Tollgrade solutions are deployed worldwide in more than 25 countries, helping communications service providers to more-efficiently and cost-effectively assure the voice, data and video services they provide. Tollgrade’s solutions currently manage the test process for over 300 million access lines around the world and are the foundation for broadband service assurance within RBOCs, MSOs and numerous ILEC/CLECs. Whether driving bulk subscriber pre-qualification, verifying service provisioning or isolating multi-layered IP-based broadband troubles, Tollgrade’s test solutions play a crucial role in profitably managing the automated installation and maintenance process for over 75% of North America’s broadband access networks. |
| CheetahXD Broadband Assurance Platform |
 |
| cheetahxd.jpg (low-res) [30 kb] cheetahxd_bw.tif (hi-res B&W) [1378 kb] cheetahxd.tif (hi-res color) [5485 kb] For complete product information, click HERE. |
| Cheetah DOCSIS-based Transponders |
 |
| cheetah_docsis_trx.jpg (low-res) [30 kb] cheetah_docsis_trx_bw.tif (hi-res B&W) [1167 kb] cheetah_docsis_trx.tif (hi-res color) [4641 kb] For complete product information, click HERE. |
| Cheetah CMD-E DOCSIS-based End-of-line VoIP Test Point |
 |
| cheetah_cmde.jpg (low-res) [39 kb] cheetah_cmde_bw.tif (hi-res B&W) [1848 kb] cheetah_cmde.tif (hi-res color) [7334 kb] For complete product information, click HERE. |
| Cheetah IP/HFC Service Assurance |
 |
cheetah_ip.jpg (low-res) [34 kb] |
| Cheetah Proprietary Status & Performance Monitoring |
 |
| cheetahnet.jpg (low-res) [34 kb] cheetahnet_bw.tif (hi-res B&W) [1479 kb] cheetahnet.tif (hi-res color) [5895 kb] For complete product information, click HERE. |
Tollgrade“s seamlessly integrated hardware and software offering allows cable broadband service providers to build, operate and assure their VoIP networks, applications and services by providing proactive, end-to-end service level management (SLM) and service level agreement (SLA) verification.
DOCSIS-based TRANSPONDER
Tollgrade“s Cheetah DOCSIS-based transponders enable cable operators to proactively monitor devices in the outside plant using the existing DOCSIS infrastructure. Device and system data is sent via the DOCSIS channels from the transponder through the existing CMTS to software tools such as Tollgrade“s Cheetah Broadband Assurance Software. This provides cable operators the ability to manage their data to precisely pinpoint the location and cause of problems, often identifying degrading equipment before failure.
Being able to proactively respond to these system performance issues minimizes plant downtime, lowers costs and increases customer satisfaction.
VoIP SOFTWARE
The VoIP software is an optional upgrade that transforms the Tollgrade DOCSIS-based transponder and End-of-Line probe (model CMD-E) into a PacketCable-based E-MTA emulator for VoIP quality testing of the HFC trunk and feeder network. The VoIP software module is remotely installable, supports advanced PacketCable protocols including Provisioning Flows, Security and Dynamic Quality of Service (DqoS). The VoIP software auto-answers calls, including NCS Loopback calls, and generates RTCP eXtended Reports (RTCP XR) metrics (MOS, R-Factor, Loss, Latency, Jitter, etc.) for real-time call quality analysis.
CMD-E DOCSIS-based VoIP PROBE
The CMD-E is an environmentally hardened, line-powered E-MTA emulator in a strand-mountable housing that can be deployed anywhere within the HFC network to measure VoIP quality from the headend to the end-of-line. The CMD-E DOCSIS-based VoIP probe enables cable operators to proactively monitor the network“s ability to transport VoIP services from the headend to the end-of-line. Each CMD-E auto-answers PacketCable-based telephony calls using Network-Based Call Signaling (NCS) protocol while monitoring call quality in real-time. The CMD-E appears as a subscriber E-MTA to the Call Management Server (CMS).
«This will greatly simplify necessary headend equipment, making field power supply monitoring easy and cost-effective,» commented John Hewitt, Alpha“s Vice President North American Cable Sales. «We are pleased that we will be able to offer this powerful solution incorporating Tollgrade“s proven technology that provides advanced DOCSIS transponders to monitor critical electronics.»
«This will enable operators to perform headend inside and outside plant status and performance monitoring with a unified solution utilizing proprietary, HMS and DOCSIS Protocols within the same system,» said Dave Breiter, General Manager, Cable Products, Tollgrade Communications, Inc. «For the first time customers will be able to purchase DOCSIS transponders that are compatible with existing Cheetah investments.»
More than ever, cable companies require power monitoring solutions as they introduce quality-sensitive services. «Our MSO customers continue to leverage their growing DOCSIS-based HFC infrastructure to deliver a full suite of voice, data and video services,» Breiter said. «However, with this progress comes a range of quality assurance and testing challenges. Our strategic alliance with Alpha Technologies will enable traditional Cheetah status monitoring customers to communicate within the DOCSIS infrastructure while building their systems to remotely verify and isolate troubles for high-speed Internet, VoIP and VOD services.»
Cable Testing Products
The Company's Cheetah products gather status information and report on components within the cable network. Tollgrade's Company's monitoring systems include complete hardware and software solutions that enable efficient HFC plant status monitoring. By providing a constant, proactive view of the health and status of outside plant transmission systems, the products can reduce operating costs and increases subscriber satisfaction. Its cable offerings consist of the Company's CheetahLight (formerly Lighthouse) and CheetahNet (formerly NetMentor) software systems and maintenance, its CheetahXD Broadband assurance software and maintenance, head-end controllers, return path switch hardware, both DOCSIS-based and Euro-DOCSIS based transponders, and other equipment that gather status and performance reports from power supplies, line amplifiers and fiber optic nodes.
Tollgrade's CheetahIP/HFC service assurance solution provides remote visibility into IP efficiency. This fully integrated solution allows cable operators to proactively test and monitor voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and video on demand (VoD) using hardware test probes and software analysis tools. Sales of the Cheetah product line (excluding Services) accounted for approximately 25% of the Company's revenue during 2006.
