Integrated services digital network (ISDN) test device

• US 5,157,665 A
• Filed: 06/06/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mostafa Fakhraie-Fard, Richard P. Dumond
• Original Assignee: Mostafa Fakhraie-Fard, Richard P. Dumond
• Inventors: Fakhraie-Fard, Mostafa, Dumond, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US07/533,895
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 371/20.1, 371/20.5, 371/16.2, 371/15.1, 371/20.6, 370/110.1, 370/13
• US Class Current: 714/712
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/045 Selection or connection testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1316 Service observation, testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13335 Simulation, emulation

Abstract

A portable, hand-held test device which is adapted to be utilized with Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) equipment and alternatively connected to either a Terminal Equipment (TE) device or a Network Termination (NT) device, and which is capable of alternatively emulating either a TE device or an NT device during a line activation sequence, whereby (1) when the test device is connected to a TE device and is instructed to emulate an NT device, the test device can determine if the TE device is operating in accordance with ISDN standards, and (2) when the test device is connected to an NT device and is instructed to emulate a TE device, the rest device can determine if the NT device is operating in accordance with ISDN standards. The test device is also adapted to test various lengths of RJ45 cabling within the network to determine whether the RJ45 cabling is functioning properly and, if it is not, to determine certain things about the nature of the malfunction. In addition, the test device is particularly well suited to (1) quickly and easily testing numerous TE devices, or numerous jacks on NT devices, in rapid succession, (2) quickly and easily identifying which one of a plurality of cable ends is connected to a particular TE or NT device, (3) monitoring an ISDN data exchange between a particular TE device and a particular NT device and displaying information regarding the same to the user, and (4) being connected to either a TE or NT device and which is capable of looping back to that device data originating at that device.

Claims

1. An Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) test device comprising:

(a) connector means for connecting the ISDN test device to an ISDN network, said connector means comprising eight pins characterized as Pins 1-8, wherein Pins 1 and 2 comprise a Pair A, Pins 3 and 6 comprise a Pair B, Pins 4 and 5 comprise a Pair C, and Pins 7 and 8 comprise a Pair D;

(b) device emulation means connected to said connector means for causing the test device, on command, to emulate either a Terminal Equipment (TE) device or a Network'"'"'s Termination (NT) device; and

(c) emulation command means connected to said device emulation means for enabling a user to command the test device to emulate either a TE device or an NT device;

whereby (1) when said test device is properly connected to a working NT device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate a TE device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said NT device, and (2) when said test device is properly connected to a working TE device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate an NT device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said TE device;

wherein said test device further comprises switching means interposed between said connector means and said device emulation means for selectively switching the signals, on command, between (1Pair B and Pair C, and/or between (2) Pin 3 and Pin 6, and/or between Pin 4 and Pin 5.

2. A test device according to claim 1 wherein said test device further comprises indication means for indicating if line activation has occurred.

3. An Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) test device comprising:

(a) connector means for connecting the ISDN test device to an ISDN network, said connector means comprising eight pins characterized as Pins 1-8 wherein Pins 1 and 2 comprise a Pair A, Pins 3 and 6 comprises a Pair B, Pins 4 and 5 comprise a Pair C, and Pins 7 and 8 comprise a Pair D;

(b) device emulation means connected to said connector means for causing the test device, on command, to emulate either a Terminal Equipment (TE) device or a Network Termination (NT) device; and

(c) emulation command means connected to said device emulation means for enabling a user to command the test device to emulate either a TE device or an NT device;

whereby (1) when said test device is properly connected to a working NT device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate a TE device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said NT device, and (2) when said test device is properly connected to a working TE device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate an NT device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said TE device;

wherein said test device further comprises;

pulse activation means connected to said device emulation means for causing said test device, on command, to automatically terminate line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is achieved and to thereafter reestablish line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is terminated, and to repeat the foregoing procedure over and over again; and

pulse activation command means connected to said pulse activation means for enabling a user to activate said pulse activation means.

4. A test device according to claim 3 wherein said test device further comprises indication means for indicating if line activation has occurred.

5. An Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) test device comprising:

(a) connector means for connecting the ISDN test device to an ISDN network, said connector means comprising eight pins characterized as Pins 1-8, wherein Pins 1 and 2 comprise a pair A, Pins 3 and 6 comprise a Pair B, Pins 4 and 5 comprise a pair C, and Pins 7 and 8 comprise a Pair D;

(b) device emulation means connected to said connector means for causing the test device, on command, to emulate either a Terminal Equipment (TE) device or a Network Termination (NT) device; and

(c) emulation command means connected to said device emulation means for enabling a user to command the test device to emulate either a TE device or an NT device;

whereby (1) when said test device is properly connected to a working NT device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate a TE device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said NT device, and (2) when said test device is properly connected to a working TE device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate an NT device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said TE device;

wherein said test device further comprises;

switching means interposed between said connector means and said device emulation means for selectively switching the signals, on command, between (1) Pair B and Pair C, and/or between (2) Pin 3 and Pin 6, and/or between Pin 4 and Pin 5;

pulse activation means connected to said device emulation means for causing said test device, on command, to automatically terminate line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is achieved and to thereafter reestablish line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is terminated, and to repeat the foregoing procedure over and over again; and

pulse activation command means connected to said pulse activation means for enabling a user to activate said pulse activation means.

6. A test device according to claim 5 wherein said test device further comprises indication means for indicating if line activation has occurred.

7. A method for testing an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), said method comprising:

(1) providing an ISDN test device comprising;

(a) connector means for connecting said ISDN test device to an ISDN network, said connector means comprising eight pins characterized as Pins 1-8, wherein Pins 1 and 2 comprise a Pair A, Pins 3 and 6 comprise a Pair B, Pins 4 and 5 comprise a Pair C, and Pins 7 and 8 comprise a Pair D;

(b) device emulation means connected to said connector means for causing the test device, on command, to emulate either a Terminal Equipment (TE) device or a Network Termination (NT) device; and

(c) emulation command means connected to said device emulation means for enabling a user to command the test device to emulate either a TE device or an NT device;

whereby (1) when said test device is properly connected to a working NT device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate a TE device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said NT device, and (2) when said test device is properly connected to a working TE device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate an NT device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said TE device;

wherein said test device further comprises switching means interposed between said connector means and said device emulation means for selectively switching the signals, on command, between (1) Pair B and Pair C, and/or between (2) Pin 3 and Pin 6, and/or between Pin 4 and Pin 5;

(2) connecting said ISDN test device to an ISDN network through said connector means;

(3) commanding said ISDN test device to emulate a TE device through said emulation command means when said test device is connected to an NT device, or commanding said ISDN test device to emulate an NT device through said emulation command means when said test device is connected to a TE device;

(4) commanding said ISDN test device through said device emulation means to attempt to achieve line activation with said NT device if said ISDN test device is connected to an NT device, or to attempt to achieve line activation with said TE device if said ISDN test device is connected to a TE device; and

(5) if line activation is not achieved, commanding said ISDN test device through said switching means to selectively switch the signals between (1) Pair B and Pair C, and/or between (2) Pin 3 and Pin 6, and/or between Pin 4 and Pin 5, so as to attempt to achieve line activation.

8. A method for testing an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), said method comprising:

(1) providing an ISDN test device comprising;

(a) connector means for connecting the ISDN test device to an ISDN network, said connector means comprising eight pins characterized as Pins 1-8 wherein Pins 1 and 2 comprise a Pair A, Pins 3 and 6 comprise a Pair B, Pins 4 and 5 comprise a Pair C, and Pins 7 and 8 comprise a Pair D;

(b) device emulation means connected to said connector means for causing the test device, on command, to emulate either a Terminal Equipment (TE) device or a Network Termination (NT) device; and

(c) emulation command means connected to said device emulation means for enabling a user to command the test device to emulate either a TE device or an NT device;

whereby (1) when said test device is properly connected to a working N device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate a TE device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said NT device, and (2) when said test device is properly connected to a working TE device through said connector means and said test device is commanded to emulate an NT device through said emulation command means, said device emulation means will cause said test device to achieve line activation with said TE device;

wherein said test device further comprises;

pulses activation means connected to said device emulation means for causing said test device, on command, to automatically terminate line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is achieved and to thereafter reestablish line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is terminated, and to repeat the foregoing procedure over and over again; and

pulse activation command means connected to said pulse activation means for enabling a user to activate said pulse activation means;

(2) commanding said ISDN test device to emulate a TE device through said emulation command means when said test device is to be connected to a NT device, or commanding said ISDN test device to emulate an NT device through said emulation command means when said test device is to be connected to a TE device, and

commanding said ISDN test device to activate said pulse activation means through said pulse activation command means;

(3) connecting said ISDN test device to an ISDN network through said connector means so that said ISDN test device will successively establish line activation, terminate line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is achieved, and reestablish line activation a predetermined period of time after line activation is terminated, and to repeat the foregoing procedure over and over again.