Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/22—Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
  • H04M3/26—Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing with means for applying test signals or for measuring
  • H04M3/28—Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor
  • H04M3/30—Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor for subscriber's lines, for the local loop
  • H04M3/302—Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor for subscriber's lines, for the local loop using modulation techniques for copper pairs
  • H04M3/304—Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor for subscriber's lines, for the local loop using modulation techniques for copper pairs and using xDSL modems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
  • H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
  • H04L41/0803—Configuration setting
  • H04L41/0813—Configuration setting characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
  • H04L41/0816—Configuration setting characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
  • H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
  • H04L41/0866—Checking the configuration
  • H04L41/0869—Validating the configuration within one network element

Definitions

• the present invention relates to data communications and in particular to a method and apparatus to utilize a communication channel to configure one or more communication devices via a communication channel from a remote location.
• the type of information available on-line is changing from text-based toward a graphics-based information.
• Content such as pictures, graphics, color, audio, and video are commonly offered on-line and increase user demand for the on-line content.
• DSL Digital Subscriber Line
• the cost associated with the installation can be greater than the cost associated with installation of a voice-band modem device.
• the time required for installation is also greater, such as days or weeks, as compared to minutes or hours for a voice-band modem device.
• DSL devices In the case of DSL devices, these costs and delays increase the cost associated with a DSL product and/or decrease sales of DSL products.
• the DSL device has numerous settings that must be properly configured for operation. If a user is unable to properly configure the DSL device, a service technician must physically drive to the location and test and reconfigured the device. This is an added cost that cuts into profit and inconveniences the DSL subscriber.
• the technician may have to leave, repair other communication lines or connections, and later return to the DSL device to re-attempt a proper configuration. Even if a service technician is not dispatched, it is common for a DSL subscriber to require numerous long-distance calls to a technical help line provided by the manufacturer of the device or provider of the service. This undesirably costs the service provider money.
• the invention comprises a system for configuring or diagnosing a first communication device from a remote location over a communication channel established using a second communication device.
• the invention described herein utilizes a reliable and easily configurable communication channel (established using the second communication device) to communicate data regarding the settings and operation of the first communication device.
• This data is sent to a remote diagnostic center configured to analyze the data and determine possible solutions, in the form of configuration changes, to achieve desired operation of the first communication device.
• the proposed configuration changes are subsequently transmitted from the remote location to the first communication device and the configuration changes are implemented on the first communication device.
• the second communication device comprises a modem device and the first communication device comprises a DSL device. It is contemplated that the first communication device is more difficult to configure arid achieve desired operation than the second communication device. Hence, the second communication is easily installed and configured without the aid of a technician.
• the first and second communication devices maybe located on single chip or integrated circuit, co-located on a single board or within a single housing. The first and second communication devices may also be located on separate boards or within the housing of a common communication system.
• the invention is directed to use of a second communication device to assist in the diagnostics or configuration of a first communication device.
• the second communication device as compared to the first communication device, is less complex to configure, traditionally easier to install, or already operational.
• the second communication device aids in the installation and configuration of the first communication device.
• the second communication device may comprise whatever communication device is already operational and is thus useful in configuring a communication device that is experiencing problems.
• a more complex communication device that is operational could be used to configure a less complex communication device that is not operational.
• the inter- exchange bus may comprise a system bus, PCI bus, EISA, ISA, PC, MCA, PCMCIA, VESA, CardBus, or any other data communication channel architecture or protocol now existing or developed in the future.
• the invention also includes software preferably located with the first and second communication devices (local devices) and/or remotely located diagnostic center.
• This software is referred to herein for purposes of understanding as local diagnostic software (local D.S.) and remote diagnostic software (remote D.S.).
• the functions of the local D.S. include monitoring the operation and configuration of the first communication device, transmitting and receiving data to and from the remote D.S., altering the configuration of the first communication device, and other associated tasks.
• the functions of the remote D.S. include receiving data from the local D.S., analyzing data from the local D.S. to determine configuration changes to the first communication device, transmitting data to the local D.S., and other associated tasks.
• the invention is particularly useful when initially configuring the first communication device or re-configuring it at a later date.
• the invention also assists in obtaining optimal performance or troubleshooting the first communication device.
• the various steps or operation of the various methods of operation described herein may occur in any order without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the second communication device establishes a communication channel with the remote D.S. at the remote location. Thereafter, the first communication device attempts operation. During the attempted operation of the first communication device the local D.S. monitors the attempted operation of the first communication device.
