KR101019309B1 - Method for testing line quality in van - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for testing a line quality in a VAN, and counts a time in a line quality sniffer to detect a test start time of a stored first work schedule, and to a test number of the first work schedule with a PSTN. The virtual VAN (Value Add Network) service call is transmitted to the VAN host through the VAN company modem, the first response is monitored, and the full text is transmitted through the VAN company modem according to a signal indicating the completion of the connection received from the VAN host. It transmits to the VAN host, monitors the second response, and determines the abnormality of the VAN modem or the abnormality of the VAN host using the first response or the second response.

Line Test, VAN, Modem, Sniffer

Description

How to test line quality in a van {METHOD FOR TESTING LINE QUALITY IN VAN}

The present invention relates to a circuit quality test method for line and VAN equipment (eg, transmission network, modem, terminal server, etc.) of a telecommunication service provider leased by a Value Add Network (VAN) service provider.

In general, telecommunication lines are used for basic communication services such as local, long distance, international calls and telex, mobile phones and radio calls. Various services such as PC communication, Internet, e-mail, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), credit card inquiry, computer reservation, etc. can be added to the telecommunication line, and public switched telephone network (PSTN). ) Additional services can be provided by leasing equipment such as leased lines from the operator.

Such a communication network is called a value-added communication network (VAN). A communication network that depends on using a PC communication service is also a value-added communication network, and the service provider becomes a value-added communication service provider, or VAN. The service provided by the VAN company is a VAN service.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network structure and a circuit test state for a general VAN. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional VAN performs modulation / demodulation functions by connecting to a plurality of lines through an output terminal of a user terminal 10 requesting a VAN service and an exchange (not shown) of the PSTN N1. The aggregated modem 20, the terminal server 30 converts the output of the aggregated modem 20 into a signal format compliant with Ethernet (N2), and transmits, and at least one VAN host (41) 42, 43).

When explaining the VAN service of the VAN company that provides credit card authorization and inquiry service using the VAN shown in FIG. 1, the VAN company is an intelligent network service that can bundle a plurality of individual numbers from a telecommunication service provider and combine them into one representative number. To be provided. In this state, the VAN host (one of 41 to 43) receives the payment request details that the authorization request is received from the user terminal 10 carried by the user or provided in the store.

Then, the VAN host (one of 41 to 43) requests an approval from a credit card company or a financial settlement agency and transmits the processed authorization information to the user terminal 10 through the VAN.

By providing these services, VAN receives a certain amount of money from a customer requesting approval, such as a user or a store, and some of them are provided to a telecommunications carrier that leases the circuit.

Therefore, the reliability of equipment or circuit in VAN service must be absolute because it involves cost distribution, which is why quality test of circuit is required.

However, in the conventional line quality test method, as shown in FIG. 1, after connecting the test terminal 50 to the collective modem 20, the operator inputs an individual phone number or a representative number of a line to be manually tested. Test the circuit.

As a result of the manual testing of the circuit, waste of manpower and test time are long, and it is difficult to determine whether the failing equipment is a collective modem, terminal server, or VAN host even if a circuit failure occurs. have.

In addition, since the conventional circuit quality test method performs a quality test on the circuit after the switch output terminal of the PSTN, it is impossible to grasp the problem of the PTST network, that is, the switch.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a line quality test method in a VAN that enables a plurality of lines to be automatically tested at a time set by an operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a circuit quality test method in a VAN that enables automatic testing of all the equipment (including the switch) and protocols constituting the VAN.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a circuit quality test method in a VAN (Value Add Network) including a VAN host is connected to the VAN company modem is connected to the output terminal of the PSTN and provides the VAN service through the VAN company modem to provide. This method includes a first step of counting time in a line quality sniffer and detecting a starting point of a stored first work schedule, and virtualizing a test number of the first work schedule from the line quality sniffer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). A second step of sending a value add network (VAN) service call to the VAN host through the VAN company modem and monitoring a first response, and according to a signal indicating that the line quality sniffer has received the connection completion received from the VAN host; Transmitting a signal to the VAN host through the VAN company modem and monitoring a second response; and the circuit quality sniffer uses the first response or the second response to determine an abnormality of the VAN modem or the VAN host. A fourth step of determining the above is included.

The method further includes the line quality sniffer sending the virtual VAN service call to the first modem of the VAN company modem connected to the first output port through the first output port of the switch and the third of the VAN company modem. In the fifth step of monitoring a response, if it is determined that the VAN modem is abnormal as a result of the third response, matching the second output port of the switch with the first modem of the VAN modem; Sending a virtual VAN service call to the first modem through a second output port of the exchange and monitoring a fourth response of the VAN company modem; and wherein the line quality sniffer As a result, a seventh step of determining that the abnormality of the VAN modem is not the abnormality of the exchange.

