System and method for testing telecommunication service installations

• US 6,516,053 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Ryan, Arthur, Cummings, Rodney, Andrade, Hugo, Odom, B. Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/336,932
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/10, 379/16, 379/19, 379/21, 379/22-29, 379/32, 379/34, 370/241-242, 370/247-252, 455/423-425, 324/511, 324/537, 324/765, 324/158.1, 324/73.1
• US Class Current: 379/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/305 testing of physical copper line parameters, e.g. capacitance or resistance locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/308 Craftsperson test terminals

Abstract

A modular telecommunication test system is presented including a portable computer system and at least one portable telecommunication test module located external to the computer system. The portable computer system stores a telecommunication test application (e.g., in a memory system). Each test module includes a communication port having an electrical connector, and is thus adapted for coupling to the portable computer system. Each test module also includes electrical circuitry for performing a set of telecommunication tests, wherein each test involves making at least one electrical measurement upon a telecommunication service installation. In coupling a given test module to the portable computer system, a user configures the test system to perform the set of telecommunication tests associated with the given test module. The at least one test module is selected from a group of test modules, each configured to perform telecommunication tests upon a different type of telecommunication service installation. Eligible types of telecommunication service installations include POTS, T1/E1, ISDN, and xDSL. The test system may also include a second computer system (e.g., a desktop computer system) coupled to the first computer system via a communication network. The communication network may include the PSTN and the Internet. The first computer may receive telecommunication test data from each test module and provide the test data to the second computer system via the communication network.

Claims

1. A modular telecommunication test system, comprising:

a computer system, wherein the computer stores a telecommunication test application;

a telecommunication test module located external to the computer system, wherein the telecommunication test module includes electrical circuitry for performing a telecommunication test and a communication port for connecting to the computer system;

wherein the telecommunication test module is selected from a plurality of telecommunication test modules;

wherein the telecommunication test module is adapted for coupling to the computer system in order to configure the modular telecommunication test system for performing the telecommunication test;

wherein the telecommunication test module is operable to receive commands from the computer system in order to configure the telecommunication test module for performing the telecommunication test; and

wherein the telecommunication test module performs the telecommunication test autonomous to the computer system.

2. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication test module includes at least one connector for connecting to a telecommunication service installation.

3. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 2, wherein the telecommunication service installation is selected from the group consisting of POTS, T1/E1, ISDN, and xDSL.

4. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 3, wherein the telecommunication test module includes electrical circuitry for performing a selected set of telecommunication tests upon the selected telecommunication service installation.

5. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of telecommunication test modules includes electrical circuitry for performing a selected set of telecommunication tests upon a different type of telecommunication service installation selected from the group consisting of POTS, T1/E1, ISDN, and xDSL.

6. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, wherein the computer system produces at least one command while executing the telecommunication test application, and wherein the telecommunication test module receives the at least one command and performs the telecommunication test in response to the at least one command.

7. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 6, wherein the telecommunication test module receives the at least one command prior to performing the telecommunication test, and wherein the telecommunication test module performs the telecommunication test autonomous to the computer system.

8. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 6, wherein while performing the telecommunication test, the telecommunication test module acquires telecommunication test data and provides the telecommunication test data to the computer system.

9. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, wherein the computer system weighs less than 10 pounds and includes a battery power supply.

10. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of telecommunication test modules weighs less than 5 pounds and includes a battery power supply.

23. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication test module and the computer system operate together to perform the telecommunication test when the telecommunication test module is coupled to the computer system.

24. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1,

wherein the computer system and the telecommunication test module have separate enclosures and power supplies.

25. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of telecommunication test modules;

wherein one or more of the plurality of telecommunication test modules are selectable by a user to be coupled to the computer system for performing the telecommunication test.

26. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of telecommunication test modules;

wherein the computer system includes a display;

wherein one or more of the plurality of telecommunication test modules are coupled to the computer system; and

wherein the display of the computer system is operable to display a graphical symbol corresponding to each of the one or more of the plurality of telecommunication test modules coupled to the computer system.

27. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of telecommunication test modules coupled to the computer system, wherein each of the plurality of telecommunication test modules is external to the computer system.

28. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication test module is coupled to the computer system, wherein the telecommunication test module is external to the computer system when the telecommunication test module is coupled to the computer system.

29. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication test module is coupled to the computer system through a cable.

30. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of telecommunication test modules;

wherein one or more of the plurality of telecommunication test modules are coupled to the computer system; and

wherein a telecommunication test associated with the one or more of the plurality of telecommunication test modules may be activated when the one or more of the plurality of telecommunication test modules are coupled to the computer system.