• the local D.S. transmits the current settings of the first communication device and data regarding the attempted operation to the remote D.S. over the communication channel established using the second communication device.
• the remote D.S. analyzes the settings and the data recorded during the attempted operation of the first communication device. As a result of the analysis, the remote D.S. determines changes in the settings of the first communication device to improve its operation. It is contemplated that the remote D.S. may determine these changes automatically or in conjunction with a technician.
• the remote D.S. transmits the desired changes from the remote location to the local D.S.
• the local D.S. implements the changes on the first communication device. Operation of the first communication device can then be re-attempted.
• This process can be repeated as necessary until operation of the first communication device occurs in a desired manner.
• FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a first example configuration of the invention.
• FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a second example configuration of the invention.
• FIGURE 3 is a detailed block diagram of an example configuration of the invention.
• FIGURE 4 is a plot of the utilized bandwidth of twisted pair cabling carrying voice-band modem signals and DSL signals.
• FIGURE 5 is a detailed block diagram of an example configuration of the customer premise equipment and the apparatus of a central office.
• FIGURE 6 is a detailed block diagram of a first communication device and a second communication device on a single card.
• FIGURE 7 is a detailed block diagram of a first communication device and a second communication device on separate cards in a single system.
• FIGURE 8 is an operational flow diagram of an example method of operation.
• FIGURES 9A-9C are detailed operational flow diagrams of an example method of operation.
• the invention is a method and apparatus for configuration and/or diagnosis of a communication device from a remote location, h the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Moreover, the various details and features described herein maybe arranged or utilized alone or in any combination.
• One example environment that the invention is particularly well suited is in an environment of computer or other processing device utilizing the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology to achieve communication with one or more other computers or computer networks.
• the DSL communication device is configured to provide high speed communication between the computer or other processing devices or one or more computers or computer networks.
• One example of a computer network is the Internet.
• the DSL device is most often located in a home, business, or mobile application, such as a laptop computer.
• the process of configuring a DSL communication device can be complex and require professional assistance.
• the various embodiments of the invention described herein provide capability to diagnose, test, configure, re-configure and interface with the DSL device.
• One example of a computer that may interface with the DSL device is a desktop computer utilizing a Pentium based processing device from Intel Corp.
• the example environment may also include a remote location having diagnostic and configuration software, the remote locationbeing accessible from the desktop computer via any combination of computer networks, such as the Internet.
• this is but one example environment suitable for the principles of the invention described herein. It is fully contemplated that the invention be adopted for use in other environments than the one just described.
• FIG 1 illustrates one example configuration of hardware utilized to achieve operation of the invention, hi this example configuration, customer premise equipment (CPE) 102 is in communication with a central office (CO) 104 via one or more communication paths 106.
• the CPE comprises communication equipment located at the business, home or other location and configured to interface with the computer or processing device to transmit and receive data for the computer or processing device.
• the communication paths 106 may comprise any communication medium capable of carrying data between two locations.
• the communication path 106 comprises one or more twisted pair of communication cable as is commonly utilized to achieve voice communication via the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
• PSTN public switched telephone network
• Twisted pair is a particularly desirable conduit because it is generally installed throughout the United States and other countries and is capable of carrying both signals under the DSL standard and other communications standards, such as those achieved by the modulation and demodulation of the signal, i.e., voice-band modem communication.
• voice-band modem is defined to mean any communication device that utilizes the bandwidth utilized by voice communication over the PSTN.
• voice-band modems are desirable for diagnostics due to their low cost and ease of installation.
• the CO 104 may connect to a computer network, in this embodiment the Internet 110, or a first Internet service provider (ISP) 112 or an equivalent. Any communication path may be used to achieve communication between the CO 104 and the first ISP 112. Communication between the CO 104 and the Internet occurs via a communication channel 122.
• ISP Internet service provider
• the first ISP 112 connects to the Internet to achieve communication with computers linked to and comprising the Internet.
• a computer or computer network linked to or comprising the Internet is the communication facilities of a second ISP 114 and computers that utilize the second ISP to gain access to the Internet.
• Connecting to the second ISP 114 is a computer, computer network, or Internet web site referred to herein as a remote diagnostic center 120 configured with remote diagnostic software (remote D.S.) (not shown).
• first ISP 112 and second ISP 114 are generally interchangeable in that both simply provide access to the Internet or other computer network.