Wherein the first response is at least one of the secret of the VAN company modem, the non-response of the VAN company modem, the ENQ (Enquiry) not received from the VAN host, the ENQ redundant reception from the VAN host, the second response is At least one of a full message not received from the VAN host, a format error received, a no EOT received from the VAN host, and a no carrier from the VAN host.

The ENQ is a message for requesting establishment and response of a data link at a partner station.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, there is no need to test the line by line one by one, there is an effect of eliminating the waste of manpower. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the process of performing the actual VNA service is reproduced in the same manner, it is inconvenient to be worn by the actual customer by increasing the traffic by periodically testing and setting the circuit at the time of dawn avoiding the time when the VAN service is frequently performed. Can be minimized.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the user performs a line test, there is an effect of performing a test on the network and VAN equipment and protocols.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. For reference, in the following description, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention are omitted.

Now, a line quality test method in a van according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 illustrates a VAN test network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the VAN test network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a line test system 100, a collective modem 20, a terminal server 30, and at least one VAN host 41, 42,. 43).

The collective modem 20 is a modem managed by VAN Corporation, and is called a VAN Corporation modem.

The collective modem 20 is connected to a plurality of lines through an output terminal of an exchange (not shown) of the PSTN N1 to perform a modulation / demodulation function. The collective modem 20 is composed of a plurality of modems respectively corresponding to a plurality of lines, and one modem is in charge of one line corresponding to one individual number. When the plurality of individual numbers are bundled and managed as one representative number, the collective modem 20 manages the modem corresponding to each of the plurality of individual numbers bundled with the representative number corresponding to the representative number. Therefore, the collective modem 20 operates a modem corresponding to the individual number when receiving the individual number from the switch of the PSTN (N1), and receives one of the available modems among the plurality of modems corresponding to the representative number when receiving the representative number. Randomly select and operate.

The terminal server 30 converts the output of the collective modem 20 (e.g., RS232) into a signal format (e.g., TCP / IP) that conforms to Ethernet (N2) and transmits it.

Each of the VAN hosts 41, 42, and 43 is a host server managed by each VAN company. The VAN hosts 41, 42, and 43 are connected to an IP network N2, such as Ethernet, and are equipped with functions corresponding to the VAN services provided by each VAN company. .

For example, the terminal server 30 and at least one VAN host 41, 42, 43 for providing a VAN service are included.

Here, the VAN host 41 is referred to as a host server managed by a VAM company that provides a card approval request and an authentication service.

The circuit inspection system 100 is a system for inspecting the equipment and protocol of the VAN, and is connected to the switch input side of the PSTN N1. The circuit inspection system 100 transmits a virtual VAN service call through at least one circuit designated by the user at a test time specified by the user, and performs inspection of equipment and protocols of the circuit through an inspection response corresponding to the VAN service call. do. Here, the virtual VAN service call is a service request transmitted to the corresponding VAN host through the PSTN (N1) circuit quality test, and the VAN host rejects the service in response to the virtual VAN service call.

To this end, the line inspection system 100 includes a line quality sniffer 110, a terminal server 120 and a test modem 130.

The line quality sniffer 110 may be a computer or a web server located on the web. In the case of a computer, the user can register and modify information stored directly through direct input. In the case of a web server, the user accesses the line quality sniffer 110 through a separate web access terminal and then connects to the line quality sniffer 110. It is possible to register by modifying the stored information. Of course, even in the case of a web server, a user may register his / her stored information through direct input.

The circuit quality sniffer 110 registers a test time specified by the user, and stores information on the circuit to be tested and switch information specified by the user. The circuit quality sniffer 110 detects the test time through the time count and performs the circuit quality test according to the information of the circuit and the exchange information stored at the test time.

The line quality sniffer 110 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The terminal server 120 performs the same function as the terminal server 30 described above. That is, the signal transmitted from the line quality sniffer 110 is converted into a signal that can be read by the test modem 130.

The test modem 130 may be one modem and may include a plurality of modems that enable testing of a plurality of representative or individual numbers at the same time.

When the test modem 130 is one modem, the line quality sniffer 110 can check one by one individual number (that is, a line) sequentially, and when the test modem 130 is composed of a plurality of modems, The quality sniffer 110 may check as many individual numbers or representative numbers as the number of modems constituting the test modem 130 (at the same time). For example, if the test modem 130 has a modem of 16 lines, the line quality sniffer 110 may check 16 individual numbers or representative numbers using the 16 lines.

