Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Kevin Hansen

Walt Weber

Mark Wendling

Anthony Charles Wells

Douglas Lew Richards

Stephen Arthur Oliva

Gregory A Wolfe

A method and apparatus for testing communications within a broadband network between a network edge device and a customer premises device. Network data traffic is diverted from the customer premises device to a test device. The test device emulates the customer premises device through the use of identifying data associated with the customer premises device. In one embodiment, data is diverted from the customer premises device to a test port loop back converter, which performs a DSL conversion of the data. The converted data is backhauled from the test port loop back converter to a test network edge device. The data is then sent from the test network edge device to a test customer premises device. The test customer premises device can be located at a site remote from the network edge device or can be collocated with and directly coupled to the network edge device.

Method and apparatus for testing communications between a network edge device and a customer premises device

A quality processing system comprises an interface and a processing system. The interface is configured to receive a first quality message from a wireless end device in the first region wherein the first quality message indicates a first quality metric of the first region during the session, and receive a session quality message indicating a session quality metric for the session. The processing system is configured to process the first quality metric with the session quality metric to determine if the session problem occurred in the first region or the second region, generate an isolation message indicating in which of the first region or second region the problem occurred, and transfer the isolation message.

Regional quality correlation for wireless communications

The present invention is directed to an intranet for providing on-demand Internet access to subscribers which includes a service node and a plurality of subscriber terminals coupled to the service node by corresponding xDSL lines. In turn, the service node includes a switch coupled to the xDSL lines, a gateway coupled to the Internet, a router which couples the switch to the gateway and a bandwidth measurement server coupled to the gateway. The bandwidth measurement server determines upload and/or download data transfer rates between the service node and requesting ones of said the subscriber terminals coupled thereto.

Internet service node incorporating a bandwidth measurement device and associated methods for evaluating data transfers

A method of operating a service provider network comprising selecting a first access network from a plurality of access networks, transmitting first traffic for a first service from a testing system in the service provider network to the first access network over a first virtual connection between the testing system and the first access network wherein the first traffic indicates a first subscriber of the first access network as the origin of the first traffic and the testing system as the destination of the first traffic, receiving second traffic for the first service into the testing system from the first access network over a first service connection wherein the second traffic indicates the first subscriber as the origin of the second traffic and the testing system as the destination of the second traffic, and processing the second traffic to test the first service.

Remote testing for service provider networks

An embodiment of the invention includes a method of operating a remote testing access system. The method comprises receiving a test request from a test device over an incoming time division multiplexed (TDM) connection and in a TDM format wherein the test request indicates a one of a plurality of types of tests to perform on a soft switch, processing the test request to select a one of a plurality of service applications of the soft switch corresponding to the one type of test, and transmitting communications for the one type of test to the one service application in a packet format.

Remote testing access

A method of operating a communication system for providing packet services, the method comprising receiving a session setup request for a session, processing the session setup request to select an end point for the session, determining a first resource group of a plurality of resource groups associated with the end point, determining a first profile of a plurality of profiles of the resource group, determining if the session will violate the first profile, and generating an authorization message for the session in response to determining that the session will not violate the first profile.

Network resource allocation

A session border controller is configured to receive a first session quality message for a session transferred from an origination device in an access provider network to a gateway in the service provider network, receive a second session quality message for the session transferred from the gateway to the origination device, and transfer the first session quality message and the second session quality message to a quality correlation system. The quality correlation system is configured to receive the first session quality message and the second session quality message from the session border controller, receive signaling information for the session, process the signaling information with the first session quality message and the second session quality message to determine a session status message for the session, and transfer the session status message to a client device. The client device is configured to receive and display the session status message.

Quality correlation testing

In an embodiment of the invention, the CTCS is configured to receive a correlation request for a first service session from a client device and process the correlation request to select a first traffic collection system (TCS) and a second TCS. The CTCS also generates a collection request and transmits the collection request for the first service session to the first TCS and the second TCS. The CTCS then receives a first collection response from the first TCS indicating first data for the first service session, and receives a second collection response from the second TCS indicating second data for the first service session. The CTCS then processes the first data and the second data to generate a correlation response and transfers the correlation response to the client device indicating the first and second data.

Central traffic correlation system

The present invention is directed to a intranet for providing on-demand Internet access to subscribers which includes a service node and a plurality of subscriber terminals coupled to the service node by corresponding xDSL lines. In turn, the service node includes a switch coupled to the xDSL lines, a gateway coupled to the Internet, a router which couples the switch to the gateway and a bandwidth measurement server coupled to the gateway. The bandwidth measurement server determines upload and/or download data transfer rates between the service node and requesting ones of said the subscriber terminals coupled thereto.

A method for automatically testing elements in a telecommunications network. An automated testing protocol is initiated based on the notification of a network event. When test results are received from the automated testing protocol, a trouble ticket is automatically opened containing the test results. The trouble ticket is then routed to the appropriate party. In embodiments of the invention, test results are logged, a database is queried to determine if the event has occurred previously, the trouble ticket is prioritized based on the severity of the event, and a time stamp is placed on the trouble ticket. The automated testing protocol and the event correlation database can be accessed through a graphical user interface. Multiple automated testing modules can be integrated into a single graphical user interface. Users can log in to prevent interference among users.

Testing platform integration methodology

A system for testing a communication network includes a test system and a cross-connect system. The test system generates a plurality of independent low data rate test signals with first data rates. The test system combines the independent low data rate test signals to generate a high data rate test signal. The test system then transmits the high data rate test signal from the test system to a shared test port. The cross-connect system transfers the high data rate test signal to a cross-connect matrix that connects the independent low data rate test signals to the communication network. The cross-connect system then receives the independent low data rate test signals from the communication network into the shared test port. The cross-connect system transmits the high data rate test signal from the shared test port to the test system. The test system separates the high data rate test signal into the independent low data rate test signals. The test system then independently tests the independent low data rate test signals as separate test sessions.

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Shawnee, KS, United States of America

Kevin Hansen