METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING AND VALIDATING TELECOM AND DATACOM SYSTEMS

• US 20140183254A1
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Inventors: HTAY, Aung, JUNG, Cheol Woo
• Granted Patent: US 8,887,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element

Abstract

A mobile-device method and system implement validating installation of a network device, for example the installation and validation of cards within a network element. Installation data is loaded onto the mobile device and one or more cards are installed in a network element, the cards having QR codes. An image of the installation is captured and the QR codes are recognized in the captured image. The cards are identified by association with the recognized markers and the physical locations, such as slot positions, of the cards relative to the network element are determined. The installation is validated with regard to slot assignments of cards and an installation report is uploaded from the mobile device to central servers.

Claims

1. A mobile-device implemented method of validating installation of a network device, the method comprising:

capturing an image in which at least one card is installed in a network device, the card having a marker thereon;

recognizing the marker within the captured image;

identifying the card by association with the recognized marker;

determining a physical position of the card in the network device according to the captured image; and

validating the determined physical position.

2. The mobile-device implemented method of claim 1, wherein the network device comprises a shelf with multiple slots and the at least one card is installed in a particular slot.

3. The mobile-device implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining the physical position of the card relative to the network device comprises determining the particular slot.

4. The mobile-device implemented method of claim 1, wherein the marker comprises a quick response (QR) code.

5. The mobile-device implemented method of claim 1, further comprising loading installation data related to the installation of the network device onto the mobile device.

6. The mobile-device implemented method of claim 1, further comprising loading installation data related to the installation of the network device onto the mobile device when prompted by the recognition of at least one QR code in at least one image captured by the mobile device.

7. The mobile-device implemented method of claim 6, wherein the installation data comprises at least one expected card identity and at least one expected card position.

8. The mobile-device implemented method of claim 1, further comprising sending information identifying the determined physical location from the mobile device to a central server.

9. A system comprising:

a network device having multiple slots;

a card inserted into a particular slot of the multiple slots;

a marker disposed on the card; and

a mobile device comprising a non-transitory memory storing instructions which, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to;

capture an image;

recognize the marker within the captured image;

determine the physical position of the card relative to the network device according to the captured image; and

validate the determined physical position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to determine the particular slot in which the card is inserted.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the marker comprises a quick response (QR) code.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to download onto the mobile device installation data related to validating the determined physical position.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to download installation data related to installation of the network device when prompted by the recognition of at least one QR code in at least one image captured by the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the installation data comprises at least one expected card identity and at least one expected card position.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the mobile device, cause the mobile device to send information identifying the determined physical position from the mobile device to a central server.

16. A non-transitory memory storing instructions which, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to:

capture an image;

recognize a marker within the captured image;

determine the physical position of a card relative to a network device according to the captured image; and

validate the determined physical position.

17. The non-transitory memory of claim 16, wherein the network device comprises a shelf with multiple slots and the at least one card is installed in a particular slot.

18. The non-transitory memory of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to determine the particular slot.

19. The non-transitory memory of claim 16, wherein the marker comprises a quick response (QR) code.

20. The non-transitory memory of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to download installation data related to installation of the network device when prompted by recognition of at least one QR code in at least one image captured by the mobile device.