Checking of broadband network components

• US 8,068,585 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Birkenberger, Lisa Marie, Torab, Homayoun, Johnston, Judson Barry, Duron, Eric, Chastain, Kenneth Wayne, Busayapongchai, Senis, Tang, Harry, Gash, Diana N., Nguyen, Hong Thi, Holt, Scott Crandall, Stillman, Scott Traynham
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/119,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 370/255, 379/27.01
• US Class Current: 379/27.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods for checking broadband network components are provided in which an automated interactive system permits a field technician to check various conditions of a communication line or other broadband network components without the assistance of a support technician. While options to request assistance from a support technician are provided, the automated interactive system permits the field technician to perform various functions on a communication line without additional assistance, especially for routine tasks. The automated interactive system, therefore, removes efficiencies that may be associated with conventional approaches for checking broadband network components.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a digital request from an Interactive Voice Response Application, the digital request being received using a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol, the digital request comprising at least one of a request to verify a digital subscriber line port, a request to condition the digital subscriber line port or a request to retrieve information on the digital subscriber line port;

translating the digital request into a common object request broker architecture compatible request; and

conveying the common object request broker architecture compatible request to a network management system to cause the network management system to configure a digital subscriber line access multiplexer associated with the digital subscriber line port in response to the common object request broker architecture compatible request.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the digital subscriber line access multiplexer is to transmit a test signal detectable on the digital subscriber line port in response to the configuration.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a common object request broker architecture response from the network management system, the common object request broker architecture response including response information provided by the digital subscriber line access multiplexer in response to the configuration; and

conveying the response information contained in the common object request broker architecture response to the Interactive Voice Response Application.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the digital request includes an identifier associated with the digital subscriber line port.

2. A system comprising:

an Interactive Voice Response module communicatively coupled to a public switched telephone network, the Interactive Voice Response module to receive an input from a field technician over the public switched telephone network and to generate a digital request corresponding to the received input;

a field application tool to translate the digital request into a common object request broker architecture compatible request;

a digital subscriber line access multiplexer; and

a network management system to generate a command in response to the common object request broker architecture compatible request and to transmit the command to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer to configure the digital subscriber line port corresponding to the received input.

6. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein the digital subscriber line access multiplexer is to transmit a test signal detectable on the digital subscriber line port in response to the command.

7. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the digtal subscriber line access multiplexer is to provide response information to the network management system in response to the command;

the network management system is to generate a common object request broker architecture response including the response information and to send the common object request broker architecture response to the field application tool;

the field application tool is to translate the common object request broker architecture response into a response message and to send the response message to the Interactive Voice Response module; and

the Interactive Voice Response Application module is to translate the response information contained in the response message into a humanly-intelligble audio signal and to present the humanly-intelligble audio signal to the field technician via the public switched telephone network.

8. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

receive a digital request from an interactive voice response module, the digital request being received using a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol, the digital request comprising at least one of a request to verify a digital subscriber line port, a request to condition the digital subscriber line port; and

or a request to retrieve information on the digital subscriber line port;

translate the digital request into a common object request broker architecture compatible request; and

convey the common object request broker architecture compatible request to a network management system to cause the network management system to configure a digital subscriber line access multiplexer associated with the digital subscriber line port in response to the common object request broker architecture compatible request.

9. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 8, wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

receive a common object request broker architecture response from the network management system, the common object request broker architecture response including response information provided by the digital subscriber line access multiplexer in response to the configuration; and

convey response information contained in the common object request broker architecture response to the interactive voice response module.

10. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 8, wherein the digital request includes an identifier associated with the digital subscriber line port.