Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test home networks

Abstract

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test home networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a command from a wirelessly coupled test controller, communicative coupling a communication module to a home network in response to the command, performing a test of the home network via the communication module, and returning a result of the test to the test controller via a wireless signal.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a command from a wirelessly coupled test controller;   communicative coupling a communication module to a home network in response to the command;   performing a test of the home network via the communication module; and   returning a result of the test to the test controller via a wireless signal.   
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the home network comprises a residential gateway to communicatively couple the home network to an external network, the test being performed by other than the residential gateway. 
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a potential problem in the home network based on the result; and   communicating the potential problem to the test controller via a wireless signal.   
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the test controller comprises at least one of a mobile handheld device, a laptop, a tablet computer, or a smartphone. 
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising storing the result on at least one of an inserted non-volatile storage device or a universal serial bus device. 
     
     
         6 . A home network test server comprising:
 a wireless communication interface to receive a command from a test controller via a first wireless signal;   a second communication interface to establish a communicative coupling of the home network test server to a home network in response to the command; and   a communication module to perform a test of the home network, a result of the test being provided to the test controller by sending a second wireless signal via the wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         7 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the home network comprises a residential gateway to communicatively couple the home network to an external network, the residential gateway in a different housing than the home network test server. 
     
     
         8 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a processor to identify a potential problem in the home network based on the result, the potential problem being communicated to the test controller in a third wireless signal via the wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         9 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the test controller comprises at least one of a mobile handheld device, a laptop, a tablet computer, or a smartphone. 
     
     
         10 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a non-volatile storage device to store the result. 
     
     
         11 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication interface comprises at least one of a Bluetooth transceiver or a wireless local area network transceiver. 
     
     
         12 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the second communication interface comprises a home phoneline networking alliance transceiver and an F-connector. 
     
     
         13 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the second communication interface comprises a wireless local area network transceiver. 
     
     
         14 . A home network test server as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the second communication interface comprises an Ethernet transceiver. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible article of manufacture storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 receive a command from a wirelessly coupled test controller;   communicatively couple a communication module to a home network in response to the command;   perform a test of the home network via the communication module; and   communicate a result of the test to the test controller via a wireless signal   
     
     
         16 . A tangible article of manufacture as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the home network comprises a residential gateway to communicatively couple the home network to an external network, the test being performed by other than the residential gateway. 
     
     
         17 . A tangible article of manufacture as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:
 identify a potential problem in the home network based on the result; and   communicate the potential problem to the test controller via a wireless signal.   
     
     
         18 . A tangible article of manufacture as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the test controller comprises at least one of a mobile handheld device, a laptop, a tablet computer, or a smartphone. 
     
     
         19 . A tangible article of manufacture as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to store the result on at least one of an inserted non-volatile storage device or a universal serial bus device 
     
     
         20 - 45 . (canceled)