Patents by Inventor Douglas Grinkemeyer

Douglas Grinkemeyer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240235979
    Abstract: A testing method is provided for diagnosing faults in a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) local area network (LAN) including a WiFi segment. The method including, responsive to selection of a test sequence that includes testing of the WiFi segment, causing display of instructional images that depict how an operator couples the test hardware to a wireless component, invoking the test hardware to perform a test by automatically selecting, in dependence upon a problem generically identified by a user, a test and invoking the test, and automatically evaluating results returned by the test, without user interpretation of the results returned, to determine at least one of (i) whether to report a recommendation to replace/repair an identified component, and (ii) whether to (a) repeat the causing display of instructional images, (b) invoke the test hardware to perform an additional test and (c) automatically evaluate results returned by the additional test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey
  • Patent number: 11863420
    Abstract: A testing method is provided for diagnosing faults in a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) local area network (LAN) including a WiFi segment. The method including, responsive to selection of a test sequence that includes testing of the WiFi segment, causing display of instructional images that depict how an operator couples the test hardware to a wireless component, invoking the test hardware to perform a test by automatically selecting, in dependence upon a problem generically identified by a user, a test and invoking the test, and automatically evaluating results returned by the test, without user interpretation of the results returned, to determine at least one of (i) whether to report a recommendation to replace/repair an identified component, and (ii) whether to (a) repeat the causing display of instructional images, (b) invoke the test hardware to perform an additional test and (c) automatically evaluate results returned by the additional test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey
  • Publication number: 20230409456
    Abstract: A method of a test controller controlling a test platform to run test applications is provided, wherein an authenticated connection exists between the test platform and a phone home service through which secure tunnel information for the test controller has been obtained. The method including the test controller (i) transmitting an instruction to the test platform over an initiated first secure tunnel between the test platform and the test controller, and (ii) controlling the test platform to perform a requested test using the test application using an established second secure tunnel between (a) the test platform and (b) the test controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dailey, Kevin Myers, Daniel Abarbanel, Douglas Grinkemeyer
  • Patent number: 11762748
    Abstract: A method of a test controller controlling a test platform to run test applications is provided, wherein an authenticated connection exists between the test platform and a phone home service through which secure tunnel information for the test controller has been obtained. The method including the test controller (i) generating an instruction to load and prepare a test application, the instruction including a URL for a repository that stores the test application as a component executable on the test platform, (ii) transmitting the generated instruction to the test platform over an initiated first secure tunnel between the test platform and the test controller, and (iii) controlling the test platform to perform a requested test using the test application using an established second secure tunnel between (a) the test platform or the test application and (b) the test controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey, Kevin Myers, Daniel Abarbanel
  • Publication number: 20220138067
    Abstract: A method of a test controller controlling a test platform to run test applications is provided, wherein an authenticated connection exists between the test platform and a phone home service through which secure tunnel information for the test controller has been obtained. The method including the test controller (i) generating an instruction to load and prepare a test application, the instruction including a URL for a repository that stores the test application as a component executable on the test platform, (ii) transmitting the generated instruction to the test platform over an initiated first secure tunnel between the test platform and the test controller, and (iii) controlling the test platform to perform a requested test using the test application using an established second secure tunnel between (a) the test platform or the test application and (b) the test controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey, Kevin Myers, Daniel Abarbanel
  • Patent number: 11258679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to testing signals on a coaxial home network that carries a digital video signal. It has direct application to testing Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) standards-compliant networks and applies to similar networks such as Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. An embedded expert system can guide an inexperienced operator through the process of evaluating and resolving problems with a home network with little operator input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SPIRENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey
  • Patent number: 11226883
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to implementing a virtual test platform (VTP) and running virtual test applications (VTAs) from an unsecured location. Using a phone home service, the VTP establishes a secure tunnel connection with a test controller. The VTP receives configuration information for a VTA from the test controller. If the VTA is not stored on the VTP, the VTP retrieves the VTA from a repository specified by the test controller. The configuration information from the test controller includes information needed for the VTP to set up a second secure tunnel. The VTP establishes the second secure tunnel and launches the VTA. The VTP relays information sent through the second tunnel to the VTA, and also relays messages from the VTA back to the test controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey, Kevin Myers, Daniel Abarbanel
  • Patent number: 10742523
    Abstract: Some tests can be implemented as services. A network provider can deploy (“push”) a test to a container resident on one or more devices of the network, either at installation, periodically, or when a problem is reported. When a customer reports an issue, services running on one or more devices of the customer's installation can cause the containerized tests to be run. For example, the central office of the network provider can initiate a request to run the test through the internet (or other connection) by the container. In some implementations, there is an overlap of the service based test set with traditional technician initiated test sets forming a hybrid testing architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Grinkemeyer
  • Publication number: 20200233768
