Cable modems/emtas under test

Abstract

A system for testing multiple cable modem/eMTA devices independently and simultaneously using different types of device probes is disclosed. The system includes real-time, bi-directional/asynchronous communication and interaction between the system components.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A universal tester for testing a plurality of cable modems, comprising:
 a plurality of test slots, each test slot of the plurality of test slots configured to host a cable modem of a plurality of cable modems; and   a plurality of sets of test connections, each set of test connections of the plurality of sets of test connections being associated with one test slot of the plurality of test slots,   wherein each set of test connections of the plurality of sets of test connections comprises:
 a wireless networking test connection configured to test a corresponding wireless networking interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections, 
 a local area network test connection configured to test a corresponding local area network interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections, and 
 a MoCA test connection configured to test a corresponding MoCA interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections. 
   
     
     
         2 . The universal tester of  claim 1 , wherein at least one cable modem includes an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) and wherein at least one set of test connections of the plurality of sets of test connections further comprises a foreign exchange station (FXS) probe configured to test a corresponding telephony interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections. 
     
     
         3 . The universal tester of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of test slots comprise faraday cages. 
     
     
         4 . The universal tester of  claim 1 , further comprising a wide area network test connection configured to test a corresponding wide area network interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections. 
     
     
         5 . The universal tester of  claim 1 , wherein the MoCA test connection comprises a MoCA local area network test connection configured to test a corresponding coax interface on the cable modem associated with the test of test connections. 
     
     
         6 . The universal tester of  claim 5 , further comprising a MoCA LAN bridge and a splitter. 
     
     
         7 . The universal tester of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of web sockets, each of the plurality of web sockets associated with one of the plurality of test slots and configured to communicate with a common user interface, wherein the plurality of web sockets enable real-time, bidirectional, and asynchronous communication with the common user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The universal tester of  claim 1 , wherein the universal tester is capable of simultaneously and independently testing the plurality of cable modems and displaying real-time results on the common user interface. 
     
     
         9 . The universal tester of  claim 7 , wherein the test connections are associated with software virtualization containers. 
     
     
         10 . The universal tester of  claim 9 , wherein the software virtualization containers comprise Linux containers. 
     
     
         11 . A method for testing a plurality of cable modems, comprising:
 associating a plurality of test slots with a plurality of cable modems, each test slot of the plurality of test slots having a set of test connections to connect with a cable modem of the plurality of cable modems; and   communicating between a user interface and the plurality of sets of test connections via a plurality of web sockets in a real-time, bidirectional, and asynchronous manner,   wherein each set of test connections
 uses a wireless networking test connection to test a wireless networking interface on the cable modem associated with the test of test connections, 
 uses a local area network test connection to test a local area network interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections, and 
 uses a MoCA test connection to test a coax interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method for testing a plurality of cable modems of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cable modems include an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA), and each set of test connections uses a foreign exchange station (FXS) test connection to test a telephony interface on the cable modem associated with the set of test connections. 
     
     
         13 . The method for testing a plurality of wireless routers of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of test slots comprise faraday cages. 
     
     
         14 . The method for testing a plurality of wireless routers of  claim 11 , wherein the MoCA test connection comprises a MoCA local area network test connection and a MoCA wide area network test connection configured to test the corresponding coax interface on a wireless router of the plurality of wireless routers. 
     
     
         15 . The method for testing a plurality of wireless routers of  claim 14 , further comprising a MoCA LAN bridge and a splitter. 
     
     
         16 . The method for testing a plurality of wireless routers of  claim 11 , wherein the real-time, bidirectional, and asynchronous communication of the plurality of web sockets enables a user to control the testing of the plurality of wireless routers simultaneously but asynchronously and independently of each other. 
     
     
         17 . The method for testing a plurality of wireless routers of  claim 11 , wherein the test connections are associated with software virtualization containers. 
     
     
         18 . The method for testing a plurality of wireless routers of  claim 17 , wherein the software virtualization containers comprise Linux containers.