Fault Segmentation (e.g., Error Location In Network) Patents (Class 379/14.01)
  • Patent number: 11736671
    Abstract: A method for changing an image file based on a toning coefficient includes receiving an image file including an image having a plurality of pixels. Toning characteristic function is determined for each pixel of the received image. Distribution of the plurality of pixels of the received image is analyzed using the toning characteristic function. The toning coefficient of the received image is determined based on the analyzed distribution of the plurality of pixels. A degree of toning of the received image file is changed using a user specified criteria based on the determined toning coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Mikhail Dichenko, Irina Tulaeva
  • Patent number: 11403368
    Abstract: Provided are a diagnostic model generating apparatus and a diagnostic model generating method therefor. The diagnostic model generating method may comprising: extracting at least one keyword from consultation data between a user and a consultant for resolving electronic device errors; on the basis of the at least one extracted keyword, determining a diagnostic sequence between the plurality of diagnostic commands for resolving errors and a plurality of diagnostic commands; and storing a diagnostic model comprising the plurality of determined diagnostic commands and determined diagnostic sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-hak Yu, Min-seo Kim, Deok-ho Kim, Ji-hwan Yun
  • Patent number: 11025502
    Abstract: A system described herein may use automated techniques, such as machine learning techniques, to identify network events (e.g., based on user-submitted reports and/or system-generated alerts). The system may identify a type and/or attributes of the network event, and may identify past network events that share the same or similar attributes. An estimated time to remediate the network event, and/or one or more remedial measures, may be determined and implemented based on remediation measures taken to remediate the past network events. The determined remedial measures may include one or more temporary remedial measures effected until a permanent solution is put into place. Users who are affected, or who are likely to be affected, may be contacted to indicate the estimated remediation time. Feedback may be used to refine the estimation and/or remediation for future similar network events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Hayder Qaadri, Melissa Delmonico, Lakshmi Panguluri, Akhil Dayal, Ivan C. Berg, Meeta Vij
  • Patent number: 10924328
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations comprising determining a plurality of metrics of data trafficked through a session border controller (SBC), the SBC in communication with an endpoint device and positioned along a data transmission connection between a network and a IP multi-media subsystem (IMS); detecting a jitter performance metric of the data; in response to detecting the jitter, determining that an endpoint network response time (NRT) is degraded; in response to determining that the endpoint NRT is degraded, determining that an endpoint signaling response time (ART) is degraded; and in response to determining that the endpoint ART is degraded, identifying the endpoint device as a root cause of the jitter performance metric of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Baher Y. Al Ramady, Zahrah Almousa, Mawada M. Felemban
  • Patent number: 10880152
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations comprising determining a plurality of metrics of data trafficked through a session border controller (SBC), the SBC in communication with an endpoint device and positioned along a data transmission connection between a network and a IP multi-media subsystem (IMS); detecting a jitter performance metric of the data; in response to detecting the jitter, determining that an endpoint network response time (NRT) is degraded; in response to determining that the endpoint NRT is degraded, determining that an endpoint signaling response time (ART) is degraded; and in response to determining that the endpoint ART is degraded, identifying the endpoint device as a root cause of the jitter performance metric of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Baher Y. Al Ramady, Zahrah Almousa, Mawada M. Felemban
  • Patent number: 10783473
    Abstract: Systems and arrangements for using temporal analysis to evaluate incidents to determine whether they are likely to cause a significant business impact are provided. Historical data may be analyzed to identify incidents having a significant business impact. The historical data associated with incidents having a significant business impact may be further analyzed to identify a time and/or date at which the incident occurred, as well as the particular system, or the like, impacted by the incident. Normal business hours associated with the system, or the like, may be retrieved and a profile may be generated for the system, or the like. An incident may be received and processed to identify a system, or the like, associated with the incident and profile may be retrieved. The incident data may be compared to the profile to determine whether the incident is likely to cause a significant business impact based, at least in part, on the date and/or time at which it occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Charles C. Howie, DeAundra K. Glover, Jesse Price, Aaron Kephart
  • Patent number: 10489232
    Abstract: In a provider network, a request is received for diagnostic information for a computing resource. In response to the request, diagnostic information from the computing resource is accessed via an out-of-band communication channel. The diagnostic information is stored for fault analysis. The out-of-band communication channel is operative when the one computing resource is not in a normal operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher James BeSerra, Gavin Akira Ebisuzaki, Terry Lee Nissley
  • Patent number: 9940479
    Abstract: A method of classifying privacy relevance of an application programming interface (API) comprises analyzing a set of input applications to identify a plurality of custom APIs and generating a respective taint specification for each identified custom API. The method further comprises generating taint flows based on each taint specification and matching features and associated feature values from the taint flows to a set of feature templates. The method also comprises correlating the matched features and associated feature values with respective privacy relevance of the plurality of custom APIs to identify a set of privacy relevant features. The method further comprises detecting a candidate API, extracting features from the candidate API and comparing the extracted features to the set of privacy relevant features. Based on the comparison, a label is assigned to the candidate API indicating privacy relevance of the candidate API.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Ionescu, Iosif V. Onut, Omer Tripp
  • Patent number: 9819747
    Abstract: A network combining wireless and wired elements is described, using a multi-slot modular mesh node to house diverse transceiver elements (e.g. IR, Wi-Fi, Powerline). A radio agnostic tree based mesh network is formed, based on what type of wireless links are formed on the uplink and downlink of the backhaul and what type of radios are used for the Access Points AP. In addition to servicing IP based clients (e.g. Wi-Fi, WiMax, Bluetooth), the modular mesh nodes APs may also serve as receivers/collectors for low cost chirp devices. The method of transport is standard IP based packets yet security is inherent in this chirp-based implementation: only mesh nodes are privy to the routing tables that indicate that packet addresses are not IP. Multiple methods to obfuscate packet flow are presented. An organic approach to providing category/class based form of data type identification is proposed, to support a (dynamic) M2M Social Network Applications in-device discovery, registration and control are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: MeshDynamics
    Inventor: Francis Dacosta
  • Patent number: 9535570
    Abstract: A tactic for notifications of an alarm event occurring in automated machinery and systems is created by constructing a diagrammatic representation of a logical workflow of processing operations by dragging and dropping icons representing instructions for controlling processing operations on to a workspace of a GUI, and converting the diagrammatic representation into a sequence of executable instructions for controlling a computer system to process alarm event notifications in accordance with the logical workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: WIN—911 Software
    Inventors: Cody Bann, William Wayne, Steven Szabo, Jeffrey Moeller
  • Patent number: 8923139
    Abstract: A system is provided for identifying service affecting conditions in an access portion of a network through which a number of subscribers are connected to an exchange. The access network includes subscriber lines connected to DSL subscriber modems. The system includes a receiver for receiving pilot signals from a modem connected to one of the subscriber lines. A measuring unit is operatively associated with the receiver for measuring electrical characteristics of the received pilot signals. A controller is operatively associated with the measuring unit and uses the measured electrical characteristics to identify a service affecting condition. The subscriber modem pilot signals include differential mode signals and the measuring unit measures common mode of each wire of the subscriber line. By using combinations of measurements and deductive logic, the system can detect one or more service affecting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Akbar Khan Afzal, Pieter Bas, Roderick Warner
  • Patent number: 8879691
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for a metallic test method in a digital subscriber line system in which a subscriber's voice service has been switched from plain old telephony service to an inband digital subscriber line data stream characterized in that a direct current loop current used for plain old telephony service is replicated for testing, comprising, providing a sealing line current to a transmission line via a digital subscriber line device serving the subscriber and supervising the provided sealing line current between the digital subscriber line device and a subscriber's premises for determining a connectivity therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Franciscus Maria Ploumen, Paul Franceschini
  • Patent number: 8755499
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for managing VoIP network elements are provided. Methods include receiving call details records (CDRs) from a plurality of network elements. The received CDRs including disconnect cause codes and telephone call correlation identifiers. The received CDRs are correlated to telephone calls based on the telephone call correlation identifiers. Two CDR records are associated with the same telephone call when their telephone call correlation identifiers are the same. A master correlated CDR is created for each telephone call. The creating includes assigning a correlated disconnect cause code and classifying the telephone call. The assigning and classifying are responsive to the received CDRs associated with the telephone call. The master correlated CDR includes the correlated disconnect cause code and the telephone call classification. A threshold crossing alert (TCA) is generated in response to a threshold for the correlated disconnect cause code being reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Propert I, L.P.
    Inventors: Yu-Lein Kung, Jeffrey Stein
  • Patent number: 8712017
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of detecting faults within a telecommunications network, said telecommunications network comprising a plurality of entities. The method comprises grouping said entities into one or more groups based on the call traffic handled by said entities or on the call traffic said entities are configured to handle, for at least one of said groups, monitoring the call length pattern of a plurality of grouped entities of said group, and for at least one of said grouped entities, comparing the monitored call length pattern of the grouped entity with the monitored call length pattern of one or more of the other grouped entities to determine if the behavior of said grouped entity is indicative of a fault. The entities may comprise nodes of the network or hardware elements within one or more nodes of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Timo Ala-Rämi, Erkki Joensuu, Tuomas Erke
  • Patent number: 8624577
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for identifying a cable path may be provided. The system may include a cable set operable to transmit data, the cable set comprising power delivery wires designed to transmit electrical power. The cable set may also comprise two adapters proximate respective ends of the cable set, the first adapter operable to be coupled to a signal generator operable to transmit electrical power across the power delivery wires. In some embodiments, the cable set may further comprise a circuit coupled to the power delivery wires of the cable set, the circuit operable to receive electrical power from the signal generator and allow at least a portion of the electrical power to continue across the power delivery wires. The cable set may further comprise an indicator coupled to the circuit and operable to emit light when electrical power from the circuit is received at the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Charles B. Bradley, II
  • Patent number: 8611230
    Abstract: Systems and methods for proactive management of a communication network through monitoring a user network interface are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: William Scott Taylor
  • Patent number: 8537974
    Abstract: A system and method to expedite special number calls from a remote terminal that employs call control system comprising a control module and a translations database and is connected to the trunk group between the remote terminal and the local switching office. The translations database maintains translations for its associated remote terminal special number calls, including, but not limited to, 9-1-1 calls. When the call control system recognizes a special number call, it performs a look up in its translation database using the line ID as a key and substitutes a destination number for the special number and a calling line telephone number for the line ID. The call control system forwards the call to the local switching office, which treats the call as a trunk-to-trunk call. Advantageously, one (or more) trunk of the trunk group may be reserved solely for special number calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Intrado, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Montoya
  • Patent number: 8498382
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for evaluating and troubleshooting a DSL system in a plurality of DSL systems having a common static characteristic. The plurality of DSL systems are ranked based on a ranking characteristic different than the common static characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jin Wang, Baofeng Jiang, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 8411578
    Abstract: Systems and methods for proactive management of a communication network through monitoring a user network interface are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to proactively monitor user network interfaces comprises obtaining first information related to operation of a physical port, determining that the physical port implements both a first user network interface and a second user network interface, combining the first information with second information related to operation of a first logical port implementing the first user network interface, but not implementing the second user network interface, to assess performance of the first user network interface, and combining the first information with third information related to operation of a second logical port implementing the second user network interface, but not implementing the first user network interface, to assess performance of the second user network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: William Scott Taylor
  • Patent number: 8320527
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting crossover faults in a telecommunications access network having a plurality of access lines. Each access line includes a pair of wires for connection to a user terminal, e.g. a telephone handset. The system includes a monitor for monitoring each of the access lines to detect the presence of an off-hook state; a current sensor for each of the access lines for determining a fault condition on an access line for which an off-hook state has been detected when a imbalance is detected between currents in the wires of the access line; a controller for generating a report of each fault condition determined on an access line, in which each report comprises a time record relating to the time of generation of the report; and a crossover fault detector for recording a possible crossover fault involving two access lines upon the reporting within a set time period of one or more fault condition on each of the two access lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Michael Davey Hoy, Deepak Arya
  • Patent number: 8295185
    Abstract: An addressable outlet for use as part of local area network based on wiring installed in a building, such as telephone, electrical, cable television, dedicated wiring, and the like. The use of such wiring for data communications networks in addition to the wiring's primary usage creates a need for ways of determining the condition of the network and monitoring this information remotely. Network condition includes such factors as continuity of wiring, connector status, connected devices, topology, signal delays, latencies, and routing patterns. Providing basic processing and addressing capabilities within the outlet permits messaging to and from specific individual outlets, thereby allowing inquiries and reports of the condition of the immediate environment of each outlet. In addition, outlets can be configured with sensors to report on voltage, temperature, and other measurable quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Yehuda Binder
  • Patent number: 8284904
    Abstract: A method for evaluating the integrity of a cable shield utilizing wideband noise-to-ground measurements is provided. Upon determining that trouble with the cable shield exists, a method s is provided to isolate the location of the trouble with the cable shield. The method utilizes access locations along the cable and therefore does not require opening of the cable shield to isolate the trouble in the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Crick
  • Patent number: 8270579
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for managing VoIP network elements are provided. Methods include receiving call details records (CDRs) from a plurality of network elements. The received CDRs including disconnect cause codes and telephone call correlation identifiers. The received CDRs are correlated to telephone calls based on the telephone call correlation identifiers. Two CDR records are associated with the same telephone call when their telephone call correlation identifiers are the same. A master correlated CDR is created for each telephone call. The creating includes assigning a correlated disconnect cause code and classifying the telephone call. The assigning and classifying are responsive to the received CDRs associated with the telephone call. The master correlated CDR includes the correlated disconnect cause code and the telephone call classification. A threshold crossing alert (TCA) is generated in response to a threshold for the correlated disconnect cause code being reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Yu-Lein Kung, Jeffrey Stein
  • Patent number: 8265231
    Abstract: A method for identifying among a plurality of devices, through which a voice communication path is connected, a device transmitting an echo signal onto the voice communication path, includes transmitting a predetermined signal to each of the devices from a predetermined portion on the voice communication path, receiving a response signal for the predetermined signal from each of the devices, measuring a period of time for the predetermined signal to travel from the predetermined portion to each of the devices and for the response signal to travel back to the predetermined portion, monitoring a upstream signal and a downstream signal traveling on the voice communication path, extracting an echo component from the downstream signal to determine an echo delay time, and comparing the period of time and the echo delay time to determine a device which causes the echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Otani, Yasuji Ota
  • Patent number: 8213871
    Abstract: A data management tool is provided. The tool comprises a first processor, a server application that, when executed on the first processor, manages allocation of equipment serial numbers (ESNs) used in executing test cases related to mobile devices, aggregates test progress data in a defect board, maintains a test chat forum, and sends a notification of a defect when the defect is reported to the server application, a second processor, and a thick client that, when executed on the second processor, receives the notification of the defect, participates in the test chat forum and requests one of the equipment serial numbers from the server application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Ladd Cogan
  • Patent number: 8165271
    Abstract: A system and method is described that allows a system operator to remotely detect and diagnose a voice-enabled cable modem that has entered a chattering line state so that appropriate steps may be taken to avoid or rectify any of the problems that may result from this condition. Logic within the voice-enabled cable modem monitors for pulse dialing activity and/or excessive hook state and/or flash events that may be attributed to a faulty telephone and/or telephone line connected to the voice-enabled cable modem. Responsive to detecting such conditions, the logic within the voice-enabled cable modem reports a fault condition to an external management system via a cable data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Dragan Djurovic, Charles G. Wier
  • Patent number: 8150006
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing call correlation across network elements are disclosed. For example, the method receives by a first correlation engine one or more Call Detail Records (CDRs) from one or more network elements at a completion of a call wherein each of said one or more CDRs contains a correlation identification and a service identification. The method identifies a list of expected CDRs for said call and determines whether all of said expected CDRs for said call are received. The method then creates a CDR set for the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John P. Dowens, Trevor Byer
  • Patent number: 8081735
    Abstract: A method for determining if a which node through which a signal is propagated i (e.g., PSTN or VOIP) when the distances from the source to VOIP modem and PSTN connections are both known, the steps making a measurement that indicates a distance that a signal travels from a source to a point of reflection (e.g., a PSTN or VOIP connection) and comparing the measurement to known values corresponding to the distances from the source to closest VOIP and PSTN nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Mingchih Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7974387
    Abstract: Customer problem reports are collected and analyzed in order to monitor, analyze, and proactively prevent the same or similar problems from reoccurring in the future. A selection of customer problem reports are received and may be prioritized for analysis. Associated network elements may be scheduled for monitoring and/or testing at a greater frequency. Network elements may be the subject of new problem reports which may be dispatched to technicians for proactive analysis and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Charles Lutz, Nicole LaTrese Nall, Daniel Spain, Olyn Ray Sexton, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7912183
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, systems, user devices and computer program products for providing network status information. Methods include receiving alarm data for an event from a plurality of sources. The alarm data includes a plurality of alarm records each including a site identifier. The alarm data is processed to create report data. The processing includes assigning an attribute of failed to each of the site identifiers that are specified in more than a threshold number of the alarm records. The report data comprises at least digital loop carrier information. The report data is transmitted to a mechanized loop test (MLT) testing system capable of generating MLT test results. The MLT test results are used to adjust the digital loop carrier information included in the report data, wherein the digital loop carrier information specifies a quantity of digital carrier loop lines that are out of service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Aaron Harrell, Jackie Walker, Jr., John Jopp, Roy Allen, Kirk Brown, Joel Wilson, Barron Cain, Thomas Prange
  • Patent number: 7899893
    Abstract: A system for monitoring performance parameters relating to a user network interface (“UNI”) in a communication network is provided. The system comprises a message source parser module, a translator module, and a message recording module. The message source parser module is operative to examine an exception message sent by a network element in the communication network. The message source parser module is also operative to determine which network component the message relates to. The translator module is operative to determine if the message is related to one or more UNIs in the network. The message recording module is operative to post information from the message to one or more data records that correspond to the one or more UNIs identified by the translator module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: William S Taylor
  • Patent number: 7881189
    Abstract: Predictive maintenance in a communications environment can be triggered when an anomaly in the call set-up process is detected. In one arrangement, in a VoIP context, the post dial delay (PDD) associated with call set up is monitored. If a link or node has an abnormally high contribution to the PDD it may be designated for predictive maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Paritosh Bajpay, Hossein Eslambolchi, John McCanuel, Moshiur Rahman
  • Patent number: 7843841
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automating test procedures to determine if non-emergency signaling message processing errors impact emergency calls, e.g., E911 calls, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method alerts network engineers so that crankback procedures to alternative routes can be instituted when these E911 call impacting error conditions are detected in a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Patent number: 7773727
    Abstract: An arrangement analyzes a plurality of call detail records and determines that a particular call processing code has occurred a predetermined number of times during a previously defined time interval. The fact of these multiple occurrences of these processing codes is determined to be an indication of a trunk failure. A maintenance request is issued to address the detected failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Hossein Eslambolchi, John McCanuel, Paritosh Bajpay, David Lu, Zhijian Xu, Li-Jin W. Chung, Jeffrey Stein, Richard Farel
  • Patent number: 7770080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed in which defect behavior in an integrated circuit is discovered and modeled rather than assuming defect behavior in the form of a fault. A plurality of tests are performed on an integrated circuit to produce passing and failing responses. The failing responses are examined in conjunction with circuit description data to identify fault locations. For at least certain of the fault locations, the logic-level conditions at neighboring locations which describe the behavior of a failing response are identified. Those logic level conditions are combined into a macrofault for that location. The macrofault is then validated and can be then used to identify more tests for further refining the diagnosis. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Ronald DeShawn Blanton, Rao H. Desineni, Wojciech Maly
