Continuity testing in communication networks
AssigneeSprint Communications Company L.P.
InventorsChaoxin Charles Qiu, Shannon P. Silvus, Michael J. Gettles, William Douskalis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communication hub for providing continuity testing in communication networks. The communication hub comprises a processor coupled to an interface. The processor is configured to process a continuity test instruction to generate a request for continuity acknowledgment message. The interface is configured to receive the continuity test instruction and transmit the request for continuity acknowledgment message.
Claims36
A communication hub configured to test for continuity on a channel of a packet network, the communication hub comprising:
- a processor configured to process a continuity test instruction to generate a request for continuity acknowledgment message, and
- process a continuity acknowledgment message to generate a continuity confirmation message identifying continuity on the channel of the packet network if the continuity acknowledgment message is received;
- and
- an interface coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the request for continuity acknowledgment message over the channel in the packet network, receive the continuity test instruction, and receive the continuity acknowledgment message over the channel in the packet network.
A method of operating a communication hub to test continuity on a channel of a packet network, the method comprising:
- receiving a continuity test instruction;
- processing the continuity test instruction to generate a request for continuity acknowledgment message;
- transmitting the request for continuity acknowledgment message over the channel of the packet network;
- generating a continuity confirmation message identifying continuity on the channel of the packet network if a continuity acknowledgment message is received over the channel of the packet network in response to the request for continuity acknowledgment message;
- and
- transmitting the continuity confirmation message.
A communication system for testing continuity on a channel of a packet network, the communication system comprising:
- a first communication hub connected to the packet network;
- and
- a second communication hub connected to the packet network;
- wherein the packet network is configured to provide a continuity test instruction to the second communication hub;
- wherein the second communication hub is configured to process the continuity test instruction to generate a request for continuity acknowledgment message, provide the request for continuity acknowledgment message to the first communication hub over the channel of the packet network;
- wherein the first communication hub is configured to process the request for continuity acknowledgement message and provide a continuity acknowledgement message over the channel of the packet network to the second communication hub.
A method of operating a communication system to test continuity on a channel of a packet network, wherein the communication system comprises a first communication hub and a second communication hub, the method comprising:
- receiving a continuity test instruction in the second communication hub;
- processing the continuity test instruction in the second communication hub to provide a request for continuity acknowledgment message to the first communication hub over the channel of the packet network;
- and
- processing the request for continuity acknowledgment message in the first communication hub to provide a continuity acknowledgment message to the second communication hub over the channel of the packet network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.