Dial-up access response testing method and system therefor

• US 6,480,469 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Paul D., LaCost, Sherman S., Coburn, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/212,209
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 379/9.04, 379/14, 379/14.01, 379/15.01, 379/15.02, 379/1.01, 379/29.01, 379/29.1, 379/9, 714/37, 714/38, 714/43, 714/44, 714/45, 714/31, 714/712, 714/25, 370/241, 370/248, 370/242, 370/245, 370/247, 370/249, 370/908
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks

Abstract

The present invention system automates the process of testing the integrity of the components residing at each node of a data network. After automatically dial connecting to a site of the network by selecting a telephone number from a retrieved list of telephone numbers each representing a site of the network, the instant invention sends a query directed to a particular component at the site. And depending on the response/non-response received, the instant invention can readily determine whether there is a problem with the being queried component. If there is a fault detected, this fault is reported either as a HTML file or a text file to either a web site or a data store, so that a technician can readily retrieve that information when needed. After all components at a site are tested, a report of the operational effectiveness of each of the components could be generated and provided either to the web site or dumped into the data store. Thereafter, the instant invention proceeds to retrieve a second telephone number from the list of telephone numbers and dial into the site to which that second telephone number relates. This process of automatically dial-in testing the components at a site is repeated until all telephone numbers, i.e. all sites, on the list have been contacted. The present invention system thereafter can repeat the process so that the integrity of the nodes of the data network can continuously be monitored.

Claims

1. An access response testing system for testing components at sites in a network, comprising:

a communication processor configured to transmit first and second test signals to at least one site in the network;

the at least one site in the network comprising;

a hub component,

a router component,

a first modem component configured to receive the transmitted first test signal and send the first test signal to a switch component,

a second modem component configured to receive the transmitted second test signal and send the test signal to the router component,

the switch component configured to;

receive the first test signal, and

route the first test signal to at least one of the hub component and router component,

wherein the at least one of the hub component and router component is configured to respond to the first and second test signals if functioning properly,

wherein the communication processor is further configured to;

determine if a response to the first and second test signals is received,

assign at least one operational effectiveness parameter to the at least one of the hub component and router component based on the response or lack of response to the first and second test signals, and

send the at least one operational effectiveness parameter to a data storage device associated with a website, the data storage device configured to display the at least one operational effectiveness parameter on a web page of the website to which a technician can gain access.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub component is connected to a plurality of processing machines.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the router component connects to a regional router via a high-speed link.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the high-speed link comprises an ISDN link.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the second modem is further coupled to a backup router.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the backup router and regional router are interconnected via a local area network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the local area network comprises a token ring network.

8. A method of testing a response of components in at least one site in a network, each site comprising a hub component, a router component, a first modem component and a second modem component, the method comprising:

retrieving first and second telephone numbers corresponding to a first site in the network from a list of telephone numbers;

dialing a first connection to the first site using the first telephone number;

dialing a second connection to the first site using the second telephone number;

transmitting, via the first connection, a first test signal to the first modem component at the first site;

relaying the first test signal from the first modem component to at least one of the hub component and the router component of the first site;

transmitting, via the second connection, a second test signal to a second modem component at the first site;

relaying the second test signal from the second modem component to the router component;

receiving, responsive to the first and second test signals, at least one response signal from at least one of the hub component and the router component if the components are functional; and

assigning at least one operational effectiveness parameter to the at least one hub component and the router component of the first site based on the response or lack of response to the first and second test signals;

sending the assigned at least one operational effectiveness parameter to a data storage device of a website; and

displaying the at least one operational effectiveness parameter on a web page of the website to which a technician can gain access.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retrieving a second telephone number corresponding to a second site in the network from the list of telephone numbers;

dialing a second connection to the second site using the second telephone number;

transmitting a second test signal to the first modem component at the second site;

relaying the second test signal from first modem component to at least one of the hub component and router component of the second site;

receiving a second response signal from the at least one of the hub component and router component of the second site if the component is functioning properly; and

assigning an operational effectiveness parameter to the at least one hub component and router component of the second site based on a response or lack of response to the second test signal.