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.

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.

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.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing easy digital subscriber line (“DSL”) signal detection. In various embodiments, after a connector of a signal detector has been inserted into a network service port, a processor of the signal detector may determine whether a pilot tone is present on at least one signal wire communicatively coupled to the network service port, the pilot tone being indicative of network service being ready for provision via the at least one signal wire. If so, the processor of the signal detector may cause a display device to indicate to a user that the network service port is ready to provide the network service. A modem can then be installed by connecting with the network service port. The connector, the processor, and the display device are integrated within a single, compact, handheld form factor of the signal detector.

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.

In one example embodiment, a method includes determining a first set of first lines and a second set of second lines in a system, obtaining input signals to be transmitted over the first set of first lines and the second set of second lines, determining a vectoring matrix, processing, within the first set, the incoming signals for the first lines in parallel based on the vectoring matrix, processing, within the second set, the input signals for the second lines in parallel based on the vectoring matrix and processing the first set and the second set sequentially based on the vectoring matrix, the processing the second set being based on at least a portion of the processing the incoming signals for the first lines.

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.

Disclosed is a technique for estimating crosstalk between a first and second electrical transmission lines. The method comprises obtaining measurements of a received near end crosstalk, NEXT, signal, the NEXT signal being received at a first end of the second transmission line over a time period as a result of an electrical signal sent onto the first transmission line from its first end, the obtained measurements being in the time domain. Subsequently, a crosstalk coupling estimate is obtained per transmission line sub-interval by compensating the obtained measurements in the time domain of the received NEXT signal for round-trip attenuation of the sent signal from the first end of the first line to the sub-interval and back to the first end of the second line, and an estimate of a total crosstalk coupling is obtained by adding together at least some of the obtained crosstalk coupling estimates per transmission line sub-interval.