Network diagnostic device

A diagnostic device for a communications network;

• wherein the communications network comprises a customer communications network located at a customer location and connected by a customer communications link to a communications service provider network remote from the customer location;
• wherein the diagnostic device comprises a network monitoring interface arranged to monitor operation of the customer communications network;
• a processor arranged to detect faults in the operation of the customer communications network, a storage for storing records of detected faults;
• wherein the processor is arranged to store records of detected faults in the storage and to generate a report on a detected fault based on the stored records;
• wherein the diagnostic device is arranged to be co-located with the customer communications network and further comprises:
• a first communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via the customer communications link, the report generated on the detected fault;
• and
• a second communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via a second communications link other than the customer communications link, the report generated on the detected fault;
• wherein the first communications interface and/or the second communications interface is arranged to send to the communications service provider network a prompt to initiate testing from the communications service provider network of the customer communications network and/or the customer communications link.

A method for diagnosing a fault in a communications network;

• in which the communications network comprises a customer communications network located at a customer location and connected by a customer communications link to a communications service provider network remote from the customer location;
• in which the method comprises, at a diagnostic device co-located with the customer communications network and comprising a first communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via the customer communications link, information on detected faults, and a second communications interface arranged to send automatically to the communications service provider network via a second communications link other than the customer communications link, information on detected faults:
• monitoring the customer communications network;
• detecting faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• generating fault reports comprising information on the detected faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• and
• sending the fault reports to the communications service provider network via one of:
• (i) the customer communications link using the first communications interface of the diagnostic device and (ii) the second communications link other than the customer communications link automatically using the second communications interface of the diagnostic device.

A computer program product comprising computer program code to, when loaded into a computer system and executed thereon, cause the computer system to perform the steps of a method for diagnosing a fault in a communications network;

• in which the communications network comprises a customer communications network located at a customer location and connected by a customer communications link to a communications service provider network remote from the customer location;
• in which the method comprises, at a diagnostic device co-located with the customer communications network and comprising a first communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via the customer communications link, information on detected faults, and a second communications interface arranged to send automatically to the communications service provider network via a second communications link other than the customer communications link, information on detected faults:
• monitoring the customer communications network;
• detecting faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• generating fault reports comprising information on the detected faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• and
• sending the fault reports to the communications service provider network via one of:
• (i) the customer communications link using the first communications interface of the diagnostic device and (ii) a second communications link other than the customer communications link using automatically the second communications interface of the diagnostic device.

A method for diagnosing a fault in a communications network:

• in which the communications network comprises a customer communications network located at a customer location and connected by a customer communications link to a communications service provider network remote from the customer location;
• in which the method comprises, at a diagnostic device co-located with the customer communications network and comprising a first communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via the customer communications link, information on detected faults, and a second communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via a second communications link other than the customer communications link, information on detected faults;
• monitoring the customer communications network;
• detecting faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• generating fault reports comprising information on the detected faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• and
• sending the fault reports to the communications service provider network via one of:
• (i) the customer communications link using the first communications interface of the diagnostic device and (ii) the second communications link other than the customer communications link using the second communications interface of the diagnostic device;
• wherein the first communications interface and/or the second communications is arranged to send to the communications service provider network a prompt to initiate testing from the communications service provider network of the customer communications network and/or the customer communications link.

A computer program product comprising computer program code to, when loaded into a computer system and executed thereon, cause the computer system to perform the steps of a method for diagnosing a fault in a communications network;

• in which the communications network comprises a customer communications network located at a customer location and connected by a customer communications link to a communications service provider network remote from the customer location;
• in which the method comprises, at a diagnostic device co-located with the customer communications network and comprising a first communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via the customer communications link, information on detected faults, and a second communications interface arranged to send to the communications service provider network via a second communications link other than the customer communications link, information on detected faults;
• monitoring the customer communications network;
• detecting faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• generating fault reports comprising information on the detected faults in the operation of the customer communications network;
• and
• sending the fault reports to the communications service provider network via one of:
• (i) the customer communications link using the first communications interface of the diagnostic device and (ii) a second communications link other than the customer communications link using the second communications interface of the diagnostic device;
• wherein the first communications interface and/or the second communications is arranged to send to the communications service provider network a prompt to initiate testing from the communications service provider network of the customer communications network and/or the customer communications link.