Remote-control testing of dedicated circuits, using a microcontroller and a graphical user interface

Abstract

Most data communication test equipment today has a remote-control interface, but is never used to benefit the people and companies using such equipment. This is largely due to the fact that the software and hardware needed to control the test equipment, is very expensive. In addition, many times the test systems are not a hundred percent applicable to every company's need. Furthermore, without a remote-control test system, standby personnel have to drive to a centralized test centre to perform tests every time an after-hour fault was logged. Telkom SA needed a system for Diginet whereby testing could be performed from a remote location - a system that is also cost effective enough to implement on a national basis. A system consisting of two parts was designed, namely: • A microcontroller, which is responsible for switching and controlling of the remote test desk. • A Graphical User Interface, which is responsible for interfacing the remote test desk to the user over a remote distance. The research is carried out in four phases: • Hardware: The hardware consists of a microcontroller, a relay board and a logic multiplexer. The hardware replaces one complete local test desk. The controller that is used in the design is an Intel 80C32 that contains an onboard asynchronous port which makes it possible to communicate to it with an RS232 interface. This interface is connected to a modem or a Cisco® Terminal server that makes it possible to do remote control. The software for the controller was developed with a cross compiler. • The second phase was to develop a graphical-user interface whereby any person could control the hardware from a remote distance. The software would also be responsible for controlling the remote test equipment. All of the development was done on the Microsoft® Visual C++ compiler, which made it possible to execute the interface on a Windows 3.l® or Windows95® platform. • After the initial designs of both the hardware and the software phases, tests were performed on actual circuits to see if the system worked. After satisfactory results were obtained, the project was demonstrated at numerous occasions to Telkom management. • The last phase of this project, which is beyond the scope of this document, will be to deploy the system country-wide within Telkom SA. Knowledge was gained in the following areas: • Remote control systems. • Microcontrollers. • Programming languages. • Graphical User Interfaces. This research project concludes that it is possible to do remote testing in a manner that is cost-effective and of advantage to all telecommunication companies using such a system.