Hand-held telecommunication tester

• US 5,619,489 A
• Filed: 07/20/1995
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VeEX Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sunrise Telecom Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Paul K., Pfeiffer, Robert C., Marshall, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US08/504,949
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 379/21, 379/136, 379/22, 370/13, 370/14, 370/15
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0062 Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/14 Monitoring arrangements for SDH/SONET rings H04J3/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing

Abstract

A graphically configurable method and device for testing high-frequency (DS0, DS1, DS3, and SONET) communication networks is disclosed. The foregoing is accomplished by a microprocessor controlled test instrument configured through a graphical interface which selects signal paths and test parameters. The graphical interface intelligently presents the choices of paths and test parameters relevant for the current test configuration.

Claims

1. A device for testing communication transmission networks comprising:

at least one signal input port;

test circuitry which receive signals from said signal input port;

a multiplexer which routes said signals to said test circuitry;

a microprocessor that controls operation of said multiplexer and test circuitry;

a user input device for inputting operating instructions to said microprocessor, said operating instructions including a configuration of a communication transmission network; and

a graphical display showing said configuration as said configuration is being input;

wherein graphical editing of said configuration of said communication transmission network is achieved.

2. The device in claim 1 further comprising a memory that stores said operating instructions.

3. The device in claim 1 wherein said test circuitry includes a test pattern generator and a test pattern receiver.

4. The device in claim 1 wherein the graphical display provides for graphical editing of said configuration by use of said user input device which is integral with said device.

5. The device in claim 1 wherein the device weighs less than five pounds.

6. The device in claim 5 wherein the device weighs 2.8 pounds.

7. The device in claim 1 wherein the device is battery powered.

8. The device in claim 1 wherein said communication transmission networks are digital communications lines.

9. A method for graphically editing configurations of communication transmission networks comprising the steps of:

displaying a configuration of a communication transmission network on a graphical display;

inputting a change to said configuration, said change being displayed on said graphical display; and

updating said configuration according to said change;

wherein said configuration is displayed as said configuration is being changed; and

wherein said change is input through a function key and operation of said function key is defined by a position of a graphical pointer on said graphical display.

10. A method for graphically editing configurations of communication transmission networks comprising the steps of:

displaying a configuration of a communication transmission network on a graphical display;

inputting a change to said configuration, said change being displayed on said graphical display;

updating said configuration according to said change, wherein said configuration is displayed as said configuration is being changed;

receiving a communication signal from said communication transmission network;

testing said communication signal according to said configuration;

displaying results of said testing on said graphical display; and

demultiplexing a lower frequency channel from said communication signal.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said communication signal is STS-1 or DS3.

12. A hand-held device for testing communication transmission networks comprising:

first signal input and output ports;

second signal input and output ports, said second input and output ports carrying signals at a lower frequency than said first input and output ports;

test circuitry which receive signals from said first and second signal input ports;

a multiplexer which routes said signals to said test circuitry;

a microprocessor that controls operation of said multiplexer and test circuitry;

a user input device for inputting operating instructions to said microprocessor, said operating instructions including a configuration of a communication transmission network; and

a graphical display showing said configuration of said communication transmission network.

13. The device in claim 12 further comprising a memory that stores said operating instructions.

14. The device in claim 12 wherein said test circuitry includes a test pattern generator and a test pattern receiver.

15. The device in claim 12 wherein said graphical display shows said configuration as said configuration is being input wherein graphical editing of said configuration of said communication transmission network is achieved.

16. The device in claim 12 wherein the device weighs less than five pounds.

17. The device in claim 16 wherein the device weighs 2.8 pounds.

18. The device in claim 12 wherein the device is battery powered.

19. The device in claim 12 wherein said communication transmission networks are digital communications lines.

20. A hand-held device for testing communication transmission networks comprising:

at least one STS-1 signal input port;

a plurality of test circuits which receive signals from said signal input port;

a multiplexer which separates a plurality of lower frequency signals from a higher frequency signal and which routes said signals to said test circuits;

a microprocessor that controls operation of said multiplexer and test circuits;

a user input device for inputting operating instructions to said microprocessor, said operating instructions including a configuration of a communication transmission network; and

a graphical display showing said configuration as said configuration is being input;

wherein said device operates from battery power and weighs less than five pounds providing a hand-held device which allows graphical editing of said configuration of said communication transmission network.