System and method for utilizing machine-readable codes for testing a communication network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10114717-B2
Application number	US-201514924408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2015
Priority date	Oct 27, 2015
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A testing device which includes a testing unit to perform test procedures on network elements of a communication network and a machine-readable code reader to read a machine-readable code associated with a network element of the communication network. The testing device further includes a computer device configured to: (i) determine a component type associated with the machine-readable code data read; (ii) select from a plurality of configuration files a configuration file based on the component type determined; and (iii) configure the test unit for a test procedure using the configuration file selected, and to perform the test procedure on the network element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A testing device comprising:
a testing unit to perform test procedures on network elements of a communication network;
a machine-readable code reader to read a machine-readable code associated with a first network element of the communication network; and
a computer configured to:
determine a component type associated with the machine-readable code read by the machine-readable code reader;
select, from a plurality of configuration files, a configuration file based on the component type determined;
configure the testing unit for a test procedure using the configuration file selected;
instruct the testing unit to perform the test procedure on the first network element;
determine a location of a second network element relative to the first network element based on data associated with the machine-readable code for the first network element; and
provide the location of the second network element to a user of the testing device.

2. The testing device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration file is further selected based on a testing specification associated with the component type.

3. The testing device of claim 2 , wherein the testing specification includes at least one of an international testing specification, a manufacturer ideal testing specification, and a manufacturer actual testing specification.

4. The testing device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration file selected specifies a numbering convention for assignment of identifications for an array of interfaces associated with the first network element, and the computer is further configured to, in response to a request to advance to a next interface in the array, select an interface identification in accordance with the numbering convention associated with the first network element.

5. The testing device of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to generate a unique machine-readable code to be associated with a second network element that does not yet have an associated machine-readable code and output the machine-readable code to at least one of a storage device and a printer.

6. The testing device of claim 5 , wherein the unique machine-readable code is associated with at least one of a history of testing procedures associated with the second network element; a history of troubleshooting procedures performed in association with the second network element; changes to hardware, configuration, or location of the second network element; a particular malfunction associated with the second network element; inventory of other network elements in a vicinity of the second network element; a specified time period; a specified operator that interacted with the second network element; and other network elements that are associated with the second network element.

7. A mobile device comprising:
a machine-readable code reader to read a machine-readable code; and
a computer configured to:
receive instructions to perform a testing procedure on a first network element that is included in a communication network, the first network element having an associated first machine-readable code;
receive reader output associated with a second machine-readable code that was read by the reader, the second machine-readable code being associated with a second network element of the communication network that was encountered, wherein the second machine-readable code is associated with second network element data that indicates a location of the second network element;
access a location of the first network element included in first network element data associated with the second machine-readable code;
access the location of the second network element in the second network element data associated with the second machine-readable code read; and
indicate by providing at least one of a map or navigational directions, the location of the first network element under test relative to the second network element.

8. The mobile device of claim 7 , wherein the first network element is a first end point of a cable that has the first end point and a second end point, wherein the computer is configured to:
identify the second endpoint from the first network element data;
determine second network element data associated with the identified second end point;
determine a location of the second end point based on the second network element data; and
indicate by providing at least one of a map or navigational directions, the location of the second end point relative to a location of one of a location reference point and the first end point.

9. The mobile device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a network communication interface for communicating via a second network, wherein the communication via the second network indicates a location of the mobile device wherein the computer is further configured to:
receive reader output associated with the first machine-readable code that was read by the reader;
determine an approximate location of the mobile device based on a communication that occurred within a threshold time of the reader reading the first machine-readable code; and
update the location in the first network element data associated with the first machine-readable code based on a statistic that incorporates the approximate location.

10. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the approximate location is determined using location services.

11. The mobile device of claim 7 , wherein the first machine-readable code and the first network element data are accessible to a plurality of mobile devices for at least one of generating the first machine-readable code, updating the first network element data associated with the first machine-readable code, and updating the location included in the first network element data, and the mobile device is included with the plurality of mobile devices to collaboratively at least one of generate the first machine-readable code, update the first network element data associated with the first machine-readable code, and update the location included in the first network element data.

12. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the computer is further configured to access a map generated using location data associated with machine-readable codes generated or accessed by the plurality of mobile devices and update the map with the first network element data generated or updated by the mobile device within a predetermined time interval of interacting with the first machine-readable code.

13. The mobile device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a camera to capture an image that includes the first network element; and
the computer further configured to:
receive reader output associated with the first machine-readable code that was read by the reader;
access the first network element data associated with the first machine-readable code;
integrate the first network element data with the image; and
display the image with the integrated first network element data visually associated with the first network element.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
determine an identification of a third network element located within a field of view of the camera when capturing the image;
access third network element data that is associated with the third network element based on the identification; and
display the third network element data.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
integrate the third network element data with the image; and
display the image with the integrated third network element data visually associated with the third

Assignees

• Fluke Corp

Inventors

• Wooton Clinton J
• Hittel John Paul
• Schell J David

Classifications

• H04L43/50 Primary

  Testing arrangements · CPC title

• H04L41/0843

  based on generic templates · CPC title

• G06F11/263 Primary

  Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences {; with adaptation of the tested hardware for testability with external testers} · CPC title

• H04L67/18

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L67/52

  specially adapted for the location of the user terminal · CPC title