Apparatus for and method of providing and measuring data throughput to and from a packet data network
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a data communications network, the data communications network providing access to a remote terminal connected to the data communications network;
a test server connected to the data communications network and accessible by the remote terminal over the data communications network, the test server including multiple sets of input parameters, each set optimized for testing a particular speed of communications service of a plurality of speed classes of communications service available via the data communications network, and a test program including executable code configured to transmit upstream test messages to the test server, receive downstream test messages from the test server, calculate an upstream data rate based on the time required to transmit the upstream test messages, calculate a downstream data rate based on the time required to receive the downstream test messages, and display the upstream data rate and downstream data rate;
wherein the test server is configured to receive a request from the remote terminal to perform a test, the request including an indication of one of the plurality of speed classes of communications service, transmit said test program and a set of input parameters from the multiple sets of input parameters corresponding to the indicated one of the plurality of speed classes of communications service to the remote terminal, receive the upstream test messages from the remote terminal, and transmit the downstream test messages to the remote terminal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital subscriber link data network incorporates a throughput test server (TTS) to provide fault identification, isolation, and verification of DSL service availability and data rates. An asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) terminal unit-remote (ATU-R) is connected to an ADSL terminal unit-central office (ATU-C) over a conventional copper loop or equivalent. Data connectivity via a packet switch provides access to high speed data networks, TTS connectivity and interfaces to service providers (SPS). Upon receiving a test request, a technician routes a customer to the TTS. The customer uses a web browser to access the TTS and download executable testing software, e.g., a JAVA applet. The applet causes test messages to be sent to and received from the TTS and computes upstream and downstream data rates that is displayed to the customer together with whether the measured data rates are consistent with a specified class of service.
18 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A system, comprising:
-
a data communications network, the data communications network providing access to a remote terminal connected to the data communications network; a test server connected to the data communications network and accessible by the remote terminal over the data communications network, the test server including multiple sets of input parameters, each set optimized for testing a particular speed of communications service of a plurality of speed classes of communications service available via the data communications network, and a test program including executable code configured to transmit upstream test messages to the test server, receive downstream test messages from the test server, calculate an upstream data rate based on the time required to transmit the upstream test messages, calculate a downstream data rate based on the time required to receive the downstream test messages, and display the upstream data rate and downstream data rate; wherein the test server is configured to receive a request from the remote terminal to perform a test, the request including an indication of one of the plurality of speed classes of communications service, transmit said test program and a set of input parameters from the multiple sets of input parameters corresponding to the indicated one of the plurality of speed classes of communications service to the remote terminal, receive the upstream test messages from the remote terminal, and transmit the downstream test messages to the remote terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A system comprising:
-
a test application executable by a server connected to a data communications network; multiple sets of input parameters, each set optimized for testing a particular speed of communications service of a plurality of speed classes of communications service available via the data communications network and a test program including executable code configured to transmit upstream test messages to the test application, receive downstream test messages from the test application, calculate an upstream data rate based on the time required to transmit the upstream test messages, calculate a downstream data rate based on the time required to receive the downstream test messages, and display the upstream data rate and downstream data rate; wherein the test application is configured to receive a request from a remote terminal connected to the data communications network to perform a test, the request including an indication of one of the plurality of speed classes of communications service, transmit said test program and a set of input parameters from the multiple sets of input parameters corresponding to the indicated one of the plurality of speed classes of communications service to the remote terminal, receive the upstream test messages from the remote terminal, and transmit the downstream test messages to the remote terminal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method, comprising:
-
receiving a request to execute a test from a remote terminal, the request including an indication of one of a plurality of speed classes of data communication services; maintaining a test program and multiple sets of input parameters, each set of input parameters are optimized for testing a particular speed of communications service of the plurality of speed classes of data communications services, the test program including executable code configured to transmit upstream test messages to the a test application, receive downstream test messages from the test application, calculate an upstream data rate based on the time required to transmit the upstream test messages, calculate a downstream data rate based on the time required to receive the downstream test messages, and display the upstream data rate and downstream data rate; downloading to said remote terminal said test program and a set of input parameters from the multiple sets of input parameters corresponding to the indicated one of the plurality of speed classes of data communication service; receiving from said remote terminal an upstream test signal;
transmitting to said remote terminal a downstream test signal; anddetermining an upstream data rate based on the upstream test signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification