Method and apparatus for testing a subscriber's line circuit in a packet switched multiplexed data/voice communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multiplexed data voice communication system comprising:
- a plurality of subscriber locations, each including;
voice frequency equipment for transmitting and receiving first and second VP signals, respectively;
DATA terminal equipment for transmitting and receiving first and second DATA signals, respectively;
a central office for transmitting said second VF signals and second DATA signals and for receiving said first VF signals and said first DATA signals;
and subscriber line circuits, each coupling first and second VF signals and DATA signals between a different subscriber location and the central office and each including;
a remote DATA voice multiplexor for forming a first VF DATA multiplexed signal;
a central office DATA voice multiplexor for forming a second VF DATA multiplexed signal; and
a subscriber loop for coupling the first and second multiplexed VF DATA signals between the remote DATA voice multiplexor and the central office DATA voice multiplexor;
said remote DATA voice multiplexor comprising;
means for modulating said first DATA signals received from the DATA terminal equipment at the subscriber location to form a first DATA carrier;
means for combining the first DATA carrier and the first VF signals at the subscriber location to form said first VF DATA multiplexed signal;
means for separating the second VF DATA multiplexed signal received from said central office DATA voice multiplexor into a second DATA carrier and second VF signals for the voice frequency equipment at the subscriber location;
and means for demodulating the second DATA carrier to produce said second DATA signals for the DATA terminal equipment at the subscriber location; and
said central office DATA voice multiplexor comprising;
means for separating the first VF DATA multiplexed signal received from said remote DATA voice multiplexor into the first VF signals and the first DATA carrier;
means for demodulating the first DATA carrier to recover said first DATA signals;
means for modulating the second DATA signals to form the second DATA carrier;
and means for combining the second DATA carrier and the second VF signals to produce the second VF DATA multiplexed signal;
and each said subscriber line circuit further including;
means for extinguishing the second DATA carrier for a first preselected period of time;
and means for creating one or more loopbacks at preselected different locations between the subscriber loop and the DATA terminal equipment for preselected different loopback intervals which terminate subsequent to said first preselected period upon the extinguishing of said second DATA carrier for said first preselected period.
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Abstract
In a packet switched multiplexed data/voice communication system, timed loopbacks along a subscriber line are effected by purposely extinguishing or killing the DATA carrier sewing the line.
58 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A multiplexed data voice communication system comprising:
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a plurality of subscriber locations, each including; voice frequency equipment for transmitting and receiving first and second VP signals, respectively; DATA terminal equipment for transmitting and receiving first and second DATA signals, respectively; a central office for transmitting said second VF signals and second DATA signals and for receiving said first VF signals and said first DATA signals; and subscriber line circuits, each coupling first and second VF signals and DATA signals between a different subscriber location and the central office and each including; a remote DATA voice multiplexor for forming a first VF DATA multiplexed signal; a central office DATA voice multiplexor for forming a second VF DATA multiplexed signal; and a subscriber loop for coupling the first and second multiplexed VF DATA signals between the remote DATA voice multiplexor and the central office DATA voice multiplexor; said remote DATA voice multiplexor comprising; means for modulating said first DATA signals received from the DATA terminal equipment at the subscriber location to form a first DATA carrier; means for combining the first DATA carrier and the first VF signals at the subscriber location to form said first VF DATA multiplexed signal; means for separating the second VF DATA multiplexed signal received from said central office DATA voice multiplexor into a second DATA carrier and second VF signals for the voice frequency equipment at the subscriber location; and means for demodulating the second DATA carrier to produce said second DATA signals for the DATA terminal equipment at the subscriber location; and said central office DATA voice multiplexor comprising; means for separating the first VF DATA multiplexed signal received from said remote DATA voice multiplexor into the first VF signals and the first DATA carrier; means for demodulating the first DATA carrier to recover said first DATA signals; means for modulating the second DATA signals to form the second DATA carrier; and means for combining the second DATA carrier and the second VF signals to produce the second VF DATA multiplexed signal; and each said subscriber line circuit further including; means for extinguishing the second DATA carrier for a first preselected period of time; and means for creating one or more loopbacks at preselected different locations between the subscriber loop and the DATA terminal equipment for preselected different loopback intervals which terminate subsequent to said first preselected period upon the extinguishing of said second DATA carrier for said first preselected period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A remote DATA-voice multiplexor which receives first DATA signals and first VF signals and which receives a second multiplexed VF DATA signal including second VF signals and a second DATA carrier, said multiplexor comprising:
