Roy D Feldt

US Patent:

63013363, Oct 9, 2001

Filed:

Mar 26, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/048409

Inventors:

Robert Branton - Farmers Branch TX
John Mark DeMoss - The Colony TX
Roy Feldt - Rowlett TX
Mark Lamb - Plano TX
Rick Sheffield - Rowlett TX

Assignee:

MCI Communications Corporation - Washington DC

International Classification:

H04M 124
H04M 322

US Classification:

379 2901

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for testing network elements within a communications system. A test is initiated at a data processing system located at a first site by the selection of one or more network elements for testing. In initiating the test, a communications link is established between the data processing system located at the first site and a network element located at a second site. The network element is monitored during testing of the network element using the communications link. The information is displayed on the data processing system in the form of a web page. Monitoring of the network element is paused from the data processing system in response to detecting an error originating from the network element. Monitoring of the network element is restarted from the data processing system in response to a correction of the error. These steps of monitoring, pausing, and restarting are repeated until a selected amount of time has passed without an occurrence of an error originating from the second network element.