  • Patent number: 7702078
    Abstract: A method for analyzing automatic line insulation testing (ALIT) data comprising inserting ALIT error data into an ALIT database that includes records for exceptions located in the error data. A number of exceptions occurring on a selected summary date is calculated in response to receiving a summary request from a user including the selected summary date. Input to the calculating is the selected summary date and the ALIT database. The number of exceptions occurring on the summary date is transmitted to the user in response to the calculating. The user records located in the ALIT database that include a selected detail date are transmitted to the user in response to receiving from the user a request including the selected detail date. The ALIT database is updated with repair package information in response to receiving an add repair package request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Hollis Wright, Dianna Gatson
  • Patent number: 7693042
    Abstract: A system and method has been provided for the intuitive management of communication networks including a large number of network elements diffused across large geographical areas. The network management system permits the system operator to identify system problems while monitoring the top-level map of the communications network. The organization of network displays permits an operator to “zoom” from the higher levels of network abstraction, depicting a large number of elements across a large geographic area, to local geographical areas where specific problems associated with individual elements can be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Xinguo Wei
  • Patent number: 7657018
    Abstract: The present invention is a switching system interface providing conversion between time-division multiplexed digital signals and packetized digital signals used to bypass a common control and switch matrix of a class 5 digital switch. The switching system interface includes a network interface for terminating a digital transmission facility that is part of a network architecture. In addition, the interface includes a line/trunk interface, compatible with the internal signals used to operate the line/trunk interface of the class 5 digital switching system and a switch, connected to the network interface and to the line/trunk interface, for routing data between network interfaces and line/trunk interface. The interface also converts the data between time-division multiplexed digital signals and packetized digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: David M. Smith
  • Patent number: 7561554
    Abstract: A system for detecting rogue access points (APs) includes a detecting station (130) and a device for identifying rogue access points (110). The detecting station scans access points and stations associated with the access points, in order to compile an AP list and an association list within the scope of the detecting station, and transmits the AP list and the association list. The device for identifying rogue access points (110) includes a receiving module (112) and a determining module (114). The receiving module receives the AP list and the association list. The determining module determines whether each access point in the AP list is a rogue access point. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kin-Leung Ling
  • Patent number: 7542763
    Abstract: A private wireless network access point is associated with a predetermined telephone number corresponding to a physical location. The associated predetermined telephone number is included with call setup information when a wireless terminal in a private wireless network communicates via the access point so that a location of the wireless terminal can be determined based on the predetermined telephone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Alicia Marie Russell
  • Patent number: 7512216
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a fault in a joint connecting sections of an electrical transmission line together are disclosed. Previously known methods for detecting joint faults require a visual inspection of the joint or testing the transmission line using sophisticated, expensive equipment. This manual testing is expensive and inefficient. In the proposed method, a fault in a joint (301) connecting sections of an electrical transmission line (107) together is detected by measuring the resistance to current flowing through the joint (301) in one and the other directions along said electrical transmission line (107) and detecting a fault in the joint (301) if the measured resistance differs substantially in said one and the other directions. The method has particular utility in relation to low power transmission lines such as telephone lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
    Inventors: Ping Zhou, Andrew D Chattell
  • Patent number: 7505567
    Abstract: An arrangement analyzes a plurality of call detail records from multiple sources and find those records related to multiple attempts to set up a particular user's call(s). The call detail records are filtered to establish an understanding of fault location likely to be responsible for what is deemed to be a defective call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Hossein Eslambolchi, John McCanuel, Paritosh Bajpay, David Lu, Zhijian Xu, Li-Jun W. Chung, Jeffrey Stein, Richard Farel
