# US 2013/0154664 A1 · Impairments identification module and method

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- Number: US 2013/0154664 A1
- Document ID: US20130154664A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/639,032
- Filed: 2011-04-28
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-28
- Assignees: Alcatel Lucent
- Inventors: Benoit Drooghaag
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154664A1

## CPC

- G01R 31/08: Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
- H04B 3/46: Monitoring; Testing
- H04B 3/487: Testing crosstalk effects
- H04M 3/306: {for frequencies above the voice frequency, e.g. xDSL line qualification (test methods, test equipment and test arrangements for subscriber lines using xDSL modems H04M3/304; systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality H04L1/0001; monitoring and/or testing of line transmission systems H04B3/46)}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A method to identify impairments in telecommunication lines i, j , k, . . . of a binder includes globally performing Single-Ended Line Testing SELT on the lines of the bundle. The method further includes applying an input signal in a first mode out of a multi-mode group including at least one differential mode for a respective line of the bundle and including at least one phantom mode for a respective pair of lines of the bundle. The method further includes measuring an echo signal E in a second mode out of the multi-mode group, the second mode being different of the first mode, and analyzing the echo signal in view of the input signal for deriving therefrom the searched impairments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method to identify impairments in telecommunication lines of a binder, said method comprising:
performing Single-Ended Line Testing SELT on said lines of said bundle;
applying an input signal in a first mode out of a multi-mode group comprising at least one differential mode for a respective line of said bundle and comprising at least one phantom mode for a respective pair of lines of said bundle; and
measuring an echo signal in a second mode out of said multi-mode group being different of said first mode; and
analyzing said echo signal in view of said input signal for deriving therefrom impairments.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
repeating said measuring in a second mode and analyzing said echo signal for every mode of said multi-mode group being different of said first mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein time domain reflectometry is used.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein frequency domain reflectometry is used.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said telecommunication lines are DSL lines.

### Claim 6

An impairments identification module configured to identify impairments of telecommunications lines of a binder, wherein said impairments identification module comprises:
a multi-mode group of modules including,
at least one differential mode module for a respective line of said bundle configured to apply an input signal in a differential mode and adapted to measure an echo signal in a differential mode; and
at least one phantom mode module for a respective pair of lines of said bundle configured to apply such input signal in a phantom mode and adapted to measure such echo signal in a phantom mode; and
control means for controlling, during execution of one cycle of Single-Ended Line Testing SELT on said lines of said bundle, application of said input signal to a first module of said modules of said multi-mode group of modules and for controlling measurement from a second module of said modules of said multi-mode group of modules, said second module being different from said first module; and
a processing unit configured to analyze said measured echo signal in view of said input signal for deriving therefrom impairments.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The impairments identification module according to claim 6, wherein said impairments identification module is located in a telecommunication DSL Modem.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The impairments identification module according to claim 6, wherein said impairments identification module is according to claim 6, wherein said impairments identification module is located in a telecommunication access node.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The impairments identification module according to claim 6, wherein said processing unit being comprised in a server of the telecommunication network

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The impairments identification module according to claim 6, wherein said processing unit is a dedicated measuring device.