Patent ID: 8732604

Claim:
A test device for testing a cable network, comprising: an input port, for connecting to the cable network; a testing apparatus coupled to the input port, for performing tests of the cable network; a display; a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the testing apparatus and the display; and a graphical user interface (GUI) for inputting user commands to the CPU and for conveying results of the tests by displaying them on the display; wherein the GUI comprises a set of user-selectable icons including first and second user-selectable icons, wherein the first user-selectable icon is for representing a network problem category, wherein the first icon has a graphical feature corresponding to the network problem category, wherein the CPU is suitably programmed to cause the testing apparatus to perform a first test of the cable network upon selecting the first icon by a user of the test device; wherein the second user-selectable icon is for representing a second test of the cable network, wherein the second icon has a graphical feature corresponding to the second test, wherein the CPU is suitably programmed to cause the testing apparatus to perform the second test of the cable network upon selecting the second icon by the user; wherein the second user-selectable icon has a guiding feature indicative of a current status of the first test, for guiding the user whether to select the second icon to cause the test device to perform the second test, in dependence upon the current status of the first test; and wherein a first subset of the set of icons is for representing high-priority and low-priority tests, wherein icons of the first subset of icons corresponding to the low-priority tests are not selectable until all the high-priority tests are completed, wherein the priority status of the first subset of icons is managed from a head end of the cable network and is communicated to the test device.