MEASUREMENT METHOD
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the performance of a test apparatus, the method comprising:
- a) attaching a test apparatus to a communications network, the communications network comprising a plurality of local exchanges, each of the local exchanges being connected to a plurality of customer premises by a metallic loop;
b) applying one or more test signals to a metallic loop;
c) determining one or more metallic loop parameters in accordance with measurements made whilst the one or more test signals were applied to the metallic loop;
d) comparing the one or more metallic loop parameters to predetermined threshold values;
e) determining a status of the metallic loop on the basis of the comparison performed in d);
storing data relating to the status of the metallic loop in a database; and
g) determining the performance of the test apparatus on the basis of the data stored in the database which relates to tests carried out by that test apparatus.
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Abstract
The performance of a test apparatus for a communications network may be inferred by analyzing a set of performance data results measured on a number of different lines in the network. Once a sample of sufficient size for a particular test apparatus has been created then it is possible to infer the performance of the test apparatus based on the ratio of passes to fails recorded.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of determining the performance of a test apparatus, the method comprising:
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a) attaching a test apparatus to a communications network, the communications network comprising a plurality of local exchanges, each of the local exchanges being connected to a plurality of customer premises by a metallic loop; b) applying one or more test signals to a metallic loop; c) determining one or more metallic loop parameters in accordance with measurements made whilst the one or more test signals were applied to the metallic loop; d) comparing the one or more metallic loop parameters to predetermined threshold values; e) determining a status of the metallic loop on the basis of the comparison performed in d); storing data relating to the status of the metallic loop in a database; and g) determining the performance of the test apparatus on the basis of the data stored in the database which relates to tests carried out by that test apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communications network comprising:
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a plurality of local exchanges; a plurality of communications links, each of the plurality of communications links connecting a local exchange to a local premises; and a test database comprising test data for each of the plurality of communications links; wherein, in use, the test database can be analyzed to determine the performance of a test apparatus on the basis of the test data associated with that test apparatus.
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Specification