Monitoring system and method implementing an automatic test plan

• US 6,711,134 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• 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: Flink, Eric N., Votipka, Bruce, Hertzog, Kathy, Wichelman, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/451,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/242, 370/243, 370/244, 370/245, 370/252, 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/408, 370/248, 370/250, 702/168, 702/121, 702/122, 702/120, 348/192, 348/177, 714/25, 714/38
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Channel and test plans are implemented in connection with a plurality of nodes that communicate signals. The channel plan has one or more predefined specifications for each of one or more signal channels on each of the nodes. The channel plan enables a monitoring system to generate and conduct automatic periodic node test plans based upon the predefined specifications. Each test plan prescribes measurement of at least one node and/or channel signal parameter. The monitoring system includes a spectrum analyzer, a switch enabling the spectrum analyzer to interface with the nodes, and a controller. The controller is configured to enable creation of and display the channel plan and test plan, and to automate the node testing. The test plan may include alarm thresholds that are triggered and tracked when a signal parameter of a node or channel exceeds an alarm threshold.

Claims

1. A system for enabling efficient monitoring of 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 automatically generating based on user inputs and 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; and

(4) fourth means for periodically causing automatic 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.

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 fourth means and further comprising a database for storing testing information measured by said spectrum analyzer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said fourth means (4) is designed to test each of said nodes in a predefined sequence.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said fourth means (4) is designed to test each of said nodes in a predefined sequence and each of said channels in each of said nodes in a predefined order.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said test plan prescribes at least one test for said respective node as a whole and at least one test for at least one channel on said respective node.

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

(5) fifth means for enabling a user to predefine when said fourth means performs said periodic automatic testing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is a computer having software for implementing its defined functionality.

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

storage means for storing a channel plan and a test plan for each of a plurality of 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; and

processing means for automatically generating said channel and test plans based on user inputs and periodically causing automatic testing of each of said plurality of nodes using a test for each of said nodes that is defined in said test plan.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said processing means further comprises:

means for controlling a spectrum analyzer; and

means for controlling a switch so that said switch interfaces said spectrum analyzer with at least one of said nodes so that said processing means can perform said tests and retrieve test result data.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

display means for displaying test and test result information.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said processing means is implemented by a computer having software that comprises a database for storing testing information measured by a spectrum analyzer.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said processing means is designed to test each of said nodes sequentially.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said processing means is designed to test each of said nodes sequentially and each of said channels in each of said nodes sequentially.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said test plan prescribes at least one test for said respective node as a whole and at least one test for at least one channel on said respective node.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein said processing means enables a user to predefine when said periodic automatic testing is to prospectively occur.

17. A method for enabling efficient monitoring signals, comprising the steps of:

interfacing to said signals that are communicated along a plurality of nodes, each said node having one or more signal channels, all of said nodes having their respective channels allocated according to a channel plan; and

periodically testing said signals on each of said plurality of nodes by accessing a test plan, which is automatically generated based upon said channel plan and user inputs, and prescribing measurement of at least one signal parameter associated with each node or a channel on each node in accordance with said test plan.

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

executing two processes concurrently, one causing automatic testing of said nodes in accordance with said test plan and another enabling browsing of test and test result information by a user.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

controlling a spectrum analyzer; and

controlling a switch so that said switch interfaces said spectrum analyzer with at least one of said nodes so that tests can be performed and test result data retrieved.

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

displaying test and test result information.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of conducting said test plan on each of said nodes sequentially.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

conducting said test plan on each of said nodes sequentially; and

conducting said test plan on each of said channels in each of said nodes sequentially.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said test plan prescribes both at least one test for each of said nodes and at least one test for at least one channel on each of said nodes.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of enabling a user to predefine when said periodic automatic testing is to prospectively occur.