Importance

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Abstract

A system and method are provided for providing non-disruptive diagnostics between a first device and a second device in communication through a virtual circuit of a frame relay network. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the method defines a diagnostic channel by assigning it a unique channel address, transmits a test command from the first device to the second device across the unique channel address, monitors the unique channel address for a response to the test command, and then evaluates the response to determine whether it reflects a fault in the virtual circuit. In accordance with one embodiment, the test command could be a pattern message, a connectivity request, a start send pattern command, a start loopback command, a start monitor pattern command, and a start send pattern command. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a number of differing test commands, patterns, and sequences could be employed, consistent with the concepts and teachings of the present invention, which provides for such testing to be conducted over a dedicated logical channel and, therefore, non-disruptively of the other data and channels multiplexed in the single virtual circuit.

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First Claim