Telephonic communications – Diagnostic testing – malfunction indication – or electrical... – Using portable test set
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-21
2003-02-04
Nguyen, Duc (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Diagnostic testing, malfunction indication, or electrical...
Using portable test set
C379S019000, C379S022060, C379S027070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06516053
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunication testing, and more particularly to a portable-computer-based telecommunication test system for testing at least one of several different types of telecommunication service installations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Increased availability of affordable digital communication hardware and software continues to fuel demand for digital data communication service. Such digital communication service may be provided via either telephone lines or wireless communication. For many people who desire to access a computer system remotely, or the Internet, the need to transfer more information in less time has outstripped the capabilities of the “plain old telephone system” (POTS). Telecommunication service technologies capable of meeting such high speed data demands include existing T1/E1 technology as well as newer technologies such as the integrated services digital network (ISDN) and several digital subscriber line technologies (e.g., ADSL, HDSL, SDSL, IDSL) referred to collectively as “xDSL”.
A two-wire “local loop” typically connects a residence to a service provider's switching equipment. T1/E1 service requires two such pairs of wires. ISDN and the xDSL technologies, on the other hand, require only a single two-wire local loop. An existing POTS local loop may be capable of providing ISDN or xDSL service without modification, or may need to be upgraded to provide ISDN or xDSL service.
Testing is used to “qualify” new service installations, and to locate problems arising in existing installations. A typical existing POTS local loop is over two miles long, has over twenty splices and other connections along the way, and is the source of most service-related problems. It is not surprising that telecommunication service technicians concentrate testing efforts on local loops.
Telecommunication service technicians use widely available POTS test sets to verify proper physical connections and voice-grade transmission capabilities. As most local loops carry only analog signals within the frequency range of human speech, telecommunication service technicians will continue to require at least a POTS test set. More sophisticated telecommunication service installations, including T1/E1, ISDN, and xDSL, require more sophisticated testing equipment with capabilities beyond a POTS test set. For example, in addition to verifying proper physical connections, qualifying a new digital service such as ISDN may also require performing a bit error rate test (BERT) to verify that a predetermined sequence of digital one and zeros transmitted through the local loop is received correctly at the residence end of the local loop.
In order to reduce costs and increase technician productivity, telecommunication service providers are increasingly equipping their service technicians with portable computers (e.g., laptop PCs) for field work management, data base access, and system testing and analysis. Portable computers used in POTS testing systems in the prior art have generally been wholly proprietary and without expansion capabilities. For example, Itronix (Spokane, Wash.) offers rugged portable computers which compare, in processing and resources, with most low end laptop computers. Itronix sells a POTS tester that resides in an “oil pan” under the computer and is not sold separately. Other large telecommunication test equipment manufacturers such as TTC (Germantown, Ma.) and Hewlett Packard (Palo Alto, Calif.) have also integrated some PC technology into their field testers. For example, the model T-BERD® 109XC from TTC includes an Itronix rugged portable computer and performs POTS and ISDN testing. Several high-end POTS test sets are also capable of interfacing with a PC via an RS-232 serial communication port.
Existing computer-based telecommunication test products have generally been lacking in upgradeability, expandability, and modularity. It would thus be beneficial to have a portable-computer-based telecommunication test system which may be variably configured to perform testing upon at least one of several different types of telecommunication service installations. Such a telecommunication test system would allow service providers to leverage their portable computer investment with portable-computer-based telecommunication test equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular telecommunication test system is presented including a computer system and a telecommunication test module located external to the computer system. The telecommunication test module may be selected from a group of telecommunication test modules. Each member of the group of telecommunication test modules may be configured to perform a telecommunication test upon a different type of telecommunication service installation. Eligible types of telecommunication service installations may include, for example, POTS, T1/E1, ISDN, and xDSL.
The computer system may weigh less than 10 pounds and include a battery power supply. Each member of the group of telecommunication test modules may weigh less than 5 pounds and include a battery power supply. The variably configured modular telecommunication test system may thus be considered portable. The computer system may store software programs including a telecommunication test application. The telecommunication test application may include software instructions and data for performing a desired telecommunication test (i.e., one or more electrical measurements made upon a telecommunication service installation under test). The telecommunication test module is adapted for coupling to the computer system via a communication port including an electrical connector, and includes electrical circuitry for performing the desired telecommunication test. In order to configure the modular telecommunication test system for performing the desired telecommunication test, a user selects a telecommunication test module and couples the telecommunication test module to the computer system. The user may also select a telecommunication test application software program associated with the telecommunication test module as part of the system configuration procedure.
The telecommunication test module may include electrical circuitry for performing a selected set of telecommunication tests upon a selected type of telecommunication service installation. Accordingly, each member of the group of candidate telecommunication test modules may include electrical circuitry for performing a selected set of telecommunication tests upon a different type of telecommunication service installation.
The telecommunication test module may also include at least one electrical connector for electrically connecting the telecommunication test module to the telecommunication service installation under test. After configuring the telecommunication test system for the desired telecommunication test as described above, the user connects the telecommunication test module to the telecommunication service installation under test using the electrical connector. The telecommunication test system may then be used to perform the telecommunication test.
The computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU) which executes the instructions of the telecommunication test application during use. While executing the telecommunication test application, the computer system may produce one or more commands which are provided to the telecommunication test module. The telecommunication test module performs the telecommunication test in response to the received commands. The telecommunication test module may receive the commands prior to performing the telecommunication test, and may perform the telecommunication test autonomous to the computer system.
While performing the telecommunication test, the telecommunication test module acquires telecommunication test data. The telecommunication test module may provide the telecommunication test data to the computer system during the telecommunication test or following completion of the telecommunication test.
In one embodiment,
Andrade Hugo
Cummings Rodney
Odom B. Keith
Ryan Arthur
Hood Jeffrey C.
National Instruments Corporation
Nguyen Duc
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