• Figure 2 illustrates a second example embodiment of an example configuration including the diagnostic center 120.
• elements shown in Figure 1 that are also shown in Figure 2 are identified with identical reference numerals.
• the diagnostic center 120 communicates directly with the Internet 110 and may optionally communication with the first ISP 112, shown by dashed line 128.
• the CPE 102 includes a computer (not shown) configured to interface with a second communication device 140 and a first communication device 142.
• the second communication device 140 comprises a voice-band modem (modulation/demodulation device) and the first communication device 142 comprises a DSL device.
• the voice-band modem 140 comprises any form of communication device capable of communication with a remote location.
• the voice-band modem comprises communication device operating under the V.90 communication standard, the V.42 communication standard or other standard.
• the second communication device 140 provides a reliable and easily installed and configured communication channel.
• the communication medium 106 such as a twisted pair of wires, may connect to the second communication device 140 and the first communication device 142.
• Use of a voice-band modem and DSL device with common twisted pair wire is desirable because the modem frequency band and the DSL device frequency band are capable of simultaneously sharing the same twisted pair of wires.
• Figure 4 illustrates a frequency verse signal magnitude plot of the bandwidth usage of the voice-band modem 140 and the DSL device 142.
• power 150 is shown on the vertical axis while frequency 152 is shown on the horizontal axis.
• the total available and usable twisted pair bandwidth 154 is shown by dashed line.
• Within the usable bandwidth of the twisted pair is the frequency band 156 of the voice-band modem and the DSL frequency band 158.
• the voice-band modem frequency band 156 does not overlap with the DSL frequency band 158.
• both communication standards can share a single twisted pair communication wire.
• an example configuration of the CO 104 includes a switch 146 and a first communication device interface 144.
• the first communication device interface 144 comprises a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM).
• DSLAM digital subscriber line access multiplexer
• the first communication device interface 144 connects the first communication device 142 to the Internet 110.
• the switch 146 and its operation is known by those of ordinary skill in the art.
• the switch 146 accepts the signals from the second communication device and forwards these signals over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 150 for interface with the first ISP 112.
• PSTN public switched telephone network
• the ISP 112 connects to the Internet 110 to provide communication between the second communication device 140 and the Internet.
• the second communication device 140 and the first communication device 142 communicate with the hardware and software of the diagnostic center 120 using the Internet 110.
• the diagnostic center 120 communicates directly with the CO 104. This allows the diagnostic center 120 to communicate directly with the first communication device 142 via the first communication device interface 144.
• Figure 5 illustrates a more detailed block diagram of the CPE 102.
• Figure 5 is shown for purposes of understanding, and hence the linkings or connections the communication shown should not be interpreted as the physical communication cables that interconnect each apparatus.
• the configuration shown in Figure 5 utilizes a DSL device for the first communication device and a voice-band modem device for the second communication device.
• the CPE 102 comprises voice-band modem hardware 500 in communication with voice-band modem stack software 506, referred to together as the voice-band modem 200.
• DSL hardware 206 in communication with DSL software stack 204, referred to together as the DSL device 202.
• local diagnostic software In communication with both of the voice-band modem software stack 506 and the DSL software stack 508 is local diagnostic software (local D.S.) 210.
• the local D.S. interfaces with the software of voice-band modem software stack 506 and the DSL software stack 508 to thereby provide capability to monitor the operation, or non-operation of the DSL device 202.
• the local D .S .210 includes software to diagnose the operation of the DSL device 202 by interfacing with the DSL software stack 508 to determine likely or probable solutions to enable operation of the DSL device or to optimize performance of the DSL device.
• the local D.S.210 communicates with the remote D.S. via the voice-band modem software stack 506 and the voice-band modem hardware 500.
• the apparatus at the CPE 102 communicates with the CO 104.
• the voice-band modem hardware communicates directly with the switch 146 while the DSL hardware 502 communicates with the DSLAM 504.
• the switch 146 selectively communicates the voice-band modem signals to a central site modem 220 (CSM) of the diagnostic center 120.
• CSM central site modem 220
• the CSM 220 connects the voice-band modem signals to the remote diagnostic software (remote D.S.) 222.
• the remote D.S.222 is capable of attempting communication with the DSL device 202, via the DSLAM 504 over a direct connection with the diagnostic center, the Internet, or any other communication medium or route.
