SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A TESTING VECTOR AND ASSOCIATED PERFORMANCE MAP

• US 20110010585A1
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bugenhagen, Michael K., Morrill, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for testing line state. Traffic through a communications path is determined. A test vector is generated. Attributes of the test vector simulate the traffic. The test vector is communicated to one or more end devices. Performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector is measured. A performance map utilizing the attributes and the performance information is generated.

Claims

1. A method for testing line state comprising:

determining traffic through a communications path;

generating a test vector, wherein attributes of the test vector simulate the traffic;

communicating the test vector to one or more end devices;

measuring performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector; and

generating a performance map utilizing the attributes and the performance information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the test vector is utilized in a one-way or two-way test.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein cycles of test vectors are separated by a first time period, and wherein the attributes are separated by a second time period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second time period varies between the attributes of the test vector.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second time period is a number of frames.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a plurality of test vectors, wherein the attributes of each of the plurality of test vectors are different.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

modifying one or more of the attributes from the plurality of test vectors in response to determining the performance information for each of the one or more attributes is acceptable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the attributes correspond to one or more quality of service levels, bursting rates, and protocol types.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically reconfiguring the attributes of the test vector in response to changes in the traffic as determined.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

matching frame sizes for the attributes utilizing remote network monitoring (RMON) for the traffic.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance map is generated to include a class of service, protocol type, port, quality of service marking, inter-frame gap, bits per second, and frame label types.

12. A test device for testing a communications path, the system comprising:

a monitor operable to determine traffic through a communications path;

a test engine in communication with the monitor, the test engine being operable to generate a test vector, wherein attributes of the test vector simulate the traffic, the test engine being operable to communicate the test vector to one or more end devices, measure performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector, and generate a performance map utilizing the attributes and the performance information.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

alarm logic in communication with the test engine, the alarm logic being operable to send alarms to one or more recipients in response to determining the performance information exceeds one or more thresholds.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the test engine sends a loopback command to one or more end devices for the test engine to determine the performance information when the performance map is received at the test device.

15. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

an application in communication with the test engine, the application being operable to initiate the test vector across one or more communications paths in order to determine the optimal communication paths for communication, wherein the application configures the test vector based on types of communication utilized by the application.

16. A test device comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed by the processor to;

determine traffic through a communications path,

generate a test vector, wherein attributes of the test vector simulate the traffic,

communicate the test vector to one or more end devices,

measure performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector, and

generate a performance map utilizing the attributes and the performance information.

17. The test device according to claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

send alarms to one or more recipients in response to determining the performance information exceeds one or more thresholds

18. The test device according to claim 16, wherein cycles of test vectors are separated by a first time period, and wherein the attributes are separated by a second time period, the second time period varies between the attributes of the test vector.

19. The test device according to claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

send a plurality of test vectors, wherein the attributes of each of the plurality of test vectors are different, the attributes from the plurality of test vectors being modified in response to determining the performance information for each of the one or more attributes is acceptable.

20. The test device according to claim 16, wherein set of instructions are further executed to:

match frame sizes for the attributes utilizing remote network monitoring (RMON) in response to the traffic.