System and method for diagnosing a POTS port

• US 20020064150A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advent IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Verso Verilink LLC
• Inventors: Henry, Blake A., Pines, Philip J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2209 for lines also used for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method for diagnosing Voice-over-Broadband circuitry including an Integrated Access Device. The method includes receiving a request to initiate diagnosis, pulsing source voltages of tip and ring amplifiers in the circuitry, aggregating signal line noise resulting from the pulsing, analyzing the aggregated noise for hallmark indicia, and reporting findings of the analysis.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing VoB circuitry including an IAD, comprising:

receiving a request to initiate diagnosis;

pulsing source voltages of tip and ring amplifiers in the circuitry;

aggregating signal line noise resulting from the pulsing;

analyzing the aggregated noise for hallmark indicia; and

reporting findings of the analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing step comprises:

pulsing the tip and ring amplifiers'"'"' source voltage from a forward disconnect state to a VBAT2 state in a frequency sweep mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hallmark indicia for having no POTS device connected to the IAD is:

line noise amplitude surpassing a predefined threshold.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the hallmark indicia for having no POTS device connected to the IAD is:

line noise amplitude not increasing with decreasing pulse frequency.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the hallmark indicia for a disabled VBAT2 power supply is:

line noise amplitude falling below a predefined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing step comprises:

pulsing the tip and ring amplifiers'"'"' source voltage from a VBAT2 state to a VBAT1 state in a fixed frequency mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the hallmark indicia for a disabled ringer supply (VBAT1) is:

line noise amplitude falling below a predefined threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the request from programming logic internal to the IAD.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the request via a broadband line from a source external to the IAD.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the request via an RS232 port from a source external to the IAD.

11. A system for remotely diagnosing VoB circuitry, comprising:

a broadband line; and

an IAD connected to the broadband line, and including

an MPC connected to the broadband line;

a CODEC connected to the MPC;

a SLIC connected to the CODEC, and having

tip and ring amplifiers; and

a switching circuit for pulsing source voltage of the tip and ring amplifiers;

VBAT1 and VBAT2 power sources connected to the SLIC;

a POTS port connected to the SLIC and providing a connection to a POTS device; and

a signal line, which serves to interconnect the broadband line, MPC, CODEC, SLIC, and POTS port;

wherein the MPC executes a software algorithm with the following steps;

controlling the switching circuit into pulsing source voltage of the tip and ring amplifiers in predetermined patterns that will cause noise in the signal line;

analyzing the noise for hallmark indicia; and

reporting findings of the analysis.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controlling step further comprises:

pulsing the tip and ring amplifiers'"'"' source voltage from a forward disconnect state to a VBAT2 state in a frequency sweep mode.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the hallmark indicia for having no POTS device connected to the IAD is:

the line noise amplitude surpassing a predefined threshold.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the hallmark indicia for having no POTS device connected to the IAD is:

line noise amplitude does not increase with decreasing pulse frequency.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the hallmark indicia for having a disabled VBAT2 power supply is:

the line noise amplitude falling below a predefined threshold.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the controlling step further comprises:

pulsing tip and ring amplifiers'"'"' source voltage from a VBAT2 state to a VBAT1 state in a fixed frequency mode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the hallmark indicia for a disabled ringer supply (VBAT1) is:

line noise amplitude falling below a predefined threshold.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the MPC commences execution of the software algorithm steps per a programming logic instruction internal to the IAD.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the MPC commences execution of the software algorithm steps per instruction received via a broadband line from a source external to the IAD.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the MPC commences execution of the software algorithm steps per instruction received via an RS232 port from a source external to the IAD.