• the remote D.S. 222 is also capable of communicating with the DSL device 202, via the voice-band modem 200 and the local D. S .210.
• the communication system of a computer or other processing device include both a first communication device 142 and a second communication device 140.
• Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a system having a first communication device 142 and a second communication device 140 on a single card or in a single system, such as a system external from the computer or processing device.
• the card or device 250 includes a input/output line or connector 252 such as might connect to a bus.
• communication between the second communication device 140 and the first communication device 142 occurs over an inter-exchange channel 254.
• the inter-exchange channel 254 can comprise any channel capable of communicating data between two communication systems.
• the inter-exchange channel 254 communicates data regarding the operation and settings of the first communication device 142 to the second communication device 140.
• the inter-exchange channel 254 communicates data from the remote D.S. to the first communication device 142 to change the settings of the first communication device. This configuration is particularly desirable because data can be exchanged directly on a single system or device 250 without use of outside software, hardware or operating systems.
• Figure 7 illustrates a configuration having a first communication device 142 on a first card 262 and second communication device 140 on a second card 260. This configuration is desirable if a mother board 274 is already equipped with the second communication device 140.
• the second communication device 140 resides in one of a plurality of bus slots 270, contained on a mother board or main system board 274. Each bus slot 270 is interconnected by a bus 272.
• the bus 272 carries data between the second communication device 140 and the first communication device 142.
• circuitry of the second communication device 140 and the first communication device 142 be combined onto a single integrated circuit. Such a configuration reduces space requirements.
• Figure 8 illustrates a high level operational flow diagram of an example method of operation of the present invention, hi general, the invention configures a communication device.
• a second communication device is used in the determination of the settings and behavior of the first communication device.
• the diagnostic software determines the settings and performs diagnostics, in conjunction with remote software.
• the diagnostic software uses the second communication device to communicate with a remote location.
• the first communication device can be configured to achieve desired operation.
• the first communication device is energized or powered up.
• operation of the first communication device is initiated.
• the system determines if the first communication device is operating properly. If the first communication device is operating properly, the operation progresses to a step 306 and operation of the first communication device continues.
• the first communication device is diagnosed using the second communication device, the local diagnostic software (local D.S.) and the remote diagnostic software (remote D.S.).
• the configuration or settings of the first communication device local D.S. alters based on information transmitted from the remote D.S. via the second communication device communication channel to the local D.S.
• the local D.S. is capable of changing the settings of the first communication device.
• the first communication device having its settings changed to achieve or improve operation, continues operation in a desired manner.
• Figure 9A-9C illustrates a more detailed operational flow diagram of another exemplary method of operation described in terms of a voice-band modem device and a DSL device. This is but one exemplary method of operation and hence the invention is not limited to this particular method.
• the operation detects a new DSL device installation or a problem with an existing DSL device.
• the system runs the local D.S. in an attempt to diagnose the problem.
• the voice-band modem initiates a communication session by connecting to an ISP. This occurs at a step 354.
• the ISP allows the voice-band modem to connect to the remote diagnostic center.
• the remote diagnostic center comprise a location remote from the DSL device capable of achieving communication with the voice-band modem in a traditional manner.
• the diagnostic center include software capable of communicating with the voice-band modem to diagnose operation or non-operation of the DSL device.
• the diagnostic center may be staffed by one or more technicians to maintain operation or communication with an operator, installer, or owner of the DSL device to achieve operation of the DSL device.
• the voice-band modem channel assisted diagnostics may be combined with interaction with a diagnostic center technician via telephone.
• the communication channel is established in a traditional manner.
• the ISP facilitates communication over the Internet or other computer network to achieve communication with the diagnostic channel, at step 358.
• This channel existing through the packet switched network of the Internet, or other computer network, can be referred to as a virtual channel.
• the virtual channel is in contrast to the DSL connection or channel, which in some embodiments is a dedicated channel between the DSLAM and the DSL device.
• the voice-band modem initiates communication with the remote diagnostic software over the voice-band modem channel. Thereafter, the operation initiate the diagnostic session with the remote location, hi one embodiment this comprises running the remote diagnostic software and the remote diagnostic software communicating with the local diagnostic software.
• the local D.S. attempts to initiate operation of the DSL device.
• the local D.S. records the settings and operation or behavior of the DSL device.
• the remote D.S. maybe recording data regarding any attempted communication by the DSL device. This data may later assist in the diagnosis of the DSL device.