On the other hand, although the line usage time for using a single line for VAN service is somewhat different, it takes about 11 seconds according to the experimental value. The circuit usage time is used during the circuit quality test. If the circuit to be checked is found to be in use, if the same circuit is repeatedly checked in consideration of the circuit usage time, it is possible to know whether the circuit is actually in use or an error. do.

The test modem 130 transmits a virtual VAN service call to an individual number or a representative number transmitted by the line quality sniffer 110 or transmits a test message to the PSTN.

Hereinafter, the line quality sniffer 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. 3 is a block diagram of a line quality sniffer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The line quality sniffer 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transmitter 110a, a controller 110b, a receiver 110c, a database 110d, an approval history management unit 110e, and a report generator 110f. do.

The transmitter 110a transmits a virtual VAN service call or a test telegram under the control of the controller 110b. To this end, the transmitter 110a includes a channel manager 111 and a professional manager 112.

The channel manager 111 stores and manages information of an output port of a switch of a PSTN network corresponding to each individual number and a representative number, and a corresponding modem (ie, individual number) of the collective modem 20 connected to the output port. . The channel manager 111 transmits the virtual VAN service call to the individual number or the representative number requested by the controller 110b.

The professional management unit 112 stores and manages the full text requesting the transaction approval for each VAN company. The professional management unit 112 generates and transmits a full text corresponding to the VAN company requested by the control unit 110b.

The controller 110b controls the overall operations of the transmitter 110a, the receiver 110c, the database 110d, and the approval history management unit 110e, and counts the time on a daily basis to store the job schedule DB (stored in the database 110d). Inspection operation according to the work schedule stored in 115) is made. In addition, the control unit 110b reads the inspection response received through the receiving unit 110c to identify the error occurrence and the equipment or protocol in which the error occurs.

The receiver 110c receives the test response corresponding to the signal transmitted from the transmitter 110a and provides the test response to the controller 110b.

The database 110d includes a member information DB 113, a number DB 114, and a job schedule DB 115.

The member information DB 113 stores the identification information and the authentication information of the worker who can perform the line quality inspection. Of course, the identification or authentication to the operator will be performed in the control unit (110b).

The number DB 114 stores the representative number and / or individual number to be tested. The representative number and / or individual number stored in the number DB 114 can be arbitrarily changed by an operator.

The job schedule DB 115 stores at least one job schedule in which the test time to be tested and the individual number or representative number (that is, the line number) to be tested are recorded. In this case, the inspection time is set to a time when there is no VAN service or less.

The approval history management unit 110e stores and manages a test result for a line having no problem identified through the test response received through the receiving unit 110c and a line or equipment or protocol having an error. The report generation unit 110f generates a statistical report every set day by using the inspection result managed by the approval history management unit 110e.

Hereinafter, a signal flow of a normal circuit quality test used in a circuit quality test method in a VAN according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. 4 is a signal flowchart of a normal circuit quality test used in a circuit quality test method in a VAN according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description according to FIG. 4, the line quality check for the individual number is taken as an example.

As shown in FIG. 4, the line quality sniffer 110 counts time on a daily basis and monitors the work schedule stored in the work schedule DB 115 to determine whether there is a work schedule corresponding to the inspection time (S401). .

If there is a work schedule of the inspection time corresponding to the counted time, the line quality sniffer 110 starts a test corresponding to the work schedule (S402).

The line quality sniffer 110 grasps and selects an individual number which is a test number of the corresponding work schedule (S403), and informs the test modem 130 of the individual number of the individual dog number (S404). At this time, when the test modem 130 is composed of a plurality of modems, the individual number transmitted to the test modem 130 is as many as the number of modems forming the maximum test modem 130.

The test modem 130 receives the individual number through the terminal server 120 and transmits a virtual VAN service call with the individual number as a destination to the PSTN N1 (S405).

The virtual VAN service call is received by the VAN company modem 20 through the corresponding switch of the PSTN N1 (S406), and the VAN company modem 20 activates the modem of the line corresponding to the individual number (S407).

Hereinafter, the line corresponding to the activated modem corresponding to the test number is called a test line.

The VAN modem 20 transmits the virtual VAN service call to the VAN host 41 through the modem activated after the step S406 to request a call connection (S408). At the same time as S408, when the VAN modem 20 receives the virtual VAN service call from the test modem 130, the VAN modem 20 receives the CONNET 1200, which is a connecting message, as a response in response to the line quality sniffer 110. Notify (S409).

