Modem pass through for remote testing

• US 6,898,186 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Viriato, Luis Alexandre, Doty, Jerry Dwight II
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US10/671,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/241, 370/242, 370/244, 370/276, 370/352, 370/389, 370/401, 370/466, 370/471, 370/474
• US Class Current: 370/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/28 Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor

Abstract

A lab network access server is disclosed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The lab network access server is coupled to a customer network server through a packet switching network. The customer modem device includes a customer modem device and is coupled to an end-user modem device employed by an end-user. In a diagnostic scenario, the end-user initiates a call through the customer network access server modem device, which is setup for pass through operations. The customer network access server, upon receiving the call information, routes the call information to the lab network access server for termination thereof. The lab network access server operates to diagnose problems associated with the customer modem device and includes a lab modem device. Upon the customer modem device failing to successfully communicate with the end-user modem device, the lab modem device receives a succeeding call from the end-user modem device using a pass-through mode of tunneling, through the packet switch network, and terminates the succeeding call thereby allowing diagnosis and debugging of the failure associated with the customer modem device to be performed at the location of the lab network access server. In a modem wholesale scenario, the same setup is used as a service to terminate modem calls in a remote location when a customer only has voice-over-IP capabilities.

Claims

1. A network communication system for communicating information between a point of origin and a point of destination using a pass-through mode of tunneling through a packet switching network comprising:

a first network access server coupled to the point of destination for communicating therebetween through a public switching telephone network and responsive to information from a second network access server originating at a point of origin through a public switching telephone network, said first network access server and said second network access server communicating therebetween through a packet switching network; and

a lab network access server coupled to the first network server through the packet switching network and to the second network access server through the packet switching network, upon the point of origin establishing a call to the point of destination, through the second network access server and upon the second network access server failing to successfully communicate with the first network access server, said lab network access server responsive to a succeeding call from the second network access server using a pass-through mode of tunneling, through the packet switching network and terminating the succeeding call thereby allowing diagnosis and debugging of the failure associated with the second network access server at the location of the lab network access server.

2. A network communication system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first network access server includes a first modem device.

3. A network communication system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second network access server includes a second modem device.

4. A network communication system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first network access server includes a first modem device.

5. A network communication system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said lab network access server includes a first lab network access server modem for terminating the succeeding call.

6. A network communication system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said network access server includes a second lab network access server modem for processing the information received through the packet switching network.

7. In a packet switching network environment employing a customer network access server, including a customer modem, coupled to a lab network access server, through a packet switching network, and to a first network access server, through a packet switching network, said lab network access being remotely located to the customer network access server, said packet switching network environment causing communications between a point of origin and a point of destination, a method of diagnosing problems associated with the customer modem comprising:

establishing a call from the point of origin to the point of destination, through the customer network access server and the first network access server;

failing to successfully communicate with the first network access server;

establishing a succeeding call from the customer network access server to the lab network access server using a pass-through mode of tunneling and through the packet switching network;

terminating the succeeding call; and

allowing for diagnosis and debugging of the failure associated with the customer network access server at the location of the lab network access server.

8. In a packet switching network environment employing a customer network access server, including a customer modem, coupled to a lab network access server, through a packet switching network, and to a first network access server, through a packet switching network, said lab network access being remotely located to the customer network access server, said packet switching network environment causing communications between a point of origin and a point of destination, a method of diagnosing problems associated with the customer modem comprising:

establishing a call from the point of origin to the point of destination, through the customer network access server and the first network access server;

failing to successfully communicate with the first network access server;

establishing a succeeding call, including voice signals, from the customer network access server to the lab network access server using a relay mode of tunneling and through the packet switching network wherein the voice signals are demodulated;

terminating the succeeding call; and

allowing for diagnosis and debugging of the failure associated with the customer network access server at the location of the lab network access server.

9. A computer readable medium having stored therein computer readable program code comprising instructions for performing the following steps:

providing a lab network access server coupled to a customer network access server, including a customer modem, through a packet switching network, said lab network access server and said customer network access server further coupled to a first network access server, through the packet switching network and said lab network access being remotely located to the customer network access server, said customer network access server for facilitating information between a point of origin and a point of destination;

establishing a call from the point of origin to the point of destination, through the customer network access server and the first network access server;

failing to successfully communicate with the first network access server;

establishing a succeeding call from the customer network access server to the lab network access server using a pass-through mode of tunneling and through the packet switching network;

terminating the succeeding call; and

allowing for diagnosis and debugging of the failure associated with the customer network access server at the location of the lab network access server.

10. A computer readable medium having stored therein computer readable program code comprising instructions for performing the following steps:

providing a lab network access server coupled to a custom network access server, including a customer modem, through a packet switching network, said lab network access server and said customer network access server further coupled to a first network access server, through the packet switching network and said lab network access being remotely located to the customer network access server, said customer network access server for facilitating information between a point of origin and a point of destination;

establishing a call from the point of origin to the point of destination, through the customer network access server and the first network access server;

failing to successfully communicate with the first network access server;

establishing a succeeding call from the customer network access server to the lab network access server using a relay mode of tunneling and through the packet switching network;

terminating the succeeding call; and

allowing for diagnosis and debugging of the failure associated with the customer network access server at the location of the lab network access server.