Monitoring system for a communications network
First Claim
1. A monitoring system for a communications network, the monitoring system comprising:
- a set of components for transmitting and receiving data signals over the communications network, each component including a built-in self-test system for performing tests within the component and outputting corresponding test results, each self-test system configured to non-invasively determine waveform characteristics of the data signals; and
a set of processors, each processor coupled to a subset of the set of components, and configured to evaluate the test results output by the components coupled to the processor, each processor configured to detect and predict faults in the communications network based on the evaluation of the test results.
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Abstract
A monitoring system for a communications network includes a set of components for transmitting and receiving data signals over the communications network. Each component includes a built-in self-test system for performing tests within the component and outputting corresponding test results. Each self-test system is configured to non-invasively determine waveform characteristics of the data signals. The system includes a set of processors. Each processor is coupled to a subset of the set of components, and is configured to evaluate the test results output by the components coupled to the processor. Each processor is configured to detect and predict faults in the communications network based on the evaluation of the test results.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for a communications network, the monitoring system comprising:
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a set of components for transmitting and receiving data signals over the communications network, each component including a built-in self-test system for performing tests within the component and outputting corresponding test results, each self-test system configured to non-invasively determine waveform characteristics of the data signals; and
a set of processors, each processor coupled to a subset of the set of components, and configured to evaluate the test results output by the components coupled to the processor, each processor configured to detect and predict faults in the communications network based on the evaluation of the test results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14)
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8. A method for non-invasively detecting and predicting faults in a communications network, the method comprising:
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providing a set of components for transmitting and receiving data signals over the communications network;
non-invasively performing parametric tests within each component and outputting corresponding test results;
generating a first fault indication indicating an existing fault if a test result is outside of predetermined specification limits;
identifying whether a failure trend exists based on the test results; and
generating a second fault indication indicating a potential future fault if a failure trend exists. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A built-in self-test system for a component that transmits or receives data signals over a communications network, the system comprising:
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a stimuli generator for generating stimuli signals based on the data signals, the stimuli generator including a set of flip-flops for generating stimuli signals based on rising and falling edges of the data signals, and including a set of comparators for generating stimuli signals based on a magnitude of the data signals;
a time interval analyzer for non-invasively determining waveform characteristics of the data signals based on the generated stimuli signals;
a set of monitoring circuits for monitoring operating characteristics of the component; and
a controller for controlling the time interval analyzer and the set of monitoring circuits to continually generate test results. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification