US5835566A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing in-band and out-of-band testing of telecommunications network components
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-03-29
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Granted: 1998-11-10
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Expires: 2016-03-29
Abstract
Abstract For use in a telecommunications network containing a component to be tested ("UUT"), a system for, and method of, providing in-band and out-of-band signals to test and analyze the UUT. The system includes: (1) a programmable switch coupled to the UUT through the telecommunications network via an in-band and out-of-band signaling path capable of providing in-band and out-of-band signaling to the UUT and (2) a host controller coupled to the switch for communication of data therebetween, the host controller further couplable to the UUT via an out-of-band signaling path capable of providing out-of-band signaling to the UUT, the host controller capable of storing and executing a sequence of instructions to test the UUT via at least one of the in-band and out-of-band signaling paths, the switch being programmable and the sequence of instructions being adaptable to allow the switch and the host controller to adapt to a particular signaling protocol of the UUT.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Cowgill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2254
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for providing in-band and out-of-band signals to test a component to be tested (UUT) in a telecommunications network, comprising: a programmable switch coupled to said UUT through said telecommunications network via an in-band and out-of-band signaling path configured to provide in-band and out-of-band signaling to said UUT; and a host controller coupled to said switch for communication of data therebetween, said host controller further couplable to said UUT via an out-of-band signaling path configured to provide out-of-band signaling to said UUT, said host controller capable of storing and executing a sequence of instructions to test said UUT via at least one of said in-band and out-of-band signaling paths, said switch being programmable and said sequence of instructions being adaptable to allow said switch and said host controller to adapt to a particular signaling protocol of said UUT.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for providing in-band and out-of-band signals to test a component to be tested (UUT) in a telecommunications network, comprising: a programmable switch coupled to said UUT through said telecommunications network via an in-band and out-of-band signaling path configured to provide in-band and out-of-band signaling to said UUT; and a host controller coupled to said switch for communication of data therebetween, said host controller further couplable to said UUT via an out-of-band signaling path configured to provide out-of-band signaling to said UUT, said host controller capable of storing and executing a sequence of instructions to test said UUT via at least one of said in-band and out-of-band signaling paths, said switch being programmable and said sequence of instructions being adaptable to allow said switch and said host controller to adapt to a particular signaling protocol of said UUT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sequence of instructions is hierarchically structured as a test suite comprising a test case, said test case comprising a test logic program (TLP), said TLP comprising a test independent building block (TIBB).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said host controller comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to manipulate symbols presented on said GUI to define said sequence of instructions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said GUI provides fields for said user to enter data pertaining to a test.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said GUI presents a series of test results to said user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch is embodied as a plurality of modules, thereby allowing said switch to adapt to said telecommunications network and said UUT.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said host controller is capable of receiving result data from said UUT via said switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said particular signaling protocol is an out-of-band signaling protocol selected from the group consisting of: D-channel Signaling of an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and Signaling System 7 (SS7).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said particular signaling protocol is an in-band signaling protocol selected from the group consisting of: Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF), and Multi-Frequency R1 (MFR1).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said host controller comprises circuitry for scheduling an execution time for said sequence of instructions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said host controller comprises a user interface for allowing a user to define a sequence of instructions and expected results, said host controller compiling a series of tests results and validating said test results, said host controller further generating a report reflecting said test results.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of providing in-band and out-of-band signals to test a component to be tested (UUT) in a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: coupling a programmable switch to said UUT through said telecommunications network to establish a signaling path configured to provide in-band and out-of-band signaling to said UUT; and coupling a host controller to said switch for communication of data therebetween, said host controller further couplable to said UUT to establish an out-of-band signaling path configured to provide out-of-band signaling to said UUT, said host controller capable of storing and executing a sequence of instructions to test said UUT via at least one of said in-band and out-of-band signaling paths, said switch being programmable and said sequence of instructions being adaptable to allow said switch and said host controller to adapt to a particular signaling protocol of said UUT.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of providing in-band and out-of-band signals to test a component to be tested (UUT) in a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of: coupling a programmable switch to said UUT through said telecommunications network to establish a signaling path configured to provide in-band and out-of-band signaling to said UUT; and coupling a host controller to said switch for communication of data therebetween, said host controller further couplable to said UUT to establish an out-of-band signaling path configured to provide out-of-band signaling to said UUT, said host controller capable of storing and executing a sequence of instructions to test said UUT via at least one of said in-band and out-of-band signaling paths, said switch being programmable and said sequence of instructions being adaptable to allow said switch and said host controller to adapt to a particular signaling protocol of said UUT.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said sequence of instructions is hierarchically structured as a test suite comprising a test case, said test case comprising a test logic program (TLP), said TLP comprising a test independent building block (TIBB).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of coupling said host controller comprises the step of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to manipulate symbols presented on said GUI to define said sequence of instructions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of coupling said host controller comprises the step of providing fields for said user to enter data pertaining to a test via said GUI.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of coupling said host controller comprises the step of presenting a series of test results to said user via said GUI.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said switch is embodied as a plurality of modules, said method further comprising the step of allowing said switch to adapt to said telecommunications network and said UUT.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of receiving result data from said UUT into said host controller via said switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said particular signaling protocol is an out-of-band signaling protocol selected from the group consisting of: D-channel Signaling of an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and Signaling System 7 (SS7).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said particular signaling protocol is an in-band signaling protocol selected from the group consisting of: Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF), and Multi-Frequency R1 (MFR1).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of scheduling an execution time for said sequence of instructions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of coupling said host controller further comprises the steps of: providing a user interface for allowing a user to define a sequence of instructions and expected results; compiling a series of tests results; validating said test results, and generating a report reflecting said test results.
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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) | 2001-11-09 | 2002-05-11 | 2002-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-05-11 | 2006-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-09 | 2010-05-11 | 2010-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |