Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.

Remote on-demand site link testing is provided. A site link tester (SLT) system includes an SLT connected to a customer's VoIP phone system. The SLT is configured to communicate with a front end client application operating remotely on a user's computing device. The packet-capture application receives instructions from the client application to perform a packet capture in association with the SLT's network interface and/or to operate as an emulated VoIP endpoint and conduct a test call (e.g., to confirm the customer's VoIP system's compliance with 911-associated legislation or to troubleshoot a VoIP issue). Results of the packet capture may be sent to the client application and analyzed for remotely diagnosing and troubleshooting VoIP-related problems. Using the SLT system, the technician is enabled to perform 911-associated legislation compliance and diagnose VoIP issues on-demand from a remote location, which can reduce or eliminate the need for a technician to be on-site.

A method and system for managing performance of over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), such as a digital subscriber line network, involves receiving an indication of an impairment in network performance from an MCDN client. The MCDN node associated with the client may be identified and a community of MCDN clients coupled to the MCDN node may be further identified. Impairment information, representative of MCDN equipment, may be collected for each of the MCDN clients. Detailed network diagnostics and field service may be performed for MCDN clients based on a characterization of the impairment parameters. After remediation of the MCDN node, collection of the impairment information may be terminated.

A method and system for managing performance of over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), such as a digital subscriber line network, involves receiving an indication of an impairment in network performance from an MCDN client. The MCDN node associated with the client may be identified and a community of MCDN clients coupled to the MCDN node may be further identified. Impairment information, representative of MCDN equipment, may be collected for each of the MCDN clients. Detailed network diagnostics and field service may be performed for MCDN clients based on a characterization of the impairment parameters. After remediation of the MCDN node, collection of the impairment information may be terminated.

Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.

Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.

This invention relates to a fault analysis device that can be connected to a DSL line and home modem, and used to perform line measurements when interference may be present. The device receives status information about the DSL line from the modem via a suitable interface such as Ethernet, and when the status information indicates that the line is not synchronised, which may be due to interference causing the line to lose synchronisation, the device disconnects the line from the modem and performs spectral analysis on the line. In doing so, measurements are made at the time when interference may be occurring, rather than at some later time when interference may no longer be present.

Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.

Upon detection of a trigger, such as the exceeding of an error threshold or the direction of a user, a diagnostic link system enters a diagnostic information transmission mode. This diagnostic information transmission mode allows for two modems to exchange diagnostic and/or test information that may not otherwise be exchangeable during normal communication. The diagnostic information transmission mode is initiated by transmitting an initiate diagnostic link mode message to a receiving modem accompanied by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). The receiving modem determines, based on the CRC, if a robust communications channel is present. If a robust communications channel is present, the two modems can initiate exchange of the diagnostic and/or test information. Otherwise, the transmission power of the transmitting modem is increased and the initiate diagnostic link mode message re-transmitted to the receiving modem until the CRC is determined to be correct.

This invention provides a computer-implemented method of modifying an algorithm operating on a computing system, and a device for implementing said method, the method comprising the steps of: applying the algorithm to a first set of inputs; determining a relevance score for a first input of the first set of inputs based on: a first effectiveness value of the first input, wherein the first effectiveness value represents a contribution of first input to the algorithm, and a first computational cost of the first input, wherein the 1 first computational cost represents the computational resources of using the first input in the algorithm; defining a second set of inputs based on the determined relevance score of the first input; and applying the algorithm to the second set of inputs.