Collaborative remote communication circuit diagnostic tool

• US 20040165533A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Stiles, Jay M., Izundu, Anthony E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,400,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/24 using dedicated network management hardware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/26 using dedicated tools for LAN [Local Area Network] management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2209 for lines also used for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/301 Circuit arrangements at the subscriber's side of the line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

The invention is a diagnostic tool for collaboratively testing a T1 line from remote terminals. A Diagnostic Interface Unit (DIU) containing test and monitoring equipment is connected into a T1 line close to a demarcation point. Testing from that common point, to either end of the T1 line is then performed by one or more operators at remote terminals. The operator terminals are connected via the Internet, to a common server in communication with the DIU. The operators each see the same page of a Diagnostic Web Service (DWS). Using the DWS, one of the operators causes the DIU to be switched into the T1 line and the T1 line configured and tested. All operators see the test setup and results on their own screens in real-time, making this remote testing equivalent to the operators meeting at the demarcation point and jointly testing from that point out.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool for remotely and collaboratively diagnosing a communication circuit, comprising:

a diagnostic interface unit, linked to said communications circuit substantially at a demarcation point of said circuit, said interface unit including a configuration manager, a test-signal generator, a test-signal receiver and a communications port;

a first and a second terminal; and

,

a data-link, connecting said terminals to said communications port such that the results from said test-signal receiver display substantially simultaneously on both said terminals.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1 wherein said communications circuit is a T1 line.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 2 wherein said data-link includes the Internet.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 3 wherein said data-link further includes a server.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 4 wherein said data-link further includes a secure encrypted tunnel.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 5 wherein said communications port is a modem.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 6 wherein said modem is a 10/100BaseT connection.

8. A diagnostic tool for remote, collaborative management of a communications circuit, comprising:

means for configuring said communications circuit;

means located substantially at a demarcation point of said communications circuit for testing said configured circuit; and

,

means remote from said testing means for monitoring said testing and simultaneously displaying the results of said testing on two or more monitors.

9. The diagnostic tool of claim 8 wherein said communication circuit is a T1 line.

10. The diagnostic tool of claim 9 further including a means, remote from said testing means, for controlling both said means for configuring and said means for testing.

11. The diagnostic tool of claim 10 further including means for analyzing said results of testing.

12. The diagnostic tool of claim 11 further including means for monitoring said communications circuit while said circuit is in normal use, and local means for storing the data from said monitoring.

13. The diagnostic tool of claim 12 in which said means for analyzing is further capable of analyzing said data from said monitoring.

14. The diagnostic tool of claim 13 further including means for sending alerts while said communications circuit is in normal use.

15. The diagnostic tool of claim 14 further including means for initiating repair of a diagnosed fault by data reformatting.

16. A method of collaboratively and remotely testing a communications line, comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a diagnostic interface unit into said communications line substantially at a demarcation point of said communications line;

b) configuring said communications line;

c) generating, by means of said diagnostic interface unit, a test-pattern on said configured communications line;

d) monitoring, by means of said diagnostic interface unit, said generated test-pattern; and

e) displaying, substantially simultaneously, on two or more monitors, the results of said step d) of monitoring.

17. The method of claim 16 in which said communications line is a T1 line.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step

f) analyzing said results of said step d) of monitoring;

and

wherein said step e) of displaying includes displaying the resultant analysis of said step f) of analyzing.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step

g) initiating repair of a diagnosed fault by data reformatting.

20. A collaborative remote T1 circuit diagnostic tool, comprising:

a diagnostic interface unit, linked to said T1 circuit substantially at a demarcation point of said circuit, said interface unit including a MIB II compliant configuration manager, a T1 framing test-signal generator, an ESF format test-signal receiver, a control microprocessor and a 100BaseT communications port;

a first remote terminal, located remote to said diagnostic interface unit;

a second remote terminal, said second remote terminal being located remote to both said first terminal and to said diagnostic interface unit;

a server, located remote to said diagnostic interface unit;

a first-secure encrypted tunnel connecting said server to said diagnostic interface unit via the Internet;

a second-secure encrypted tunnel connecting said server to said first remote terminal;

a third-secure encrypted tunnel connecting said server to said second remote terminal;

a remote, diagnostic-service software-module running on said server, said software module including a test-initiation module capable of initiating a test protocol on said diagnostic interface unit, a test-analysis module capable of analyzing the results of said test protocol, a test-repair unit capable of initiating repair of a diagnosed fault by data reformatting, and a GUI display module capable of displaying, substantially simultaneously, a graphic version of said analysis of said results on each of said remote terminals.