Circuit call generator for testing functions of interworking function system and method therefor

• US 6,574,196 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Choong-leol
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/377,397
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/242, 370/248, 370/244, 370/249, 370/250, 370/314, 370/320, 370/321, 370/342, 370/344, 370/465, 370/479, 370/252, 370/310, 370/310.1, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/335, 370/352, 370/396, 370/395.2, 370/395.52, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A circuit call generator (load box) for functional testing of interworking function (IWF) system and a method for testing the functions of the IWF system are provided. The circuit call generator includes a trunk interface unit for performing communication channel switching between the call generator and the IWF system, a circuit data processing unit for performing emulation of a role of the wireless subscribers or wired subscribers, a circuit data processing unit being connected to the IWF system via the trunk interface unit, a control bus for transmitting control signals between the trunk interface unit and the circuit data processing unit, a data bus for transmitting data between the trunk interface unit and the circuit data processing unit, and a control unit for controlling the emulation of the circuit data processing unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing interworking function (TWF) system, said apparatus comprising:

a trunk interface unit having a plurality of time switches defining transmission channels operatively coupled to said IWF system for transmitting communication signals therebetween;

a circuit data processing unit operatively coupled to said IWF system via said trunk interface unit;

a control bus operatively coupled to said circuit data processing unit and said trunk interface unit for transmitting control signals between said circuit data processing unit and said trunk interface unit;

a data bus being a time division multiplex structure and operatively coupled to said circuit data processing unit and said trunk interface unit for transmitting data signals between said circuit data processing unit and said trunk interface unit via said transmission channels of said trunk interface unit;

a control unit having a display means operatively coupled to said circuit data processing unit for transmitting and/or receiving test information to/from said interworking function system;

at least one wireless subscriber unit for emulating a role of an actual wireless subscriber, and

at least one wired subscriber unit for emulating a role of actual wired subscriber, wherein each of said at least one wireless subscriber unit and said at least one wired subscriber unit being assigned to one of said transmission channels of said trunk interface unit.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit data processing unit comprises a plurality of switches to establish the communication channel to said data bus.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit generates said test information to said IWF system in accordance with a predetermined call-generating scenario and displays the result of said test information to said display means.

4. A method for testing the functions of an interworking function (IWF) system having a circuit call generator, wherein said circuit call generator having at least one wireless subscriber unit and at least one wired subscriber unit for transmitting/receiving test information to/from said IWF system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) requesting a call connection to said IWF system by said wireless subscriber unit;

(b) initiating call connection by said IWF system responsive to said requested call connection;

(c) informing said wireless subscriber that a path for said call connection is completed by said IWF system;

(d) connecting the path for said call connection by said wireless subscriber unit;

(e) reporting the completion of said call connection to a control unit;

(f) establishing a wireless subscriber path between said wireless subscriber unit and said IWF system; and

,

(g) reporting the establishment of said wireless subscriber path to said control unit that by said IWF system.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step (e) further comprises a step of displaying the telephone number of said wireless subscriber unit to said control unit.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step (g) further comprises a step of displaying the telephone number of said wireless subscriber unit to said control unit.

7. A method for testing the functions of an interworking function (IWF) system having a circuit call generator, wherein said circuit call generator having at least one wireless subscriber unit and at least one wired subscriber unit for transmitting/receiving test information to/from said IWF system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a call number to said IWF system via a predetermined wireless subscriber path by said wireless subscriber unit;

(b) requesting a connection to said wired subscriber unit responsive to said call number by the IWF system;

(c) reporting said requested connection to a control unit by said wired subscriber unit;

(d) connecting a communication path for said requested connection by said wired subscriber unit;

(e) informing said connection of said communication path to said IWF system by said wired subscriber unit;

(f) connecting to said communication path by said IWF system;

(g) establishing a wired subscriber path between said IWF system and said wired subscriber unit; and

,

(h) reporting the establishment of said wired subscriber path to said control unit.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step (c) further comprises a step of displaying the identification number of said wired subscriber unit to said control unit.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step (h) further comprises a step of displaying the identification number of said wired subscriber unit to said control unit.

10. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step (g) comprises a step of establishing a wired subscriber path by performing modem negotiation between the called subscriber unit and said interworking function system.

11. A method for testing the functions of an interworking function (IWF) system having a circuit call generator, wherein said circuit call generator having at least one wireless subscriber unit and at least one wired subscriber unit for transmitting/receiving test information to/from said IWF system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a first string of arbitrary characters by said wireless subscriber unit to said IWF system via a wireless subscriber path, wherein said wireless subscriber path provides a communication path between said wireless subscriber and said IWF system;

(b) returning said transmitted first string of arbitrary characters by said IWF system via a wired subscriber path to said wireless subscriber unit, wherein said wired subscriber path provides a communication path between said wired subscriber unit and said IWF system;

(c) reporting the receipt of said first string of arbitrary characters to a control unit by said wired subscriber unit;

(d) transmitting a second string of arbitrary characters to said IWF system by said wired subscriber unit via said wired subscriber path;

(e) returning said transmitted second string of arbitrary characters string to said wireless subscriber unit by said IWF system via said wireless subscriber path; and

,

(f) reporting the receipt of said transmitted second string of arbitrary characters to said control unit by said wireless subscriber unit.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step (c) further comprises a step of displaying said first string of arbitrary characters and the identification number of said wired subscriber unit to said control unit.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step (f) further comprises a step of displaying said second string of arbitrary characters and the telephone number of said wireless subscriber unit to said control unit.

14. A method for testing the functions of an interworking function (IWF) system having a circuit call generator, wherein said circuit call generator having at least one wireless subscriber unit and at least one wired subscriber unit for transmitting/receiving test information to/from said IWF system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) requesting said IWF system to release a call connection between said wireless unit and said IWF system;

(b) in response to said release request, sending an acknowledgement by the IWF system to said wireless subscriber unit;

(c) in response to said acknowledgement from said IWF system, informing a control unit that said call connection in a wireless subscriber path is to be released;

(d) releasing the path of said call connection in said wireless subscriber path;

(e) reporting the release of said call connection in said wireless subscriber path to said control unit by said wireless subscriber unit;

(f) in response to said request for said release request by said wireless subscriber unit, releasing a communication path between a wired subscriber unit and said IWF system in a wired subscriber path;

(g) informing said control unit by the wired subscriber unit that said communication path in said wired subscriber path is to be released, and releasing said communication path in said wired subscriber path; and

,

(h) reporting the release of said communication path in said wired subscriber path to said control unit and to said IWF system.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step (e) further comprises a step of displaying the telephone number of said wireless subscriber unit.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step (h) further comprises a step of displaying the identification number of said wired subscriber unit.