Patent ID: 7272756

Claim:
A method of generating a modified test pattern for testing communications equipment, said pattern being modified with respect to a baseline pattern having a baseline consecutive identical digit portion with m consecutive identical bits and a baseline pseudo random bit sequence portion with p bits of a baseline pseudo random bit sequence, said method comprising the steps of: generating a test consecutive identical digit portion comprising n consecutive identical bits; and generating a test pseudo random bit sequence portion comprising q bits of a test pseudo random bit sequence; wherein: at least one of said test consecutive identical digit portion and said test pseudo random bit sequence portion is modified with respect to said baseline consecutive identical digit portion and said baseline pseudo random bit sequence portion, respectively, said modification being performed to enhance diagnostic value of said modified test pattern with respect to said baseline pattern; and n is greater than m such that said test consecutive identical digit portion is longer than said baseline consecutive identical digit portion, and such that bit locking ability of said communications equipment may be subjected to a more rigorous test condition via said modified test pattern as compared to said baseline test pattern.