Testing jig and method of testing video using testing jig

Claim 2

A testing jig for use in a digital network using one or more transmission protocols to transport source video, through an encoder encoding said source video into a first encoded video data signal using a first transmission protocol, to at least one settop box, said settop box containing a decoder engine and a network interface module for receiving and converting said first encoded video data signal into a second video data signal using a second transmission protocol and forwarding said second video data signal to said decoder engine, said testing jig comprising: an input interface for receiving said first encoded video data signal; a processing circuit for converting said first encoded video data signal into said second video data signal; and an output interface for forwarding said second video data signal to said decoder engine over said network interface module, wherein said testing jig is configured to be of the same physical configuration as said network interface module and wherein said testing jig tests digital video processing in said network by replacing the network interface module in said settop box.

Claim 3

A testing jig as recited in claim 1, wherein said digital network converts said first encoded video data signal into ATM formatted data and transports said ATM formatted data to said network interface module, and wherein said testing jig receives data at said input interface which is not ATM formatted data.

Claim 4

A testing jig as recited in claim 1, wherein said first encoded video data signal is in MPEG2 format and said input interface of said testing jig receives MPEG 2 compliant data.

Claim 5

A testing jig as recited in claim 3, wherein said encoder is a real time encoder.

Claim 6

A testing jig as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said testing jig and said network interface module comprises a printed circuit board.

Claim 7

A testing jig as recited in claim 5, wherein said output interface of said testing jig matches the network interface module.

Claim 8

A testing jig as recited in claim 1, wherein said input interface is interchangeable and receives data having a format different than the format of said first encoded video data signal.

Claim 9

A testing jig as recited in claim 7, wherein said first encoded video data signal comprises ATM formatted data.

Claim 10

A testing jig for testing the compressed digital input into and output from a settop box in a digital network transporting source video, said settop box containing a network interface module for receiving and converting data derived from a first compressed digital video data signal having a first format into a second video data signal having a second format and for forwarding said second video data signal to a decoder engine decoding said second video data signal over a NIM interface, said testing jig comprising: a memory for storing a test sequence of video data of said second format; an output interface for forwarding the video data of said second format to said decoder engine over said interface module; and a processing circuit for controlling the outputting of said stored test sequence of video data of said first format to the output interface as video data of said second format, wherein said testing jig is configured to be of the same physical configuration as said network interface module and wherein said testing jig tests digital video input into or output from said decoder engine by replacing said network interface module.

Claim 11

A testing jig for testing the compressed digital input into and output from a settop box in a digital network transporting source video, said settop box containing a network interface module for receiving and converting data derived from a first compressed digital video data signal having a first format into a second video data signal having a second format and for forwarding said second video data signal to a decoder engine decoding said second video data signal over a NIM interface, said testing jig comprising: a memory for storing a test sequence of video data of said second format; an output interface for forwarding the video data of said second format to said decoder engine over said interface module; and a processing circuit for controlling the outputting of said stored test sequence of video data of said first format to the output interface as video data of said second format, wherein said testing jig is configured to be of the same physical configuration as said network interface module and wherein said testing jig tests digital video input into or output from said decoder engine by replacing said network interface module.

Claim 12

A testing jig as recited in claim 9, wherein said memory comprises a random access memory.

Claim 13

A testing jig as recited in claim 10, wherein said random access memory comprises flash memory.

Claim 14

A testing jig as recited in claim 9, wherein said processing circuit outputs said stored test sequence in response to a channel request signal received from said decoder engine.

Claim 15

A testing jig as recited in claim 9, wherein said processing circuit outputs said stored test sequence in response to a test start signal generated in response to operator selection of a test start button on the testing jig.

Claim 18

A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said network converts said first encoded video data signal into DS-3 ATM formatted data and transports said DS-3 ATM formatted data to said network interface module, and wherein said step of inputting comprises inputting encoded test video data which is not ATM formatted.

Claim 19

A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said first encoded video data signal is in MPEG2 format and said input interface of said testing jig receives MPEG 2 compliant data.

Claim 20

A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step of encoding comprises real time encoding.

Claim 21

A method as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said testing jig and said network interface module is in the form of a printed circuit board.

Claim 22

A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said output interface of said testing jig matches the NIM interface.

Claim 23

A testing jig as recited in claim 14, wherein said input interface is interchangeable and receives data having a format different than the format of said first encoded video data signal.

Claim 24

A testing jig as recited in claim 20, wherein said first encoded video data signal comprises ATM formatted data.

Claim 27

A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said step of storing a test sequence of video data comprises storing said test sequence of video data in random access memory.

Claim 28

A method as recited in claim 23, wherein said step of storing said test sequence of video data in random access memory comprises storing said test sequence of video data in flash memory.

Claim 29

A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said step of controlling the outputting of said stored test sequence of video data comprises outputting said stored test sequence in response to a channel request signal received from said decoder engine.

Claim 30

A testing jig as recited in claim 22, wherein said step of controlling the outputting of said stored test sequence of video data comprises outputting said stored test sequence in response to a test start signal generated in response to operator selection of a test start button on the testing jig.