System and method for subscriber loop testing
View Patent ↗A method for testing subscriber loop conditions includes receiving test signal data from a test signal provider, receiving a request for transmitting a test signal described by the test signal data, and transmitting the test signal over a communication channel. The test signal may correspond to a pre-qualification test signal, a qualification test signal, or an in-service test signal. Test results may be transmitted to the test signal provider or to some other designated recipient.
1. A method for testing a subscriber loop, comprising the steps of:
receiving an arbitrary test signal description from a remote location;
storing the arbitrary test signal description;
receiving a request for transmitting a test signal corresponding to the received test signal; and
responsive to receiving the request, transmitting the test signal over the subscriber loop;
wherein the test signal is configured to enable testing at least one characteristic of the subscriber loop.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein equipment operated by at least one of a loop testing service provider, a craft tester, a loop test vendor, or a network management system (NMS) transmits the request.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the description describes an arbitrary test signal not already known to the recipient of the description.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the description includes parameters characterizing the test signal.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the description includes one or more of desired frequency domain characteristics, time domain characteristics, duration, and power level.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
generating a test signal based on the received description; and
responsive to the received transmit request, transmitting the generated test signal.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
after transmitting the test signal, receiving a test signal response; and
transmitting to a designated recipient, over a data network, a test result describing the test signal response,
wherein the designated recipient is indicated in the request for transmitting the test signal.
8. A central data transceiver unit (DTU-C) comprising:
means for receiving at least one arbitrary test signal description from at least one remotely located test signal provider (TSP);
means for storing the at least one test signal description;
means for transmitting at least one test signal corresponding to the received test description along a communication channel; and
means for receiving a response signal from the communication channel.
9. The DTU-C of claim 8 , wherein the at least one test signal is used in a pre-qualification test.
10. The DTU-C of claim 8 , wherein the transmitting means transmits the at least one test signal along the communication channel to a remote data transceiver unit (DTU-R).
11. The DTU-C of claim 10 , wherein the at least one test signal is used in a test selected from a group of tests consisting of a qualification test and an in-service test.
12. The DTU-C of claim 8 , further comprising:
means for storing the response signal; and
means for transmitting the response signal to a designated recipient.
13. The DTU-C of claim 12 , wherein the designated recipient is the TSP.
14. The DTU-C of claim 12 , wherein the means for transmitting the response signal transmits the response signal in a format that can be stored for future evaluation.
15. The DTU-C of claim 8 , wherein the means for receiving a response signal receives a plurality of test signals from a plurality of test signal providers.
16. The DTU-C of claim 8 , wherein the at least one test signal is communicated in a parameter format in which the test signal is characterized so that the entire test signal itself need not be communicated.
17. A method for testing a subscriber loop, comprising the steps of:
receiving, from a remote location over a data network, an arbitrary test signal configured to enable testing at least one characteristic of the subscriber loop;
storing the received arbitrary test signal;
receiving, over the data network, a request for transmitting the test signal; and
responsive to receiving the request, transmitting the test signal over the subscriber loop.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
after transmitting the test signal, receiving a test signal response; and
transmitting to a designated recipient, over the data network, a test result describing the test signal response,
wherein the designated recipient is indicated in the request for transmitting the test signal.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the designated recipient is other than the sender of the request for transmitting the test signal.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the test result further describes the transmitted test signal.