Web-based circuit-testing system and method

• US 7,243,040 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: High, James Troy, Mayock, Sean M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff; Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui; Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US10/903,825
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/58, 702/59, 702/62, 702/80, 702/117, 702/118, 702/120, 702/121, 702/122, 702/182, 702183-185, 702/188, 714/724, 714/725, 379/1.01, 379/15.01
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31907 Modular tester, e.g. controlling and coordinating instruments in a bus based architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31912 Tester/user interface

Abstract

A method, system, and medium are provided for automated circuit testing. The system is adapted for use by human and automated clients. It enables for the testing of circuits which are associated with a particular central office switch, or other computing or telecommunications device.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media, having computer-usable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of testing a communications pathway associated with a computing device, said pathway being accessible by utilizing a unique identifier, the method comprising:

receiving said unique identifier from a client;

communicating a testing request to said computing device using said unique identifier;

automatically facilitating one or more tests consistent with said testing request;

providing test status feedback to said client by way of facilitating one or more tests;

retrieving information from said computing device regarding the functionality of said pathway; and

making said information available to said client.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein said client is a human, and said method comprises:

providing a webpage; and

receiving said unique identifier from said human client using said webpage.

3. The media of claim 2, said method comprising:

making said information regarding the functionality of said pathway available to said client using said webpage.

4. The media of claim 2, wherein said step of providing test status feedback to said client comprises providing said test status feedback to said human client using said webpage.

5. The media of claim 1, wherein said client is automated, and said method comprises:

interfacing with said automated client to accomplish said receiving, providing and making steps.

6. The media of claim 5, said providing step and said making step comprising:

placing said test status and said information in XML format; and

delivering said test status and said information to said automated client using HTTP.

7. The media of claim 1, said method comprising:

determining whether another testing request has arrived for said unique identifier on said device; and

repeating said method if another testing request has arrived.

8. The media of claim 7, said method comprising:

terminating said method if no other testing request has arrived for said unique identifier on said device.

9. The media of claim 1, said method comprising:

running a process on a server to accomplish at least one of said receiving, communicating, facilitating, providing, retrieving, and making steps.

10. The media of claim 1, said method comprising:

running a process on a web server to accomplish at least one of said receiving, communicating, facilitating, providing, retrieving, and making steps.

11. The media of claim 1, said method comprising:

running a process on a servlet on a web server to accomplish at least one of said receiving, communicating, retrieving, and making steps.

12. The media of claim 1, said method comprising:

running a process on a remote server; and

communicating with said device using said process running on said remote server to accomplish at least one of said communicating, facilitating, and retrieving steps.

13. The media of claim 1, said method comprising:

running a daemon process on a remote server; and

communicating with said device using said daemon process running on said remote server to accomplish at least one of said communicating, facilitating, and retrieving steps.

14. The media of claim 1, wherein said unique identifier includes a telephone number.

15. A computer-implemented method for testing a communications pathway on a telecommunications device, the method comprising:

receiving a unique identifier from a client device;

utilizing said unique identifier to access said pathway by communicating a testing request to conduct one or more tests to said telecommunications device;

automatically conducting said one or more tests based on said request;

providing test status feedback of said one or more tests to said client;

retrieving information from said telecommunications device regarding the results of said one or more tests; and

making said information available to said client.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said client is a human, said method comprising:

providing a webpage; and

receiving said unique identifier from said human client using said webpage.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising:

making said information regarding results of said one or more tests available to said client using said webpage.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein providing test status feedback to said client comprises providing said test status feedback to said human client using said webpage.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said client is automated, said method comprising:

interfacing with said automated client to accomplish said receiving, providing, and making steps.

20. The method of claim 19, said providing step and said making step comprising:

placing said information in XML format; and

delivering said information to said automated client using HTTP.

21. The method of claim 15 comprising:

determining whether another testing request has arrived for said unique identifier on said device; and

repeating said method if another testing request has arrived.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising:

terminating said method if no other testing request has arrived for said unique identifier on said device.

23. The method of claim 15 comprising:

running a process on a server to accomplish at least one of said receiving, utilizing, conducting, providing, retrieving, and making steps.

24. The method of claim 15 comprising:

running a process on a web server to accomplish at least one of said receiving, utilizing, conducting, providing, retrieving, and making steps.

25. The method of claim 15 comprising:

running a process as a servlet on a web server to accomplish at least one of said receiving, utilizing, conducting, providing, retrieving, and making steps.

26. The method of claim 15 comprising:

running a process on a remote server; and

communicating with said device using said process running on said remote server to accomplish at least one of said utilizing, conducting, and retrieving steps.

27. The method of claim 15 comprising:

running a daemon process on a remote server; and

communicating with said device using said daemon process running on said remote server to accomplish at least one of said utilizing, providing, and retrieving steps.

28. The method of claim 15 comprising:

including said method in one of machine-readable media, computer-useable instructions, data structures, program modules, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, memory, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVDs), holographic media, optical disc storage, and magnetic storage devices.

29. A computer system for performing a method of testing a communications pathway (accessible by a unique identifier) associated with a telecommunications switch, comprising:

a server device coupled to a client device by one or more networks, wherein said server device is configured to receive said unique identifier from said client device;

wherein said server device is further configured to automatically communicate a testing request of one or more tests to said switch based on said identifier; and

wherein said server device is further configured to provide an interface that displays test-status feedback and information regarding the functionality of said pathway to said client.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said switch is a telecommunications home office switch.