SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A SMALL FORM PLUGGABLE ETHERNET DEMARCATION DEVICE

• US 20100280858A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bugenhagen, Michael K.
• Application Number:
  US12/433,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring network traffic utilizing a small form pluggable (SFP). The SFP is activated in a customer premise equipment (CPE) device in response to a user inserting the SFP in the CPE device. A determination is made whether a service provider is authorized to access the SFP. Monitoring is implemented for the service provider in response to the determining.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring network traffic utilizing a small form pluggable, the method comprising:

activating the small form pluggable (SFP) in a customer premise equipment (CPE) device in response to a user inserting the SFP in the CPE device;

determining a service provider is authorized to access the SFP; and

implementing monitoring for the service provider in response to the determining.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the SFP is any of a port module, GBIC, and X form pluggable, and wherein the CPE is any of a router and a switch.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CPE device powers the SFP.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the implementing comprises:

performing a loop back to the service provider to test a network connection to the SFP.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

inserting test traffic to evaluate a network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the implementing further comprises:

testing the functionality of the CPE and the SFP.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending the SFC to the user for the CPE in response to a request for network service.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining is performed utilizing a MAC address utilized by the service provider.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

adding and dropping virtual local area network (VLAN) tags.

10. The method according to claim 1, sending out a message indicating a state of the CPE device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message indicates that the CPE has failed.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

indicating that packets are being dropped from the user at the SFP.

13. A small form pluggable (SFP), the SFP comprising:

a switch operable to perform loop back testing between the SFP and a service provider;

a management channel operable to authenticate a service provider is authorized to access the SFP; and

logic in communication with the management channel operable to manage tests and measurements performed for communications through the SFP.

14. The SFP according to claim 13, further comprising:

a memory in communication with the management logic, the memory operable to store the measurements; and

a rate shaper operable to shape and limit traffic through the SFP.

15. The SFP according to claim 13, further comprising:

one or more probes in communication with the logic operable to implement synthetic traffic.

16. The SFP according to claim 13, further comprising:

an indicator in communication with the logic operable to indicate traffic from the customer is being dropped at the SFP, and wherein the logic is operable to send a message to the service provider indicating failure of a housing CPE device.

17. The SFP according to claim 13, wherein the measurements determine whether a customer is complying with a service level agreement.

18. A customer premise equipment (CPE) device, the CPE device comprising:

a processor operable to execute a set of instructions; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory operable to store the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

activating a SFP in the customer premise equipment (CPE) device in response to a user inserting the SFP in the CPE device;

determining a service provider is authorized to access the SFP;

performing a loop back to the service provider to test a connection to the SFP;

implementing measurements of communications through the CPE device for the service provider in response to the determining.

19. The CPE device according to claim 18, wherein the set of instructions are further operable to:

send the measurements to a service provider to verify a user is complying with a SLA.

20. The CPE device according to claim 18, wherein the set of instructions are further operable to:

insert test traffic for testing the connection and a network of the service provider.