IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,757,752
Granted Patent B2
US 11,757,752 · App. 17/580,876 · Granted Sep 12, 2023

Diagnostic testing or analysis of elements of network devices

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,757,752
App. No.
17/580,876
Filed
Jan 21, 2022
Granted
Sep 12, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2454
USPC
709/224
Abstract

Extensive resources can be required to stage, clean-and-screen, repair, diagnose, etc. a network device. To reduce the impact on resources, a diagnostic device is used to perform diagnostic testing or analysis of a network device, such as a set top box received at a facility. The diagnostic device connects to the network device via one or more connections to initiate a diagnostic testing and analysis. The network device sends diagnostic data to the diagnostic device which uses this data to generate a diagnostic report and/or sends this data to a network resource. The diagnostic testing or analysis is used to appropriately direct the network device, for example, for repair, redistribution, disposal, or other treatment.

Claims (67)

1. A method of a network device for performing a diagnostic analysis, the method comprising:

authenticating a connection to a diagnostic device, wherein authenticating the connection comprises:

switching from a normal mode to a diagnostic mode; and

indicating to the diagnostic device that the connection is established and the network device is in the diagnostic mode;

loading a diagnostic image from a memory of the network device based on a key sequence or a key from the diagnostic device, wherein the diagnostic image comprises one or more instructions;

executing the one or more instructions, wherein executing the one or more instructions comprises:

performing the diagnostic analysis; and

sending diagnostic data to the diagnostic device, wherein the diagnostic data is based on the diagnostic analysis; and

disconnecting from the diagnostic device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a diagnostics initiation command from the diagnostic device; and

wherein the performing the diagnostic analysis is based on the diagnostics initiation command.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the connection to the diagnostic device comprises:

receiving secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate from the diagnostic device; and

verifying the SSL certificate against a root certificate authority (CA) certificate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic image is downloaded from the diagnostic device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic image is loaded from a programmable memory of the network device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing the diagnostics analysis comprises:

detecting a status of one or more elements of the network device; and

generating the diagnostic data based on the status of the one or more elements.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a program image from the diagnostic device based on the diagnostic data.

8. A network device for performing a diagnostic analysis, comprising:

a memory storing one or more computer-readable instructions;

a processor configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:

authenticate a connection to a diagnostic device, wherein authenticating the connection comprises:

switching from a normal mode to a diagnostic mode; and

indicating to the diagnostic device that the connection is established and the network device is in the diagnostic mode;

load a diagnostic image from a memory of the network device based on a key sequence or a key from the diagnostic device, wherein the diagnostic image comprises one or more instructions;

execute the one or more instructions, wherein executing the one or more instructions comprises:

performing the diagnostic analysis; and

sending diagnostic data to the diagnostic device, wherein the diagnostic data is based on the diagnostic analysis; and

disconnect from the diagnostic device.

9. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:

receive a diagnostics initiation command from the diagnostic device; and

wherein the performing the diagnostic analysis is based on the diagnostics initiation command.

10. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the authenticating the connection to the diagnostic device comprises:

receiving secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate from the diagnostic device; and

verifying the SSL certificate against a root certificate authority (CA) certificate.

11. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the diagnostic image is downloaded from the diagnostic device.

12. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the diagnostic image is loaded from a programmable memory of the network device.

13. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the performing the diagnostics analysis comprises:

detecting a status of one or more elements of the network device; and

generating the diagnostic data based on the status of the one or more elements.

14. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:

receive a production image from the diagnostic device based on the diagnostic data.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a network device storing one or more instructions for performing a diagnostic analysis, which when executed by a processor of the network device, cause the network device to perform one or more operations to:

authenticate a connection to a diagnostic device, wherein authenticating the connection comprises:

switching from a normal mode to a diagnostic mode; and

indicating to the diagnostic device that the connection is established and the network device is in the diagnostic mode;

load a diagnostic image from a memory of the network device based on a key sequence or a key from the diagnostic device, wherein the diagnostic image comprises one or more instructions;

executing the one or more instructions, wherein executing the one or more instructions comprises:

performing the diagnostic analysis; and

sending diagnostic data to the diagnostic device, wherein the diagnostic data is based on the diagnostic analysis; and

disconnect from the diagnostic device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more instructions when further executed by the processor cause the network device to further perform the one or more operations to:

receive a diagnostics initiation command from the diagnostic device; and

wherein the performing the diagnostic analysis is based on the diagnostics initiation command.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the authenticating the connection to the diagnostic device comprises:

receiving secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate from the diagnostic device; and

verifying the SSL certificate against a root certificate authority (CA) certificate.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the diagnostic image is one of downloaded from the diagnostic device or loaded from a programmable memory of the network device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the performing the diagnostics analysis comprises:

detecting a status of one or more elements of the network device; and

generating the diagnostic data based on the status of the one or more elements.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:

receive a production image from the diagnostic device based on the diagnostic data.