Patent ID: 7187653

Claim:
In a system including an integrated testing and analysis system (INTAS), a broadband network management system (BNMS), and an element management system (EMS) for a data network, a method for performing a logical loopback test for a circuit in the data network, comprising: receiving a first command message from the LNTAS including information required for communicating with the EMS; mapping the circuit to a circuit identification label recognizable by the EMS; generating and sending a second command message to the EMS with instructions for setting the circuit to a specified state such that a switch within the data network connects back to itself; receiving a message from the EMS indicating that communication with the switch was successful; generating and sending a third command message to the EMS with further instructions for communicating with the switch so that the switch transmits information in the data network; and querying the EMS for data related to the transmitted information.