Fluke Corporation

Hewlett-packard Company

Netally, LLC

Outdoors Technologies, Inc.

James Anthony Kahkoska

Thomas K Bohley

Bruce J Kosbab

David G Fish

Michael Walters

Michael Morgan

Donna Eastep

Clay Jones

A method and apparatus (e.g., network test instrument) for presenting network device diagnostic information in which a listing of network devices discovered via a first network connection (e.g., wirelessly&#x2014;802.11) to a test network is presented in a GUI of a network diagnostic instrument. Acquired network diagnostic information for a network device selected from the listing of network devices is then presented in the GUI wherein the presented network diagnostic information is acquired via the first network connection (e.g., wirelessly&#x2014;802.11). Indication (and a link thereto) is provided in the GUI indicating network diagnostic information for the selected network device was also acquired via a second network connection to the test network (e.g., via a wired connection&#x2014;802.3).

Network test instrument

A network test tool can determine if it is linked to directly to an indicated managed device or an intermediate unmanaged device. Discovery protocols and spanning tree are designed to map network topology and eliminate closed loops in networks. As such these management packets are among the first emerging from managed switches immediately upon acquiring a new link. By analyzing the first few packets, with timeouts, the tool can determine with a high degree of accuracy if it is really connected to the advertised nearest switch. If an unmanaged switch exists between the managed switch and tool, the managed switch will not detect the link event therefore not immediately send discovery packets. Once the tool determines it is not linked to the managed switch, further packet analysis can indicated if the intermediate device is a Layer 2 switch or Hub.

Method of determining immediate topology of a network connection

A digital toner/locator employs tone packets using a 455 Khz carrier. Plural packet quanta provide multiple test modes which are advantageously selected from a probe without requiring returning to the tone generator to change mode.

Locating a cable using synchronization portion and data portion of a tone packet of a system

A lightning detector system monitors the lightning strikes requires a real-time detection and processing system. A real-time processing system requires the use of a high-speed processor with floating-point math capability and multiple analog to digital channels. The cost, power and size requirements of such a system make it difficult to develop a low cost, pocket size lightning detector with long battery life. This invention provides a method of detecting and ranging lightning strikes using an inexpensive eight-bit processor with a single A/D channel and without floating point hardware.

Apparatus for low cost lightning detection

A digital toner/locator employs tone packets using a 455 Khz. carrier. Plural packet quanta provide multiple test modes which are advantageously selected from a probe without requiring returning to the tone generator to change mode. A locate and isolate mode are provided, as well as multiple song selection, for choice of alternative songs played by the detector when the tone packets are detected.

Digital cable toning apparatus and method

A network/cable test instrument provides expert advice to a user to assist in diagnosing configuration and cabling issues with connections to a network. The device attaches inline between two devices or cables and provides graphic representation of the configuration in which it is installed.

Apparatus and method for trouble-shooting desktop connectivity problems

A graphical user interface implemented with touchscreen technology with associated indicators for a test instrument is provided. A set of indicators is mounted around the periphery of the touchscreen display so that each indicator is associated with a set of labeled softkeys on the touchscreen. Each of the indicators is chosen to indicate a piece of basic information that is necessary to communicate to the user of the test instrument in an unambiguous manner using color, such as the presence or absence of a signal, the presence or absence of an error condition, or a status of the test instrument. Because each indicator is coupled to labeled softkeys in the touchscreen display, an action to press an associated softkey is directly linked to each indicator to allow detailed information to be viewed graphically on the touchscreen display.

Touchscreen display system for a test instrument

A method of testing ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) circuits is provided. A test instrument is connected to the customer premises end of the ADSL circuit, consisting of an ATU-C modem on the central office end and an ATU-R modem on the customer premises end, with a twisted-pair telephone line connecting the ATU-R and ATU-C modems. A remote test instrument is coupled to the ATU-C modem, typically on a semi-permanent basis in the central office, dedicated for testing multiple ADSL circuits by communicating with multiple ATU-C modems via a switch or router. The test instrument and remote test instrument communicate with each other in full duplex via the ADSL circuit using Internet Protocol (IP) data packets. The test instrument generates the upstream data traffic, controls the test sequence, and controls and coordinates the throughput test with the remote test instrument. The remote test instrument sends the downstream data traffic and returns the results of the throughput test in the form of frame counts from its end of the ADSL circuit back to the test instrument at end of the test sequence. The results from the upstream and downstream throughput tests are then visually displayed to the user of the test instrument.

Test instrument for testing asymmetric digital subscriber lines

In a test instrument for testing LANs, a method for determining network health is provided. Network health is a composite indicator of the condition of the LAN that is based on a system of rules that take into account both percent utilization and percent collisions to provide for easier interpretation by a test instrument user. The test instrument is coupled to a LAN to receive the link pulse and establish communications. The test instrument receives data traffic from the LAN in the form of frames which are analyzed to produce network information which include the network parameters of percent utilization and percent collisions. Decisions about the network health based are reached by mapping a plurality of network parameters to a decision matrix that is constructed from expert knowledge in the field of local area networks. Messages corresponding to each decision may be displayed which contain network advice to provide guidance as to the nature and location of the problem and suggested steps to solve problems in the LAN.

Method and apparatus for determining network health as a function of

A system and method for converting raster data in a memory plane to a vector number number such as a plotter. The method with copying the raster data into a working copy and then at a predetermined bit in the memory plane sequentially scans each bit to ascertain the presence of first or second states. The first state corresponds to the illumination of a corresponding pixel in the display monitor and the second state corresponding to a pixel which is not illuminated. When the first state is sensed, all vectors having beginning X,Y coordinates corresponding to the X,Y coordinate of the bit are identified. When more than one vector is identified, only one of the identified vectors is selected according to a priority scheme. All of the bits in the working copy corresponding to the selected vector are erased. The beginning X,Y coordinate and the ending X,Y coordinate of the selected vector form the vector output. All end-to-end contiguous vectors having beginning X,Y coordinates corresponding to the ending X,Y coordinate of the selected vector are then identified. If more than one end-to-end contiguous vector is present, only one vector is selected. This process continues as long as there are end-to-end contiguous vectors. When no more contiguous vectors are detected, the method returns to the next sequential bit to ascertain the state of that bit. This process continues until the entire raster data in the working copy is evaluated.

Raster to vector conversion system and method therefor

An apparatus and method for simulating a mechanical detent in a manually operable rotary digital encoder typically used to control a display or readout in an associated electronic system. The output from the encoder to the electronic system is suspended for a predetermined time when the encoder shaft is rotated past a predetermined preset point. While the encoder output is suspended, the output signal V.sub.o to the electronic system is set at a level indicative of the preset point. The system user is thus able to quickly locate the preset point without overshooting it. If the user does, in fact, want to adjust the encoder past the preset point, the delay is of such a duration that it will have expired by the time the user repositions his hand on the encoder knob, thus allowing adjustment of the encoder to continue beyond the preset point.

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

James Anthony Kahkoska