DSL system estimation

A method for detecting a problem with a micro-filter in a DSL system loop, the method comprising:

• generating a first operational parameter vector based on operational data of the DSL system, the operational data providing a state of the DSL system loop when a phone that shares the DSL system loop is in an on-hook state;
• generating a second operational parameter vector based on operational data of the DSL system, the operational data providing a state of the DSL system loop when a phone that shares the DSL system loop is in an off-hook state;
• comparing the first operational parameter vector to the second operational parameter vector;
• and
• declaring a problem with the micro-filter based on the comparison of the first and second operational parameter vectors, wherein declaring a problem with the micro-filter comprises confirming from phone call record information that the phone state changed between an on-hook state and an off-hook state between the generation of the first operational parameter vector and the generation of the second operational parameter vector.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory machine readable medium and program instructions contained in the machine readable medium, the program instructions specifying a method for estimating a DSL system test loop configuration, the method comprising:
• collecting operational data from a DSL system test loop comprising a first DSL transceiver at a near end of the test loop and a second DSL transceiver at a far end of the test loop, wherein the operational data is a result of transmissions between the first and second transceiver;
• generating a test loop parameter vector from the collected operational data, wherein the test loop parameter vector comprises one or more loop-dependent parameter values, further wherein the test loop parameter vector includes parameters directly collected or derived from the operational data;
• selecting a reference parameter vector corresponding to a reference loop configuration, wherein the reference parameter vector includes reference values characterizing the presence or absence of a condition on a hypothetical or ideal loop free from the condition, wherein the condition is a bridged tap or the condition is a bad splice;
• comparing the test loop parameter vector and the reference parameter vector;
• and
• detecting the condition on the test loop, based on the comparison between the test loop parameter vector and the reference parameter vector.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory machine readable medium and program instructions contained in the machine readable medium, the program instructions specifying a method for detecting a problem with a micro-filter in a DSL loop, the method comprising:
• generating a first operational parameter vector based on operational data of the DSL system, the operational data providing a state of the DSL system loop when a phone that shares the DSL system loop is in an on-hook state;
• generating a second operational parameter vector based on operational data of the DSL system, the operational data providing a state of the DSL system loop when a phone that shares the DSL system loop is in an off-hook state;
• comparing the first operational parameter vector to the second operational parameter vector;
• and
• declaring a problem with the micro-filter based on the comparison of the first and second operational parameter vectors, wherein declaring a problem with the micro-filter comprises confirming from phone call record information that the phone state changed between an on-hook state and an off-hook state between the generation of the first operational parameter vector and the generation of the second operational parameter vector.

A controller comprising:

• a data collection unit coupled to a data analysis unit and a control signal generator coupled to the data analysis unit, to:
• obtain a test loop parameter vector from operational data collected from a test loop of a DSL system comprising a first DSL transceiver at a near end of the test loop and a second DSL transceiver at a far end of the test loop, wherein the operational data is a result of transmissions between the first and second transceiver, wherein the test loop parameter vector comprises one or more loop-dependent parameter values, further wherein the test loop parameter vector includes parameters directly collected or derived from the operational data;
• select a reference parameter vector corresponding to a reference loop configuration, wherein the reference parameter vector includes reference values characterizing the presence or absence of a condition on a hypothetical or ideal loop free from the condition, wherein the condition is a bridged tap or the condition is a bad splice;
• compare the test loop parameter vector and the reference parameter vector;
• and
• detect the condition on the test loop, based on the comparison of the test loop parameter vector and the reference parameter vector.

A controller comprising:

• a data collection unit coupled to a data analysis unit and a control signal generator coupled to the data analysis unit, wherein the data collection unit, the data analysis unit and the signal generator:
• generate a first operational parameter vector based on operational data pertaining to a DSL system, the operational data providing a state of the DSL system loop when a phone that shares the DSL system loop is in an on-hook state;
• generate a second operational parameter vector based on operational data of the DSL system, the operational data providing a state of the DSL system loop when a phone that shares the DSL system loop is in an off-hook state;
• compare the first operational parameter vector to the second operational parameter vector;
• and
• declare a problem with the micro-filter based on the comparison of the first and second operational parameter vectors when phone call record information indicates that the phone state changed between an on-hook state and an off-hook state between the generation of the first operational parameter vector and the generation of the second operational parameter vector.