Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM)
Proactive network maintenance (PNM) is a concept that involves analyzing the pre-equalization data in cable modems to locate outside plant impairments. By doing so, the network maintenance is transformed from a reactive process to a proactive one. In other words, the network issues are identified and addressed before they become major problems for subscribers. Proactive Network Maintenance makes use of the cable modems as test probes, enabling technicians to pinpoint the location of network impairments to within 50 feet or less, saving time and improving customer satisfaction. The PNM concept and the products developed around it build proactivity into DOCSIS plant analysis, making it easier for technicians to identify and fix network problems quickly. By reducing troubleshooting and repair time, PNM helps improve the quality of service for subscribers and reduces the risk of customer churn.
Every DOCSIS Cable Modem is a Test Probe with Proactive Network Maintenance
Through working with groups at CableLabs we have learned that analyzing the pre-equalization data in cable modems we can locate outside plant impairments to within 50 feet or less. This means time saved, customer satisfaction improvements, and increased quality for both the subscriber and the technician.
Yes, analyzing the pre-equalization data in cable modems allows technicians to use every cable modem as a troubleshooting device, helping to locate outside plant impairments quickly and accurately. In the hypothetical example you mentioned, the pre-equalization data from multiple cable modems can provide valuable information about the location and nature of the impairment. By identifying the span of coax where the impairment is located, technicians can quickly dispatch a truck to the area and fix the problem, resulting in improved service quality and customer satisfaction. Proactive Network Maintenance helps reduce the time it takes to identify and fix network issues, which can be a significant cost savings for service providers and improve the overall quality of the service they offer.
However, you have the solution to remedy the situation and get all your subscriber quality issues resolved online FAST. Your network maps and PNM application pinpoint the location of the impairment, enabling you to send a truck directly to an amplifier and find out that there is a corroded center seizure screw causing micro-reflections. 
You repair the amplifier and see that the cable modem’s pre-equalizer data no longer shows the impairment and the uncorrectable codeword errors are no longer present. Thus we have dramatically reduced the typical troubleshooting repair time and most importantly customers are not threatening to leave your service behind.
How Do We Do It?
Nimble This Proactive Network Maintenance application utilizing algorithms to analyze data from cable modems and deduce tap values and impairment distances is a highly sophisticated approach to network management. By doing so, you can quickly identify the source of the issue and repair it, leading to faster troubleshooting and problem resolution. Continuously improving the accuracy of your algorithms further enhances your ability to identify and fix network impairments quickly and effectively, which can lead to better customer satisfaction and retention.
Having a visual representation of the location and severity of impairments is extremely helpful for quickly identifying and addressing network issues. The ability to map cable modems based on their subscriber address information and geo-location services is a powerful tool that enables you to proactively address impairments before they lead to outages or service disruptions. Additionally, having the ability to differentiate between in-home and outside plant impairments is valuable because it enables you to send the appropriate resources to address the issue. With Proactive Network Maintenance, you can quickly identify and solve problems before they become major issues, which can ultimately lead to better network performance and increased customer satisfaction.
