Test set communication/interface system
First Claim
1. For use with a telephone technician'"'"'s service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for effecting data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising:
- first means, adapted to be coupled to said telephone line, for accessing said information source and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and
second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for selective retrieval by said technician.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The telephone line test capability of a craftsperson'"'"'s test set is supplemented by communication/interface circuitry which carries out data communications with a host central office control processor, and contains memory for storing (task assignment) information downloaded from the central office control processor. This task assignment information stored in the test set-communications unit may be coupled from the unit to an associated printer for providing a hard copy of service assignment information to the field technician. In addition to printing out the downloaded task assignment information, the printer unit contains a charging circuit which charges a rechargeable battery in the handset for powering its internal circuitry. During off-duty hours, the test set may be connected to a home dispatch unit installed in the craftsperson'"'"'s home and through which the handset is coupled to a telephone link for providing off-duty communications with the central office processor without technician intervention. The home dispatch unit also contains a battery charging circuit through which the test set'"'"'s internal battery is charged when the test set is coupled to the dispatch unit and communications between the central office and the test set-communication unit are not taking place.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. For use with a telephone technician'"'"'s service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for effecting data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising:
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first means, adapted to be coupled to said telephone line, for accessing said information source and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for selective retrieval by said technician. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. For use with a telephone technician'"'"'s service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for effecting data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising:
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a communications unit contained within said service device and having a telephone line interface port and including first means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for accessing said information source via a telephone line coupled thereto and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for selective retrieval by said technician; and an information retrieval unit having a signalling interface port and comprising third means, coupled to said signalling interface port and adapted to be coupled to said telephone line interface port thereby, for retrieving information stored by said second means and providing a perceptible representation of said information to said technician. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. For use with a telephone technician'"'"'s service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for enabling said technician to effect data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising:
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a communications unit contained within said service device and having a telephone line interface port for coupling said device to a telephone line, and including first means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for accessing said information source via a telephone line coupled thereto and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for subsequent selective retrieval to provide a perceptible representation of said information to said technician. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. For use with a telephone technician'"'"'s service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, said service device containing a communications unit for accessing a source of information signals via a telephone line coupled to a telephone line interface port of said communications unit and storing data communications signals representative of prescribed information that have been transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device, an arrangement for providing a recording of said prescribed information for use by said service technician comprising:
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recording means; and control means, coupled to said recording means and having a first port adapted to be coupled to said telephone line interface port, for controllably retrieving information stored in said communications unit and causing said retrieved information to be recorded by said recording means. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. For use with a telephone technician'"'"'s service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, said service device containing a communications unit for communicating with a source of information signals via a telephone line interface port of said communications unit and storing data communication signals representative of prescribed information that have been transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device, an arrangement for controlling the operation of said communications unit comprising:
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a first port adapted to be coupled to a telephone line; a second port adapted to be coupled to the telephone line interface port of said communications unit; and means, coupled to said first and second ports, for controllably establishing a signal flow path between said first and second ports and thereby between said telephone line interface port of said communications unit and a telephone line, whereby the transmission of data communications signals from said source of information signals to said communications unit for storage thereby may take place. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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- 64. For use with a telephone craftsperson'"'"'s test set which is adapted to be coupled to a telephone line via a telephone line interface port for testing prescribed characteristics of said telephone line, an arrangement for enabling said craftsperson to receive task assignment information from a task assignment center comprising a communications unit, contained within said test set and coupled to said telephone line interface port, for establishing a communication link with said task assignment center over said telephone line and storing therein task assignment information that is transmitted thereto from said task assignment center.
Specification