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means for modulating said first DATA signals onto a carrier to produce a first DATA carrier; means for combining said first DATA carrier and said first VF signals to form a first VF DATA multiplexed signal; means responsive to said second VF DATA multiplexed signal for separating said second VF signals from said second DATA carrier; means for demodulating said second DATA carrier to recover second DATA signals; means responsive to said separated second DATA carrier for detecting the loss of said second DATA carrier for a first preselected period of time and for a second preselected period of time greater than said first preselected period; and means responsive to said detecting means for coupling said second DATA signals to and decoupling said first DATA signals from said modulating means to create a loopback for a preselected loopback interval upon detection of loss of said second DATA carrier for said second preselected period of time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A central office DATA voice multiplexor which receives a first VF DATA multiplexed signal from a remote DATA voice multiplexor and receives second DATA signals from a statistical multiplexor and second VF signals, said central office DATA voice multiplexor comprising:
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means for separating said first VF DATA multiplexed signal to recover a first DATA carrier and first VF signals; means for demodulating said first DATA carrier to recover first DATA signals; means for modulating said second DATA signals to produce a second DATA carrier; means for combining the second DATA carrier and the second VF signals to produce a second VF DATA multiplexed signal; means responsive to said separated first DATA carrier for detecting the loss of said first DATA carrier; and means responsive to said detecting means for providing a signal to the statistical multiplexor indicative of first DATA carrier loss. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. In combination a DATA voice multiplexor diagnostic block and a remote DATA voice multiplexor which receives first DATA signals, first VF signals, and a second multiplexed VF DATA signal including second VF signals and a second DATA carrier;
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said remote DATA voice multiplexor comprising; means for modulating said first DATA signals onto a carrier to produce a first DATA carrier; means for combining said first DATA carrier and said first VF signals to form a first VF DATA multiplexed signal; means responsive to said second VF DATA multiplexed signal for separating said second VF signals from said second DATA carrier; means for demodulating said second DATA carrier to recover second DATA signals; means responsive to said separated second DATA carrier for detecting the loss of said second DATA carrier for a first preselected period of time and for a second preselected period of time greater than said first preselected period; and means for generating a signal indicative of second DATA carrier loss for said first preselected period of time; and said diagnostic block comprising; first input and output terminals and a first path therebetween for coupling said first DATA signals from DATA terminal equipment to the remote DATA voice multiplexor; second input and output terminals and a second path therebetween for coupling said second DATA signals from the remote DATA voice multiplexor to DATA terminal equipment; a third path for selectively connecting said first and second paths; and means responsive to the signal from the remote DATA voice multiplexor indicative of loss of said second DATA carrier for said first preselected period of time, said means closing said third path and opening said first and second paths to create a loopback for a first preselected loopback interval upon loss of said second DATA carrier for said first preselected period. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of testing a multiplexed data voice communication system, the system comprising:
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a plurality of subscriber locations, each including; voice frequency equipment for transmitting and receiving first and second VF signals, respectively; DATA terminal equipment for transmitting and receiving first and second DATA signals, respectively; a central office for transmitting said second VF signals and second DATA signals and for receiving said first VF signals and said first DATA signals; and subscriber line circuits, each coupling first and second VF signals and DATA signals between a different subscriber location and the central office and each including; a remote DATA voice multiplexor for forming a first VF DATA multiplexed signal; a central office DATA voice multiplexor for forming a second VF DATA multiplexed signal; and a subscriber loop for coupling the first and second multiplexed VF DATA signals between the remote DATA voice multiplexor and the central office DATA voice multiplexor; said remote DATA voice multiplexor comprising; means for modulating said first DATA signals received from the DATA terminal equipment at the subscriber location to form a first DATA carrier; means for combining the first DATA carrier and the first VF signals at the subscriber location to form said first VF DATA multiplexed signal; - View Dependent Claims (32, 34, 36)
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31. means for separating said second VF DATA multiplexed signal from said central office DATA voice multiplexor into a second DATA carrier and second VF signals for the voice frequency equipment at the subscriber location;
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and means for demodulating the second DATA carrier to produce said second DATA signals for the DATA terminal equipment at the subscriber location; and said central office DATA voice multiplexor comprising; means for separating said first VF DATA multiplexed signal from said remote DATA voice multiplexor into the first VF signals and the first DATA carrier; means for demodulating the first DATA carrier to recover said first DATA signals; means for modulating the second DATA signals to form the second DATA carrier; and means for combining the second DATA carrier and the second VF signals to produce the second VF DATA multiplexed signal; the method comprising; extinguishing the second DATA carrier corresponding to a given subscriber line circuit for a first preselected period of time; and enabling loopbacks at preselected different locations between the subscriber loop and the DATA terminal equipment for preselected different loopback intervals which terminate subsequent to said first preselected period along the given subscriber line circuit upon the extinguishing of said second DATA carrier for said first preselected period. - View Dependent Claims (33, 35, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification