Abstract: The present invention relates to a broken lead testing device for determining whether a lead in a balanced lead pair of a datacom circuit is broken or faulty. Terminated leads are subjected to a phase difference and/or a voltage difference test, while unterminated leads are subjected to a current injection test.

Abstract: A computer program product being embodied on a computer readable medium for facilitating troubleshooting a VoIP session associated with at least one VoIP station using network traffic data, the computer program product including computer-executable instructions for: identifying data packets of the network traffic data indicative of VoIP signaling information or voice communications; determining if the identified packets are associated with the at least one VoIP station; determining whether a quality of the VoIP session was acceptable substantially simultaneously with the VoIP session; and, at least temporarily storing at least a portion of the identified packets determined to be associated with the at least one VoIP station when the VoIP session is determined to of an unacceptable quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for calculating a digital quality index (DQI), which provides a rating on a predetermined scale, indicative of the impairments in a received quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signal in a CATV cable system. The DQI system utilizes bit error rates prior to and after forward error correction to calculate the DQI value. To increase the calculation rate, the bit error rates can be estimated using voltage errors, signal to noise ratios and/or average corner error metrics.

Abstract: A time division multiplexed measurement technique is used for spectral measurements in active wavelength division multiplexed loaded optical links, and offers instantaneous real-time correlation of performance and spectral parameters of the link, which is important for dynamic characterization of link performance during transient effects or polarization mode dispersion fluctuations.

Abstract: A device for measuring polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in a device under test (DUT) includes a polarized light source for launching a test beam through the DUT, and a PMD analyzer, which uses one of a plurality of known techniques, e.g. fixed analyzer-Fourier transform (FA-FT) or interferometric, to calculate the PMD from the DUT. A passive depolarizer, made up of a plurality of birefringent elements is disposed between the light source and the PMD analyzer to generate a plurality of carrier frequencies that correspond to the delays imposed by the birefringent elements. The PMD content of the DUT is present around each of the carriers, and the plurality of PMD measurements can be averaged to obtain a more accurate and repeatable measure of the PMD.

Abstract: The testing device of the present invention includes an RF input for connecting to a subscriber network, which has been disconnected from a communication network, for receiving ingress RF signals leaked into the subscriber network from outside sources. The device includes a signal processor for scanning the RF signals for power levels at a plurality of frequencies, and generating power level signals based at least in part on the power levels. Ideally, the power levels are compared to a threshold power level representing an acceptable amount of ingress, and a pass/fail indicator is displayed based on whether the power levels exceed the threshold power level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transceiver optical system in which a single serializer/deserializer (SERDES) chip is used to drive a plurality of transceiver modules.

Abstract: The invention provides a handheld RF meter with an improved isolation from EMI. The meter incorporates an interference barrier comprising a connecting cable and one or more ferrite cores possibly having different impedance characteristics.

Abstract: A portable tester for testing mutual effects of multiple services received via a shared network access link includes service signaling means for simulating user premises devices. In one embodiment, the tester is a triple play services tester supporting three IP addresses at the same time.

Abstract: A home network testing device includes an input port with any one or more of a variety of different connectors for receiving different types of communication cables, e.g. coaxial cable, telephone cable, and electrical cable; and a testing apparatus section with a variety of different testing apparatuses for testing for the presence of different forms of home networks, e.g. MoCA, HomePlug, and HPNA. The present invention uses discrete components to analyze the physical layer in the time domain, looking for a specifically timed RF power pulse that is characteristic of and different in each of the network protocols.

Abstract: A system for identifying elements in a cable network utilizing frequency domain reflectometry includes initial filtering stages to remove noise, second and third harmonics and side lobes, and subsequent identification stages to identify and display various elements, e.g. splitters, barrels and opens, in the cable network and their relative positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated sectionalization of a DS1/DS3 data path based upon information received at a single location along the path. A test and monitor device is located at a point of demarcation between an LEC and an IEC. A Remote Module is located at a point of demarcation between the LEC and CPE. The test and monitor device is fully ANSI compatible. The information that is received is processed in a three step process in order to generate a “Sectionalizer Report”. In preparing the Sectionalizer Report, the information output from a filter is used to determine where particular Events originated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system and method for performing a connectivity check and a trace routing test in Ethernet based networks built around VLAN switching. For the connectivity check, a beacon frame is inserted at an originating point by an initiating test unit for transmission to a destination point provided with a loop for returning a response frame to the initiating test unit whenever the beacon frame is received, thereby confirming connectivity between the originating and destination points. For the trace routing test, a marker frame is inserted at the originating point by the initiating test unit and monitored as it passes through network nodes along its way towards the destination point. At any node where the beacon frame is detected, a tracing frame containing a copy of the marker frame is returned to the initiating test unit to build a sequential list of every node where the marker frame is detected.

