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US 8,472,327 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for testing and fault isolation in a communication network
AssigneeVerizon Business Global LLC
InventorsNick DelRegno, Scott R. Kotrla, David E. McDysan, Michael U. Bencheck, Matthew W. Turlington, Ross S. Hardin, Richard C. Schell, Howard Chiu, William Drake
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for performing automated testing and trouble isolation of a communications link in an access network is described. Communications link testing may occur without taking the communications link out of service for the duration of the test.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- initiating a data link layer loopback test to transmit a loopback test frame for processing by a demarcation device that is configured to identify the loopback test frame and to generate a return test pattern data flow, the test pattern data flow having at least one test frame and carried concurrently with and over the same link as at least one customer data flow;
- and
- receiving test result data associated with the return test pattern data flow.
An apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
- initiate a data link layer loopback test to transmit a loopback test frame for processing by a demarcation device that is configured to identify the loopback test frame and to generate a return test pattern data flow, the test pattern data flow having at least one test frame and carried concurrently with and over the same link as at least one customer data flow and
- receive test result data associated with the return test pattern data flow.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a command to initiate a data link layer loopback test;
- generating a loopback test frame in response to the command;
- initiating transmission of the loopback test frame onto a communication link that carries a customer data flow to a demarcation device that is configured to identify the loopback test frame and to generate a return test pattern data flow, the test pattern data flow having at least one test frame and carried concurrently with and over the same communication link as the customer data flow;
- receiving the return test pattern data flow from the demarcation device;
- and
- analyzing the return test pattern data flow to output test result data.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- detecting either completion of a provisioning event, a network error, or a network maintenance event;
- and
- generating, in response to the detection, a command for transmission to an access device configured to instruct a testing apparatus to output a test signal, according to a time domain reflectometry test, over a communication link to a demarcation device, wherein the test signal is carried concurrently with and over the same communication link as at least one customer data flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.