Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to implementing a novel architecture of a finite state machine (abbreviated FSM) that can be used for testing. In particular, it can be used for testing communications devices and communication protocol behaviors.

Abstract: A pilot signal is prepended to a communication signal to form a test signal. The test signal is transmitted through a communication network and received from the communication network. A temporal marker in the pilot signal portion of the received test signal is identified. The communication signal portion of the received test signal is known to begin at a specified time following the temporal marker. Using the identified temporal marker and the specified time, a beginning of the communication signal portion is identified within the received test signal. The identified beginning of the communication signal portion in the received test signal is then aligned with a beginning of an undegraded version of the communication signal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, data structures, and computer readable media are disclosed that represent network devices with encapsulated protocol stacks communicating via a common physical port. The encapsulated protocol stacks include variable combinations of a multiple encapsulation protocols.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to evaluating the sequence of packets in a received packet stream. In some embodiments, when a packet in the packet stream is received, its sequence number may be determined and compared to an expected sequence number indicative of the highest received sequence number in the packet stream. If the sequence number of the packet is greater than or equal to the expected sequence number, the packet may be considered an in-order packet and a counter that counts the number of received in-order packets in the packet stream may be incremented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for injecting a noise signal into a wire pair of a communication link. In operation a first current source and a second current source are disposed in series with a node therebetween coupled resistively to a wire of the wire pair. A current flow path is provided for balancing the current from the two current sources. A similar circuit is also coupled to the other wire of the wire pair.

Abstract: An invention is provided for testing a quality of communication data received from a SUT. The invention includes storing reference test data comprising a plurality of data segments, and receiving degraded test data also comprising a plurality of data segments, from the SUT. The data segments are located in the degraded test data, and data segments in the degraded test data are matched to related data segments in the reference test data. Further, the data segments in the degraded test data are compared to corresponding data segments in the reference test data using a fixed point operation. In one aspect, the degraded test data can be normalized prior to locating the data segments, for example, utilizing a fixed point Fourier transform. Also, a receive filter can be applied to the normalized test data utilizing a fixed point operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for injecting a noise signal into a wire pair of a communication link. In operation a differential mode noise signal is received at a first and a second input port, which are connected via a first and a second resistor to a first and a second end tap of a primary coil of a transformer, respectively. The transformed differential mode noise signal is then transmitted via a first and a second end tap of a secondary coil of the transformer and a third and a fourth resistor to a first and a second output port for injection at high impedance into a first and a second wire of the communication link. Optionally, the device comprises a third input port connected to a center tap of the secondary coil for receiving a common mode noise signal. The common mode noise signal is then provided at low impedance to the first and the second wire via the first and the second end tap of the secondary coil and via the third and fourth resistor having low impedance, respectively.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a test plan for a communication device under test. The test plan defines test tools, test methodologies, test configurations, and algorithms for executing the test. A user input is received to define the communication device under test. Next, a knowledge database is searched to identify test plan parameters for the communication device under test. Thereafter, the test plan parameters and the user input are analyzed to identify the test plan. A system and computer readable medium having program instructions for generating a test plan for a communication device under test are also described.

Abstract: Methods for configuring a test setup that support reuse of previously defined sub-configuration parameter values without reference to individually-named sub-configuration files are provided. In these methods, each sub-configuration parameter value is automatically associated with a test case name within the test, and this association is represented in context data structures. During test configuration, for each set of sub-configuration parameter values, the user may reuse previously-defined values simply by specifying the name of the test associated with the previously-defined values. A system and a user interface for configuring a test setup are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for injecting a noise signal into a wire pair of a communication link. In operation a first current source and a second current source are disposed in series with a node therebetween coupled resistively to a wire of the wire pair. A current flow path is provided for balancing the current from the two current sources. A similar circuit is also coupled to the other wire of the wire pair.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises a method and system for testing a networking system's performance. The invention solves a problem related to upgrading system components associated with different steps of the testing process for networking systems. Systems embodying the invention comprise a processing apparatus and a testing apparatus, each of which contains a data bus. The two data buses are linked together through a bi-directional communication bridge that allows the testing apparatus and the processing apparatus to transparently communicate such that the bridged data buses behave as through they exist on a same local bus. The architecture provided by the invention allows for the upgrading of a processing apparatus for enhanced data processing performance without changing existing adequate testing devices.

Abstract: A monitor access is gradually applied an removed from a communications circuit, including a digital subscriber line (DSL), by a gradual monitor access (GMA) technique, in which a variable impedance element is gradually applied to the communications circuit until the monitor can be introduced to the communications circuit without data disruption.

Abstract: An invention is provided for testing telecommunications devices. Broadly speaking, test data is encoded prior to testing a SUT. Then, during testing, the encoded test data is transmitted to the SUT, which processes the test data. The processed test data then is received back from the SUT. The processed test data is decoded in real-time, as opposed to the encoding of the test data, which is performed offline and prior to testing. In addition, a quality of the processed test data is analyzed. Typically, the test data is speech data, which is stored prior to testing the SUT. Optionally, the speech data can be encoded offline using a computer system separate from the testing system.

Abstract: Access to the XAUI lanes of a 10 Gigabit Ethernet device is provided when needed for testing of the XAUI electrical interface. Access is provided by extending the XAUI interface contained in a XENPAK interface connector. An embodiment of the present invention uses an extension of the XENPAK connector to generate and receive XAUI signals thus making it possible for any device with a XENPAK connector to become a XUAI tester with minimal components between the test equipment and the device under test. The reduction of components (only an AC-Coupling capacitor resides between the XENPAK connector and the SMA connector) results in significant reduction in insertion loss and signal degradation. Also, the availability of any device with a XENPAK interface as a XAUI tester eliminates any requirement for specialized test equipments. The XAUI Extender card fits in the slot in the test equipment that would normally house the XENPAK module.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for time stamping data packets under controlled conditions. Embodiments of the invention eliminate or minimize the error, caused in existing applications, by the elapsed time between the moment of a data packet generation and a the transmission of the data packet. Embodiments of the invention insert an initial data value, in lieu of the time stamp, into the data packet. Embodiments of the invention delay time stamp insertion to just prior to data transmission. A time stamp is inserted in time stamp location, and using a set of correction equations, embodiments of the invention generate a final error checking value that is attached to the data packet. Embodiments of the invention insert a precision time stamp into the data packet and apply a correction to the error checking value. At the end of the processing of the data packet, the latter contains a time stamp that has been introduced with a high precision, and has a correct error checking value.

Abstract: A testing circuit for use in an inductive coupling system to test communication devices is disclosed. The testing circuit including at least an output transformer having a frequency response for providing a signal having electrical properties compatible with a communication device to be tested; and, a spectral shaping circuit having an input port for receiving a test signal and an output port for providing a shaped test signal, the shaped test signal for being provided via the at least an output transformer to a device under test, the spectral shaping circuit for partitioning the test signal in dependence upon pre-determined spectral ranges thereof and relating to a frequency response of at least an output transformer for shaping the frequency characteristics of the received signal in approximately inverse proportion to the frequency response of the at least an output transformer.

Abstract: An invention is provided for testing telecommunications devices. Broadly speaking, test data is encoded prior to testing a SUT. Then, during testing, the encoded test data is transmitted to the SUT, which processes the test data. The processed test data then is received back from the SUT. The processed test data is decoded in real-time, as opposed to the encoding of the test data, which is performed offline and prior to testing. In addition, a quality of the processed test data is analyzed. Typically, the test data is speech data, which is stored prior to testing the SUT. Optionally, the speech data can be encoded offline using a computer system separate from the testing system.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a mechanism for measuring the performance characteristics of data sent across any communication path configured to carry data between two or more computational devices (e.g., local area networks, wide area network, virtual private networks, wireless networks, or any other type of interconnect mechanism). In a test environment, processing speed is a critical part of producing test equipment that can process network protocol data in real-time. Embodiments of the invention provide network test equipment with a methodology for performing enough lookup processing operations to keep up with the real time frame rates of a gigabit Ethernet network. This is accomplished in accordance with one embodiment of the invention by improving the performance of the connection lookup processor in test devices.