Method and apparatus to test a data path in a network
US8085675B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L43/0811
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for testing a data path in a network is described. The method may comprise creating a closed loop in the data path so that test data (e.g., fixed set of known data) sent from a local network device to a downstream network device is returned by the downstream network device. Thereafter, the test data is injected into the closed loop and selectively extracted from the loop. The test data may then be processed. The method may create the closed loop by closing a first loopback mechanism at the local network device and closing a second loopback mechanism at the downstream network device. In an example embodiment, the method determines whether the identified errors exceed a threshold number of errors. The method may be utilized to determine if fiber connectivity of the data path has failed when the identified errors exceed the threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.