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to implementing a virtual test platform (VTP) and running virtual test applications (VTAs) from an unsecured location. Using a phone home service, the VTP establishes a secure tunnel connection with a test controller. The VTP receives configuration information for a VTA from the test controller. If the VTA is not stored on the VTP, the VTP retrieves the VTA from a repository specified by the test controller. The configuration information from the test controller includes information needed for the VTP to set up a second secure tunnel. The VTP establishes the second secure tunnel and launches the VTA. The VTP relays information sent through the second tunnel to the VTA, and also relays messages from the VTA back to the test controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey, Kevin Myers, Daniel Abarbanel
  • Patent number: 10613958
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to implementing a virtual test platform (VTP) and running virtual test applications (VTAs) from an unsecured location. Using a phone home service, the VTP establishes a secure tunnel connection with a test controller. The VTP receives configuration information for a VTA from the test controller. If the VTA is not stored on the VTP, the VTP retrieves the VTA from a repository specified by the test controller. The configuration information from the test controller includes information needed for the VTP to set up a second secure tunnel. The VTP establishes the second secure tunnel and launches the VTA. The VTP relays information sent through the second tunnel to the VTA, and also relays messages from the VTA back to the test controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey, Kevin Myers, Daniel Abarbanel
  • Patent number: 10448007
    Abstract: The operation of testing device for troubleshooting failures in a MoCA LAN system is disclosed that discovers devices on a MoCA LAN. These automatically discovered devices are then sent a large number of data packets that elicit a response from the recipient. The packets transmitted for which no corresponding response is received are counted as lost packets, and the packet loss results for each tested device enables identifying the source of a failure in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dailey, Douglas Grinkemeyer
  • Publication number: 20190278681
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to implementing a virtual test platform (VTP) and running virtual test applications (VTAs) from an unsecured location. Using a phone home service, the VTP establishes a secure tunnel connection with a test controller. The VTP receives configuration information for a VTA from the test controller. If the VTA is not stored on the VTP, the VTP retrieves the VTA from a repository specified by the test controller. The configuration information from the test controller includes information needed for the VTP to set up a second secure tunnel. The VTP establishes the second secure tunnel and launches the VTA. The VTP relays information sent through the second tunnel to the VTA, and also relays messages from the VTA back to the test controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey, Kevin Myers, Daniel Abarbanel
  • Patent number: 10382314
    Abstract: The present invention relates to testing signals on a coaxial home network that carries a digital video signal. It has direct application to testing Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) standards-compliant networks and applies to similar networks such as Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. An embedded expert system can guide an inexperienced operator through the process of evaluating and resolving problems with a home network with little operator input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Grinkemeyer
  • Patent number: 10348602
    Abstract: A tester system described herein enables a user (e.g., a field technician) to efficiently and conveniently upgrade, evaluate and troubleshoot customer premises networks and equipment. The tester system includes a dedicated tester device that is wirelessly coupled to a handheld device. In response to user input, the handheld device remotely controls the dedicated tester device to execute a testing routine to evaluate one or more customer premises wired and/or wireless networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey
  • Patent number: 10129102
    Abstract: Some tests can be implemented as services. A network provider can deploy (“push”) a test to a container resident on one or more devices of the network, either at installation, periodically, or when a problem is reported. When a customer reports an issue, services running on one or more devices of the customer's installation can cause the containerized tests to be run. For example, the central office of the network provider can initiate a request to run the test through the internet (or other connection) by the container. In some implementations, there is an overlap of the service based test set with traditional technician initiated test sets forming a hybrid testing architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Grinkemeyer
  • Patent number: 10033618
    Abstract: A tester system described herein enables a user (e.g., a field technician) to efficiently and conveniently upgrade, evaluate and troubleshoot customer premises networks and equipment. The tester system includes a dedicated tester device that is wirelessly coupled to a handheld device. In response to user input, the handheld device remotely controls the dedicated tester device to execute a testing routine to evaluate one or more customer premises wired and/or wireless networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SPIRENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey
  • Publication number: 20170034506
    Abstract: The operation of testing device for troubleshooting failures in a MoCA LAN system is disclosed that discovers devices on a MoCA LAN. These automatically discovered devices are then sent a large number of data packets that elicit a response from the recipient. The packets transmitted for which no corresponding response is received are counted as lost packets, and the packet loss results for each tested device enables identifying the source of a failure in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Spirent Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dailey, Douglas Grinkemeyer
  • Patent number: 8146125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to testing signals on a coaxial home network that carries a digital video signal. It has direct application to testing so-called Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) standards-compliant networks and applies to similar networks. In one mode, a computerized device joins the MoCA network and relays signals intended for a set-top-box to the STB. In another mode, the computerized device joins the MoCA network instead of the STB and tests signal strength, attenuation and similar physical layer characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey
  • Publication number: 20110001833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to testing signals on a coaxial home network that carries a digital video signal. It has direct application to testing so-called Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) standards-compliant networks and applies to similar networks. In one mode, a computerized device joins the MoCA network and relays signals intended for a set-top-box to the STB. In another mode, the computerized device joins the MoCA network instead of the STB and tests signal strength, attenuation and similar physical layer characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas Grinkemeyer, David Dailey