VDSL video/data set top test equipment

• US 6,380,971 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brodigan, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US09/322,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N 1.700, 348/180, 348/181, 348/192, 348/185, 348/177, 348/184, 725/107, 725/111, 725/109, 725/110, 370/241, 370/242, 370/247, 370/248, 370/251, 379/27.01, 379/26.01, 379/1.03, 379/1.04, 379/15.03, 379/22.04
• US Class Current: 348/180
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1301 Optical transmission, optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 Signaling in general, in-band signalling

Abstract

A VDSL customer drop testing arrangement and equipment utilizes a test set top box having a sign-on identifier unique to an authorized test device to perform testing of the customer drop without the need to provision the drop for receipt of video programming or data services from any network information or service providers (VIPs or DSPs). Because the test arrangement of the present invention does not require such provisioning, isolation of the customer drop is achieved. Such isolation insures that the test set is not being affected by problems originated from a VIP or DSP.

Claims

1. A system for testing performance capability of a user drop in an xDSL-based video and data communication network comprising:

a network video signal test source and a network data signal test source arranged to generate at least one video test channel and one data test line, the network including a signal processing arrangement for converting the test signals to an xDSL format for transmission on a network cable;

a test device coupled to the user drop having a network sign-on identifier for identifying the device as a test device; and

a network entitlement controller arranged to provision user drops for receipt of video programming and data from a network distribution system, said network entitlement controller arranged to provision an unprovisioned customer drop for receipt of the network video test channel and the network data test line in response to receipt of a test device sign-on identifier, wherein said test device is arranged to test the user drop for video signal quality, and data transfer rate, error and loss conditions.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the test device comprises a user set top box modified to use the test device network sign-on identifier.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the network video signal test source generates at least two video test channels, and the test device is arranged to test xDSL signaling capability of the user drop by generating a channel change command to change between the at least two video test channels.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the test device comprises at least one video output port and at least one data output port.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a video display device connected to the at least one video output port, wherein the video signal quality is tested by viewing the received test channel on the video display device.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising a personal computer connected to the at least one data output port, wherein the personal computer is programed to request transfer of a test data file of known size to measure transfer rate.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the personal computer is further programmed to request a test data file of known content, and to compare the received file with the known file to provide error and loss of data detection.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the test device comprises a set of test indicators for displaying the result of each test.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the test device further comprises a microprocessor system programed to request transfer of a test data file of known size to measure transfer rate.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor system is further programmed to request a test data file of known content, and to compare the received file with the known file to provide error and loss of data detection.