Importance

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Abstract

A system monitors the performance of a communications network and isolates the location of equipment failures therein through analysis of performance error data. The system passively monitors the performance of the network, operating in the background during normal data and/or voice transmission. The head end generates and inserts multiple error codes, one for each remote unit, into the downstream traffic path. Each remote unit extracts and decodes its respective error code to determine whether a downstream error occurred. Each remote unit then calculates a new error code based on the result of the downstream decode and the respective upstream data message. The head end receives the upstream error codes from all the remote units, decodes them, and accumulates the error data from all remote units over a period of time. An error distribution is generated, and an analysis is performed thereon to isolate the location of error causing equipment failures. The information thus obtained can then be used to initiate facility and equipment protection and/or appropriate maintenance procedures. The invention results in an increased quality of transmission with minimal network down time and minimal impact on overall system performance.

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First Claim