VDSL video/data set top test equipment

• US 20020126207A1
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brodigan, Donald L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/180
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1301 Optical transmission, optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 Signaling in general, in-band signalling

Abstract

A VDSL customer drop testing arrangement and equipment utilizes a test set top box having a sign-on identifier unique to an authorized test device to perform testing of the customer drop without the need to provision the drop for receipt of video programming or data services from any network information or service providers (VIPs or DSPs). Because the test arrangement of the present invention does not require such provisioning, isolation of the customer drop is achieved. Such isolation insures that the test set is not being affected by problems originated from a VIP or DSP.

Claims

1. A system for testing a performance capability of a user drop in a communication network, the system comprising:

a host terminal coupled to the user drop via the communication network, wherein the host terminal is operable to;

provide a test signal to the user drop; and

authorize access to the test signal;

wherein authorizing access to the test signal is based at least in part upon receiving a network sign-on identifier via the user drop.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the test signal is a video signal, the system further comprising:

a network video signal source to generate the video signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the test signal is a data signal, the system further comprising:

a network data test source to generate the data signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the test signal comprises a data signal and a video signal, the system further comprising:

a network video signal source to generate the video signal; and

a network data test source to generate the data signal.

5. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a network entitlement controller arranged to identify a test device coupled to the user drop.

6. A method for testing a performance capability of a user drop in a communication network, the method comprising:

coupling a test device to the user drop, wherein the test device comprises a sign-on identifier that identifies the test device;

receiving a test signal at the test device, wherein the test signal is received at least in part based on the sign-on identifier; and

measuring the test signal to determine the performance capability of the user drop.

7. A method for implementing performance capability testing of a user drop in a communication network, the method comprising:

providing access at the user drop to a test signal from a central office;

receiving a network sign-on identifier at the central office, wherein the network sign-on identifier identifies a test device; and

authorizing access to the test signal by the test device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the test signal is selected from the group consisting of a data test signal, a video test signal, and a VDSL test signal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the test signal is a combination of two or more of the following signal types:

a video signal, a data signal, or a VDSL signal.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the test signal is a video signal, the method further comprising:

providing a video test source, wherein the video signal is produced by the video test source.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the test signal is a data signal, the method further comprising:

providing a data test source, wherein the data signal is produced by the data test source.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first signal type is a video signal and the preformance capability comprises a video performance capability.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

coupling a display to the test device, wherein the video signal is displayed.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the test device comprises a network sign-on identifier that identifies the test device, and wherein the signal is a test signal received at least in part based on the sign-on identifier.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

signing on to the communication network using the network sign-on identifier, wherein signing on provides access to the test signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first signal type and the second signal type are selected from the group consisting of a data test signal, a video test signal, and a VDSL test signal.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first signal type is a data test signal and the performance capability is a data performance capability.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the communication network comprises a DSL-based video and data communication network.

12. A method for testing a performance capability of a user drop in a communication network, the method comprising:

coupling a test device to the user drop;

receiving a signal at the test device via the user drop, wherein the signal comprises a first signal type and a second signal type; and

measuring the signal to determine the performance capability of the user drop.

20. A system for testing a performance capability of a user drop in a communication network, the system comprising:

a test device;

wherein the test device comprises a user drop port, at least one input/output port, and is configured to test the performance capability of the user drop;

wherein the user drop port is configured for receiving information via the user drop; and

wherein the input/output port is configured to provide access to the test device via an external input/output device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the test device is configured as a set-top box with a unique type and subtype value stored therein.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the input/output port is an output port associated with an MPEG video decoder and the external input/output device is a display.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the input/output port is a first input/output port, the system further comprising:

a second input/output port for connecting a personal computer to the test device, wherein commands from the personal computer are received by the test device via the second input/output port.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the input/output port is a first output port and the external input/output device is a first external input/output device, the system further comprising:

a second output port associated with an MPEG video decoder and and the second external input/output port is operably coupled to a video recorder.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the external input/output device is a personal computer and wherein the input/output port provides for receiving commands from a personal computer.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the test device is configured by commands received from the personal computer.