Inter-core transport audio quality testing remote from testing site
The technology includes a method, computer medium, and system for testing audio quality of a transport segment between two core networks. A first virtual test agent (VTA) selects a Mobility Management Engine (MME) corresponding to an eNodeB served by a first core network for routing a second call, through a Serving Gateway (SGW) assigned by the MME for audio communication with a tester terminus. The second call is made from the first VTA to a second VTA at a second core network over a transport-segment-under-test that connects the first and second core networks, So that a tester can evaluate audio quality over the transport-segment-under-test. The first VTA makes a first call to a tester appliance, makes a second call, over the transport-segment-under-test, to the second VTA implementing audio evaluation, by signaling the MME, and bridges the first and second calls by relaying audio during a test of subjective audio quality.
1 . A method for testing audio quality of a transport segment between two core networks, the method comprising:
a first virtual test agent (VTA) selecting a Mobility Management Engine (MME) corresponding to an eNodeB positioned at a physical location served by a first core network
for routing a second call, through a Serving Gateway (SGW) assigned by the MME for audio communication with a tester terminus, from the first VTA to a second VTA at a second core network over a transport-segment-under-test that connects the first and second core networks,
whereby a tester can evaluate audio quality over the transport-segment-under-test;
the first VTA making a first call to a tester appliance;
the first VTA making the second call, over the transport-segment-under-test, to the second VTA implementing audio evaluation by signaling the MME; and
bridging, by the first VTA, the first and second calls by relaying audio during a test of subjective audio quality, whereby the relay through the SGW assures that the relayed audio in the second call is relayed over the transport segment under test.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further including facilitating an audio call evaluation of the second call.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the audio call evaluation of the second call involves determining a transmission quality rating by E-model.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the tester appliance is operated by a human tester to evaluate audio quality.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the tester is geographically located in an area not served by the first core network and not served by the second core network.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein first VTA makes the first call from a first emulated User Equipment (UE) and makes the second call from a second emulated UE.
7 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium impressed with computer program instructions to test audio quality of a transport segment between two core networks, the instructions, when executed on a processor, implement a method comprising:
a first virtual test agent (VTA) selecting a Mobility Management Engine (MME) corresponding to an eNodeB positioned at a physical location served by a first core network
for routing a second call, through a Serving Gateway (SGW) assigned by the MME for audio communication with a tester terminus, from the first VTA to a second VTA at a second core network over a transport-segment-under-test that connects the first and second core networks,
whereby a tester can evaluate audio quality over the transport-segment-under-test;
the first VTA making a first call to a tester appliance;
the first VTA making the second call, over the transport-segment-under-test, to the second VTA implementing audio evaluation by signaling the MME; and
bridging, by the first VTA, the first and second calls by relaying audio during a test of subjective audio quality, whereby the relay through the SGW assures that the relayed audio in the second call is relayed over the transport segment under test.
8 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , implementing the method further including facilitating an audio call evaluation of the second call.
9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the audio call evaluation of the second call involves determining a transmission quality rating by E-model.
10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the tester appliance is operated by a human tester to evaluate audio quality.
11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the tester is geographically located in an area not served by the first core network and not served by the second core network.
12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein first VTA makes the first call from a first emulated User Equipment (UE) and makes the second call from a second emulated UE.
13 . A system including one or more processors coupled to memory, the memory loaded with computer instructions to test audio quality of a transport segment between two core networks, the instructions, when executed on the processors, implement actions comprising:
a first virtual test agent (VTA) selecting a Mobility Management Engine (MME) corresponding to an eNodeB positioned at a physical location served by a first core network
for routing a second call, through a Serving Gateway (SGW) assigned by the MME for audio communication with a tester terminus, from the first VTA to a second VTA at a second core network over a transport-segment-under-test that connects the first and second core networks,
whereby a tester can evaluate audio quality over the transport-segment-under-test;
the first VTA making a first call to a tester appliance;
the first VTA making the second call, over the transport-segment-under-test, to the second VTA implementing audio evaluation by signaling the MME; and
bridging, by the first VTA, the first and second calls by relaying audio during a test of subjective audio quality, whereby the relay through the SGW assures that the relayed audio in the second call is relayed over the transport segment under test.
14 . The system of claim 13 , further implementing actions comprising: facilitating an audio call evaluation of the second call.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the audio call evaluation of the second call involves determining a transmission quality rating by E-model.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the tester appliance is operated by a human tester to evaluate audio quality.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the tester is geographically located in an area not served by the first core network and not served by the second core network.
18 . The system of claim 13 , further implementing actions comprising: first VTA makes the first call from a first emulated User Equipment (UE) and makes the second call from a second emulated UE.