Handheld subscriber line test equipment
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsJames M. Wahl, Robert J. Medros
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A handheld test device includes a keypad having keys associated with tests that can be performed on a subscriber line. The keys are arranged in rows to correspond intuitively with networking layers of the subscriber line and with an order in which to test those layers. Keys of a first row are associated with testing at a physical layer, of a second row with testing at a DSL layer, and of a third row with testing at a service layer. The test device is connected to the subscriber line at a location between CO and CPE, and powered on. In response to being powered on, without technician involvement, the test device automatically detects at least one of CO equipment and CPE on the subscriber line, and trains the test device with the detected equipment.
Claims26
A handheld test device, comprising:
- a keypad having a plurality of keys associated with tests that can be performed on a subscriber line, the plurality of keys being physically arranged in rows on the keypad to correspond intuitively with hierarchical networking layers of the subscriber line and with an order in which testing of the networking layers of the subscriber line should occur, wherein
- a first row of the keypad has keys associated with testing at a physical layer,
- a second row of the keypad is disposed below the first row of the keypad and has keys associated with testing at a DSL layer, and
- a third row of the keypad is disposed below the second row of the keypad and has keys associated with testing at a service layer.
A method for testing a subscriber line with a handheld test device, comprising:
- connecting the handheld test device to the subscriber line at a location between a central office (CO) equipment and a customer premises equipment (CPE);
- powering on the handheld test device;
- automatically detecting at least one of the CO equipment or the CPE on the subscriber line in response to powering on the handheld test device and without involving technician interaction with the handheld test device;
- training the handheld test device with a detected equipment automatically in response to the detecting of at least one of the CO equipment or the CPE, the training including training and synchronizing to a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) when the CO equipment is detected, and training and synchronizing to a modem when the CPE is detected;
- and
- determining whether to emulate the CPE or the DSLAM in response to detecting the CO equipment or the CPE.
A non-transitory computer program product for testing a subscriber line with a handheld test device, the computer program product comprising:
- a computer readable persistent storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
- computer readable program code that, when executed with circuitry, automatically detects, without technician involvement, at least one of a central office (CO) equipment or a customer premises equipment (CPE) on the subscriber line in response to powering on the handheld test device;
- computer readable program code that, when executed with the circuitry, trains in accordance with a detected equipment automatically in response to detecting at least one of the CO equipment or the CPE, wherein when the CO equipment is detected, the handheld test device is trained and synchronized to a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), and when the CPE is detected, the handheld test device is trained and synchronized to a modem;
- and
- computer readable program code that, when executed with the circuitry, determines whether to emulate the CPE or the DSLAM in response to detecting the CO equipment or the CPE.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.