The present invention encompasses a method and apparatus for detecting and characterizing
one or more ingress events in the return band and creating a time/frequency map
based on the detection of the ingress events. The time/frequency map is further
characterized by marking frequency bands with ingress level above a predetermined
threshold with a "1". The time/frequency time map may be used to determine when
and which return frequency band has exceeded a predetermined threshold, and to
distinguish between a narrowband ingress event and a wideband ingress event. When
such characterization has been made, the return path may be attenuated or disconnected
at a communications gateway device located at or substantially near the subscriber
location. By disconnecting the return path or attenuating the return path signal
at or near the subscriber location, the ingress may be reduced and locations which
are the cause of severe ingress may be effectively isolated. This allows for a
high degree of reliability to be maintained on the return path, and ensures that
the critical services such cable telephony may be provided with increased customer satisfaction.