When the VAN host 41 receives the virtual VAN service call from the VAN modem 20, the VAN host 41 sends an ENQ (please tell the full English of ENQ) indicating the reception of the virtual VAN service call to the line quality sniffer 110 through the test line. Transmit (S410).

When the line quality sniffer 110 receives the ENQ, the line quality sniffer 110 generates the full text including the actual credit card information and the payment information through the professional management unit 112 and transmits the full text to the VAN host 41 through the test line (S411 and S412).

When the VAN host 41 receives the message, the VAN host 41 transmits a response message indicating the reception of the message to the line quality sniffer 110 through the test line (S413). In response, the VAN host 41 transmits an acknowledgment (ACK) signal. The transmission is sent to the VAN host 41 through the test line (S414).

Upon receiving the ACK signal, the VAN host 41 transmits an end of transmission (EOT) indicating that all procedures are completed to the circuit quality sniffer 110 through a test line (S415). EOT is a message indicating the end of transmission and instructing data link initialization.

After receiving the EOT, the line quality sniffer 110 determines whether all inspection of the individual number of the work schedule (ie, the test line) has been completed (S416). After completing the test to initialize the modem (S418), if the check is not completed, and then select the next dog number (S417), and performs the steps S404 to S415.

Here, according to an embodiment of the present invention, if there are 16 modems of the test modem 130, 16 or more modems of the VAN company modem (that is, the collective modem) 20, and the number to be tested is 16, It can be seen that a single test can check 16 dog number.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the virtual VAN service call is transmitted to the individual number, but the virtual VAN service call may be transmitted to the representative number. In the case of the representative number, the signal flow of the normal line quality test follows the same signal flow as the above-described individual number, but the method of activating the modem corresponding to the representative number in the VAN company modem 20 is different.

Hereinafter, a line quality test method in a VAN according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. 5 is a data flow diagram illustrating a circuit quality test method in a VAN according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the following description according to FIG. 5, the line quality check for the individual number is taken as an example.

As shown in FIG. 5, the line quality test method in a VAN according to an embodiment of the present invention may receive signals received from each component (test modem, VAN company modem, VAN host) in a signal transmission process of a normal line quality test. Monitor and detect errors and protocol anomalies in each configuration.

That is, after the process of notifying the test modem 130 of the individual number to be tested, the line quality sniffer 110 checks whether the test modem 130 receives a beep, and determines that it is normal when the beep is picked up. It is determined that the test modem is abnormal (e1).

The line quality sniffer 110 transmits a modem command (eg, AT, ATZ, ATEO, etc.) to the test modem 130 when a beep is heard, and checks whether there is a response from the test modem 130, and receives a response. If it does not receive a response, it is determined that the modem initialization failure (e2).

If the test modem 130 is normal, the virtual VAN service call is transmitted to the VAN company 20. In this case, the line quality sniffer 110 responds to the reception of the virtual VAN service call from the VAN company 20. When the busy sound is received, the virtual VAN service call is repeatedly transmitted to the same individual number to determine whether the busy sound is repeatedly generated. In this case, the circuit quality test method in the VAN according to an embodiment of the present invention tests the repetition of the virtual VAN service call by exceeding the circuit usage time. In other words, it is possible to send a virtual VAN service call in a state in which the circuit under test exceeds the circuit usage time and is no longer in use, thereby determining whether the circuit is actually busy or abnormal.

If the busy signal is repeatedly received, the line quality sniffer 110 determines that the modem corresponding to the test number is abnormal (e3) in the modem 20 of the VAN company.

When the test modem 130 is normal, the virtual VAN service call is transmitted to the VAN modem 20. In this case, the line quality sniffer 110 connects to the CONNET which is a connecting message from the VAN modem 20. It is detected whether 1200 is received during the set time, and if it is not received, it is determined that there is no response, and the VAN modem 20 determines that there is an error e4 in the modem corresponding to the test number.

Next, when the VAN company modem 20 is normal, the VAN company modem 20 requests a connection to the VAN host 41. In this case, the line quality sniffer 110 receives an ENQ from the VAN host 41. It is monitored whether it is not received (e5) or ENQ is received in duplicate (e6), and if it is not received or is received in duplicate, the VAN host 41 determines that there is an error.

After the ENQ is normally received and transmitted the full message to the VAN host 41, the line quality sniffer 110 monitors whether the response full message received from the VAN host 41 is different from the normal full text format (e8). The VAN host 41 determines that there is an error.

