Systems and methods for OTDR tracing and mapping

• US 20040015309A1
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harold Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Harold Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Swisher, Douglas S., Lossing, Brent A., Galuska, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US10/005,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015309A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

An end-to-end network management package that allows a user to model and analyze a network infrastructure. A user is able to pinpoint spots on the OTDR trace and locate them in real-time on a geographical representation of the network.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a network infrastructure, the method comprising steps of:

(a) generating a graphical representation of the network infrastructure wherein the graphical representation represents physical locations of the network infrastructure on a geographic map;

(b) testing a portion of the network infrastructure with an OTDR signal to generate an OTDR trace;

(c) displaying the OTDR trace resulting from step (b),

(A) linking a cursor position on the OTDR trace displayed in step (c) with an actual location on the graphical representation generated in step (a).

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of (e) displaying the cursor position linked in step (d) on the graphical representation generated in step (a).

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for the method recited in claim 1.

9. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer program of instruction for executing a computer program performing the method recited in claim 1.

3. A method for analyzing a network infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a graphical representation of the network infrastructure wherein the graphical representation represents physical locations of the network infrastructure on a geographic map;

(b) generating a logical representation of the network infrastructure wherein the logical representation represents corrections in the network infrastructure; and

(c) selectively displaying the graphical representation and logical representation.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising a step (d) of modeling select equipment in the network infrastructure.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising a step (e) of displaying the select equipment modeled in step (d).

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for the method recited in claim 3.

10. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer program of instruction for executing a computer program performing the method recited in claim 3.

6. A computer program for modeling a network infrastructure, comprising:

(a) a mapping workspace program for generating a graphical representation of the network infrastructure, wherein the graphical representation represents physical locations of the network infrastructure on a geographic map;

(b) a testing program for linking a position of a cursor on the OTDR trace with an actual location on the geographical representation.