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US5732213A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System and method of testing open systems interconnection (OSI) layers in telecommunication networks

Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1996-03-22
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Granted: 1998-03-24
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Expires: 2016-03-22
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Abstract

Abstract A development test system and method for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a communications protocol utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network. The system comprises a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of the communications protocol, a local area network (LAN) connected to the protocol simulator with a first Internet socket interface which replaces OSI layers 1 and 2 of the simulated communications protocol, and a target telecommunication node connected to the LAN with a second Internet socket interface and performing operations with blocks of application software to validate the use of the communications protocol with the target telecommunication node. A protocol interface gateway (PIG-tool) is connected to the LAN with a third Internet socket interface, and serves as a gateway to a target telecommunication system emulator. The target telecommunication system emulator emulates a target telecommunication node and performs operations by executing the code of the application software utilized in the target telecommunication node. The operations validate the use of the communications protocol with the target telecommunication node software without having to utilize the target node hardware.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert J. Gessel
  • 👤 Kevin Autrey
  • 👤 William C. Swetman
  • 👤 Jay Baker

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 17:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L43/00; H04L43/50; H04L69/03; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q11/045; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1305; H04Q2213/1316; H04Q2213/13175; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/13335; H04Q2213/13389; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/901; Y10S370/912

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
A development test system for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a communications protocol utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said system comprising: a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of said communications protocol; a local area network (LAN) connected to said protocol simulator with a first Internet socket interface, said first Internet socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said simulated communications protocol; and a target telecommunication node connected to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface and performing operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of said communications protocol with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 111 words
A development test system for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a communications protocol utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said system comprising: a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of said communications protocol; a local area network (LAN) connected to said protocol simulator with a first Internet socket interface, said first Internet socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said simulated communications protocol; and a target telecommunication node connected to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface and performing operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of said communications protocol with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The development test system of claim 1 further comprising a UNIX adaptor for connecting said target telecommunication node to said second Internet socket interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The development test system of claim 1 further comprising a physical interface for directly connecting said target telecommunication node to said protocol simulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 68 words
The development test system of claim 1 further comprising: a protocol interface gateway connected to said LAN with a third Internet socket interface; and an emulator that emulates a target telecommunication node, said emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway and performing operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of said communications protocol with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The development test system of claim 4 wherein said protocol interface gateway includes: means for receiving signals formatted in accordance with said communications protocol; and means for converting said received signals into instructions for said emulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The development test system of claim 5 wherein said protocol simulator includes means for selecting whether to test said communications protocol with said target telecommunications node or said emulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 130 words
A development test system for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said system comprising: a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of said plurality of communications protocols; a local area network (LAN) connected to said protocol simulator with a plurality of Internet socket interfaces, each of said plurality of Internet socket interfaces replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of a different one of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; and a target telecommunication node connected to said LAN with a target node Internet socket interface, and performing operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 130 words
A development test system for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said system comprising: a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of said plurality of communications protocols; a local area network (LAN) connected to said protocol simulator with a plurality of Internet socket interfaces, each of said plurality of Internet socket interfaces replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of a different one of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; and a target telecommunication node connected to said LAN with a target node Internet socket interface, and performing operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
The development test system of claim 7 further comprising a UNIX adaptor for connecting said target telecommunication node to said target node Internet socket interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The development test system of claim 7 further comprising a physical interface for directly connecting said target telecommunication node to said protocol simulator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 72 words
The development test system of claim 7 further comprising: a protocol interface gateway connected to said LAN with a gateway Internet socket interface; and an emulator that emulates a target telecommunication node, said emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway and performing operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 40 words
The development test system of claim 10 wherein said protocol interface gateway includes: means for receiving signals formatted in accordance with each of said plurality of communications protocols; and means for converting said received signals into instructions for said emulator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
The development test system of claim 11 wherein said protocol simulator includes means for selecting whether to test each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunications node or said emulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 146 words
A development test system for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between a plurality of nodes in a telecommunications network, said system comprising: a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols; a local area network (LAN) connected to said protocol simulator with a first Internet socket interface, said first Interact socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; a protocol interface gateway connected to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface; and an emulator that emulates a target telecommunication node, said emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway and performing operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 146 words
