Patent ID: 6996067

Claim:
A data transmission system comprising: (i) a remote computer including (a) a far end modem, (b) a display providing a visual indication of a downstream data rate received and an upstream data rate transmitted by said data modem, and (c) a browser providing a user interface with a remote network; and (ii) a transmission facility connecting said modem to a central facility; said central facility including: (a) a local modem, (b) a packet switch connected to said local modern so as to provide therethrough bidirectional digital communications with said remote computer, and (c) a test server connected to said packet switch and configured to transmit and receive respective predetermined downstream and upstream messages to and from said remote computer, said test server including multiple sets of input parameters each set optimized for testing a particular speed of data communication service, said test server further configured to download executable code corresponding to a selected one of said sets of input parameters, said executable code including an applet to said remote computer, said applet executed by said remote computer for providing said visual indication of said downstream and upstream data rates wherein said visual indication of said downstream and upstream data rates is calculated based on transmissions of said predetermined downstream and upstream messages, said remote computer transmitting an indication of said downstream and upstream data rates to said test server for storage thereon.