  • Patent number: 7505566
    Abstract: A method for analyzing automatic line insulation testing (ALIT) data comprising receiving an electronic version of ALIT test results and parsing the ALIT test results to extract error data. The error data is inserted into an ALIT database. A number of exceptions per wire center occurring on a selected summary date is calculated in response to receiving a summary request from a user, and the summary date is transmitted to the user in response to the calculating. User records located in the ALIT database that include a selected wire center and a selected detail date are transmitted to the user in response to receiving from the user a wire center detail request. The ALIT database is updated with repair package information in response to receiving an add repair package request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Hollis Wright, Dianna Gatson
  • Patent number: 7480367
    Abstract: A fault associated with a communication medium is analyzed by correlating a first set of information indicative of echo associated with the communication medium with a second set of information indicative of echo. The fault is characterized based on the correlation between the first set of information and the second set of information. The first set of information and the second set of information can include echo canceller coefficients generated by an echo canceller coupled to the communication medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Rude
  • Patent number: 7447160
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automating test procedures to determine if non-emergency signaling message processing errors impact emergency calls, e.g., E911 calls, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method alerts network engineers so that crankback procedures to alternative routes can be instituted when these E911 call impacting error conditions are detected in a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Patent number: 7433323
    Abstract: Faults or degradation of performance of a voice/data communication network (2) are identified without the need to dispatch service personnel by selectively testing isolated sections of the communication network. For some of these tests, the communication network address of a customer's modem under test (106, 114, 60, 66) is retrieved from a database (88) for use in directing these tests to the customer's modem (106, 114, 60, 66) and for emulating the customer's modem (106, 114, 60, 66) during one or more of the tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7428300
    Abstract: The disclosed methods and systems prioritize network devices and components that more likely result in a network outage by evaluating their current and historical outage information relative to a dynamically-generated, statistical threshold based on such outage information. The prioritized list of network devices can be organized by, for example, quantity of outages, number of outage minutes, and/or number of customer-outage minutes so as to provide diagnosis sequences by type of network device, network location, type of component within the network device, and/or by operation during particular time periods/events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: James Howard Drew, Hui Liu
  • Patent number: 7418083
    Abstract: A fault location system for a telecommunications network including a local exchange or switch, a node such as a primary connection point and a plurality of line terminations to the customer includes probability calculation to establish the location of a fault measuring from the exchange. Historical non-faulty reference values of capacitance are compiled for each line passing through the node providing a measure of the distance of each line. A lowest valid capacitance value provides an estimate of the reference capacitance between the exchange and the node. Using various parameters, probability tables are compiled of historic fault values and a new fault is compared against these tables to establish the probability of it being a fault at the node or elsewhere. As a result the reference capacitance can be obtained without the need for an engineer at the node, and the likely location of a fault can be pinpointed with greater accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
    Inventors: Andrew D Chattell, Hilary P Logan, Nicholas Lunt
  • Patent number: 7366284
    Abstract: An outage reporting method and system are disclosed for a telecommunications system. The outage reporting system includes a processor to record a data element value. The data element value indicates a type of outage that occurred in the telecommunications system, such as an administrative or network outage. The data element value can be sent to a network management system for use by the telecommunications provider, for example, to determine whether or not the telecommunications user should receive a refund.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian Gonsalves, Sherri D. Pena
  • Patent number: 7319747
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of combining an emergency standalone switching device with a switching system interface used to bypass the common control and switch matrix of a class 5 digital switch. The emergency standalone switching device provides call control of the switching system interface. The call control of the emergency standalone switching devices provides local and emergency calls to local subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: David M. Smith