System, method, and computer program product for digital cross connect testing

• US 5,954,829 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• 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., Harris, Dale W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tu, Trinh L.
• Application Number:
  US08/774,650
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 371/20.1, 371/20.4, 371/68.1, 371/68.2, 371/25.1, 395/182.02, 395/182.08, 395/183.01, 395/183.19, 395/185.09, 379/1, 379/12, 379/14, 379/15, 379/29, 714/712, 714/715, 714/820, 714/821, 714/736, 714/4, 714/10, 714/25, 714/43, 714/56, 364/229
• US Class Current: 714/712
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2268 Logging of test results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2289 by configuration test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2736 using a dedicated service processor for test

Abstract

A computer testing system, method, and computer program product is provided for testing one or more digital cross connect devices (DXCs) with one or more test and monitoring units (TMUs). A DXC test tool is coupled to each DXC and to each TMU. The DXC test tool sends a logical command or query to a DXC. A TMU tests the physical presence of the logical command directed to the DXC. The TMU sends a response to the DXC test tool indicating the state of the physical component. In this way, the DXC test tool tests each DXC in physical and logical dimensions. The DXC test tool can communicate over a plurality of communication links including fast channel links, human readable links, and remote control links. Routers are used to expand capacity. A single message display option for selecting between sending ASCII messages and sending binary messages. By connecting the DXC test tool to multiple DXCs, end-to-end path testing in physical and logical dimensions is performed. The DXC test tool also generates an analysis log of unexpected DXC and TMU responses. The analysis log and communication log are comprised of records having data fields so that a user can filter the logs. Timestamps further aid analysis. A scripting language is used that significantly reduces the number of lines required for a script. The scripting language uses repeatable commands and pointers that point to data tables. Multiple DXCs can be tested in parallel by running multiple scripts at the same time. The user-interface allows for interactive and dynamic script execution.

Claims

1. A computer testing system for testing at least one digital cross connect device (DXC), comprising:

a DXC test tool; and

at least one test and monitor unit (TMU), said DXC test tool being coupled to each DXC and to each TMU;

wherein;

said DXC test tool sends a logical command for placing said at least one DXC in a known state;

said at least one TMU tests the physical presence of said known state in said at least one DXC and sends a response to said DXC test tool indicating whether said known state is present;

whereby, said DXC test tool can test each DXC in physical and logical dimensions.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of communication links;

wherein

said DXC test tool further comprises a plurality of ports coupled to said plurality of communication links respectively.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said plurality of communication links include at least one fast channel link and at least one human readable link, and

said plurality of ports include at least one fast channel port coupled to respective fast channel links and at least one human readable port coupled to respective human readable links.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one fast channel communication link router coupled between said DXC test tool and each DXC for expanding the number of fast channel links; and

at least one human readable communication link router coupled between said DXC test tool and each DXC for expanding the number of human readable links.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each fast channel link comprises an X.25 link for carrying at least one of binary messages and human-readable messages, and each fast channel communication link router comprises an X.25 synchronous interface router.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein each human readable link comprises a serial RS-232 link for carrying ASCII messages, and each human readable communication link router comprises a RS-232 asynchronous interface router.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said plurality of communication links include at least one remote communication link for communicating with a remote control unit, and

said plurality of ports include at least one network port coupled to said at least one remote communication link.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each at least one remote communication link comprises at least one of an RS-232 link, a Netbios link, and an internet link for carrying at least one of Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol data messages.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein said DXC test tool comprises:

a communication interface coupled to said plurality of ports, said communication interface passes between an intelligent processor and said ports;

a user interface;

a database interface for managing data files; and

said intelligent processor coupled to each of said communication interface, user interface, and data base interface;

wherein said intelligent processor comprises;

a script message processor for processing a script;

a control link servicer for servicing each link of said plurality of communication links through a communications interface;

a user interface servicer for servicing said user-interface to detect user inputs and provide output for display;

a database servicer for servicing said database interface;

a message generator for generating messages based on said data files;

a link selector means for selecting one of said plurality of communication links to carry messages generated by said message generator; and

a simulated multi-task controller switching the control of said intelligent processor between said script message processor, control link servicer, user interface servicer, and database interface servicer in a pseudo-parallel fashion simulating multi-tasking.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said data files comprise at least one of a script, communication trace log, analysis log, summary log, initial device configuration file, single message configuration file, and diagnostic report.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said DXC test tool sends a plurality of logical cross-connect commands defining a network path through at least two DXCs;

said at least one TMU tests the physical presence of said network path through said at least two DXCs and sends a response to said DXC test tool indicating whether said network path is in said known state;

whereby, said DXC test tool can perform end-to-end path testing in physical and logical dimensions.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory;

wherein said DXC test tool stores expected DXC responses that will be sent by said at least one DXC in response to logical cross-connect commands sent by said DXC test tool, wherein said DXC test tool compares actual DXC responses to said expected DXC responses stored in said memory and generates an analysis log of unexpected DXC responses.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said DXC test tool generates a communication log of all messages that are sent to and from said DXC test tool, and wherein said DXC test tool includes a timestamp for each message in said analysis log and said communication log.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said communication log and said analysis log are each comprised of records having data fields;

whereby, a user can filter said communication log and said analysis log to screen selected records and data fields.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said DXC test tool further includes unexpected responses sent by said at least one TMU in said analysis log.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a script database for storing at least one script, each script defines a testing scenario for the at least one DXC.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a script includes at least one script directive.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one script directive includes at least one of a dynamic send directive, a dynamic receive directive, a repeat directive, and a channel directive.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a script processor;

wherein said script processor automatically repeats a logical cross-connect command in a script for each value in a range of values or for each entry in a table of entries;

whereby, the number of lines in a script is reduced.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said DXC tool processes multiple scripts substantially in parallel.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said DXC test tool includes a single message display option for selecting between sending ASCII messages and sending binary messages.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a run script display means that permits a user to dynamically and interactively execute at least one selected line of a script.

23. A computer-implemented testing method for testing at least one digital cross connect device (DXC), using a DXC test tool and a test and monitor unit (TMU), comprising:

sending a logical command from the DXC test tool for placing at least one DXC in a known state;

testing the physical presence of said known state in the at least one DXC; and

sending a response to the DXC test tool indicating whether said known state is present;

whereby, the DXC test tool can test each DXC in physical and logical dimensions.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to test at least one digital cross connect device (DXC) with at least one test and monitor unit (TMU), said computer program logic comprising:

means for enabling the processor to send a logical command for placing at least one DXC in a known state; and

means for enabling the processor to receive a response from the at least one TMU indicating whether said at least one DXC is physically in said known state, whereby, the processor can test each DXC in physical and logical dimensions.