Site link tester via unique phone emulation

Abstract

Remote on-demand site link testing is provided. A site link tester (SLT) system includes an SLT connected to a customer's VoIP phone system. The SLT is configured to communicate with a front end client application operating remotely on a user's computing device. The packet-capture application receives instructions from the client application to perform a packet capture in association with the SLT's network interface and/or to operate as an emulated VoIP endpoint and conduct a test call (e.g., to confirm the customer's VoIP system's compliance with 911-associated legislation or to troubleshoot a VoIP issue). Results of the packet capture may be sent to the client application and analyzed for remotely diagnosing and troubleshooting VoIP-related problems. Using the SLT system, the technician is enabled to perform 911-associated legislation compliance and diagnose VoIP issues on-demand from a remote location, which can reduce or eliminate the need for a technician to be on-site.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for providing remote on-demand site link testing, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to:
 establish a communication session with a remote site link tester operatively connected to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system at a customer site; 
 via the communication session, instruct a phone emulation application included in the site link tester to initiate a test call with a test call endpoint; 
 via the communication session, instruct a packet-capture application included in the site link tester to perform a packet capture process associated with the test call; 
 receive packet capture results from the site link tester; and 
 cause the packet capture results to be displayed in a user interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a softphone client configured to instruct the phone emulation application included in the site link tester. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the softphone client is configured to:
 provide a phone user interface via which a user may enter or select a phone number or IP address of the test call endpoint;   receive an entered or selected phone number or IP address of the test call endpoint; and   provide the entered or selected phone number or IP address of the test call endpoint in instructions provided to the phone emulation application to initiate the test call.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a packet capture client configured to instruct the packet-capture application included in the site link tester. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the packet capture client is further configured to:
 analyze packet capture data;   determine a packet error; and   provide, via the user interface, an indication of the packet error.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the packet capture client is configured to analyze the packet capture data in real time. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication session includes a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) link via which a user of the system is enabled to verify audio quality of the test call via an operatively connected speaker and converse with a user of the test call endpoint via an operatively connected microphone. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the test call endpoint is a Public Safety Answering Point; and   via the SIP link, the system enables the user of the system to:
 verify audio quality of the test call; 
 verify the system is able to dial 911 directly; and 
 verify the Public Safety Answering Point receives correct dispatchable location information. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein prior to establishing the communication session, the system is further configured to:
 receive a selection of the site link tester from a listing of site link testers; and   use an IP address associated with the selected site link tester to establish the communication session.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured to:
 receive a selection to schedule the packet capture process for a date and time; and   at the date and time, establish the communication session with the site link tester.   
     
     
         11 . A system for providing remote on-demand site link testing, the system comprising:
 a phone emulation application;   a packet-capture application;   a network interface connected to a local area network at a customer site;   at least one processor; and   a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to:
 in response to receiving instructions from a front-end application operating on a remote computing device to initiate a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) test call to a test call endpoint, initiate the test call to the test call endpoint using the phone emulation application; 
 in response to receiving instructions from the front-end application to initiate a packet capture process on the network interface in association with the test call, initiate the packet capture process using the packet-capture application; 
 capture packets exchanged via the network interface in association with the test call; and 
 transmit packet capture results to the front-end application for display in a user interface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is registered as a VoIP endpoint of a VoIP system at the customer site and comprises an IP address. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the packet capture results include a message flow of the test call. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the packet-capture application is further configured to:
 analyze the captured packets; and   provide packet capture metrics.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein in analyzing the captured packets, the packet-capture application is further configured to:
 determine a packet error; and   include an indication of the packet error in the packet capture results.   
     
     
         16 . A method of providing remote on-demand site link testing, the system comprising:
 establishing a communication session with a remote site link tester operatively connected to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system;   via the communication session, instructing a phone emulation application included in the site link tester to initiate a test call with a test call endpoint;   via the communication session, instructing a packet-capture application included in the site link tester to perform a packet capture process associated with the test call;   receiving packet capture results from the site link tester; and   causing the packet capture results to be displayed in a user interface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a phone user interface via which a user may enter or select a phone number or IP address of the test call endpoint;   receiving an entered or selected phone number or IP address of the test call endpoint; and   providing the entered or selected phone number or IP address of the test call endpoint in instructions provided to the phone emulation application to initiate the test call.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 providing the entered or selected phone number or IP address of the test call endpoint comprises provided the phone number or IP address of a Public Safety Answering Point; and   via the communication session, enabling a user to
 verify audio quality of the test call; 
 verify the system is able to dial 911 directly; and 
 verify the Public Safety Answering Point receives correct dispatchable location information. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 analyzing packet capture data;   determining a packet error; and   providing, via the user interface, an indication of the packet error.