Interactive test device and a method of testing of a cable network
First Claim
1. A test device for testing a cable network, comprising:
- an input port, for connecting to the cable network;
a testing apparatus coupled to the input port, for performing tests of the cable network;
a display;
a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the testing apparatus and the display; and
a graphical user interface (GUI) for inputting user commands to the CPU and for conveying results of the tests by displaying them on the display;
wherein the GUI comprises a set of user-selectable icons including first and second user-selectable icons,wherein the first user-selectable icon is for representing a network problem category, wherein the first icon has a graphical feature corresponding to the network problem category, wherein the CPU is suitably programmed to cause the testing apparatus to perform a first test of the cable network upon selecting the first icon by a user of the test device;
wherein the second user-selectable icon is for representing a second test of the cable network, wherein the second icon has a graphical feature corresponding to the second test, wherein the CPU is suitably programmed to cause the testing apparatus to perform the second test of the cable network upon selecting the second icon by the user;
wherein the second user-selectable icon has a guiding feature indicative of a current status of the first test, for guiding the user whether to select the second icon to cause the test device to perform the second test, in dependence upon the current status of the first test; and
wherein a first subset of the set of icons is for representing high-priority and low-priority tests, wherein icons of the first subset of icons corresponding to the low-priority tests are not selectable until all the high-priority tests are completed, wherein the priority status of the first subset of icons is managed from a head end of the cable network and is communicated to the test device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test device is disclosed having a display and a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides guidance to a user by displaying first and second icons for representing first and second actions to be taken by the test device upon selecting the first and the second icons, respectively, by the user. To provide the guidance to the user, the second icon has graphical features indicative of the current status of the first action. For cases where the first action is a test that failed, the second action is highlighted thereby guiding the user to take the second action in response to the failed test. At least one of the graphical features of the second icon is indicative of whether the second icon is currently selectable by the user.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A test device for testing a cable network, comprising:
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an input port, for connecting to the cable network;
a testing apparatus coupled to the input port, for performing tests of the cable network;
a display;
a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the testing apparatus and the display; and
a graphical user interface (GUI) for inputting user commands to the CPU and for conveying results of the tests by displaying them on the display;wherein the GUI comprises a set of user-selectable icons including first and second user-selectable icons, wherein the first user-selectable icon is for representing a network problem category, wherein the first icon has a graphical feature corresponding to the network problem category, wherein the CPU is suitably programmed to cause the testing apparatus to perform a first test of the cable network upon selecting the first icon by a user of the test device; wherein the second user-selectable icon is for representing a second test of the cable network, wherein the second icon has a graphical feature corresponding to the second test, wherein the CPU is suitably programmed to cause the testing apparatus to perform the second test of the cable network upon selecting the second icon by the user; wherein the second user-selectable icon has a guiding feature indicative of a current status of the first test, for guiding the user whether to select the second icon to cause the test device to perform the second test, in dependence upon the current status of the first test; and wherein a first subset of the set of icons is for representing high-priority and low-priority tests, wherein icons of the first subset of icons corresponding to the low-priority tests are not selectable until all the high-priority tests are completed, wherein the priority status of the first subset of icons is managed from a head end of the cable network and is communicated to the test device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for finding a root cause of a problem in a cable network, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a test device having an input port, a testing apparatus coupled to the input port, a display, a central processing unit (CPU), and a graphical user interface (GUI) for inputting user commands and for conveying results of the tests by displaying them on the display; (b) connecting the input port of the test device to the cable network; (c) selecting a problem category icon corresponding to a problem category, and selecting, via the CPU, a first test to be run by the testing apparatus, based upon the selected problem category icon; (d) performing the first test selected in step (c) to obtain a result of the first test; and (e) using the GUI to display the result of the first test, obtained in step (d), in the form of a graphical feature of an icon representing a next action to be taken to find the root cause of the problem, whereby the user of the test apparatus is guided to take the next action by selecting the icon representing the next action; wherein a first subset of the set of icons is for representing high-priority and low-priority tests, wherein icons of the first subset of icons corresponding to the low-priority tests are not selectable until all the high-priority tests are completed, wherein the priority status of the first subset of icons is managed from a head end of the cable network and is communicated to the test device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification