Method and system for testing network connections

A test apparatus for testing network connections comprising:

• a first interface for connecting to a node situated along a pathway between the Internet and a subscriber device;
• a second interface for connecting to a remote computing apparatus;
• and,
• a test head between said interfaces and operable to generate at least one network connection test over at least a portion of said pathway, said test head further operable to generate said at least one connection test based on instructions received from said computing apparatus via said second interface, said test head further operable to return results of said at least one network connection test to said computing apparatus via said second interface.

A computer readable media storing a plurality of programming instructions for execution on a computer-based test apparatus for testing network connections that is connectable to a computing apparatus via an interface;

• said instructions for rendering said test apparatus connectable to a node situated along a pathway between a data network and a subscriber device via remote instructions received by said test apparatus;
• said programming instructions rendering said test apparatus operable to generate at least one network connection test over at least a portion of said pathway;
• said programming instructions further rendering said test apparatus operable to generate said at least one connection test based on instructions received from said computing apparatus;
• said programming instructions rendering said test apparatus further operable to return results of said at least one network connection test to said computing apparatus.

A system for testing network connections comprising:

• a node for connection to a data network;
• a subscriber device connected to said node and for communicating with said data network via said node;
• a test apparatus remotely connectable to said node and for performing at least one network connection test along at least a portion of a pathway between said node and said data network or said node and said subscriber device;
• and,
• a computing apparatus connected to said test apparatus and said node for instructing said test apparatus to perform said test and for receiving results thereof from said test apparatus.

A method for testing a network connection comprising the steps of:

• receiving a remote instruction to perform at least one network connection test over at least a portion of a pathway between a data network and a subscriber device having a node therebetween;
• based on said instruction, generating said at least one network connection test over said at least a portion of said pathway;
• and,
• outputting results of said at least one network connection test.

A method for testing a connection comprising the steps of:

• issuing a first instruction to cause introduction of a test apparatus to a node situated along a pathway between a data network and a subscriber device;
• issuing a second instruction to said test apparatus to perform at least one network connection test over at least a portion of said pathway;
• and,
• receiving results of said at least one network connection test that are generated by said test apparatus.