Testing telecommunications equipment

• US 5,734,696 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Day, Nigel Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/586,730
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 379/2, 379/5, 379/9, 379/6, 379/10, 379/13, 379/15, 379/22, 379/27, 379/29, 455/13.2, 455/51.1, 455/51.2
• US Class Current: 379/9.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/248 for metering arrangements or prepayment telephone systems metering arrangements per se H04M15/00; prepayment telephone systems per se H04M17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/32 for lines between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)

Abstract

A system for testing telecommunications equipment located at two sites includes a set of test instruments located at each site, a local test controller located at each site for controlling the test instrument at that site, and a master test controller connected to the local test controller by data links. Each test controller is provided with a clock and the clocks are synchronized by a common timing signal. The master test controller is arranged to transmit test instructions to, and receive test results from, the local test controllers.

Claims

1. A system for testing telecommunications equipment, said system comprising:

a master test controller,

at least two local test controllers,

a test instrument associated with each local test controller and arranged to be controlled thereby, and

means for transmitting data between the master test controller and each local test controller, said data being test instructions transmitted by the master test controller to each local test controller and test results received by the master test controller from each local test controller,

each test controller being provided with a clock having an antenna for receiving a common radio timing signal,

a second master test controller, and

second means for transmitting data between the second master test controller and each local test controller said data being test instructions transmitted by the second master test controller to each local test controller and test results received by the second master test controller from each local test controller.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein one of the test instruments is a call sender.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein the system further includes an answering machine located remotely from the call sender.

4. A method for testing telecommunications equipment, said method comprising:

providing a master test controller,

providing at least two local test controllers,

providing a test instrument associated with each local test controller and arranged to be controlled thereby, and

transmitting data between the master test controller and each local test controller, said data being test instructions transmitted by the master test controller to each local test controller and test results received by the master test controller from each local test controller,

each test controller being provided with a clock having an antenna for receiving a common radio timing signal,

providing a second master test controller, and

transmitting data between the second master test controller and each local test controller, said data being test instructions transmitted by the second master test controller to each local test controller and test results received by the second master test controller from each local test controller.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein one of the test instruments is a call sender.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the system further includes an answering machine located remotely from the call sender.