Test system for use with a communications network, and apparatus and method for testing digital data transfer within a communications network

• US 6,467,055 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Katuszonek, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Nadeem
• Application Number:
  US09/427,782
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 714/43, 714/44, 714/46, 714/48, 714/56, 714/25, 714/27, 714/32, 370/241, 370/242, 370/252, 370/254
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability

Abstract

A test system is provided for use with a communications network having a plurality of switches and trunks. The test system includes test circuitry, a test interface, and a test set. The test circuitry is operative to test the transmission of digital data over a selected network trunk. The test interface communicates with the test circuitry and is operative to connect the test circuitry with the selected network trunk. The test set communicates with the test circuitry and the test interface. The test set is operative to selectively connect to the network switches via the test interface. The test set includes processing circuitry, memory and a switching application program. The processor executes the application program to route a digital data call via a switch from the selected network trunk to another network trunk, and to specify a terminating circuit used to terminate the digital data call via the switch where the call is thereafter delivered. The test circuitry implements testing of the selected trunk. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. A test system for use with a communications network having a plurality of switches and trunks, comprising:

test circuitry operative to test the transmission of digital data over a selected network trunk;

a test interface communicating with the test circuitry and operative to connect the test circuitry with the selected network trunk;

a test set communicating with the test circuitry and the test interface and operative to selectively connect to the network switches via the test interface, the test set including processing circuitry, memory and a switching application program;

wherein the processor executes the application program to route a digital data call via a switch from the selected network trunk to another network trunk, and specify a terminating circuit used to terminate the digital data call via the switch where the call is thereafter delivered, and wherein the test circuitry implements testing of the selected trunk.

2. The test system of claim 1 wherein the test interface is a primary rate interface (PRI).

3. The test system of claim 1 wherein the test set further comprises an integrated services digital network (ISDN) information element that is operative to route a call to another switch and terminate a digital data call over a specific trunk where the call is terminated at a standard test line.

4. The test system of claim 1 wherein the test interface implements integrated services digital network (ISDN) T1 primary rate interface (PRI) access between the test set and a digital switch capable of supporting ISDN services.

5. The test system of claim 1 further comprising a digital switch communicating with the test interface, wherein the test set operatively connects via the digital switch with the selected network trunk, and wherein the test circuitry is enabled by the switching application program to test the selected trunk.

6. The test system of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry comprises test equipment provided within the test set.

7. The test system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface communicating with the test set and operative to access a selected network trunk via the test set by a user.

8. The test system of claim 7 wherein the user interface comprises an automated test routining (ATR) device configured to automatically perform testing of digital data calls over a selected network trunk via the test system.

9. The test system of claim 7 wherein the user interface comprises a local tester.

10. The test system of claim 7 wherein the user interface comprises a remote tester.

11. The test system of claim 1 wherein the terminating circuit comprises a test line.

12. An apparatus for testing digital data transfer within a communications network having a plurality of switches and trunks, comprising:

an interface configured to couple with a selected network trunk; and

a test set including test circuitry, processing circuitry, memory and a switching application program, the test circuitry configured to test digital data transmission over the selected network trunk, the test set operative to selectively connect with the network switches via the test interface;

wherein the processor executes the application program to transfer a digital data call with a switch from the selected network trunk to another network trunk having a terminating circuit used to terminate the digital data call via the switch where the call is thereafter delivered, and wherein the test circuitry implements testing of the selected trunk.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the test circuitry comprises test equipment.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a network test center communicating with the test equipment.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the selected switch comprises a digital switch, wherein the test circuitry is provided by digital test equipment, and further comprising a primary rate interface (PRI) coupled between the test equipment and the digital switch.

16. A method of testing network trunks within a network having a plurality of switches and trunks comprising:

providing a test interface and a test set, the test set including test circuitry, processing circuitry, memory and a switching application program operative to route digital data calls over the network;

identifying a selected network trunk via the test set;

selectively connecting to the selected network trunk with an associated network switch via the test interface;

executing the application program to route a digital data call via the switches from the selected network trunk to a terminating circuit on another network trunk to transfer the digital data call over to the another network trunk where the call is delivered to the another network trunk; and

testing the selected network trunk with the test circuitry to identify a degraded capability to transmit digital data over the selected network trunk.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the test interface is a primary rate interface (PRI).

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a user interface communicating with the test set, wherein the step of executing the application program comprises accessing the user interface to enable the application program and route a digital data call from the selected trunk network to another trunk network, and to test the selected trunk network with the test set.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the user interface comprises an automated test routining (ATR) device.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the user interface comprises a local tester.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the user interface comprises a remote tester.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the test set further includes test circuitry operative to test the transmission of digital data over a selected network trunk.