Next, after receiving the normal response message and transmitting the ACK signal, the line quality sniffer 110 monitors whether the EOT is unreceived (e9) or if a NO_CARRIER (no carrier) occurs in which the telephone is suddenly disconnected (e10). If the EOT is not received or a no carrier occurs, the VAN host 41 determines that there is an error.

Finally, when the line quality sniffer 110 identifies the VAN host 41 through a signal received from the VAN host 41, when the identified VAN host 41 is not the VAN company of the corresponding test line (e11). ) Is determined to be an error.

On the other hand, the line quality test method in the VAN according to an embodiment of the present invention, when performing the process with reference to Figure 5 using the representative number, the line quality for the representative number by repeating at least 10 times 1000 times or less Perform the test. However, if there are more than 1000 individual numbers enclosed by the representative number, of course, the number of line quality tests for the representative number is 1000 or more.

On the other hand, the circuit quality test method in the VAN according to an embodiment of the present invention further performs a circuit quality check for the PSTN (N1), that is, the switch of the PSTN.

The channel management unit 111 in the line quality sniffer 110 knows information about the switch output port of the PSTN and information about individual numbers connected to the output port. Here, a plurality of individual numbers (eg, about six) are connected to one output port.

Therefore, the circuit quality test method for the PSTN switch is to perform the circuit quality test by changing the individual number connected to the output port of the specific exchange, and it is possible to determine whether it is a problem with the VAN modem or the specific switch.

For example, it is assumed that the exchanger has a first output port and a second output port, 123-4567 (individual number) is connected to the first output port, and 123-6789 is connected to the second output port.

In this state, the line quality sniffer 110 monitors the response after transmitting the virtual VAN service call to the VAN modem 20 with the number 123-4567. If it is determined that the VAN modem 20 is abnormal as a result of the response monitoring, the line quality sniffer 110 matches the 123-4567 number with the second output port, and then transmits the virtual VAN service call to the VAN modem 20. Monitor the response after passing it on. If it is determined that the VAN modem 20 is not abnormal as a result of the response, there is a problem with the first output port of the exchange.

Of course, for a more accurate test, the 123-6789 is matched to the first output port, the virtual VAN service call is transmitted to the VAN modem 20, the response is monitored, and the response results are obtained. As a result, it is possible to determine whether an exchange is abnormal.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are not only implemented by the apparatus and method but may be implemented through a program for realizing the function corresponding to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention or a recording medium on which the program is recorded, The embodiments can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art from the description of the embodiments described above.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements of those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present invention defined in the following claims are also provided. It belongs to the scope of rights.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network structure and a circuit test state for a general VAN.

2 illustrates a VAN test network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a line quality sniffer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a signal flowchart of a normal circuit quality test used in a circuit quality test method in a VAN according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a data flow diagram illustrating a circuit quality test method in a VAN according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (5)

In the line quality test method in a VAN (Value Add Network) including a VAN host is connected to the output terminal of the PSTN VAN company and providing VAN service through the VAN modem, A first step of detecting a test start time of a first stored work schedule by counting time in the line quality sniffer; Sending a virtual value add network (VAN) service call to the VAN host through the VAN company modem and monitoring the first response from the circuit quality sniffer to a PSTN (test switching number) of the first work schedule. Step 2, A third step of the circuit quality sniffer transmitting a full message to the VAN host through the VAN company modem according to a signal indicating the completion of the connection received from the VAN host, and monitoring a second response; and And a fourth step of the circuit quality sniffer determining the abnormality of the VAN modem or the abnormality of the VAN host using the first response or the second response. How to test line quality in a VAN. The method of claim 1, The line quality sniffer sends the virtual VAN service call to the first modem of the VAN company modem connected to the first output port through the first output port of the switch and monitors the third response of the VAN company modem. 5th step, If it is determined that the VAN modem is abnormal as a result of the third response, after matching the second output port of the switch with the first modem of the VAN company modem, the line quality sniffer is configured to output the second output port of the switch. Transmitting the virtual VAN service call to the first modem through the network and monitoring a fourth response of the modem of the VAN company; And a seventh step of determining that the circuit quality sniffer is an abnormality of the switch if it is not an abnormality of the VAN modem as a result of the fourth response. How to test line quality in a VAN. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the first response is at least one of non-sounding of the VAN company modem, no response of the VAN company modem, no ENQ reception from the VAN host, and ENQ redundant reception from the VAN host. How to test line quality in a VAN. The method of claim 3, Wherein the second response is at least one of a full message not received from the VAN host, a format error received, a no EOT received from the VAN host, and a no carrier from the VAN host. How to test line quality in a VAN. The method of claim 3, The test number is characterized in that the individual number or representative number, How to test line quality in a VAN.

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