of said fault based on said matching step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.