• the voice-band modem and the local D.S. transmit the DSL settings and or data regarding the behavior of the DSL device to the remote D.S. over the voice- band modem channel. It is contemplated that the type or model of DSL device may also be transmitted to the remote D.S.
• the voice-band modem channel is assumed available because of the ease with which the voice-band modem communication channel can be established as compared to most DSL installations.
• the remote D.S. receives the data and initiates a diagnostic session with the local D.S.
• the remote D.S. identifies the type of DSL device being diagnosed and retrieves data regarding desired diagnostic procedure for that device and the proper software routines and procedures to properly diagnose and fix the particular DSL device being diagnosed.
• the process of diagnosing DSL device behavior, non-operation, or optimization is encoded into one or more software programs referred to herein as the remote D.S. and the local D.S. Through the interface between the DSL device and the local D.S. and the communication of data to the remote D.S. these encoded diagnostics are executed to achieve desired DSL device operation.
• the remote D.S. utilizes the data from the local D.S. and the corresponding data files and software files to diagnose the operation of the DSL device.
• the remote D.S. determines if a possible solution or fix is available. If a fix is not available, the process progresses to a step 376 where data is sent to the local D.S. to display a message on the computer associated with the DSL device that remote diagnosis was unsuccessful and, at a step 378, to create an unsuccessful diagnosis attempt record containing relevant data with the remote D.S. This record and data can be used in later attempts to achieve desired operation.
• the remote D.S. determines a change to the settings of the DSL device to achieve desired operation, then at step 380 the remote D.S. transmits setting or configuration changes to the local D.S. via the voice-band modem channel. Thereafter, at a step 382 the local D.S. changes the settings of the DSL device based on the data from the remote D.S.
• the local D.S. After the settings or configuration of the DSL device has been changed, the local D.S., at a step 384, re-attempts DSL operation, hi one embodiment the DSL device attempts to connect to the remote diagnostic center so that an evaluation may be made of the quality of communication or a better assessment may be made regarding the reason for operation in an undesired manner.
• the local D.S. and the remote D.S. perform an evaluation to determine if operation of the DSL device was successful. If the operation was successful, the process advances to a step 388 where a message is provided to the DSL device user that the operation was successful. At a step 390, a record can be created and stored regarding the successful operation.
• step 386 the DSL device operation is not successful, then at step 392 the local D.S. collects error codes and other data regarding failed operation of the DSL device.
• the voice-band modem and local D.S. transmit the collected data to the remote D.S.
• the data is analyzed, step 396.
• a determination is made, based on the prior DSL data, the current DSL device settings and, the configuration of the DSL device, if additional diagnostic changes are available to achieve desired operation.
• a message is sent to the local D.S. via the voice-band modem channel that the remote diagnostics were unsuccessful.
• a record is created at by the local D.S. to be stored on the DSL computer and by the remote D.S. to be stored at the diagnostic center. The record contains data regarding the diagnostic operation to assist in future remedial actions.
• the remote D.S. determines alternate configuration changes for the DSL device, then the operation progresses to a step 408.
• the remote D.S. transmits the next proposed configuration or settings changes to the local D.S.
• the local D.S. interfaces with the DSL device to implement the changes proposed by the remote D.S. to configure the DSL device.
• changes to systems other than the DSL device may be necessary.
• changes in the settings of the operating system may be necessary.
• changes in the particular communication program interfacing with the DSL device may be necessary. It is contemplated that any change necessary may be achieved by the local D.S. software to achieve desired DSL device.
• step 412 the operation returns to step 384 by attempting operation of the DSL device with the most recent changes to the settings or configuration of the DSL device. Operation continues in this manner until either the DSL device is operating as desired or until the remote diagnosis is unsuccessful.
• the invention described herein optimize operation of an existing DSL device that is at least partially achieving communication with a remote terminal
• the DSL device communicates with the diagnostic center while various changes are made to the settings of the DSL device using the remote D.S. and the local D.S. communicating over the voice-band modem channel.
• the settings or configuration of the DSL device can then be changed in real time to achieve optimal settings.

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• 2001
  • 2001-11-01 AU AU2002232587A patent/AU2002232587A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-11-01 WO PCT/US2001/048400 patent/WO2002037739A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-11-01 CN CNA018206913A patent/CN1505868A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-11-01 EP EP01992113A patent/EP1332564A4/de not_active Withdrawn

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