11. A modular telecommunication test system, comprising:

a first computer system, wherein the first computer system stores a telecommunication test application;

a communication hub adapted for coupling to the first computer system;

a first telecommunication test module located external to the first computer system and including;

electrical circuitry for performing a first set of telecommunication tests upon a first type of telecommunication service installation; and

a first communication port adapted for coupling to the communication hub in order to configure the modular telecommunication test system for performing the first set of telecommunication tests;

a second telecommunication test module located external to the first computer system and including;

electrical circuitry for performing a second set of telecommunication tests upon a second type of telecommunication service installation; and

a second communication port adapted for coupling to the communication hub in order to configure the modular telecommunication test system for performing the second set of telecommunication tests;

wherein the first and second telecommunication test modules are selected from a plurality of telecommunication test modules;

wherein the first telecommunication test module is operable to receive commands from the computer system in order to configure the modular telecommunication test system for performing the first set of telecommunication tests;

wherein the second telecommunication test module is operable to receive commands from the computer system in order to configure the modular telecommunication test system for performing the second set of the telecommunication tests;

wherein the first telecommunication test module performs the first set of telecommunication tests autonomous to the computer system; and

wherein the second telecommunication test module performs the second set of telecommunication tests autonomous to the computer system.

12. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 11, wherein the first and second types of telecommunication service installations are different types of telecommunication service installations selected from the group consisting of POTS, T1/E1, ISDN, and xDSL.

13. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of telecommunication test modules includes electrical circuitry for performing a set of telecommunication tests upon a different type of telecommunication service installation selected from the group consisting of POTS, T1/E1, ISDN, and xDSL.

14. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 11, wherein during operation the communication hub is coupled to the first computer system and the first and second telecommunication test modules are coupled to the communication hub.

15. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 14, wherein the first computer system produces commands while executing the telecommunication test application, and wherein the first computer system provides the commands to the communication hub, and wherein the communication hub provides the commands to both the first and second telecommunication test modules.

16. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 15, wherein the first and second telecommunication test modules are assigned different addresses, and wherein each of the commands produced by the first computer system includes an address of a telecommunication test module coupled to the first computer system and forming a part of the telecommunication test system.

17. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 16, wherein when the first telecommunication test module receives a command including the address of the first telecommunication test module, the first telecommunication test module performs one of the first set of telecommunication tests dependent upon the command.

18. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 17, wherein while performing the telecommunication test, the first telecommunication test module acquires telecommunication test data and provides the telecommunication test data to the communication hub, and wherein the telecommunication hub provides the telecommunication test data to the first computer system.

19. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 11, wherein the first computer system weighs less than 10 pounds and includes a battery power supply.

20. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of telecommunication test modules weighs less than 5 pounds and includes a battery power supply.

21. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 11, wherein the first and second telecommunication test modules include stacking ports for connecting the first and second telecommunication test modules together.

22. The modular telecommunication test system of claim 11, further comprising a second computer system coupled to the first computer system, wherein the first computer is coupled to receive telecommunication test data from the first and second telecommunication test modules and configured to provide the telecommunication test data to the second computer system.

31. A method for configuring a telecommunication test system, comprising:

storing a telecommunication test application on a computer system;

providing a plurality of telecommunication test modules, wherein each of the plurality of telecommunication test modules includes electrical circuitry for performing a particular telecommunication test, wherein each of the plurality of telecommunication test modules further includes a communication port for connecting to the computer system;

selecting one or more telecommunication test modules in response to user input, wherein each of the one or more telecommunication test modules is selected based on a type of telecommunication service installation desired to be tested;

coupling said one or more telecommunication test modules to the computer system, wherein said one or more telecommunication test modules are external to the computer system when coupled to the computer system, wherein said coupling operates to configure the telecommunication test module for performing the telecommunication test, wherein said configuring operates to prepare the telecommunication test module to receive commands from the computer system comprising the telecommunication test;

the computer system providing one or more commands to the one or more telecommunication test modules; and

performing the telecommunication test using the telecommunication test system, wherein said performing the telecommunication test comprises;

the one or more telecommunication test modules receiving a telecommunication signal from the telecommunication service installation;

the one or more telecommunication test modules performing at least a portion of the telecommunication test on the telecommunication signal based on the one or more commands to generate test results; and

the one or more telecommunication test modules providing the test results;

wherein said performing the telecommunication test further comprises performing the telecommunication test autonomous to the computer system.