Method and apparatus for testing a subscriber loop-based service
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
InventorJoseph Carbain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network interface device is positioned between a subscriber loop and the internal wiring of a subscriber's premise. Operational and performance data is captured and stored in memory for later use and analysis. Commands issued to the network interface device selectively loop-back transmitted data at either the network or subscriber side of the network interface device and/or selectively engage or disengage one or more of the addressed subscriber and premise loops.
Claims14
A method of monitoring and testing a transmission link between a service provider's point-of-presence (POP) and a subscriber terminating equipment (STE), comprising:
- connecting a network interface device (NID) at a subscriber premise and between a subscriber loop and a premise loop, the NID having a subscriber side and a network side, the subscriber loop being connected to the network side of the NID and the premise loop being connected to the subscriber side of the NID;
- monitoring transmission data passing through the NID and between the subscriber loop and the premise loop;
- generating operational data indicative of the operational status of the transmission link, the transmission link comprising the premise loop and the subscriber loop;
- continuously storing in a first memory within the NID, transmission data and operational data;
- and
- upon a detection of a service failure on the transmission link, storing within a second memory within the NID, the transmission and operational data stored in the first memory.
A method of monitoring and testing a digital subscriber line between a service provider point-of-presence (POP) and a subscriber terminating equipment (STE), comprising:
- connecting a network interface device (NID) at a subscriber premise and between a subscriber loop and a premise loop, the NID having a subscriber side and a network side, the subscriber loop being connected to the network side of the NID and the premise loop being connected to the subscriber side of the NID;
- monitoring a transmission data passing through the NID and between the subscriber loop and the premise loop;
- generating operational data indicative of the operational status of the digital subscriber line, the digital subscriber line comprising the premise loop and the subscriber loop;
- continuously storing in a short-term memory within the NID, transmission data and operational data;
- and
- upon a detection of a service failure on the digital subscriber line, storing within a long-term memory within the NID, the transmission and operational data stored in the short-term memory.
An apparatus for monitoring and testing a digital subscriber line comprising:
- a processor for monitoring transmission data passing through the digital subscriber line and for generating operational data indicative of the operational status of the digital subscriber line, the digital subscriber line comprising a premise loop and a subscriber loop;
- a short-term memory means for continuously storing transmission data and operational data sent to the short-term memory means by the processor;
- a long-term memory means for storing the transmission and operational data upon a detection of a service failure on the digital subscriber line, the short-term memory means and the long-term being under the direct control of the processor;
- a maintenance jack in communication with the processor for connecting a maintenance telephone line to the processor;
- and
- a plurality of subscriber jacks connected to the processor and operative for connecting with the premise loop;
- and
- a plurality of network jacks connected to the processor and to the plurality of subscriber jacks and operative for connecting to the subscriber loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.