Network test system
First Claim
1. A test system for obtaining test results characterizing at least part of a network-under-test, the system comprising:
- a local test device comprising;
a firmware module that initiates a test sequence on the network-under-test only following receipt of external instructions therefor, the test sequence leading to the production of test measurements related to the network-under-test and unrelated to performance of the local test device, wherein the firmware module cannot process the test measurements to provide the test results and wherein the external instructions are received over a local interface of the local test device connected to a local terminal temporarily co-located with the local test device; and
a network interface (NI) module comprising the local interface and at least one physical port connectable to the network-under-test, the at least one physical port being used for initiating the test sequence;
a test processing agent, decoupled from the network-under-test for;
sending to the local terminal, prior to the external instructions being received at the local device, at least a portion of the external instructions for initiating the test sequence on the network-under-test, the test sequence leading to the production of the test measurements related to the network-under-test;
receiving the test measurements following the initiation of the test sequence by the local test device;
processing the test measurements related to the network-under-test into the test results; and
allowing access to the test results.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A test system and a related method, the system comprising a test processing agent and local test device(s). The test processing agent processes test measurements related to a network-under-test into test results. The test processing agent is decoupled from the network-under-test, e.g., by being reachable through a network communication link distinct from the network-under-test. The local test device comprises a firmware module and a network interface (NI) module. The firmware module depends on external instructions for initiating a test sequence on the network-under-test. The NI module comprises at least one physical port connectable to the network-under-test. The physical port is used for initiating the test sequence. The test processing agent receives the test measurements following the initiation of the test sequence by the local test device and allows access to the test results.
22 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A test system for obtaining test results characterizing at least part of a network-under-test, the system comprising:
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a local test device comprising; a firmware module that initiates a test sequence on the network-under-test only following receipt of external instructions therefor, the test sequence leading to the production of test measurements related to the network-under-test and unrelated to performance of the local test device, wherein the firmware module cannot process the test measurements to provide the test results and wherein the external instructions are received over a local interface of the local test device connected to a local terminal temporarily co-located with the local test device; and a network interface (NI) module comprising the local interface and at least one physical port connectable to the network-under-test, the at least one physical port being used for initiating the test sequence; a test processing agent, decoupled from the network-under-test for; sending to the local terminal, prior to the external instructions being received at the local device, at least a portion of the external instructions for initiating the test sequence on the network-under-test, the test sequence leading to the production of the test measurements related to the network-under-test; receiving the test measurements following the initiation of the test sequence by the local test device; processing the test measurements related to the network-under-test into the test results; and allowing access to the test results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for obtaining test results for a network-under-test, the method comprising:
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sending, from a test processing agent to a local terminal, at least a portion of external instructions for initiating a test sequence on the network-under-test, the test sequence leading to the production of test measurements related to the network-under-test; receiving, in a firmware module of a local test device connectable to the network-under-test via a physical port, the external instructions over a local interface of the local test device connected to the local terminal temporarily co-located with the local test device, wherein the test measurements are related to the network-under-test and unrelated to performance of the local test device, the firmware module cannot initiate the test sequence without the external instructions and cannot process the test measurements into the test results; receiving, at a test processing agent decoupled from the network-under-test, the test measurements following the initiation of the test sequence by the local test device; processing, at the test processing agent, the test measurements into the test results; and allowing access to the test results at the test processing agent. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification