Programmable automatic call-thru set

• US 4,937,850 A
• Filed: 12/22/1988
• Issued: 06/26/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Bell Telephone Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Illinois Bell Telephone Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hahn, Douglas A., Hahn, Robert D., Borbas, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schreyer, Stafford D.
• Application Number:
  US07/289,209
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 379/6, 379/9, 379/10, 379/14, 379/18, 379/22
• US Class Current: 379/22.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)

Abstract

The present invention provides a test set which checks the communication line from a central office to a telephone responder which has a predetermined telephone number and which generates an output signal consisting of a predetermined sequence of signals. The checking is performed from a central testing station from where an operator inputs a test signal which identifies the telephone number of the test set located in the central office from which the test is to be made. Once the connection is established, the telephone number of the responder to be called is transmitted. The test set includes a signal detector which identifies an input signal. The signal detector is interfaced to the responder transmission medium such that the signal detector receives responder output signal as an input signal. The test set further includes a memory which includes the correct signal which should be received from the responder with called telephone number, and a processor. The processor is interfaced to the memory and is coupled to receive the identification signal and the test signal. The processor includes a program which instructs the processor to access the correct signal which should be received and compare the identification signal to the correct signal. The processor then generates a result signal which indicates whether the correct signal was received from the responder with the telephone number which was dialed.

Claims

1. A test set for checking, from a central testing station, a communication line from a central station to a plurality predetermined telephone responders, said responders each having a different predetermined telephone number and configured such that upon being dialed each responder generates a predetermined responder output signal code over a responder transmission medium, said responder output signal code consisting of a predetermined sequence of signals, said central testing station including means for inputting a test signal code identifying one of said predetermined telephone numbers and means for transmitting said test signal code over a transmitter transmission medium, said test set comprising:

a signal detector responsive to an input signal code, said signal detector operative to generate an output identification signal code identifying said input signal code;

a responder interface operatively interfacing said signal detector to said responder transmission medium such that an interfaced responder output signal code is transmitted to said detector as said detector input signal code;

a memory, said memory including a correct responder signal code associated with said test signal code for each of said predetermined telephone responders, said correct responder signal code identifying the responder output signal code which should be received for a given test signal code;

means for coupling said test set to said transmitter transmission medium; and

a processor interfaced to said memory and operatively connected to receive said identification signal code and said test signal code, said processor including logic operative to access said correct responder signal code for an input test signal code, compare said identification signal to said correct responder signal code, and generate a result signal in response to said comparison.

2. The test set of claim 1 wherein said signal detector comprises a tone detector.

3. The test set of claim 2 wherein said central testing station includes a receiver connected to said test set over said transmitter transmission medium and wherein said test set further comprises a receiver interface operatively connected to interface said processor result signal to said receiver.

4. The test set of claim 3 wherein said receiver interface comprises a modem.

5. The test set of claim 2 further comprising a frequency generator responsive to a signal code and operative to generate a dialing signal in response thereto, said frequency generator operatively connected to receive said test signal and dial said predetermined telephone number.

6. The test set of claim 5 wherein said frequency generator comprises a dual-tone multiple frequency generator.

7. The test set of claim 1 wherein said responder interface comprises a transformer including means for connecting said transformer to said transmission medium.

8. The test set of claim 3 further comprising:

monitor circuit means for operatively connecting said test set such that upon said monitor circuit means being engaged, said test set allows an audio signal received by said test set to be transmitted over said transmitter transmission medium; and

wherein said processor logic is further operative to engage said monitor circuit means upon receiving a predetermined code signal.

9. A system for checking the routing for a telephone communication line in a telephone communication network, said system comprising:

a central testing station including means for inputting a telephone number and a test code and means for generating a test input signal code corresponding to said input telephone number;

an input signal transmission medium for transmitting said test input signal code;

a plurality of responders each having a different predetermined telephone number with at least one of a different predetermined prefix and area code, each of said responders generating a predetermined responder output signal code;

a responder transmission medium for transmitting said responder output signal;

a test set including a signal detector operatively coupled to said responder transmission medium such that said signal detector receives said responder output signal code as an input and generates an output identification signal code identifying said input signal code;

a memory, said memory including a correct responder output signal code for each of said test signal codes associated with said test signal;

a processor interfaced to said memory and operatively coupled to said input signal transmission medium and to said signal detector such that said processor receives said test signal code and said input signal code, said processor including logic operative to access said correct responder signal code for an input test signal code in response to an input test signal code, compare said identification signal code to said correct responder signal code, and generate a result signal in response to said comparison.

10. The system of claim 9 further including a second receiver at a predetermined location operatively connected to receive said result signal.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said system includes a plurality of responders, wherein one of said responders is assigned to each telephone prefix.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein at least two of said responders have a different area code.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said central testing station is remote from said predetermined location.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said signal detector comprises a tone detector.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a frequency generator responsive to a signal and operative to generate a dialing signal code in response thereto, said frequency generator operatively connected to receive said test signal and dial said predetermined telephone number.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said frequency generator comprises a dual-tone multiple frequency generator.

17. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

monitor circuit means for operatively connecting said test set such that upon said monitor circuit means being engaged said test set receives a message over said responder transmission medium and transmits said message over said transmitter transmission medium; and

wherein said processor logic is further operative to engage said monitor circuit means upon receiving a predetermined code signal.

18. A system for checking a telephone communication network including a plurality of central offices, each office servicing at least two telephone numbers having at least one of a different prefix and area code, said system comprising:

a plurality of responders one for each different prefix and area code, each of said responders having a predetermined telephone number and each of said responders generating a predetermined responder output signal code;

a responder transmission medium for transmitting said output signals from said responders;

a central testing station located remote from each of said central offices, said central testing station including means for calling a test set and a transmitter for transmitting a test input signal code associated with the telephone number of one of said responders;

an input signal transmission medium for transmitting said test input signal code;

a test set including a signal detector operatively coupled to said responder transmission medium such that upon being called, said signal detector receives said responder output signal code for each responder having said test input signal code as an input and generates an identification signal code identifying said input signal code;

a memory, said memory including a correct responder output signal code associated with each of said test input signal codes;

a processor interfaced to aid memory and operatively coupled to said input signal transmission medium and to said signal detector such that said processor receives said test input signal code and said identification signal code, said processing including logic operative to access said correct responder signal code for said responder having said test input signal code in response to said test input signal code, compare said identification signal code to said correct responder signal code, and generate a result signal in response to said comparison; and

a receiver operatively connected to receive said result signal.

19. A telephone communication testing system for monitoring a call to a recorded announcement from a central office, said announcement being generated from said central office upon a predetermined telephone number being dialed, said system comprising:

a central testing station remote from said responder, said central testing station including a receiver, and a transmitter operative to transmit a telephone number signal;

a receiver and transmitter transmission medium for receiving and transmitting signals from said central testing station;

a test set coupled to said receiver and transmitter transmission medium, said test set including a frequency generator responsive to said telephone number signal and operative to generate a telephone dialing signal such that said frequency generator dials said predetermined telephone number, and a monitoring circuit operatively connected to receive said announcement and transmit said announcement to said central testing station over said transmission medium.