Apparatus and method for testing and fault isolation in a communication network
First Claim
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1. In an access network, a method for performing loopback testing at the data link layer comprising the steps of:
- creating a loopback test pattern data flow comprising one or more test frames with a test frame originator device;
sending the loopback test pattern data flow over a communications link to a receiving port, wherein the communications link is capable of carrying the loopback test pattern data flow concurrently with one or more customer data flows, thereby allowing a data link layer loopback test to be performed without taking the communications link out of service;
receiving the loopback test pattern data flow at the receiving port;
reading at least an address portion of the test frames at the receiving port;
returning the test frames to the test frame originator if the test frames are recognized as part of a loopback test pattern data flow; and
analyzing the returned test frames at the test frame originator, wherein the test frame originator is capable of determining the performance of a portion of the access network based on the analysis.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for performing automated testing and trouble isolation of a communications link in an access network is described. Communications link testing may occur without taking the communications link out of service for the duration of the test.
60 Citations
49 Claims
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1. In an access network, a method for performing loopback testing at the data link layer comprising the steps of:
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creating a loopback test pattern data flow comprising one or more test frames with a test frame originator device;
sending the loopback test pattern data flow over a communications link to a receiving port, wherein the communications link is capable of carrying the loopback test pattern data flow concurrently with one or more customer data flows, thereby allowing a data link layer loopback test to be performed without taking the communications link out of service;
receiving the loopback test pattern data flow at the receiving port;
reading at least an address portion of the test frames at the receiving port;
returning the test frames to the test frame originator if the test frames are recognized as part of a loopback test pattern data flow; and
analyzing the returned test frames at the test frame originator, wherein the test frame originator is capable of determining the performance of a portion of the access network based on the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In an access network, a system for performing loopback testing at the data link layer comprising:
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a test frame originator device communicatively coupled to a communications link and capable of creating a loopback test pattern data flow comprising one or more test frames, wherein the communications link is capable of carrying the loopback test pattern data flow concurrently with one or more customer data flows; and
a receiving port communicatively coupled to the communications link and capable of receiving the test frames, wherein the receiving port reads at least an address portion of the test frames and returns the test frames to the test frame originator device if the test frames are recognized as part of the loopback test pattern data flow;
wherein the test frame originator device is capable of analyzing the returned loopback test pattern data flow to determine the performance of at least a portion of the access network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. In an access network, a system for performing loopback testing at the data link layer comprising:
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a test frame originator device communicatively coupled to a communications link and capable of generating a maintenance tag flow comprising one or more test frames containing the source management address of the test frame originator, wherein the communications link is capable of carrying the maintenance tag flow concurrently with one or more customer data flows;
a receiving port communicatively coupled to the communications link and capable of comparing the source management address of the maintenance tag flow to the receiving port address, wherein the address comparison determines if the test frames are returned to the test frame originator device or if the test frames are discarded; and
a control system communicatively coupled to the test frame originator device and capable of transmitting data link layer loopback instructions to the test frame originator device for performing loopback testing, wherein the data link layer loopback instructions are carried over an in-band logical communications flow;
wherein the test frame originator device is capable of receiving test frames returned from the receiving port and analyzing the test frames to determine the performance of at least a portion of the access network. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. In an access network, a method for performing loopback testing at the data link layer comprising the steps of:
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determining the need to perform a data link layer loopback test with a control system;
transmitting data link layer loopback instructions from the control system to a test frame originator device;
creating a loopback test pattern data flow with the test frame originator device, wherein the loopback test pattern data flow comprises one or more test frames;
sending the loopback test pattern data flow over a communications link to a receiving port, wherein the communications link is capable of carrying the loopback test pattern data flow concurrently with one or more customer data flows, thereby allowing a data link layer loopback test to be performed without taking the communications link out of service;
receiving the loopback test pattern data flow at the receiving port;
reading at least an address portion of the test frames at the receiving port;
returning the test frames to the test frame originator if the test frames are recognized as part of a loopback test pattern data flow; and
analyzing the returned test frames at the test frame originator, wherein the test frame originator is capable of determining the performance of a portion of the access network based on the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification