Method and system for automatic testing of network elements

• US 7,010,295 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zerlan, Joshua Ryan, Kao, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US09/842,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 455423-425, 455/67.14, 455/67.11, 379/22.01, 379/22.02, 379/27.02, 379/27.03, 379/29.01, 379/1.01, 375/224
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for the testing of multiple elements in a communications network. The method may include using a test host that has both control and data input/output capabilities. The test host may send a signal over the network via one communication device, such as a mobile station, that is connected to and controlled by the test host. A resulting signal may then be received at the communication device or at a second communication device, which may be another mobile station, that is connected to and controlled by the test host. A comparison of the signal sent into the network with the signal received from the network may be used to verify proper operation of any elements in the network.

Claims

1. A method of automatically testing a communications system, comprising, in combination:

(a) using a test host to cause a first communication device to send a first test signal into a communications channel;

(b) receiving a second test signal in the test host from the communications channel via a second communication device;

(c) the test host performing a comparison between the first test signal and the second test signal; and

(d) the test host displaying a result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first test signal is the same as the second test signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first test signal comprises a digital data file.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital data file is a TIFF file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications channel comprises a network element, the method further comprising:

after performing method steps (a) through (d), modifying the network element and then repeating steps (a) through (d).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first test signal represents dialed digits and the second test signal comprises a ring signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device comprises a mobile station.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first communication device and second communication device is selected from the group consisting of (i) a mobile station, and (ii) a landline modem.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the first communication device comprises a non-simulated mobile station.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are non-simulated mobile stations.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the test host comprises a computer.

12. A method of automatically testing a communications system, comprising, in combination:

(a) using a test host to cause a first non-simulated wireless subscriber terminal to send a first set of data into a communications channel, the communications channel including a network element;

(b) receiving a second set of data in the test host from the communications channel via a second non-simulated wireless subscriber terminal;

(c) the test host performing a comparison between the first set of data and the second set of data; and

(d) the test host providing an output indicative of a result of the comparison.

13. A system for testing an element of a network, comprising:

a first communication device that sends a first test signal into the network;

a second communication device that receives a second test signal from the network; and

a test host communicatively coupled to the first communication device and the second communication device, the test host including;

(a) a sending component that causes the first communication device to send the first test signal into the network;

(b) a receiving component that receives the second test signal from the second communication device;

(c) a comparing component that makes a comparison of the first test signal to the second test signal; and

(d) a display that indicates a result of the comparison.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first test signal represents dialed digits and the second test signal represents a ring signal.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first communication device comprises a wireless subscriber terminal.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the first communication device and second communication device is selected from the group consisting of (i) a wireless subscriber terminal, and (ii) a landline subscriber terminal.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the first communication device and second communication device is selected from the group consisting of (i) a wireless subscriber terminal, (ii) a landline subscriber terminal, (iii) a fax machine, and (iv) a modem.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the first communication device and second communication device is selected from the group consisting of (i) a non-simulated communication device, and (ii) a simulated communication device.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are non-simulated communication devices.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are non-simulated wireless subscriber terminals.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the first test signal is the same as the second test signal.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the test host comprises a memory and a processor, and the sending component, the receiving component, and the comparing component each comprise a set of instructions stored in a memory, the set of instructions executable by the processor.