Systems and methods for evaluating customer premises networks
First Claim
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1. A tester device to evaluate a wired network, the tester device including:
- a first wired connector to couple the tester device to the wired network;
a second wired connector to couple the tester device to the wired network;
wherein the tester device is not incorporated into a service provider installed interface or customer-premises equipment (CPE);
a wireless transceiver or a bridge to a wireless transceiver to wirelessly couple the tester device to a handheld device; and
a signal processing module coupled to the first and second wired connectors and the wireless transceiver, and including logic to;
emulate, as the CPE, a set-top box to receive a first signal on the first wired connector;
emulate, as the CPE, a modem to send or receive a second signal on the second wired connector;
receive command data from the handheld device to execute a testing routine on the first signal and the second signal; and
transmit information regarding the first signal or the second signal and the testing routine for display on the handheld device.
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Abstract
A tester system described herein enables a user (e.g., a field technician) to efficiently and conveniently upgrade, evaluate and troubleshoot customer premises networks and equipment. The tester system includes a dedicated tester device that is wirelessly coupled to a handheld device. In response to user input, the handheld device remotely controls the dedicated tester device to execute a testing routine to evaluate one or more customer premises wired and/or wireless networks.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tester device to evaluate a wired network, the tester device including:
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a first wired connector to couple the tester device to the wired network; a second wired connector to couple the tester device to the wired network; wherein the tester device is not incorporated into a service provider installed interface or customer-premises equipment (CPE); a wireless transceiver or a bridge to a wireless transceiver to wirelessly couple the tester device to a handheld device; and a signal processing module coupled to the first and second wired connectors and the wireless transceiver, and including logic to; emulate, as the CPE, a set-top box to receive a first signal on the first wired connector; emulate, as the CPE, a modem to send or receive a second signal on the second wired connector; receive command data from the handheld device to execute a testing routine on the first signal and the second signal; and transmit information regarding the first signal or the second signal and the testing routine for display on the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A tester device to evaluate a wired and a wireless network, the tester device including:
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a wired connector to couple the tester device to the wired network; a wireless connector to couple the tester device to the wireless network; wherein the tester device is not incorporated into a service provider installed interface or customer-premises equipment (CPE); a wireless transceiver or a bridge to a wireless transceiver to wirelessly couple the tester device to a handheld device; and a signal processing module coupled to the wired connector and the wireless connector, and including logic to; receive a first signal on the wired connector; execute a first testing routine on the received first signal; receive a second signal on the wireless connector; execute a second testing routine on the received second signal; and transmit information regarding the received first signal and the first testing routine or information regarding the received second signal and the second testing routine for display on the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of evaluating a wired network using a tester device not incorporated into a service provider installed interface or customer-premises equipment (CPE), the method including:
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connecting a first wired connector and a second wired connector of the tester device to the wired network; wirelessly coupling the tester device to a handheld device; emulating a first signal on the first wired connector by emulating, as the CPE, a set-top box; sending or receiving a second signal on the second wired connector by emulating, as the CPE, a modem; receiving command data from the handheld device to execute a testing routine on the first signal and the second signal; and transmitting information regarding the first signal or the second signal and the testing routine for display on the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of evaluating a wired network using a tester device not incorporated into a service provider installed interface or customer-premises equipment (CPE), the method including:
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connecting a wired connector of the tester device to the wired network; wirelessly coupling the tester device to a handheld device; wirelessly coupling a wireless connector of the tester device to a wireless network; receiving a first signal on the wired connector; receiving a second signal on the wireless connector; executing a testing routine on the received first signal; executing a second testing routine on the received second signal; and transmitting information regarding the received first signal and the first testing routine or information regarding the received second signal and the second testing routine for display on the handheld device.
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Specification