Systems, methods, and devices for testing communication lines

• US 9,241,065 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CACI, Inc. - FEDERAL (CACI International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Decisions
• Inventors: Stephan, Roy, Anderson, Steve, Eoyang, Greg, Lannan, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US14/624,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/1.03, 379/9.02, 379/9.04, 379/9.06, 379/12.21, 379/22, 379/22.01, 379/22.07, 379/22.08, 379/23, 379/24, 379/27.01, 379/27.07, 379/27.08, 379/29.02, 379/29.1, 379/22.02, 379/27.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop

Abstract

The invention generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for testing communication lines. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems and devices that include a digital/analog converter configured to operate with a computer processor and memory to send or receive an analog signal over a communication line that includes a plurality of signals having known frequencies. Inbound receiving sub-systems or devices sample the analog signal and measure a quality of the sampled, digital signal to evaluate the communication line. The key differentiator is the recognition that the human mouth and ear are intrinsically analog without encryption. By locating the test device as close to the user as possible, this system incorporates testing of complex communication streams including numerous variables and transforms (e.g. encryption, Analog to digital, Voice over IP, packet switching, ATM, SONET). Ultimately, it provides a simple interface to convert qualitative analysis to quantitative (numerical) analysis.

Claims

1. A system for testing a communication line, comprising:

a jack for connection to the communication line;

a sampler coupled to the jack;

a processor in communication with the sampler; and

a non-transitory memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the system is connected via the communication line to a second system substantially similar to the system;

wherein each system is operable to perform a predefined inbound test and a predefined outbound test;

wherein the predefined inbound test comprises;

receiving a plurality of known frequencies sent sequentially by the other system;

sampling the plurality of known frequencies in sequence as they arrive to generate a sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies;

storing the sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies in the nontransitory memory; and

measuring a quality of the sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies; and

wherein the predefined outbound test comprises sending the plurality of known frequencies through the communication line one after another.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the jack receives a signal via a phone cord plugged into the base unit of a telephone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable to perform the predefined outbound test by:

executing, using the processor, instructions that cause the processor to issue a digital signal and send the digital signal to the sampler;

converting, using the sampler, the digital signal into an analog signal comprising a plurality of known frequencies; and

sending the plurality of known frequencies separately and in sequence through the communication line.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sampler comprises a digital storage oscilloscope.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the communication line is connected to the system with a USB connection, the jack comprises a 4P4C connector, and the sampler further comprises a handset jack for connection to a handset of a telephone.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the quality measured in the sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies comprises noise and jitter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further operable to perform a predefined inbound extended test and a predefined outbound extended test,

wherein the predefined inbound extended test comprises:

receiving at least five known frequencies, at least one of which is below 1000 Hz and at least one of which is above 3000 Hz, the at least five known frequencies sent sequentially by the second system;

sampling the at least five known frequencies to generate a sampled version of the at least five known frequencies;

storing the sampled version of the at least five known frequencies in the nontransitory memory;

measuring a quality of the sampled version of the at least five known frequencies; and

determining whether the communication line cannot operate in a secure mode; and

wherein the predefined outbound extended test comprises sending the at least five known frequencies through the communication line one after another.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the receiving the at least five known frequencies comprises receiving at least five megabytes per second for at least five seconds.

9. A method for testing a communication line, comprising:

using an apparatus to perform a predefined inbound test and a predefined outbound test, the apparatus comprising a sampler coupled to a jack for connection to a communication line and a processor coupled to a non-transitory memory and in communication with the sampler, wherein the apparatus is connected via the communication line to a second apparatus substantially similar to the system, and further wherein;

a predefined inbound test comprises sequentially receiving from the other apparatus an analog signal comprising a plurality of known frequencies through a communication line, sampling the plurality of known frequencies to generate a sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies, storing the sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies in the non-transitory memory, and measuring a quality of the sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies; and

a predefined outbound test comprises sending to the other apparatus a plurality of known frequencies through the communication line one after another.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the measuring is performed on a digital copy of the sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies after the sampled version of the plurality of known frequencies has been stored in the non-transitory memory.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of known frequencies is sampled at a sampling rate between about 100 kHz and about 1000 kHz.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the analog signal is received from a telephone base unit.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the measuring comprises measuring noise and jitter.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

a predefined inbound extended test comprises sequentially receiving an analog signal comprising at least five known frequencies spanning about 2000 Hz through a communication line, sampling the at least five known frequencies to generate a sampled version of the at least five known frequencies, storing the sampled version of the at least five known frequencies in the non-transitory memory, measuring a quality of the sampled version of the at least five known frequencies, storing a measurement of the quality of the sampled version of the at least five known frequencies, providing the measurement to a user, and determining a suitability of the communication line for secure operation; and

a predefined outbound extended test comprises sending the at least five known frequencies through the communication line one after another.

15. The method of claim 14, further wherein the predefined inbound extended test comprises receiving at least two megabytes per second for at least two seconds.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the at least five known frequencies is below 1000 Hz and at least one of the at least five known frequencies is above 3000 Hz.

17. The method of claim 14, further wherein the outbound extended line test further comprises sending the at least five known frequencies as analog signals through the communication line.