Media Bridge Routing for Remote Transport Audio Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional audio quality testing in telephone networks requires physical presence of technicians at the transport segment, which is costly, time-consuming, and often infeasible due to travel restrictions or inaccessible locations, and does not allow for simultaneous testing of multiple segments.
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 by establishing a bi-directional audio path without the need for physical travel, using bridging units like Spirent E10 or Virtual Test Agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If technicians physically travel to transport segments for audio quality testing, then testing can be performed at the source, but travel time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a media bridge as an intermediary component that connects the transport segment under test to the tester's location. This bridge creates a virtual connection allowing audio quality testing to be performed remotely without the technician physically traveling to the transport segment, thus eliminating travel time while maintaining testing accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the transport segment connection by establishing a media bridge that replicates the audio path. Instead of requiring physical presence at the original location, the system creates a virtual representation that can be accessed remotely, enabling testing without travel
2Measurement precision
If technicians physically travel to each transport segment, then comprehensive testing coverage is achieved, but productivity decreases due to sequential testing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The media bridge system provides universal access to multiple transport segments from a single remote location. The tester can connect to and test multiple different transport segments without relocating, enabling comprehensive testing coverage while maintaining high productivity through the ability to switch between segments instantly
Solution Approach 2:
The media bridge acts as a universal intermediary that can be configured to connect to various transport segments. This single intermediary system enables the tester to access and test multiple segments sequentially or simultaneously from one location, eliminating the need for repeated travel and significantly increasing the number of tests that can be performed in a single session
3Measurement precision
If technicians access remote or restricted locations for testing, then complete network coverage is tested, but accessibility issues arise due to security restrictions or difficult terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The media bridge serves as an intermediary that eliminates the need for physical access to restricted or difficult-to-reach locations. By creating a virtual connection that routes through accessible network points, the system enables testing of transport segments in secure or remote locations without requiring the technician to physically access those areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the connection to restricted locations, allowing testers to access and evaluate transport segments in secure or difficult-to-reach areas through virtual interfaces. This virtual representation can be accessed from any location with network connectivity, completely bypassing physical accessibility constraints
Data Source
AI summary
The technology includes a method, computer medium, and system for testing transport audio quality irrespective of tester location. The technology involves a virtual test agent (VTA) selecting a Mobility Management Engine (MME) for routing a second call through a Serving Gateway (SGW) assigned by the MME for audio communication with a tester terminus over a transport segment under test, so a tester can evaluate audio quality over the transport segment under test. The VTA makes a first call to a tester appliance, and makes a second call, over the transport segment under test, to the tester terminus by signaling the MME. The VTA bridges the first and second calls by relaying audio during a test of subjective audio quality, whereby the bridging assures that the relayed audio in the second call continues to be relayed over the transport segment under test and not re-routed by core network components.