Abstract: A multiple input data receiver for bi-directional cable television (CATV) systems simultaneously monitors and selectively receives a return path signal on a plurality of return paths. When an appropriate data or signal transmission is detected on a return path, the corresponding return path is selected and then demodulated. The demodulated signal is appropriately decoded to yield signal data. Various tests and analyzing may be performed on the signal data. Simultaneous monitoring/receiving of all or a plurality of return paths minimizes system response time.

Abstract: A pluggable electro-optical module is mounted completely within the housing of a host device, e.g. testing equipment, to protect the module from external forces, such as ESD, dust and impacts. Furthermore, an equipment manufacturer can use any form of electro-optical module with any type of optical connector receptor, and adapt the electro-optic module into their optical equipment by using an adaptor cable and an optical connector adaptor, which optically couples the module to their end customer's network regardless of the optical connector on the module or the network cable.

Abstract: A pluggable electro-optical module is mounted completely within the housing of a host device, e.g. testing equipment, to protect the module from external forces, such as ESD, dust and impacts. Furthermore, an equipment manufacturer can use any form of electro-optical module with any type of optical connector receptor, and adapt the electro-optic module into their optical equipment by using an adaptor cable and an optical connector adaptor, which optically couples the module to their end customer's network regardless of the optical connector on the module or the network cable.

Abstract: A remote testing device, including a cable modem circuit, requests an IP address from a remote cable modem termination system (CMTS) and receives back IP connection information including adaptive equalizer coefficients, which represent compensation and/or correction for transmission path noise. Using the equalizer coefficients, the remote testing device can determine a phase response, phase angles for each frequency increment over a channel bandwidth, and group delay.

Abstract: A network performance monitor and an associated method for monitoring the perceived transmission quality of a packetized multimedia signal encoded by a first codec are provided. The monitor includes a packet processor for performing real time direct counting of received and lost packets in the burst and gap states in the packet stream carrying the multimedia signal. A data processor is provided for determining packet loss distribution parameters using the burst and gap packet counters provided by the packet processor. In one aspect of the invention, the data processor is operative to compute an effective equipment impairment factor from the packet loss distribution parameters for a reference codec having known transmission impairments associated therewith, for assessing the network contribution to the perceived transmission quality of the multimedia signal.

Abstract: In a system and method for determining the suitability of a copper pair line for xDSL service use, characteristic parameters of a copper pair line to be tested are measured. These characteristics include a wire gauge, length, and temperature of the copper pair line. In addition, characteristics such as the presence of short circuits, longitudinal balance, the presence of load coils, wideband noise and loop attenuation are tested for the copper pair line. A plant map of the copper pair line is then determined based on the measured and tested characteristics. Using the above characteristics and the plant map of the copper pair line, a transfer function representative of the plant map is determined which is then used to analyze and thereby qualify the copper pair line.

Abstract: In a system and method for testing and displaying the abnormalities, includes opens, shorts, bridged-taps and wet sections, of a copper pair line for xDSL service use, the abnormalities are amplified and normalized so as to be displayed within a predetermined observation range. The normalization steps include piecewise gaining and biasing the reflected pulse of various gains to create a first normalized reflected trace which match the reflected traces within a predetermined observation range and thereby constitute a total smooth curve; and amplifying the first normalized reflected trace according to a function of time to create a second normalized reflected trace so as to eliminate an exponential gain decay curve of a no-fault copper pair line with the same predetermined characteristic parameters from the first normalized reflected trace to thereby obtain a second normalized reflected trace showing any amplified abnormalities.