Core-Network Media Bridge for Remote OTA Audio Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional audio quality testing in telephone networks requires physical proximity to the transport segment, which is costly, time-consuming, and often inaccessible, especially in complex and modern networks.
Innovation Solution
A media bridge is created between two calls, one over the transport medium and one to the tester, located in the core network, allowing remote audio testing without travel, using a bridge facilitator to establish a bi-directional audio path between communication endpoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a technician physically travels to the transport segment location to perform audio quality testing, then the test can be conducted at the actual testing site, but the testing process becomes time-consuming and costly due to travel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A media bridge is introduced as an intermediary component in the core network that connects the transport segment under test to a remote tester. The media bridge receives audio from the transport segment, processes it, and relays it to the tester located anywhere in the network, eliminating the need for the technician to physically travel to the transport segment location while maintaining accurate audio quality measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical travel system (technician physically moving to the testing site) with an electronic audio relay system. Instead of requiring physical presence at the transport segment location, the audio signal is electronically captured, transmitted through the network infrastructure, and delivered to the remote tester, substituting mechanical displacement with electronic signal transmission
2Measurement precision
If a technician physically travels to the transport segment location to perform audio quality testing, then the test can be conducted at the actual testing site, but travel costs and access difficulties increase
Solution Approach 1:
The media bridge serves as a mediator that decouples the tester from the physical location of the transport segment. By inserting this intermediary device in the network path, the tester can access the audio signal remotely through standard network connections, eliminating barriers related to travel costs, security clearances, and physical accessibility of the transport segment location
Solution Approach 2:
The media bridge creates a copy of the audio signal from the transport segment and transmits this copy to the remote tester. This allows the tester to evaluate audio quality without needing physical access to the original transport segment, as the audio copy contains all necessary information for accurate assessment
3Measurement precision
If traditional physical testing methods are used, then comprehensive audio quality evaluation can be performed, but multiple tests require multiple trips to different locations
Solution Approach 1:
The media bridge provides a universal testing interface that can evaluate multiple transport segments from a single remote location. Instead of requiring separate trips for each transport segment test, the same remote tester can access and evaluate numerous different transport segments through the media bridge, making the testing system multi-functional and significantly improving productivity
Data Source
AI summary
The technology includes a method, computer medium, and system for remote testing over-the-air (OTA) audio quality using a test platform positioned at core network, the test platform comprising first and second cellular handsets and bridging logic that interconnects, controls, and bridges the first and second cellular handsets. The method includes triggering the bridging logic. The bridging logic initiates a first call over the first cellular handset to a tester, and initiates a second call over the second cellular handset to a destination, wherein the second call is initiated over-the-air. The bridging logic and the first and second cellular handsets are positioned in a location that causes routing by a cellular network of the first call over a segment under test. The bridging logic bridging audio between the first and the second calls, including relaying audio. The tester determines that the second call was established based on the relayed audio.