CABLING CONNECTIVITY MONITORING AND VERIFICATION

• US 20140153918A1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Coming Mobileaccess Limited
• Inventors: Hazani, Ami
• Granted Patent: US 9,647,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/66 Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07 Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25753 Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

Connectivity between components in a system is monitored by applying a low voltage at one end of an RF cable, interpreted as a “0” logical state, and determining whether a similar voltage appears at the other end of the cable. If the cable is connected properly, the DC voltage applied at one end will appear at the other end and a proper indication is generated. If the expected voltage level does not appear at the other side, it means that RF connection was not correctly established and an alert is generated. Test systems for testing connectivity may include a first component comprising at least one port, at least one capacitor, and at least one resistor for providing high impedance. A controller provides a first logic state to the at least one port, scans multiple input ports of the system, and records a link corresponding to the applied first logic state.

Claims

1. A method of testing a system having plurality of components, each component having at least one port, and a plurality of cables connected to one or more ports of the plurality of components, the method comprising:

applying a first logic state to a first port of a first component of the plurality components;

scanning multiple input ports of the plurality components; and

recording a link corresponding to the applied first logic state at the first port of the first component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first logic state is a logic “

0”

state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a second logic state to a second port of a second component of the plurality of components;

scanning multiple ports of the system; and

recording a link corresponding to the applied second logic state at the second port of the second component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of applying, scanning, and recording are performed for each port of each component of the system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components comprises at least a first, a second, and a third component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components comprises radio frequency (RF) components capable of processing RF signals.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of remote units capable of transmitting wireless signals into respective coverage areas of the remote units, and for receiving wireless signals from their respective coverage areas, the remote units being optically connected to at least one of the components.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the remote units are optically connected to at least one of the components by a cable including at least one optical fiber.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of remote units capable of transmitting wireless signals into respective coverage areas of the remote units, and for receiving wireless signals from their respective coverage areas, the remote units being electrically connected to at least one of the components, wherein the remote units are electrically connected to at least one of the components by a cable.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the system to provide wireless services.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ports is an input port.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ports is an output port.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising resetting the first port prior to the applying of the first logic state to the first port.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the link is recorded only if the first logic present state is at a second port of the plurality of components during the scanning step.

15. A test system for testing a communication system having plurality of components, each component having at least one port, and a plurality of cables connected to one or more ports of the plurality of components, the test system comprising:

a first component comprising;

at least one port;

at least one capacitor;

at least one resistor for providing high impedance;

a controller configured to;

provide a first logic state to the at least one port of the first component;

scan multiple input ports of the plurality of components; and

record a link corresponding to the applied first logic state at the first port of the first component.

16. The test system of claim 15, wherein the controller applies a logic “

0”

state.

17. The test system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to:

apply a second logic state to a second port of a second component of the plurality of components;

scan multiple ports of the plurality components; and

record a link corresponding to the applied second logic state at the second port of the second component.

18. The test system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the steps of applying, scanning, and recording for each port of each component of the plurality components.

19. The test system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of components comprises at least a first, a second, and a third component.

20. The test system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of components comprises radio frequency (RF) components capable of processing RF signals.

21. The test system of claim 15, wherein the communication system further comprises:

a plurality of remote units configured to transmit wireless signals into respective coverage areas of the remote units, and configured to receive wireless signals from their respective coverage areas, the remote units being optically connected to at least one of the components.

22. The test system of claim 15, wherein the remote units are optically connected to at least one of the components by a cable including at least one optical fiber.

23. The test system of claim 15, wherein the communication system further comprises:

a plurality of remote units configured to transmit wireless signals into respective coverage areas of the remote units, and configured to receive wireless signals from their respective coverage areas, the remote units being electrically connected to at least one of the components, and wherein the remote units are electrically connected to at least one of the components by a cable.

24. The test system of claim 15, wherein the at least one port is an input port.

25. The test system of claim 15, wherein the at least one port is an output port.

26. The test system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the at least one capacitor and the at least one high impedance resistor ensure that there is little or no impact on RF signals passing through the communication system.

27. The test system of claim 15, wherein the at least one capacitor has a value of about fifty (50) picoFarads (pF).

28. The test system of claim 15, wherein the at least resistor for providing high impedance has a value of ten kiloOhms (10 KOhm).

29. The test system of claim 15, wherein the at least resistor for providing high impedance has a value of one kiloOhm (1 KOhm).