Voice over internet protocol network test device and method

Abstract

The invention includes a device and a method for testing a communication network that includes an Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. The inventive device includes a user interface for communicating results of a test, a transceiver for allowing the test device to communicate with a telecommunications network, and a digital signal processor for reformatting a communication signal to be tested by the device. The digital signal processor may include at least one coder/decoder that uses various compression protocols including wherein the digital signal processor uses at least one of the following data compression techniques: G.711a-law, G711μ-law, G.720, G.723.1, G.726, G.728, G.729, G.729A, and G.729AB2. The transceiver also may be a power line modem. The inventive device may include a processor, random access memory, read only memory, a user interface, and a network interface. The inventive method for testing the VoIP network includes accessing a telecommunications network that includes the VoIP network, conducting tests on the VoIP network using a butt set device, and displaying results of the test on the user interface located on the test device. The present invention may also comprise a power line communication VoIP network telephone.

1 . A portable communication device for communicating over a power line communication (PLC) VoIP network, comprising: 
 a user interface comprising a manual input device, an audio input device, and an audio output device;    a digital signal processor in communication with said user interface;    a transceiver in communication with said digital signal processor and configured to be communicatively coupled to the PLC VoIP network;    wherein said digital signal processor is configured to convert a first analog signal from said audio input device to a first digital data and said transceiver is configured to transmit said first digital data via the PLC VoIP network; and    wherein said transceiver is configured to receive a second digital data from the PLC VoIP network and said digital signal processor is configured to convert the second digital data to a second analog signal for production by said audio output device.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a processor communicatively coupled to said transceiver; and    a memory in communication with said processor.    
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said digital signal processor comprises a codec.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processor uses at least one of the following data compression techniques: G.711a-law, G711μ-law, G.720, G.723.1, G.726, G.278, G.729, G.729A, and G.729AB2.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises a DTMF encoder in communication with said manual input device.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a RJ-11 interface in communication with said digital signal processor.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said transceiver comprises a media access controller.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is a power line modem.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said power line modem comprises a media access controller.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein information relating to a plurality of tests is stored in said memory.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said information comprises an algorithm.  
     
     
         13 . A portable communication device for communicating over a power line, comprising: 
 a user interface comprising a manual input device, an audio input device, and an audio output device;    a voice gateway in communication with said user interface; and    a power line modem in communication with said voice gateway and configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line.    
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said user interface comprises a DTMF encoder in communication with said manual input device.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said power line mode comprises a media access controller.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a wall socket plug communicatively coupled to said power line modem.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a processor communicatively coupled to said gateway; and    a memory in communication with said processor.    
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein information relating to a plurality of tests is stored in said memory.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said information comprises an algorithm.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said gateway uses at least one of the following data compression techniques: G.711a-law, G711μ-law, G.720, G.723.1, G.726, G.278, G.729, G.729A, and G.729AB2.  
     
     
         21 . A portable communication device for communicating over a power line, comprising: 
 an enclosure;    a voice gateway disposed in said enclosure; and    a power line modem having a media access controller disposed in said enclosure and in communication with said voice gateway and configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line.    
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a user interface having a DTMF encoder in communication with a manual input device.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a wall socket plug communicatively coupled to said power line modem.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a processor communicatively coupled to said gateway;    a memory in communication with said processor; and    wherein said memory includes a plurality of test algorithms stored therein.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said gateway uses at least one of the following data compression techniques: G.711a-law, G711μ-law, G.720, G.723.1, G.726, G.278, G.729, G.729A, and G.729AB2.