Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) testing
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for testing a VoIP telephone line are provided, the method including determining which of a plurality of VoIP call control protocols and/or CODECs is compatible with the telephone line, and conducting a series of tests on the telephone line in accordance therewith. The method and apparatus also includes steps and the means to connect to a network and capturing a stream of data therefrom to determine configuration settings of a VoIP telephone connected thereto to facilitate the previous testing.
1. A portable test device for testing a VoIP telephone line on a VoIP network, the device comprising:
a master control unit;
a graphical display unit in signal communication with the master control unit;
a user interface unit in signal communication with the master control unit;
a CODEC unit in signal communication with the master control unit; and
a coupler in signal communication with the master control unit,
a detector for determining which VoIP protocol is compatible with a VoIP telephone line;
wherein the detector comprises a registration unit for issuing a registration message attempting to register with a call manager in the VoIP network with a registration signal compatible with a first VoIP protocol, and receiving a return signal from the call manager indicative of when the first VoIP protocol is compatible with the telephone line; and
wherein the registration unit is for issuing a second registration message attempting to register with a call manager in the VoIP network with a registration signal compatible with a second VoIP protocol, and receiving a return signal from the call manager indicative of when the second VoIP protocol is compatible with the telephone line;
wherein the portable test device is configured to implement a suite of tests that run automatically from the test device, and to provide results responsive to the tests indicative of which call control protocols and CODECs are supported by the VoIP network.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is disposed for connecting the portable test device to a network access point;
wherein the master control unit is disposed for running an information gathering software program on the VoIP network requesting information from a user one or more of IP address of call manager, IP address of gatekeeper, line call control, line CODEC, line password, and line port number, and for automatically running a series of test programs using a plurality of different call controls;
wherein the CODEC unit is disposed for automatically making telephone calls on the network using the plurality of different call controls; and
wherein the user interface is disposed for displaying a report on the VoIP network and results of the test programs.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the number of CODECs detectable by the device is greater than the number of CODECs implemented in the device.
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of test programs for detecting different vendor call controls and a plurality of CODECs for making test calls.
5. A portable test device for testing a VoIP telephone line on a VoIP network, the device comprising:
a master control unit;
a graphical display unit in signal communication with the master control unit;
a user interface unit in signal communication with the master control unit;
a CODEC unit in signal communication with the master control unit; and
a coupler in signal communication with the master control unit,
wherein the master control unit comprises a registration portion for sending registration messages, including CODEC identifications for a plurality of CODECs, to a call manager in the VoIP network, and receiving response signals from the call manager indicative of when the CODECs corresponding to the CODEC identifications are compatible, thereby eliminating a need to place a VoIP telephone call using the CODEC;
wherein the portable test device is configured to implement a suite of tests that run automatically from the test device, and to provide results responsive to the tests indicative of which call control protocols and CODECs are supported by the VoIP network.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a CODEC tester for determining which CODECs are compatible with the telephone line.
7. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a detector for determining which VoIP protocol is compatible with a VoIP telephone line;
wherein the detector comprises a registration unit for issuing a registration message attempting to register with a call manager in the VoIP network with a registration signal compatible with a first VoIP protocol, and receiving a return signal from the call manager indicative of whether the first VoIP protocol is compatible with the telephone line.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the registration unit is for issuing a second registration message attempting to register with a call manager in the VoIP network with a registration signal compatible with a second VoIP protocol, and receiving a return signal from the call manager indicative of when the second VoIP protocol is compatible with the telephone line.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the master control unit comprises a registration portion for sending registration messages, including CODEC identifications for a plurality of CODECs, to a call manager in the VoIP network, and receiving response signals from the call manager indicative of whether the CODECs corresponding to the CODEC identifications are compatible, thereby eliminating a need to place a VoIP telephone call using the CODEC.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the master control unit comprises a metrics portion for determining at least one of jitter, loss or delay for a voice transmission over the VoIP network.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the metrics portion comprises:
a ping signal generator;
a mixer operable to mix the generated ping signal and a voice stream signal to produce a mixed voice stream signal for transmission through the network to a destination device;
a signal detector operable to receive a mixed voice stream signal from the destination device and detect a return ping signal contained in the received mixed voice stream signal; and
a processor coupled to the signal detector and operable to determine the voice transmission delay between the test device and the destination device upon detection of the return ping signal by the signal detector based on the time of transmitting the ping signal and the time of detecting the return ping signal.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the master control unit has registration capabilities for a plurality of call control protocols selected from the group comprising H.323, SIP, MGCP and SCCP.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the CODEC unit has CODECs for at least one CODEC selected from the group comprising G.711A, G.711U, G.723, G.723.2, G.726, G.729A, GSM, H.261 and H.263.
14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
communication connector for connecting the portable test device in signal communication with the VoIP network;
traffic generator for generating two-way traffic between a VoIP telephone and the VoIP network;
a capture device for at least one of monitoring or capturing the generated traffic;
an analyzer for analyzing the monitored or captured traffic to determine the configuration settings of the VoIP telephone;
a switch for at least one of disconnecting or disabling the VoIP telephone; and
a tester for emulating the VoIP telephone to conduct tests on the VoIP telephone line.
15. The device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a detector for determining which VoIP protocol is compatible with a VoIP telephone line; and
a test section for conducting a series of tests on the telephone line in accordance with a detected protocol.
16. The device of claim 5 , wherein the coupler is disposed for connecting the portable test device to a network access point;
wherein the master control unit is disposed for running an information gathering software program on the VoIP network requesting information from a user one or more of IP address of call manager, IP address of gatekeeper, line call control, line CODEC, line password, and line port number, and for automatically running a series of test programs using a plurality of different call controls;
wherein the CODEC unit is disposed for automatically making telephone calls on the network using the plurality of different call controls; and
wherein the user interface is disposed for displaying a report on the VoIP network and results of the test programs.
17. The device of claim 5 , wherein the number of CODECs detectable by the device is greater than the number of CODECs implemented in the device.
18. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of test programs for detecting different vendor call controls and a plurality of CODECs for making test calls.
19. The device of claim 5 , wherein the master control unit comprises a metrics portion for determining at least one of jitter, loss or delay for a voice transmission over the VoIP network.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the metrics portion comprises:
a ping signal generator;
a mixer operable to mix the generated ping signal and a voice stream signal to produce a mixed voice stream signal for transmission through the network to a destination device;
a signal detector operable to receive a mixed voice stream signal from the destination device and detect a return ping signal contained in the received mixed voice stream signal; and
a processor coupled to the signal detector and operable to determine the voice transmission delay between the test device and the destination device upon detection of the return ping signal by the signal detector based on the time of transmitting the ping signal and the time of detecting the return ping signal.
21. The device of claim 5 , wherein the master control unit has registration capabilities for a plurality of call control protocols selected from the group comprising H.323, SIP, MGCP and SCCP.
22. The device of claim 5 , wherein the CODEC unit has CODECs for at least one CODEC selected from the group comprising G.711A, G.711U, G.723, G.723.2, G.726, G.729A, GSM, H.261 and H.263.
23. The device of claim 5 , further comprising:
communication connector for connecting the portable test device in signal communication with the VoIP network;
traffic generator for generating two-way traffic between a VoIP telephone and the VoIP network;
a capture device for at least one of monitoring or capturing the generated traffic;
an analyzer for analyzing the monitored or captured traffic to determine the configuration settings of the VoIP telephone;
a switch for at least one of disconnecting or disabling the VoIP telephone; and
a tester for emulating the VoIP telephone to conduct tests on the VoIP telephone line.