Monitoring system and method implementing automatic testing with a smart scanning algorithm

• US 6,643,607 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies Europe BV (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chamberlain, Craig, Flink, Eric N., Morgan, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US09/451,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 324/76.19, 324/76.22, 702/119, 702/118, 702/120, 702/122, 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/67.4, 455/67.7, 455/226.1, 455/226.4
• US Class Current: 702/170
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A channel plan and a corresponding test plan are implemented in connection with a plurality of nodes that communicate signals. The channel plan enables a monitoring system to conduct automatic periodic test plans, comprising tests, on the nodes, based upon data specified in the channel plan. Each test plan prescribes measurement of at least one signal parameter, pertaining to one or more nodes and/or one or more channels communicated across the nodes. The monitoring system includes a spectrum analyzer, a switch enabling the spectrum analyzer to interface with the nodes, and a controller. The controller causes periodic automatic testing of the signal characteristics of the nodes based upon the test plan and a smart scanning algorithm.

Claims

1. A system for enabling efficient monitoring of electrical signals, comprising:

(a) a spectrum analyzer;

(b) a switch capable of enabling said spectrum analyzer to interface with a plurality of nodes that carry said signals, each of said nodes having at least one signal channel; and

(c) a controller having;

(1) first means for controlling said switch;

(2) second means for controlling said spectrum analyzer;

(3) third means for storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of said plurality of said nodes, each channel plan having at least one predefined specification for at least one signal channel on a respective node, said test plan having at least one predefined test for said respective node;

(4) fourth means for causing testing of a signal characteristic of each of said plurality of nodes using a test for each of said nodes that is defined in said test plan;

(5) fifth means for determining a test priority score for each of said nodes based at least upon said test;

(6) sixth means for establishing a priority for said nodes based upon said test priority scores; and

(7) seventh means for causing testing of a plurality of signal characteristics of said nodes in an order based upon said priority.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) a display device to display testing information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller (c) is a computer having software for implementing said first through seventh means and further comprising a database for storing testing information measured by said spectrum analyzer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller (c) further comprises:

(8) eighth means for ceasing said testing caused by said seventh means based upon comparing said test priority score of one of said nodes and a predefined adequacy threshold and for re-initiating said testing caused by said fourth means.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said controller (c) further comprises:

(9) ninth means for, after said eighth means ceases said testing caused by said seventh means and re-initiates said testing by said fourth means, adjusting said test priority score of at least one of said nodes so that said at least one node will exhibit a higher priority relative to any future testing by said seventh means.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said seventh means (7) comprises:

(i) means for performing at least one diagnostic test that is defined in said test plan;

(ii) means for performing a performance test that is defined in said test plan; and

(iii) means for causing performance of either said at least one diagnostic test or said at least one performance test, upon each of said nodes, based upon a performance timer associated with each of said nodes, said performance timer being reset when said node undergoes said performance test.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one diagnostic test requires more time to perform than said performance test and measures more signal characteristics than said performance test.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller (c) further comprises:

(8) eighth means for performing either at least one diagnostic test or at least one performance test, both defined in said test plan, upon said nodes, based upon a performance timer associated with each of said nodes;

(9) ninth means for ceasing said testing caused by said seventh means based upon comparing said test priority score of one of said nodes and a predefined adequacy threshold and for re-initiating said testing caused by said fourth means;

wherein said fifth means (5) further comprises means for computing said test priority score for a particular node of said nodes by mathematically combining any combination of the following;

(i) a result of said test performed on said particular node at step (b);

(ii) a previous diagnostic loop alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by said at least one diagnostic loop test;

(iii) a long term alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by any of said tests;

(iv) a performance loop timer expired score, indicative of when said performance loop timer has expired; and

(v) a deferral score, indicative of how many times said particular node has not undergone testing responsive to said seventh means.

