Patent ID: 7564798

Claim:
A traffic checker suitable for use in testing and evaluating aspects of a high speed communications network, the traffic checker comprising: a plurality of link connections; a display; and a plurality of components configured for communication with the plurality of link connections, the plurality of components being compatible with multiple protocols and comprising: a monitor module, comprising: a retimer configured to receive and retime a data signal by way of at least one of the link connections; at least one monitor submodule with access to the both the data signal and the retimed data signal and configured to communicate with the display; a timestamp submodule; and a first log in communication with the at least one monitor submodule and the timestamp submodule, wherein errors identified in at least one of the retimed data signal or the data signal are filed in the first log and timestamped with the timestamp submodule; and a test module in communication with the display and comprising: a transmitter in communication with one of the link connections; a compare engine; a pattern memory in communication with the transmitter and the compare engine, wherein the transmitter transmits a particular test pattern from the pattern memory and wherein the compare engine determines an effect of the communications network on the test pattern; a second log; an error calculator in communication with the compare engine and with the second log; and a timestamp module in communication with the second log.