Method and apparatus for emulating a network of state monitoring devices

• US 5,812,826 A
• Filed: 06/27/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: McLain, John V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHAMED, AYNI Y
• Application Number:
  US08/672,141
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/189.02, 395/700.11, 379/34
• US Class Current: 703/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/261 by simulating additional hardware, e.g. fault simulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for emulating a change-of-state (COS) report network fully tests a monitor and/or control system (MCS). The communication and behavior of a COS report network are emulated for selected report network configurations, events, and/or COS indications. A communication module communicates with the MCS through emulator links using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the emulated report network. A configuration database stores configuration data representing the current status of the report network of state monitoring devices. In response to MCS polling, an emulator message generator generates intelligent responses based on the configuration data which emulate communications from a report network of state monitoring devices to the MCS in response to such MCS polling. Simulated multi-tasking and dynamic user-interface control options are included.

Claims

1. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network, wherein said configuration data identifies the current status of the report network including the status of each emulated state monitoring device and control link; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS.

2. The emulator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the report network comprises a change-of-state (COS) reporting network covering a plurality of state monitoring devices;

wherein each state monitoring device covers a plurality of alarm modules and each alarm module covers a plurality of alarm points, each alarm point representing a change-of-state monitor for a physical element.

3. The emulator apparatus for claim 2, wherein the COS report network being emulated covers over two million alarm points.

4. The emulator apparatus of claim 1, wherein said status of each control link identifies whether the control link is enabled or disabled and wherein said status of each state monitoring device identifies whether each state monitoring device is enabled or disabled.

5. The emulator apparatus of claim 4, wherein said status of each state monitoring device further identifies for each state monitoring device a station identifier and a COS polling interval, and whether corrupt data is to be output.

6. The emulator apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processor further comprises:

a control link servicer which detects incoming MCS messages sent to the emulator apparatus by the MCS;

a user-interface servicer which detects user inputs received through a user-interface, said processor updates said configuration data to emulate selected network events identified by user-inputs; and

an emulator message generator, wherein said emulator message generator generates emulator messages in response to said incoming MCS messages detected by said control-link servicer based on said configuration data, said emulator messages matching messages which would be sent from state monitoring devices in the emulated monitoring network in response to the detected incoming MCS messages.

7. The emulator apparatus of claim 6, wherein said processor further determines whether said generated emulator messages correspond to state monitoring devices and control links which are enabled and transmitting based on said configuration data.

8. The emulator apparatus of claim 7, wherein said processor switches control transparently between said control-link servicer and said user-interface servicer to service said at least one emulator control link and user-inputs in a pseudo-parallel sequence simulating multi-tasking.

9. The emulator apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said user-link servicer comprises a first program module for executing a first task to service said user-interface, said first program module having a control switch call after each partial logic unit of work in said first task;

said control link servicer comprises a second program module for executing a second task to service incoming MCS messages received over said at least one emulator control link; and

said processor further comprises a simulated multi-task controller for transparently switching control between said user-link servicer and said control link servicer;

wherein said simulated multi-tasking controller switches control from said user-link servicer to said control link servicer when said control switch call is read during execution of said first program module and an incoming MCS message is detected, and switches control from said control link-servicer back to said user-interface servicer to resume said first task after a partial logical unit of work in the second task has been executed by said control link servicer.

10. The emulator apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor provides sub-second responses to the MCS and a user-interface.

11. The emulator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emulator apparatus is run on a stand-alone personal computer connected to the MCS.

12. The emulator apparatus of claim 1, wherein user-inputs are entered through a user-interface for controlling the emulator apparatus.

13. The emulator apparatus of claim 3, wherein said incoming MCS messages comprise MCS polling commands.

14. The emulator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the report network being emulated monitors transmission equipment in a telecommunication network.

15. The emulator apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor operates in a demo mode without connectivity to the MCS.

16. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate, to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS, wherein said configuration data identifies the current status of the report network including the status of each provisioned alarm point in each emulated state monitoring device.

17. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring device to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one-emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS, wherein each of said at least one emulator link emulates a respective multi-drop circuit having a respective group of said state monitoring devices connected in parallel to said corresponding at least one emulator link.

18. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS, wherein user-inputs are entered through a user-interface for controlling the emulator apparatus and

wherein said user inputs include user-inputs identifying changes to said configuration data, and said processor updates said configuration data in accordance with said user-inputs.

19. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS,

wherein said processor detects user inputs identifying a selected network event and builds a network event script file representative thereof.

20. The emulator apparatus of claim 19, wherein said selected network event represents a transmission outage producing a plurality of change-of-state detections for physical elements in the report network being emulated.

21. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on sad configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS,

wherein said processor executes a user-selected network event script file corresponding to a selected network event, and updates said configuration data to emulate said selected network event.

22. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS,

further comprising a user-interface module for providing emulator control displays at the user-interface including a global station and link configuration display and an individual station configuration display.

23. A emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS,

wherein said processor maintains a communication log file which includes all incoming MCS commands sent to the emulator apparatus and all outgoing emulator messages sent from the emulator apparatus to the MCS.

24. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS,

wherein said emulator messages sent to the MCS include short responses for reporting no change of state and long responses for reporting a change of state in alarm points of a state monitoring device.

25. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator messages being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS,

wherein said processor maintains a self-diagnostics log file which includes error messages generated by said processor during operation of the emulator apparatus.

26. An emulator apparatus for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to allow testing of a monitor and control system (MCS), the emulator apparatus comprising:

a communication module which communicates with the MCS over at least one emulator link using a communications protocol substantially identical to a communications protocol used in the report network to communicate to the MCS;

a memory unit for storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network; and

a processor coupled to said communication module and said memory unit, said processor sending emulator messages from said communication module to the MCS over said at least one emulator link, said emulator message being generated based on said configuration data to emulate messages sent from the report network to the MCS,

wherein said communication protocol used in said communication module further mimics an electrical signal interface protocol used by the report network.

27. A computer-implemented method for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to test a monitor and control system (MCS), comprising the steps of:

storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network being emulated, wherein said configuration data identifies the current status of the report network including the status of each emulated state monitoring device and control link;

establishing connectivity with the MCS over at least one emulator link;

detecting incoming MCS messages; and

sending emulator messages over said at least one emulator link to the MCS in response to said incoming MCS messages based on said configuration data, said emulator messages emulating messages sent from state monitoring devices in the emulated report network to the MCS in response to said detected incoming MCS messages.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said storing step includes the step of automatically provisioning alarm modules and alarm points.

29. A computer-implemented method for emulating a report network of state monitoring device to test a monitor and control system (MCS), comprising the step of:

storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network being emulated;

establishing connectivity with the MCS over at least one emulator link;

detecting incoming MCS messages; and

sending emulator messages over said at least one emulator link to the MCS in response to said incoming MCS messages based on said configuration data, said emulator messages emulating messages sent from state monitoring devices in the emulated report network to the MCS in response to said detected incoming MCS messages,

further comprising the steps of;

detecting user inputs identifying a modification in said configuration data; and

updating said configuration data to represent said modification.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said updating step comprises setting global station and link parameters including at least one of the following global parameters covering each link and corresponding state monitoring devices:

a physical port On/Off indicator, a Station ID On/Off indicator, a COS interval, Invalid Messages indicator, a number of provisioned alarm modules in each state monitoring device, and a number of provisioned alarm points in each provisioned alarm module.

31. A computer-implemented method for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to test a monitor and control system (MCS), comprising the steps of:

storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network being emulated;

establishing connectivity with the MCS over at least one emulator link;

detecting incoming MCS messages; and

sending emulator messages over said at least one emulator link to the MCS in response to said incoming MCS messages based on said configuration data, said emulator messages emulating messages sent from state monitoring devices in the emulated report network to the MCS in response to said detected incoming MCS messages, further comprising the steps of;

executing a user-selected network event script file corresponding to a selected network event; and

updating said configuration data to emulate said selected network event.

32. A computer-implemented method for emulating a report network of state monitoring devices to test a monitor and control system (MCS), comprising the steps of:

storing configuration data representative of the behavior of the report network being emulated;

establishing connectivity with the MCS over at least one emulator link;

detecting incoming MCS messages; and

sending emulator messages over said at least one emulator link to the MCS in response to said incoming MCS messages based on said configuration data, said emulator messages emulating messages sent from state monitoring devices in the emulated report network to the MCS in response to said detected incoming MCS messages, further comprising the step of displaying at least one emulator control display at the user-interface selected from the following group of emulator control displays;

a global station and link configuration display, an individual station configuration display, a manual setting of alarm points display, a real-time decoded input /output display, and a network event script listing.