9. A computer readable medium having a program, the program comprising:

(a) means for storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of a plurality of nodes, each channel plan having predefined specifications for signal channels on a respective node, said test plan having predefined tests for said respective node;

(b) means for causing testing of a signal characteristic of each of said plurality of nodes using a test for each of said nodes that is defined in said test plan;

(c) means for determining a test priority score for each of said nodes based at least upon said test;

(d) means for establishing a priority for said nodes based upon said test priority scores; and

(e) means for causing testing of a plurality of signal characteristics of said nodes in an order based upon said priority.

10. A method for enabling efficient monitoring of electrical signals communicated along connections, comprising:

(a) storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of a plurality of nodes, each channel plan having predefined specifications for signal channels on a respective node, said test plan having predefined tests for said respective node;

(b) testing a signal characteristic of each of said plurality of nodes using a test for each of said nodes that is defined in said test plan;

(c) determining a test priority score for each of said nodes based at least upon said test;

(d) establishing a priority for said nodes based upon said test priority scores; and

(e) testing a plurality of signal characteristics of said nodes in an order based upon said priority.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step (e), comprises the step of:

(f) ceasing step (e) based upon comparing said test priority score of one of said nodes and a predefined adequacy threshold; and

(g) re-initiating step (b).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

after said step (f) and before said step (g), adjusting said test priority score of at least one of said nodes so that said at least one node will exhibit a higher priority relative to testing at said step (e).

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step (e), comprises the step of:

performing either at least one diagnostic test or at least one performance test, both defined in said test plan, upon said nodes, based upon a performance loop timer associated with each of said nodes.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one diagnostic test takes a longer amount of time to perform than said performance test and measures more signal characteristics than said performance test.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

(f) performing either at least one diagnostic test or at least one performance test, both defined in said test plan, upon said nodes, based upon a performance loop timer associated with each of said nodes;

(g) ceasing step (e) and re-initiating step (b) when said test priority score of one of said nodes meets a predefined adequacy threshold;

(h) during said step (b), computing said test priority score for a particular node of said nodes by mathematically combining any combination of the following;

(1) a result of said test performed on said particular node at step (b);

(2) a previous diagnostic loop alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by said at least one diagnostic loop test;

(3) a long term alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by any of said tests;

(4) a performance loop timer expired score, indicative of when said performance loop timer has expired; and

(5) a deferral score, indicative of how many times said particular node has not undergone said testing at step (e).

16. A method for enabling efficient monitoring of electrical signals communicated along nodes, comprising:

storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of said nodes, each channel plan having predefined specifications for signal channels on a respective node, said test plan having predefined tests for said respective node;

initializing a quick scan loop timer and a performance loop timer;

performing at least one quick scan test defined in said test plan upon said nodes;

allocating a test priority score to each of said nodes based at least upon said quick scan test;

prioritizing said nodes based upon said test priority scores to form an ordered test priority list;

commencing testing of said nodes in an order defined by said test priority list, by performing either at least one diagnostic loop test or at least one performance loop test upon each node, based upon said performance loop timer and a predefined performance loop time period;

refraining from performing any more of said testing on said nodes and re-initiating another said quick scan loop test based upon said quick scan loop timer and a predefined quick scan loop time period; and

refraining from performing any more of said testing on said nodes and re-initiating another said quick scan loop test based upon a comparison of said test priority score associated with said one node and a predefined adequacy threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

after said commencing step and before said re-initiating step, adjusting said test priority score of at least one of said nodes.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

computing said test priority score for a particular node by mathematically combining any combination of the following;

a quick scan score, indicative of a quick scan test result;

a previous diagnostic loop alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by said diagnostic loop test;

a long term alarm score, indicative of any alarms associated with said particular node and generated by any of said tests;

a performance loop timer expired score, indicative of when said performance loop timer has expired; and

a deferral score, indicative of how many times said particular node has not undergone said testing via said diagnostic loop test and said performance loop test.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying results regarding said testing.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said tests are performed using a spectrum analyzer controlled by a controller and a database stores testing information measured by said spectrum analyzer.