Integrated telecommunications test system

• US 6,674,724 B1
• Filed: 02/17/1999
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bencheck, Michael U., Main, Brian A., Harris, Dale W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/251,546
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/242, 370/247, 370/251, 370/252, 370/253, 370/249
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

An integrated web-based system for performing telecommunications system testing includes an application server that includes a plurality of test applications. The application server provides a graphical user interface to a plurality of workstation clients. Users can launch tests and monitor test results at the workstation clients. The test are performed by a plurality of telecommunications system test devices. The test devices include such devices as protocol analyzers, bit error rate testers, sniffers, and the like. A test access server provides an interface or bridge between the application server and each of the test devices. The test access server routes and provides appropriate translation of messages and commands between the test devices and the application process server.

Claims

1. A system for performing telecommunications system testing, which comprises:

an application server, said application server including a plurality of test applications;

a plurality of telecommunications system test heads, the test heads at least capable of testing one or more portions of a physical layer; and

,

a test access server, said test access server providing an interface between said application server and each of said test heads.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, including:

a topology server in communication with said application server, said topology server providing network topology information to said application server.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said topology server provides circuit order information to said application server.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said topology server provides circuit topology information to said application server.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said application server communicates with said topology server over a wide area network.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunication system includes a plurality of switches and said system includes:

a switch access server, said switch access server providing an interface between said application server and said switches.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, including a automated trunk routiner in communication with said switches and said application server.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, including a testing rules database accessible by said application server.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, including a user profile database accessible by said application server.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, including an historical information database accessible by said application server.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, including a fiber outage database accessible by said application server.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said fiber outage database is accessible by said application server over a wide area network.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, including an employee information database accessible by said application server.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said employee information database is accessible by said application server over a wide area network.

15. A system for performing telecommunications system testing comprising:

an application server, said application server including a plurality of test applications;

a plurality of telecommunications system test heads;

a test access server, said test access server providing an inter between said application server and each of said test heads; and

a digital cross connect access server, said digital cross connect access server providing an interface between said application server and a plurality of digital cross connect devices.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said digital cross connect devices wideband digital cross connect devices include narrowband digital cross connect devices and broadband digital cross connect devices.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said application server communicates with said digital cross connect access server over a wide area network.

18. A system for performing telecommunications system testing comprising:

an application server, said application server including a plurality of test applications;

a plurality of telecommunications system test heads;

a test access server, said test access server providing an interface between said application server and each of said test heads; and

a switch access server, said witch U s server providing an interface between said application server and a plurality of switches, wherein said switches include local switches and long distance switches.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said switch access server communicates with said application server over a wide area network.

20. A system for performing testing of a physical layer of a telecommunications system, which comprises:

an application server, said application server including a plurality of test applications;

a plurality of telecommunications system test heads for testing the physical layer of the telecommunications system; and

,

a test access server, said test access server providing an interface between said application server and each of said test heads.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the test access server routes and provides any necessary translation of messages between each test head and the application server.

22. A system for performing telecommunications system testing, which comprises:

an application server, said application server including a plurality of test applications;

a plurality of telecommunications system test heads that test one or more physical layers of the telecommunications system; and

,

a test access server, said test access server providing an interface between said application server and each of said test heads.