OmniTester

• US 20060227941A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diroo, Yolius, Pascasio, Jorey M. Jr., Allen, Keith Joseph, Wollmershauser, Steven M., Small, David Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/32.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/308 Craftsperson test terminals

Abstract

A simplified field testing tool integrates signal-strength and error-rate testing for a variety of networking technologies prevalent for home networking, including but not limited to Multimedia over Coax (or applicable coax standard), HomePNA 2, VDSL, 10OBaseT Ethernet, 802.11 Wi-Fi, and analog/coaxial RF signals.

Claims

1. A signal detector to detect a plurality of telecommunications signals, the detector comprising:

a housing holding electronics to detect a plurality of signals, the signals further comprising MoCa, analog RF, HPNA, XDSL, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and analog/coaxial RF signals;

a power source to power the electronics;

a port on the housing to connect a signal source to the detector, wherein the signal source further comprises coax, Ethernet, telephone and Wi-Fi;

a source selector connected to the detector to select a signal for detection from a signal source; and

an indicator mounted on the housing to indicate the detection of a selected signal from the signal source.

2. The detector of claim 1, further comprising an integral Wi-Fi antenna.

3. The detector of claim 1, wherein the detector detects signal strength.

4. The detector of claim 1, wherein the detector detects BER/noise ratio.

5. The detector of claim 1, further comprising a mode selector to select a detection mode from among signal strength detection mode and BER/noise ratio detection mode.

6. The detector of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a numeric display.

7. The detector of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises an LED that illuminates when a detected signal is within a preset range.

8. The detector of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises both a numeric display of a detected signal and an LED that indicates a signal detected within a preset range.

9. The detector of claim 1, wherein the XDSL signal comprises a VDSL signal.

10. The detector of claim 1, wherein the detector detects CPE signals.

13. The detector of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises an LED that illuminates when a detected signal is within a preset range.

14. The detector of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises both a numeric display of a detected signal and an LED that indicates a signal detected within a preset range.

11. A signal detector to selectively detect a plurality of telecommunications signals and to selectively detect the strength and the BER/noise ratio of a selected signal, the detector comprising:

a housing holding electronics to detect a plurality of signals, the signals further comprising MoCa, analog RF, HPNA, xDSL, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and analog/coaxial RF signals;

a power source to power the electronics;

a plurality of ports on the housing to connect a signal source to the detector, wherein the signal source further comprises coax, Ethernet, telephone and Wi-Fi;

a source selector connected to the detector to select a signal for detection from a signal source;

a mode selector connected to the detector to select either signal strength detection mode or BER/noise ratio detection mode; and

an indicator mounted on the housing to indicate the detection of a selected signal from the signal source.

12. The detector of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises a numeric display.

15. The detector of claim 11, wherein the XDSL signal comprises a VDSL signal.

16. The detector of claim 11, wherein the detector detects CPE signals.

17. A method for detecting a telecommunications signal, the method comprising:

Providing a signal detector to selectively detect a plurality of telecommunications signals and to selectively detect the strength and the BER/noise ratio of a selected signal, wherein the detector detects a signal selected from among MoCa, analog RF, HPNA, XDSL, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and analog/coaxial RF signals from input selected from among coax, Ethernet, telephone and Wi-Fi;

connecting an input to the detector to select a signal for detection from the input;

selecting a mode to detect signal strength or BER/noise ratio; and

reading an indicator of a selected signal from the input.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting another mode and reading the indicator.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising connecting a second input to the detector and reading the indictor for a selected mode and a selected signal for the second input.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the detector detects CPE signals.