2. Description of the Related Art Traditionally, a user interface for the control of broadband access systems is a command line system which requires various setup parameters to be set and monitored on a line by line basis. Other systems utilize an SNMP interface which displays several parameters that are settable for a given component of the system.

This means any change must, typically, be accompanied by a choreographed set of interrelated changes that the operator must perform. The implication is that the operator, not wishing to make a mistake that would disable some of his/her customers, will not change anything unless forced to do so. This means that a system's net data bandwidth will slowly degrade as problems are fixed by reducing the required Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) on specific channels when solving a problem. Over time, the systems will devolve (entropy) to minimal capability because of poor operator attention unless a solution is found.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the present invention is a graphical interface for management of a broadband access network comprising a spreadsheet style grid with a single point of control for all of the interrelated parameters. Various views of the spreadsheet are offered for various methods of control and to provide ease of system monitoring. Some of the displayed parameters may be calculated or measured

values which are not under the direct control of the operator. A system operator may be alerted to maintenance conditions by the graphical display.

Once a set of parameters is designated, an operator may initiate an automated update which then calculates a sequence of control commands sent to the various components of the system, in a sequence which preferably minimizes the down time of any particular user or set of users in a manner based on the priorities established by the operator (perhaps from a quality of service ("QOS") promise as part of the fee structure).

The present invention also prevents bandwidth under-utilization by minimizing the guard band needed between channels. By using the method and sytem of the present invention, the concatenation of channels may be increased since the viewer can easily view, for example, the minimum and maximum frequencies in adjacent columns. Where a guard band is violated (i. e., there is an overlap in the total utilized bandwidth for two adjacent channels) there can be a graphical alert using, for example, different colors or flashing text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: Figure 1 is an illustrative computer screen layout of upstream channel parameters that are made available to an operator using the present invention ; Figure 2 is an illustrative computer screen layout of downstream channel parameters; Figure 3 is an illustrative computer screen layout of bandwidth/modulation tradeoffs; and Figure 4 is an illustrative computer screen layout illustrating the guard band alert capability provided by the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the

inventor for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the basic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a method and system for a graphical interface for management of a broadband access network.

Any and all such modifications, equivalents and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In general, the present invention relates to the DOSIS1. 0 (Date Over Cable Service Interface Specification) and DOSIS1. 1 specifications promulgated by Cable Labs, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Whereas the DOCSIS standards address data over cable, the present invention also relates to wireless data transmission.

The graphical interface of the present invention comprises a spreadsheet style grid with a single point of control for all of the interrelated parameters.

Various views of the spreadsheet are offered for various methods of control and to provide ease of system monitoring. Utilizing pull-down menus, the operator may choose among several predefined views or create his/her own set of parameters to be are displayed. Some of the displayed parameters may be calculated or measured values which are not under the direct control of the operator.

An illustrative view of one embodiment for upstream channel parameters is shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the parameters listed in bold may be adjusted by the operator. For example, the operator may select a sector, channel bandwidth, modulation type, Upstream Downconverter LO, Transverter Offset, or FEC factor. Additonally, certain parameters may be"linked"such that when one parameter changes, other parameters are automatically changed as well. This prevents the operator from entering incompatible paramters for a given channel.

Similarly, Figure 2 illustrates a downstream summary table. The bolded entries are user modifiable, as in Figure 1. By displaying a graphical view of individual (or several combined) parameter sets to the user, it is easier to identify anomalies and/or to verify the entered values. For example, a quick visual scan of the entries in a given column can often reveal a paramter out of specification, especially if a different number of digits are displayed (i. e. a three digit entry in a field where all the other values are 4 digits). In the prior art command line systems

this would not be possible, since only individual channels or fields are displayed at one time.

Figure 3 illustrates a screen layout for bandwidth/modulation tradeoffs. An operator can use such a reference grapical table to facilitate the selection of parameters in the screens of Figures 1 or 2. Moreover, such a screen can be frequently updated to reflect the latest system information.

In a preferred embodiment, the interface is a classic Windows-type screen as shown in the screen-shot of Figure 4, with all of the normal functionality including the ability to edit, view in various formats, sort, print selected views, save operating setups, and minimize the displayed screen. Other available interfaces might also be used, particular those compatible with the UNIX and LINUX operating systems.

Once a set of parameters is designated, an operator may initiate an automated update which then calculates a sequence of control commands sent to the various components of the system, in a sequence which preferably minimizes the down time of any particular user or set of users in a manner based on the priorities established by the operator (perhaps from a quality of service ("QOS") promise as part of the fee structure).

The advantages of introducing a graphical interface displaying a plurality of parameters about a plurality of modems and channel profiles in the inventive system therefore include : 1) Enabling simultaneous viewing of parameters for a plurality of devices (i. e., modems and associated channels on a Wireless Hub or wired CMTS cable system); 2) Providing the operator automatic alerts/flags, particularly when a plurality of modems achieve an unacceptable risk of occupying one another's intended bandwidth allocation ; 3) Providing an easily discernable, graphical view of large numbers (e. g., viewing a graphical table providing thirty 9-digit numbers, such as xOO, 000, 000 Hz, lessens the difficult of spotting 8-digit numbers, such as xO, 000, 000 Hz, and therefore eases the operators task of quickly spotting invalid channel settings);

4) Preventing waste of bandwidth by minimizing the guard band needed between channels. By using the method and sytem of the present invention, the concatenation of channels may be increased since the viewer can easily view, for example, the minimum and maximum frequencies in adjacent columns. Where a guard band is violated (i. e., there is an overlap in the total utilized bandwidth for two adjacent channels) there can be a graphical alert using, for example, different colors or flashing text.

By way of example, in Figure 4 it can be seen that the top and bottom of each RF band is shown in the rightmost two columns. As shown therein, the RF Band Top at the fourth entry in the last column and the RF Band Bottom at the fifth entry in the adjacent column are both 2151.50 MHz. This, of course, means that the guard band is zero. However, if the bottom of the band for the fifth entry were actually less than 2151.50 MHz., there would then be a guard band violation which might be flagged by color, flashing or both to alert the operator to a problem in need of immediate attention.

The present invention therefore provides a novel graphical interface for use in broadband access systems.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.