Method and system for testing a network element within a telecommunications network

• US 6,493,425 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Abe, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/150,106
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/9-10, 379/14, 379/18, 379/23, 379/25, 379/27, 379/32, 379/34, 379/29.01
• US Class Current: 379/1.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention test a network element in a telecommunications network using a universal command, such as a telephone number or circuit identification number. By doing so, the network element can be easily identified along with the type of service provided by the network element and the appropriate test system can be identified and used without requiring the user to have detailed system-specific knowledge of the test system. Methods and systems consistent with the invention provide an interface to a user. A universal command is received, typically as a telephone number or a circuit identification number. Using the universal command, the type of service associated with the network element is determined and a test system for testing the service type of the network element is identified. A test request is formatted based upon the universal command, the service type to be tested, and the particular test system to be used to test the network element. The test request is then processed within the network, typically by routing the test request to the appropriate test system. In this manner, system-specific commands may be formulated and the appropriate test may be initiated for a network element with test results reported to the user without the need for the user to have pre-existing knowledge of the test system itself.

Claims

1. A method for testing a network element within a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a universal command identifying the network element from an input device;

determining, without receiving information from a user in addition to the universal command, a test parameter associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command;

identifying a test system associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command;

formatting a test request based upon the test parameter; and

processing the test request within the telecommunications network in order to initiate a test by the test system on the network element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving a telephone number as the universal command which identifies the network element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving a circuit identification number as the universal command which identifies the network element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises determining a service type associated with the network element based upon the universal command.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, after the determining step, identifying a test system associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising, after the determining step, identifying a plurality of test systems associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command and selecting one of the test systems as an identified test system for testing the network element.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the formatting step further comprises formatting the test request to be executable by the identified test system for the determined service type for the network element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the processing step further comprises routing the test request to the identified test system so that the identified test system can interpret the test request and execute the specific command for testing the determined service type for the network element.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing results of the test.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising interpreting raw data from the test and providing summarized results of the test.

11. A method for testing a network element within a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:

providing, at an input device, an interface through which the network element may be tested by a user;

receiving a universal command identifying the network element from the input device, the universal command identifying the network element to be tested;

determining, without receiving information from a user in addition to the universal command, a service type associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command;

identifying a test system associated with testing the determined service type based upon the universal command;

formatting a test request based upon the determined service type and the identified test system; and

processing the test request within the telecommunications network in order to initiate a test by the test system on the network element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving a telephone number as the universal command which identifies the network element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the service type to be POTS testing if the universal command is the telephone number.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving a circuit identification number as the universal command which identifies the network element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the service type to be a customized type of circuit testing on the network element if the universal command is the circuit identification number.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the identifying step further comprises identifying a plurality of compatible test systems associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command and selecting the test system from the compatible test systems as an identified test system for testing the network element.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the formatting step further comprises formatting the test request to include a specific command that is executable by the identified test system for the determined service type on the network element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the processing step further comprises routing the test request to the identified test system so that the identified test system can interpret the test request and execute the specific command for testing the determined service type for the network element.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing results of the test to the user.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising interpreting raw data from the test and providing summarized results of the test to the user.

21. A system for testing a network element within a telecommunications network, comprising:

a test management processing unit coupled to a plurality of test systems;

a memory storage device coupled to the test management processing unit, the memory storage device maintaining a test management database;

an input device coupled to the test management processing unit, the input device providing a universal command to the test management processing unit; and

the test management processing unit being operative to

receive the universal command from the input device,

query the test management database in the memory storage device using the universal command in order to determine, without receiving information from a user in addition to the universal command, a service type associated with the network element and identify one of the test systems associated with testing,

format a test request based upon the service type and the one of the test systems, and

route the test request to the one of the test systems in order to initiate a test on the network element.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the input device is further capable of providing a telephone number as the universal command, the telephone number being associated with the network element.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the input device is further capable of providing a circuit identification number as the universal command, the circuit identification number being associated with the network element.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the test management processing unit is further operative to format the test request to include a specific command capable of being interpreted and executed by the one of the test systems in order to test the service type of the network element.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the test management processing unit is further operative to receive results of the test from the one of the test systems, compile the results into a summary and to provide the summary to the input device.

26. A method for testing a network element within a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving, from an input device, a universal command identifying a network element associated with a subscriber line to be tested;

determining a test parameter associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command;

identifying a test system associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command;

formatting a test request based upon the test parameter; and

processing the test request within the telecommunications network in order to initiate a test by the test system on the network element.

27. A method for testing a network element within a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving, from an input device, a universal command identifying a network element associated with a subscriber line to be tested;

determining a service type associated with testing the network element based upon the universal command;

identifying a test system associated with testing the determined service type based upon the universal command;

formatting a test request based upon the determined service type and the identified test system; and

processing the test request within the telecommunications network in order to initiate a test by the test system on the network element.

28. A system for testing a network element within a telecommunications network, comprising:

a test management processing unit coupled to a plurality of test systems;

a memory storage device coupled to the test management processing unit, the memory storage device maintaining a test management database;

an input device coupled to the test management processing unit, the input device providing, to the test management processing unit, a universal command identifying a network element associated with a subscriber loop to be tested; and

the test management processing unit being operative to

receive the universal command from the input device,

query the test management database in the memory storage device using the universal command in order to determine a service type associated with the network element and identify one of the test systems associated with testing,

format a test request based upon the service type and the one of the test systems, and

route the test request to the one of the test systems in order to initiate a test on the network element.