Browser on Test Equipment

• US 20120071158A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., Sargent, Nathan, Enzmann, Mark J., Moton, Robert T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A portable telecommunication test set with a web browser incorporated therein is provided. A standard Hyper Text Mark-up Language or Wireless Application Protocol browser may be incorporated within the portable test set, allowing a network technician to access the Internet as well as other remotely-located sources of information to retrieve data and other useful technical information while in the field for communication network or telephone line maintenance, troubleshooting or repair. The test set may contain memory to locally store certain technical information that may be retrieved and “read” by the built-in browser module when prompted by the network technician. The web browser may display the content of the requested information on a display provided on the test set. Line-specific (as well as manufacturer-specific) test information need not be in a manufacturer-dictated proprietary format. Testing-related data may thus be supplied by a vendor other than the manufacturer of the test set.

Claims

1. A communications test device, comprising:

a processor located in a hand-held housing;

a protocol analyzer located in the hand-held housing, wherein the protocol analyzer performs test operations on a communications network;

a web browser module stored in memory of the hand-held housing, wherein the web browser module initiates data communications between the web browser module and a source of information located external to the communications test device; and

the hand-held housing for enclosing the processor, the protocol analyzer, and the web browser module.

2. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the web browser module comprises a communications stack designed for wireless communications.

3. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the web browser module further receives audio data files and video data files from the external source.

4. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the communications test device operates over a wireline communications network and a wireless communications network.

5. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores line-specific data and circuit information accessible by the web browser module.

6. The communications test device of claim 5, wherein the line-specific data and the circuit information are in a plug-in hardware memory module form.

7. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the web browser module further converts information received from the source of information located external to the portable communications test device to a format understandable by a user of the communications test device.

8. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the information received from the source of information located external to the portable communications test device is in at least one of a Hyper Text Mark-Up Language format, a Wireless Mark-up Language format, or a JavaScript scripting language format.

9. The communications test device of claim 1, further comprising a wireline modem and a wireless modem in communication with the web browser module.

10. The communications test device of claim 9, wherein the wireline modem and the wireless modem utilize a frequency shift keying modulation scheme, a differential phase shift keying modulation scheme, a quadrature amplitude modulation scheme, and a trellis-coded modulation scheme to modulate and demodulate information transmitted to and received from the source of information located external to the communications test device.

11. The communications test device of claim 9, wherein the wireline modem and the wireless modem function in a full duplex communication mode allowing the communications test device to transmit and receive data simultaneously.

12. The communications test device of claim 1, further comprising a line interface unit for splitting a signal in a two-wire system into a four-wire system.

13. The communications test device of claim 1, further comprising a hands-free speaker.

14. The communications test device of claim 1, further comprising an adapter slot, wherein the adapter slot receives a plug-in hardware memory module comprising line-specific data and circuit information.

15. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the processor initiates a testing operation on the communications network and simultaneously initiates transmittal of first information to and receipt of second information from the source of information located external to the communications test device.

16. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the source of information located external to the communications test device is a remote communications test device and wherein the communications test device:

transmits an electronic message addressed to the remote communications test device; and

receives an electronic message from the remote communications test device addressed to the communications test device.

17. The communications test device of claim 1, wherein the web browser module comprises a Wireless Application Protocol browser operative to use at least one of Short Message Service bearer service, a circuit switched data bearer service, or a packetized data bearer service.

18. A communications test device, comprising:

a processor located in a hand-held housing;

a testing module located in the hand-held housing, wherein the testing module receives a first indication from the processor and initiates responsively a test operation for a communications entity;

a web browser module stored in memory of the hand-held housing, wherein the web browser module receives a second indication from the processor and initiates data communications between the web browser module and a source of information located external to the communications test device; and

the hand-held housing for enclosing the processor, the testing module, and the web browser module.

19. The communications test device of claim 18, wherein the processor provides an alert indicating a potential for use of the communications test device to disrupt data transmissions associated with the communications network.

20. A communications test device, comprising:

a processor located in a hand-held housing;

a protocol analyzer located in the hand-held housing, wherein the protocol analyzer performs test operations on a communications network;

a web browser module stored in memory of the hand-held housing, wherein the web browser module initiates data communications between the web browser module and a source of information located external to the communications test device; and

the hand-held housing for enclosing the processor, the protocol analyzer, and the web browser module,

wherein the processor provides an alert indicating a potential for use of the communications test device to disrupt data transmissions associated with the communications network.