Versatile communication network test apparatus and methods

• US 20050286486A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acterna LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Walter L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

An analysis device includes a connector, a display, a digital communication circuit and a processing circuit. The connector is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of a communication system, the communication system including a connection to a network employing internet protocol communications. The digital communication circuit is operably connected to the connector and configured to communicate information signals within the communication system via the connector. The digital communication circuit is operable to establish at least two types of connections through the communication system. The first type of data connection employs an internet protocol, while the second type of internet data connection employs a voice over internet protocol. The processing circuit is connected to the digital communication circuit. The processing circuit is operable to obtain diagnostic data relating to each of the first type of connection and the second type of connection. The processing circuit is further operable to cause the display to display information representative of the diagnostic data.

Claims

1. An analysis device, comprising:

a connector for connecting to a coaxial cable of a communication system, the communication system including a connection to a network employing internet protocol communications;

a display;

a digital communication circuit operably connected to the connector and configured to communicate information signals within the communication system via the connector, the digital communication circuit operable to establish a first type of data connection through the communication system, the first type of data connection employing an internet protocol;

establish a second type of data connection through the communication system, the second type of internet data connection comprising a voice over internet protocol; and

a processing circuit connected to the digital communication circuit, the processing circuit operable to obtain first diagnostic data relating to the first type of connection and operable to obtain second diagnostic data relating to the second type of connection, the processing circuit further operable to cause the display to display information representative of the first diagnostic data and display information representative of the second diagnostic data.

2. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit includes a plurality of processors.

3. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the digital communication circuit includes at least a first processor, the first processor also constituting at least a portion of the processing circuit.

4. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the digital communication circuit further includes a DOCSIS modem and a multimedia terminal adapter.

5. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain first diagnostic information including identification of an internet protocol address assigned to a circuit within the digital communication circuit.

6. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain first diagnostic information including an identification of an upstream channel employed in the established first type of data connection.

7. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain first diagnostic information including an identification of a modulation type employed in the established first type of data connection.

8. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain first diagnostic information including an identification of an output gain level employed in the established first type of data connection.

9. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain second diagnostic information including a call quality information for the established second type of data connection.

10. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain second diagnostic information including a packet loss measurement of the established second type of data connection.

11. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain second diagnostic information including a jitter measurement of the established second type of data connection.

12. The analysis device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is operable to obtain second diagnostic information including a packet delay measurement of the established second type of data connection.

15. The analysis device of claim 1 wherein the display comprises an LCD display.

16. The analysis device of claim 1 including a handheld housing that supports the display, the digital communication circuit and the processing circuit.

17. The analysis device of claim 16 wherein the display has a diagonal measurement of less than five inches.

13. The analysis device including an input for receiving user commands identifying a test selection, a first test selection causing the communication circuit to establish the first type of connection and the second test selection causing the communication circuit to establish the second type of connection.

14. The analysis device of claim 13 wherein the input includes a keypad.

18. An analysis device, comprising:

a connector for connecting to a coaxial cable of a communication system, the communication system including a connection to a network employing internet protocol communications;

a display;

a digital communication circuit operably connected to the connector and configured to communicate information signals within the communication system via the connector, the digital communication circuit operable to establish a voice over internet protocol data connection through the communication system,

a processing circuit connected to the digital communication circuit, the processing circuit operable to obtain first diagnostic data relating to a set of connection parameters of the established connection and operable to obtain second diagnostic data relating to performance of the established connection, the processing circuit further operable to cause the display to display information representative of the first diagnostic data and display information representative of the second diagnostic data.

19. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the digital communication circuit includes at least a first processor, the first processor also constituting at least a portion of the processing circuit.

20. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the set of connection parameters includes identification of an internet protocol address assigned to a circuit within the digital communication circuit.

21. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the set of connection parameters includes an identification of an upstream channel employed in the established first type of data connection.

22. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the set of connection parameters includes an identification of a modulation type employed in the established first type of data connection.

23. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the set of connection parameters includes an identification of an output gain level employed in the established first type of data connection.

24. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the second diagnostic data includes a packet loss measurement of the established second type of data connection.

25. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the second diagnostic data includes a jitter measurement of the established second type of data connection.

26. The analysis device of claim 18, wherein the second diagnostic data includes a packet delay measurement of the established second type of data connection.