IP Library Granted Patent US 12,231,323
Granted Patent B2
US 12,231,323 · App. 17/163,935 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Automated multi-node network performance testing

Inventors: David Scott Parmer (South Elgin, IL); Margaret Elizabeth Dawson (Glen Ellyn, IL); William James Maniates (Oswego, IL); Kurt Holen Johnson (Barrington, IL); Prakash Suman (Hudson, NH); Andrew Scot Spear (Aurora, IL); Robert Ronald Jakubek (Barrington, IL); Narothum Saxena (Hoffman Estates, IL); Michael S. Irizarry (Barrington Hills, IL)
Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
H04L43/50H04L41/0869H04L67/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,231,323
App. No.
17/163,935
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network automation system platform is described herein for carrying out a method for automated multi-node performance validation testing on a communications network. The method includes acquiring a test configuration for executing a multi-node performance validation test, wherein the test configuration identifies: a multi-node network performance test, carried out by an application layer, that specifies a technology-independent test script that is generic to particular technologies for providing performance validation-related services, and a node group upon which the multi-node network performance test is to be performed. The method further includes executing the multi-node network performance validation test by the application layer issuing requests to a core layer comprising a set of technology-specific services that issue, in accordance with the application layer requests, technology-specific commands to external services during performance validation of nodes within the node group.

Claims (34)

1. A method, carried out by a network automation system platform, for automated multi-node performance validation testing of routers on a communications network, the method comprising:

acquiring a test configuration for executing a multi-node router performance validation test, wherein the test configuration identifies:

a multi-node network performance test, carried out by an application layer, that specifies a technology-independent test script that is generic to particular technologies for providing performance validation-related services, and

a node group comprising a set of routers upon which the multi-node network performance test is to be performed;

performing a pre-validation pre-test of the set of routers including a pre-test health check on each router of the set of routers; and

executing the multi-node network performance validation test by the application layer issuing requests to a core layer comprising a set of technology-specific services that issue, in accordance with the application layer requests, technology-specific commands to external services during performance validation of nodes within the node group; and

receiving, by the core layer, a set of responses from the external services corresponding to execution of the set of technology-specific commands by the external services during performance validation testing of the node group.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

issuing, by the core layer in accordance with commands received from the application layer after the receiving, a set of technology-specific network production state restoration commands.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

issuing, by an application layer application, requests to a common services layer service callable by a multitude of application layer applications.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the technology-specific commands comprise calls invoking performance validation testing performed by an external testing service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the network automation system platform implements a representational state transfer (REST) interface architecture for interfacing the application layer to the external services via the core layer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the application layer comprises a Y.1564 application for carrying out performance validation on a backhaul network node.

7. A network automation system platform on a computer system including a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate the computer system carrying out a method for automated multi-node performance validation testing of routers on a communications network, the method comprising:

acquiring a test configuration for executing a multi-node router performance validation test, wherein the test configuration identifies:

a multi-node network performance test, carried out by an application layer, that specifies a technology-independent test script that is generic to particular technologies for providing performance validation-related services, and

a node group comprising a set of routers upon which the multi-node network performance test is to be performed;

performing a pre-validation pre-test of the set of routers including a pre-test health check on each router of the set of routers; and

executing the multi-node network performance validation test by the application layer issuing requests to a core layer comprising a set of technology-specific services that issue, in accordance with the application layer requests, technology-specific commands to external services during performance validation of nodes within the node group; and

receiving, by the core layer, a set of responses from the external services corresponding to execution of the set of technology-specific commands by the external services during performance validation testing of the node group.

8. The network automation system platform of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:

issuing, by the core layer in accordance with commands received from the application layer after the receiving, a set of technology-specific network production state restoration commands.

9. The network automation system platform of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:

issuing, by an application layer application, requests to a common services layer service callable by a multitude of application layer applications.

10. The network automation system platform of claim 7 wherein the technology-specific commands comprise calls invoking performance validation testing performed by an external testing service.

11. The network automation system platform of claim 7 wherein the network automation system platform implements a representational state transfer (REST) interface architecture for interfacing the application layer to the external services via the core layer.

12. The network automation system platform of claim 7 wherein the application layer comprises a Y.1564 application for carrying out performance validation on a backhaul network node.

13. The network automation system platform of claim 7 , wherein connectivity of the set of routers is confirmed during the performing pre-validation pre-test of the set of routers.

14. The network automation system platform of claim 7 , wherein the multi-node network performance validation test includes determining bandwidth limitations of the set of routers.

15. The network automation system platform of claim 7 , wherein the multi-node network performance validation test includes determining a number of concurrent executions allowed on an aggregation router.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein connectivity of the set of routers is confirmed during the performing pre-validation pre-test of the set of routers.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-node network performance validation test includes determining bandwidth limitations of the set of routers.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-node network performance validation test includes determining a number of concurrent executions allowed on an aggregation router.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Oct 27, 2025
From: USCC WIRELESS HOLDINGS, LLC
To: ODYSSEY WEST, LLC
Reel/Frame 073362/0519 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2025
From: ODYSSEY WEST, LLC
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 073365/0391 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
To: USCC WIRELESS HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072315/0805 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2021
From: PARMER, DAVID SCOTT; DAWSON, MARGARET ELIZABETH; MANIATES, WILLIAM JAMES; JOHNSON, KURT HOLEN; SUMAN, PRAKASH; SPEAR, ANDREW SCOT; JAKUBEK, ROBERT RONALD; SAXENA, NAROTHUM; IRIZARRY, MICHAEL S.
To: UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055429/0816 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62968633 · Jan 31, 2020
Related Publication 20210243104A1 · Aug 5, 2021
References Cited (3)
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US 20140016479A1 · Coomber · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20180004624A1 · Singh · 2018 [cited by examiner]