METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MANAGE NETWORK TESTING PROCEDURES

• US 20080181123A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Qiu, Chaoxin Charles, Huang, Alexander Lisheng
• Application Number:
  US11/669,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20080181123A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/087 Jitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to enable packet telephony performance testing. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving a request to execute a test, and obtaining a testing rule associated with the requested test, the testing rule including a test parameter threshold. The example method also includes determining a compliance status between the test parameter threshold and the request to execute the test, and allowing or denying execution of the test based on the compliance status.

Claims

1. A method to enable packet telephony performance testing comprising:

receiving a request to execute a test;

obtaining a testing rule associated with the requested test, the testing rule including a test parameter threshold;

determining a compliance status between the test parameter threshold and the request to execute the test; and

allowing or denying execution of the test based on the compliance status.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the test request specifies at least one of a test call duration, a test frequency, a media type, a codec type, a network element (NE), an internet protocol (IP) address, or a bandwidth consumption value.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the NE comprises at least one of a VoIP telephone, a circuit telephone, a circuit test responder, or a packet test responder.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising obtaining a network value representative of a network condition.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein determining the compliance status comprises comparing the test parameter threshold against the network value.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising measuring a plurality of the network values and saving the plurality of the network values to a memory.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the plurality of network values comprise at least one of packet delay, jitter, packet loss, or call completion success.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the test parameter threshold corresponds to at least one of an existing call preservation status, a media bandwidth threshold, an available bandwidth threshold, an existing call quality threshold, a test call security status, a test time duration threshold, a test denial flag, a test permission flag, or a test frequency threshold.

10. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the test call security status is approved if the test is executed by an authenticated VoIP telephone.

11. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the existing call quality threshold comprises at least one of a network jitter threshold, a network packet-loss threshold, an eye-diagram mask threshold, or a network bit-rate threshold.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising obtaining a network value representative of a network condition.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein if the network value exceeds at least one of the network jitter threshold, the network packet-loss threshold, the eye-diagram mask threshold, or the network bit-rate threshold, execution of the test is denied.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the network value is an authorization status of a network element, and the execution of the test is permitted if the network value does not violate the test call security status.

15. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the network value is a bandwidth value, and the execution of the test is permitted if the network value does not exceed the available bandwidth threshold.

19. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the testing rule is configured by a subscriber.

22. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a test ride manager receives the request to execute the test.

9. (canceled)

16-18. -18. (canceled)

20-21. -21. (canceled)

23. A network testing apparatus comprising:

a test control server to control a network testing procedure on a network;

a call control server communicatively coupled to the test control server, the call control server to control at least one communication endpoint on the at least one network; and

a test rule manager communicatively coupled to the test control server to permit or block the network testing procedure based on a current network condition.

24. A network testing apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein the test rule manager comprises:

a memory to store a testing rule;

a rule selector to retrieve the testing rule from the memory; and

a rule comparator to compare the testing rule with the current network condition.

25. A network testing apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the testing rule specifies at least one of an available bandwidth, a current call quantity, a date range, a time range, an internet protocol (IP) address range, or a test duration.

26. (canceled)

27. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive a test request to execute a test;

obtain a testing rule associated with the requested test, the testing rule including a test parameter threshold;

determine a compliance status between the test parameter threshold and the request to execute the test; and

allow or deny execution of the test based on the compliance status.

28. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 27, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to analyze at least one of a test call duration, a test frequency, a media type, a codec type, a network element (NE), an internet protocol (IP) address, or a bandwidth consumption value.

29-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A network testing apparatus comprising:

a test control server to initiate a network testing procedure on a network;

a telephone rule processor to receive a test request from the test control server; and

a rule comparator to compare the received test request to at least one rule to at least one of allow the test or prohibit the test.

49. A network testing apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein the telephone rule processor comprises a memory to store the at least one rule.

50. A network testing apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein the at least one rule specifies at least one of a minimum available bandwidth, a date rate, a time range, or a test duration.