Method and system for comprehensive testing of network connections

• US 20070041554A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Newman, Scott, Yip, Alex, Roadman, John-Paul, Henry, David, Bearden, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/202,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20070041554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/218.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail

Abstract

The present invention is an system and method for comprehensively testing a customer connection to a communications network. A customer is identified from information obtained at a customer interface. A test can be performed on the customer connection. A typical test compares two datasets related to the customer connection to determine a state of the customer connection. The first and second dataset can include historical data. A parameter in the first dataset obtained from a network element can be compared to a parameter in a second dataset obtained from a customer database. The comparison can be made in light of changes recorded in a provisioning database. Relevant network data can be obtained from customer premises equipment (CPE). The customer can be notified of a network issue proactively or upon customer inquiry.

Claims

1. A method of testing a customer connection to a communications network, comprising:

obtaining a customer identification at a customer interface;

obtaining at least a first dataset and a second dataset related to the customer connection to the communications network; and

comparing at least one parameter from the first dataset to at least one parameter from the second dataset to test the customer connection to the communications network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the datasets further comprise historical data related to the communications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the at least one parameter further comprises comparing the at least one parameter with a change of parameter recorded in a provisioning database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a first and second dataset further comprises obtaining a dataset from an operating system registry of a customer premises equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dataset is obtained at a network element and the second dataset is obtained from a customer database.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an alert of a network issue.

7. A system for comprehensively testing a customer connection to a communications network, comprising:

a customer interface for a customer identification;

a database for storing at least a first dataset and a second dataset related to the customer connection to the communications network; and

a processor configured to compare at least one parameter from the first dataset to at least one parameter from the second dataset to test the customer connection to the communications network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein one of the datasets further comprise historical data related to the communications network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein comparing the at least one parameter further comprises comparing the at least one parameter with a change of parameter recorded in a provisioning database.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein obtaining a first and second dataset further comprises obtaining a dataset from an operating system registry of a customer premises equipment.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first dataset is obtained at a network element and the second dataset is obtained from a customer database.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

sending an alert of a network issue.

13. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when read by a computer perform a method for comprehensively testing a customer connection to a communications network, comprising:

obtaining a customer identification at a customer interface;

obtaining at least a first dataset and a second dataset related to the customer connection to the communications network; and

comparing at least one parameter from the first dataset to at least one parameter from the second dataset to test the customer connection to the communications network.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein in the method one of the datasets further comprise historical data related to the communications network.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein in the method comparing the at least one parameter further comprises comparing the at least one parameter with a change of parameter recorded in a provisioning database.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein in the method obtaining a first and second dataset further comprises obtaining a dataset from an operating system registry of a customer premises equipment.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein in the method the first dataset is obtained at a network element and the second dataset is obtained from a customer database.

18. The medium of claim 13, the method further comprising:

sending an alert of a network issue.