Upstream bandwidth level measurement device
AssigneeJohn Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
InventorsDavid Kelma, Tab Kendall Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A measurement device is provided for measuring an upstream bandwidth. The measurement device includes a return path extending at least a portion of a distance between a supplier side connector and a user side connector. A coupler is connected within the return path, the coupler providing a secondary path. A detection circuit is connected electrically downstream the coupler. A level detector is connected electrically downstream the detection circuit, and a microprocessor is connected electrically downstream the level detector. The microprocessor includes a first buffer and a second buffer.
Claims16
A measurement device for measuring an upstream bandwidth, the device comprising:
- a return path extending at least a portion of a distance between a supplier side connector and a user side connector;
- a coupler connected within the return path, the coupler providing a secondary path;
- a detection circuit connected electrically downstream the coupler;
- a level detector connected electrically downstream the detection circuit;
- and
- a microprocessor connected electrically downstream the level detector, the microprocessor comprising a first buffer and a second buffer.
A method of obtaining level data for an upstream bandwidth, the method comprising:
- converting a frequency dependent voltage stream into a time dependent voltage stream including periods of increased voltage;
- amplifying and maintaining the periods of increased voltages using a low pass amplifier and a peak detector;
- recording a peak value from a plurality of voltage series from within the output voltage stream, each series beginning with a measured voltage level exceeding a high voltage threshold and ending with a measured voltage level passing below a low voltage threshold;
- placing the peak values in a first buffer;
- periodically calculating a first buffer average;
- placing each of the first buffer averages into a second buffer;
- periodically calculating an second buffer average;
- and
- outputting at least one of the first buffer average and at least one of the second buffer average to an output device for a review by a technician for a purpose of conditioning the upstream bandwidth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.