A development test system for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between a plurality of nodes in a telecommunications network, said system comprising: a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols; a local area network (LAN) connected to said protocol simulator with a first Internet socket interface, said first Interact socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; a protocol interface gateway connected to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface; and an emulator that emulates a target telecommunication node, said emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway and performing operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 40 words
The development test system of claim 13 wherein said protocol interface gateway includes: means for receiving signals formatted in accordance with each of said plurality of communications protocols; and means for converting said received signals into instructions for said emulator.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 117 words
A method of development testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a communications protocol utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: simulating OSI layers 3 through 7 of said communications protocol with a protocol simulator; connecting said protocol simulator to a local area network (LAN) with a first Internet socket interface, said first Internet socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said simulated communications protocol; connecting a target telecommunication node to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface; and performing, in said target telecommunication node, operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of said communications protocol with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 117 words
A method of development testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a communications protocol utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: simulating OSI layers 3 through 7 of said communications protocol with a protocol simulator; connecting said protocol simulator to a local area network (LAN) with a first Internet socket interface, said first Internet socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said simulated communications protocol; connecting a target telecommunication node to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface; and performing, in said target telecommunication node, operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of said communications protocol with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of development testing of claim 15 further comprising the step of connecting said target telecommunication node to said second Internet socket interface with a UNIX adaptor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of development testing of claim 15 further comprising the step of directly connecting said target telecommunication node to said protocol simulator with a physical interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 72 words
The method of development testing of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: connecting a protocol interface gateway to said LAN with a third Interact socket interface; emulating a target telecommunication node with an emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway; and performing, in said emulator, operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of said communications protocol with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of development testing of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: receiving, in said protocol interface gateway, signals formatted in accordance with said communications protocol; and converting said received signals into instructions for said emulator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of development testing of claim 19 further comprising the step of selecting whether to test said communications protocol with said target telecommunications node or said emulator.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 136 words
A method of development testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: simulating OSI layers 3 through 7 of said plurality of communications protocols with a protocol simulator; connecting said protocol simulator to a local area network (LAN) with a plurality of Internet socket interfaces, each of said plurality of Internet socket interfaces replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of a different one of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; connecting a target telecommunication node to said LAN with a target node Internet socket interface; and performing, in said target telecommunication node, operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 136 words
A method of development testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: simulating OSI layers 3 through 7 of said plurality of communications protocols with a protocol simulator; connecting said protocol simulator to a local area network (LAN) with a plurality of Internet socket interfaces, each of said plurality of Internet socket interfaces replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of a different one of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; connecting a target telecommunication node to said LAN with a target node Internet socket interface; and performing, in said target telecommunication node, operations with blocks of application software, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of development testing of claim 21 further comprising the step of connecting said target telecommunication node to said target node Interact socket interface with a UNIX adaptor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of development testing of claim 21 further comprising the step of directly connecting said target telecommunication node to said protocol simulator with a physical interface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 76 words
The method of development testing of claim 21 further comprising the steps of: connecting a protocol interface gateway to said LAN with a gateway Internet socket interface; emulating a target telecommunication node with an emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway; and performing, in said emulator, operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of development testing of claim 24 further comprising the steps of: receiving, in said protocol interface gateway, signals formatted in accordance with each of said plurality of communications protocols; and converting said received signals into instructions for said emulator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of development testing of claim 25 further comprising the step of selecting whether to test each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunications node or said emulator.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 148 words
A method of development testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between a plurality of nodes in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: simulating OSI layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols with a protocol simulator; connecting said protocol simulator to a local area network (LAN) with a first Interact socket interface, said first Internet socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; connecting a protocol interface gateway to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface; emulating a target telecommunication node with an emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway; and performing, in said emulator, operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 148 words
A method of development testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols utilized between a plurality of nodes in a telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: simulating OSI layers 3 through 7 of a plurality of communications protocols with a protocol simulator; connecting said protocol simulator to a local area network (LAN) with a first Interact socket interface, said first Internet socket interface replacing OSI layers 1 and 2 of said plurality of simulated communications protocols; connecting a protocol interface gateway to said LAN with a second Internet socket interface; emulating a target telecommunication node with an emulator connected to said protocol interface gateway; and performing, in said emulator, operations with blocks of application software utilized in said target telecommunication node, said operations validating the use of each of said plurality of communications protocols with said target telecommunication node.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of development testing of claim 27 further comprising the steps of: receiving, in said protocol interface gateway, signals formatted in accordance with each of said plurality of communications protocols; and converting said received signals into instructions for said emulator.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-03-23 2001-09-22 2002-03-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-03-23 2005-09-22 2006-03-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-03-23 2009-09-22 2010-03-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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