Voice Over Internet Protocol (Voip) Quality Testing Over Hybrid Fiber/Coax (Hfc) Network
First Claim
1. A method of testing a VoIP network that includes a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) plant having a plurality of communication paths, each of which includes a fiber optic plant having a first end communicatively coupled to a first coaxial cable plant via a first transceiver and a second end communicatively coupled to a second coaxial cable plant via a second transceiver, each transceiver configured to convert optical data signals into corresponding electrical data signals and vice versa, the first coaxial cable plant of each communication path communicatively coupled to a call management system (CMS) via a cable modem terminations system (CMTS) which is configured to convert electrical data signals conveyed thereto via at least one of the communication paths from a first communication protocol utilized on the communication paths to a second communication protocol utilized by the CMS and vice versa, the method comprising:
- (a) communicatively coupling a first test device assigned a unique IP address to the second coaxial cable of a first communication path;
(b) communicatively coupling a second test device assigned a unique IP address to the second coaxial cable of a second communication path, wherein at least one of the first and second test devices is coupled to its communication path at or adjacent the connection of a power supply of the HFC plant to the communication path;
(c) creating a packet communication session between the first and second devices via the first and second communication paths;
(d) simulating without the use of a physical telephone a voice telephone call between the first and second test devices via the communication session, wherein said simulated telephone call includes conveying data packets from the first test device to the second test device and vice versa;
(e) analyzing the data packets received at each test device; and
(f) transmitting the analysis of the data packets received by each test device to the CMS.
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Accused Products
Abstract
First and second test devices communicatively coupled to a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) plant are operative for transmitting data packets of a simulated Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone call therebetween without the use of a physical telephone at either test device. Each test device is operative for analyzing data packets received or transmitted thereby and for transmitting its analysis of the received or transmitted data packets to a call management system and a test controller.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of testing a VoIP network that includes a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) plant having a plurality of communication paths, each of which includes a fiber optic plant having a first end communicatively coupled to a first coaxial cable plant via a first transceiver and a second end communicatively coupled to a second coaxial cable plant via a second transceiver, each transceiver configured to convert optical data signals into corresponding electrical data signals and vice versa, the first coaxial cable plant of each communication path communicatively coupled to a call management system (CMS) via a cable modem terminations system (CMTS) which is configured to convert electrical data signals conveyed thereto via at least one of the communication paths from a first communication protocol utilized on the communication paths to a second communication protocol utilized by the CMS and vice versa, the method comprising:
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(a) communicatively coupling a first test device assigned a unique IP address to the second coaxial cable of a first communication path;
(b) communicatively coupling a second test device assigned a unique IP address to the second coaxial cable of a second communication path, wherein at least one of the first and second test devices is coupled to its communication path at or adjacent the connection of a power supply of the HFC plant to the communication path;
(c) creating a packet communication session between the first and second devices via the first and second communication paths;
(d) simulating without the use of a physical telephone a voice telephone call between the first and second test devices via the communication session, wherein said simulated telephone call includes conveying data packets from the first test device to the second test device and vice versa;
(e) analyzing the data packets received at each test device; and
(f) transmitting the analysis of the data packets received by each test device to the CMS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for testing a VoIP network that includes a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) plant having a plurality of coaxial cable/fiber-optic/coaxial cable communication paths, each of which is communicatively coupled via one of the coaxial cables thereof to a call management system (CMS), the system comprising:
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a first test device coupled to the other coaxial cable of a first communication path of the HFC plant; and
a second test device coupled to the other coaxial cable of a second communication path of the HFC plant, wherein;
at least one of the first and second test devices is coupled to its communication path at or adjacent the connection of a power supply of the HFC plant to the communication path;
the test devices are operative for transmitting data packets of a simulated internet protocol (IP) telephone call therebetween via the first and second communication paths of the HFC plant without the use of a physical telephone at each test device;
each test device is operative for analyzing the data packets received thereby; and
each test device is operative for transmitting its analysis of the received data packets to the CMS. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of testing a VoIP network that includes a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) plant having a communication path which includes a fiber optic plant having a first end communicatively coupled to a first coaxial cable plant via a first transceiver and a second end communicatively coupled to a second coaxial cable plant via a second transceiver, each transceiver configured to convert optical data signals into corresponding electrical data signals and vice versa, the first coaxial cable plant communicatively coupled to a call management system (CMS) via a cable modem terminations system (CMTS) which converts electrical data signals conveyed thereto via the communication path from a first communication protocol utilized on the communication paths to a second communication protocol utilized by the CMS and vice versa, the method comprising:
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(a) communicatively coupling first and second test devices, each of which is assigned a unique IP address, to the second coaxial cable of the communication path;
(b) causing the CMS to create a packet communication session between the first and second devices via the communication path, wherein at least one of the first and second test devices is coupled to its communication path at or adjacent the connection of a power supply of the HFC plant to the communication path;
(c) simulating without the use of a physical telephone a voice telephone call between the first and second test devices via the communication session, wherein said simulated telephone call includes conveying data packets from the first test device to the second test device and vice versa;
(d) analyzing the data packets received by each test device; and
(e) transmitting the analysis of the data packets received by each test device to the CMS. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for testing a VoIP network that includes a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) plant having a coaxial cable/fiber-optic/coaxial cable communication path which is communicatively coupled via one of the coaxial cables thereof to a call management system (CMS), the system comprising:
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a first test device coupled to the other coaxial cable of the communication path of the HFC plant; and
a second test device coupled to the other coaxial cable of the communication path of the HFC plant, wherein;
at least one of the first and second test devices is coupled to its communication path at or adjacent the connection of a power supply of the HFC plant to the communication path;
the test devices are operative for transmitting data packets of a simulated internet protocol (IP) telephone call therebetween via the communication path without the use of a physical telephone at each test device;
each test device is operative for analyzing the data packets received thereby; and
each test device is operative for transmitting its analysis of the received data packets to the CMS via the HFC plant. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification