Method of and system for remote testing and reporting of ISDN line conditions

• US 5,189,663 A
• Filed: 04/26/1990
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Virginia Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: C & P of Virginia
• Inventors: Williams, Clifton B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safourek, Benedict V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US07/515,007
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 370/13, 370/110.1, 370/17, 371/20.1, 371/20.5, 371/8.1
• US Class Current: 370/251
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/245 for ISDN systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/045 Selection or connection testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1316 Service observation, testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13305 Transistors, semiconductors in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 Logic circuits

Abstract

In an integrated services digital network (ISDN), a selected customer ISDN line at a central office is tested by remote control from an ISDN testing facility so that it is unnecessary to dispatch service personnel to the office to carry out the test. At least D-channel data from the ISDN line to be tested is obtained from the standard U-interface bus, accessed at the central office using the line card sparing feature of a standard integrated services line unit (ISLU). The D-channel data is applied to a personal computer at the central office, programmed to carry out protocol analysis and to supply at least one of data indicative of the protocol analysis and raw data used to perform the protocol analysis to a report communication line. Another computer at the ISDN test facility controls the operation of the computer at the central office over a dedicated communication line.

Claims

1. A system for remote and unattended testing and reporting of ISDN protocol at a central office, comprising:

means for accessing at least D-channel data of a selected customer ISDN line at said central office;

a first computer at said central office programmed to perform protocol analysis of data applied thereto, wherein said first computer includes a communication device coupled to a report communication line;

means for supplying said at least D-channel data to said first computer for performing protocol analysis thereof;

a second computer at a test facility remote from said central office;

a communication path interconnecting said first and second computers; and

means responsive to said second computer at said remote test facility and incorporating said communication path for controlling said first computer at said central office to provide said protocol analysis of said at least D-channel data and to selectively supply at least one of said D-channel data and data indicative of said protocol analysis to said report communication line.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a receiving device selectively coupled to said report communication line.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said receiving device comprises a facsimile machine.

4. The system of claim 1, including means responsive to a remote control signal transmitted from said remote test facility for enabling said D-channel data supplying means.

5. In a central office containing customer ISDN lines and a "U" interface monitoring system (UIMS) that converts data on a "U" interface in an integrated services line unit (ISLU) for interconnecting said customer ISDN lines and said UIMS to serial data outputs including B-channel data and D-channel data, said ISLU containing a plurality of "U" line cards including at least one sparing "U" line card slot and means for routing any one of said "U" line cards to said sparing slot as a sparing line card, a system for remote and unattended testing of ISDN protocol of signals on a selected customer ISDN line, comprising:

means for interconnecting said sparing line card and the input of said UIMS so that said UIMS develops output signals including at least said D-channel data;

protocol analyzer means responsive to the output of said UIMS for analyzing said at least D-channel data;

reporting means for selectively supplying at least one of data indicative of the analysis performed by said protocol analyzer means and said D-channel data to a report communication line; and

means located at a test facility remote from said central office for controlling said routing means, said protocol analyzer means and said reporting means to test the protocol of at least one of B-channel data and D-channel data on a selected customer ISDN line and supply data to said report communication line.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising receiving means coupled to said report communication line for receiving data supplied to said report communication line and generating a hard copy of said data.

7. The system of claim 5, including means responsive to a remote control signal transmitted from said remote test facility for enabling said UIMS to output said B- and D-channel data.

8. The system of claim 5, including a plurality of ISLU'"'"'s, and means for selecting one of said plurality of ISLU'"'"'s at a time for said routing of a "U" interface therein to said UIMS.

9. Apparatus for remote and unattended testing and reporting of an integrated services digital network (ISDN) at a central office, comprising:

(I) ISDN testing equipment at said central office including

(a) means for accessing a U-interface bus of a selected customer ISDN line at said central office,

(b) means for obtaining from said U-interface bus at least D-channel data on a selected customer ISDN line, and

(c) analyzer means for providing protocol analysis of said at least D-channel data;

(d) reporting means for supplying data to a report communication line;

(II) an ISDN testing facility remote from said central office; and

(III) remote control means at said ISDN testing facility for controlling said ISDN testing equipment.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a receiving facility remote from said central office, said receiving facility including a receiving means from receiving data supplied to said report communication line and generating a hard copy of said data.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, said ISDN testing equipment including a power supply and means responsive to a remote control signal transmitted from said remote test facility for controlling said power supply means to enable selectively said at least D-channel data obtaining means.

12. A method of remote and unattended testing of an integrated services digital network (ISDN) at a central office, comprising the steps of:

at said central office,

(a) selecting a customer ISDN line;

(b) accessing a U-interface bus of a selected customer ISDN line;

(c) monitoring at least D-channel data on said selected ISDN line; and

(d) analyzing the protocol of said at least D-channel data;

(e) selectively supplying data to a report communication line; and

at an ISDN test facility remote from said central office,

(f) generating control signals for controlling steps (b)-(e); and

(g) transmitting said control signals to said central office.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving data supplied to said report communication line at a receiving facility remote from said central office.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of generating a hard copy report from the data received at the receiving facility.

15. A method of testing an integrated services digital network (ISDN) at a central office whereat are located at least one integrated services line unit (ISLU) having a plurality of line cards positionable in line card "slots" in circuit with corresponding U-interfaces each containing ISDN B- and D-channel data and wherein at least one of said line card slots is available as a sparing slot to receive a selected one of said line cards associated with an ISDN line selected to be tested, said sparing card being reroutable to replace said selected line card, said method comprising the steps of:

at said central office

(a) selecting an ISDN line to be tested,

(b) accessing a U-interface bus of a selected ISDN line by routing said selected line card to said sparing slot containing said sparing card,

(c) monitoring at least D-channel data at the output of said sparing card, and

(d) analyzing the protocol of at least said D-channel data;

(e) selectively supplying data to a report communication line; and

at an ISDN test facility remote from said central office

(f) transmitting a first control signal to said central office to control step (b), and

(g) using a computer, transmitting second and third control signals to said central office for controlling steps (d) and (e), respectively.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of receiving data supplied to said report communication line at a receiving facility remote from said central office.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of generating a hard copy report from the data received at the receiving facility.

18. A method of testing an integrated services digital network (ISDN) at a central office whereat are located at least one integrated services line unit (ISLU) having a plurality of line cards positionable in line card "slots" in circuit with corresponding U-interfaces each containing ISDN B- and D-channel data and wherein at least one of said line card slots is available as a sparing slot to receive a selected one of said line cards associated with an ISDN line to be tested, said sparing card being reroutable to replace said selected line card, said method comprising the steps of:

at said central office

(a) selecting a customer ISDN line,

(b) accessing a U-interface bus of a selected ISDN line by routing said sparing card to a selected customer ISDN line,

(c) in series with said U-interface, monitoring at least D-channel data from said selected ISDN line, and

(d) analyzing the protocol of said at least D-channel data;

(e) selectively supplying data to a report communication line; and

at an ISDN test facility remote from said central office

(f) generating control signals,

(g) transmitting said control signals to said central office, and

(h) applying said control signals at said central office to control steps (b)-(e).

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of receiving data supplied to said report communication line at a receiving facility remote from said central office

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of generating a hard copy report from the data received at the receiving facility.

21. In a central office containing customer ISDN lines and a "U" interface monitoring system (UIMS) that converts selectively each one of a plurality of "U" interfaces to serial output data including B-channel data and D-channel data, and an integrated services line unit (ISLU) for interconnecting a selected one of said customer ISDN lines and said UIMS, said ISLU containing said plurality of "U" interfaces and a corresponding plurality of line cards positionable in line card "slots" in circuit with said U-interfaces and wherein at least one of said line card slots is available as a sparing slot to interface with said UIMS and further wherein at least one of said line cards is configured as a sparing card and is reroutable to said at least one sparing slot to replace a line card associated with a customer ISDN line to be tested, a method for remote and unattended testing and reporting of protocol on said customer ISDN lines, comprising the steps of:

at said central office

(a) applying operating power to said UIMS,

(b) selecting a customer ISDN line,9

(c) accessing a U-interface bus of a selected customer ISDN line by routing said sparing card to the selected line,

(d) connecting said sparing card to said UIMS and monitoring at least D-channel data from said selected line,

(e) analyzing the protocol of said at least D-channel data,

(f) supplying data to a report communication line; and

(g) removing operating power from said UIMS; and

at an ISDN test facility remote from said central office

(h) using a computer, generating a first group of control signals for controlling steps (e)-(g) and using an access line, transmitting said control signals to said central office, and

(i) transmitting a control signal via a trunk line work station to said central office to control step (c).

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of receiving data supplied to said report communication line at a receiving facility remote from said central office.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of generating a hard copy report from the data received at the receiving facility.

24. In a central office containing customer ISDN lines and a "U" interface monitoring system (UIMS) that converts selectively each one of a plurality of "U" interfaces to serial output data including B-channel data and D-channel data, and a plurality of integrated services line units (ISLU'"'"'s) for interconnecting a selected one of said customer ISDN lines and said UIMS, said ISLU'"'"'s containing said plurality of "U" interfaces and a corresponding plurality of line cards positionable in line card "slots" in circuit with said U-interfaces and wherein at least one of said line card slots is available as a sparing slot to interface with said UIMS and further wherein at least one of said line cards is configured as a sparing card and is reroutable to said at least one sparing slot to replace a line card associated with a customer ISDN line to be tested, a method for remote and unattended testing of protocol on said customer ISDN lines, comprising the steps of:

at said central office

(a) selecting a particular one of said ISLU'"'"'s containing a customer ISDN line to be tested;

(b) selecting a customer ISDN line in the ISLU selected in step (a),

(c) accessing a U-interface bus of a selected customer ISDN line by routing said sparing card to the selected line,

(d) connecting said sparing card to said UIMS and monitoring at least D-channel data from said selected line, and

(e) analyzing the protocol of said at least D-channel data;

(f) selectively supplying data to a report communication line; and

at an ISDN test facility remote from said central office

(g) using a computer, generating a first control signal for controlling step (a) and using an access line, transmitting said first control signal to said central office,

(h) transmitting a second control signal via a trunk line work station to said central office to control step (c),

(i) using said computer, generating a third control signal to control step (e) and using said access line, transmitting said third control signal to said central office, and

(j) using said computer, generating a fourth control signal to control step (g) and using said access line, transmitting said third control signal to said central office.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of receiving data supplied to said report communication line at a receiving facility remote from said central office.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of generating a hard copy report from the data received at the receiving facility.