Communications system and method for testing of a communications apparatus

• US 5,875,397 A
• Filed: 12/09/1997
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Sasin, Tiberius, Hermanns, Steffen
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US08/987,616
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/500, 455/507, 455/517, 455/524, 455/67.1, 455/67.4, 455/67.7, 455/88, 455/550, 455/557, 455/561, 455/564, 455/575, 455/115 , 455/226.1, 455/416, 455/556, 379/21, 379/1, 375/213, 375/224, 370/241, 370/252, 370/260, 371/20.1-20.2, 371/20.4, 371/20.5
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

The present invention concerns a communications system including a communications apparatus (KV) and a test apparatus for testing of the communications apparatus, as well as a method for testing of a communications apparatus (KV). The communications apparatus includes a plurality of telephones (T₁ to T_n) and at least a transmission station (UEV) for transmitting signals. The test apparatus includes a central signal processing apparatus (ZV) with at least a programmable data processing apparatus (S) for the generation of digital test signals for testing of the telephone communications apparatus (KV) and a converter apparatus (WV) connected with the programmable data processing apparatus (S). The converter apparatus (WV) is constructed so that it converts the digital test signals of the data processing apparatus (S) under the control of telephone specific configuration data into operating signals for controlling the operation of the keypad and of the microphone of the telephone (T_n) via a connection apparatus (AV) and further so that it converts answer signals received from the loudspeaker and from the calling apparatus of the telephone (T_n) into digital operating answer signals and transfers them to the programmable data processing apparatus (S), where they are saved or evaluated.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a telephone communications apparatus that contains a plurality of telephones (T₁ to T_n) including mobile telephones, and at least one transmission station (UEV) for transmitting signals in said telephone communications apparatus (KV);

a test apparatus (TV) for testing said telephone communications apparatus (KV) in an operational load condition, wherein the telephones are connectable to the test apparatus, comprising;

a central signal processing apparatus (ZV) having

at least one programmable data processing apparatus (S) for the generation of digital test signals for testing said telephone communications apparatus (KV) under the control of test instructions; and

a converter apparatus (WV) connected to said programmable data processing apparatus (S), wherein

said converter apparatus converts the digital test signals of the programmable data processing apparatus (S) under the control of telephone specific configuration data, which comprise data for adapting the converter apparatus (WV) to the telephone employed, into operating signals for controlling the operation of the keypad and of the microphone of the telephone (T_n); and

said converter apparatus converts answer signals received from the loudspeaker and from the calling apparatus of the telephone (T_n) into digital operating answer signals and transfers them to the programmable data processing apparatus (S), where they are saved; and

a connection apparatus (AV), by means of which the converter apparatus (WV) is connected with the telephone (T_n) and by means of which the operating signals from the converter apparatus (WV) are transmitted to the telephone (T_n) and answer signals are transmitted from the telephone (T_n) to the converter apparatus (WV).

2. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said connection apparatus comprises:

an adapter on said telephone connected to the telephone'"'"'s keypad, microphone, loudspeaker and call apparatus; and

a detachable connection line provided between said adapter on said telephone and said converter apparatus.

3. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said programmable data processing apparatus (S) is connected via a remote data transmission apparatus (DFV) to a plurality of external programmable data processing apparatuses (C₁ -C_n) and data display apparatuses.

4. A communications system according to claim 3, wherein a local network (LAN) is provided for remote data transmission.

5. A communications system according to claim 3, wherein an internet is provided for remote data transmission.

6. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission station (UEV) is a GSM transmission station comprising a mobile service switching center (MSC), a base switching center (BSC) and a base transceiver station (BTS).

7. A communications system according to claim 1, further comprising an interrupt apparatus which comprises:

a digital control circuit (DS) with a memory apparatus for the saving of telephone-specific and transmission station specific configuration data for adapting the converter apparatus to various telephones and transmission stations; and

a converter circuit (AS) in order to convert the digital test signals from the digital control circuit (DS) into operating signals for operating the telephones (T_n) or the transmission stations (UEV) and in order to convert the answer signals from the telephones (T_n) into digital operating answer signals.

8. A communications system, comprising:

a telephone communications apparatus that contains a plurality of telephones (T₁ to T_n) including mobile telephones, and at least one transmission station (UEV) for transmitting signals in said telephone communications apparatus (KV);

a test apparatus (TV) for testing said telephone communications apparatus (KV) in an operational load condition, wherein the telephones are connectable to the test apparatus, comprising;

a central signal processing apparatus (ZV) having

at least one programmable data processing apparatus (S) for the generation of digital test signals for testing said telephone communications apparatus (KV) under the control of test instructions; and

a converter apparatus (WV) connected to said programmable data processing apparatus (S), wherein

said converter apparatus converts the digital test signals of the programmable data processing apparatus (S) under the control of telephone specific configuration data, which comprise data for adapting the converter apparatus (WV) to the telephone employed, into operating signals for controlling the operation of the keypad and of the microphone of the telephone (T_n); and

said converter apparatus converts answer signals received from the loudspeaker and from the calling apparatus of the telephone (T_n) into digital operating answer signals and transfers them to the programmable data processing apparatus (S), where they are saved;

a connection apparatus (AV), by means of which the converter apparatus (WV) is connected with the telephone (T_n) and by means of which the operating signals from the converter apparatus (WV) are transmitted to the telephone (T_n) and answer signals are transmitted from the telephone (T_n) to the converter apparatus (WV);

at least one interrupt apparatus (UV) is provided for interrupting a plurality of electrical connection lines of the telephone communications apparatus (KV);

the converter apparatus (WV) controls the at least one interrupt apparatus (UV) by means of further digital test signals from the programmable data processing apparatus (S); and

according to operating signals from the converter apparatus (WV) the interrupt apparatus (UW) interrupts at least one of the electrical connection lines for a period of time determined by the operating signals, wherein

signal changes are produced depending on the systematic interruptions in the telephone communications apparatus (KV), which can be indicated by comparison with the corresponding reference signal changes.

9. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein individual or groups of electrical connection lines arranged within at least said one transmission station (UEV) or between different transmission stations (UEV) can be interrupted by said interrupt apparatus (UV).

10. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein response signals obtained from said transmission station (UEV) can be converted into digital operating response signals by said converter apparatus (WV).

11. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one interrupt apparatus (UV) is arranged between contact strips (KL1) of at least one circuit card (SK) and contact strips (KL2) of a circuit card carrier (ST) of said transmission station (UEV).

12. A communications system according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of circuit cards is connected together in series and each comprises its own address, and that said circuit cards can be controlled via a single control line.

13. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one interrupt apparatus (UV) is arranged on the respective front end of said circuit cards (SK) of said transmission station (UEV) connected to a circuit card carrier (ST).

14. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said connection apparatus comprises:

an adapter on said telephone connected to the telephone'"'"'s keypad, microphone, loudspeaker and call apparatus; and

a detachable connection line provided between said adapter on said telephone and said converter apparatus.

15. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said programmable data processing apparatus (S) is connected via a remote data transmission apparatus (DFV) to a plurality of external programmable data processing apparatuses (C₁ -C_n) and data display apparatuses.

16. A communications system according to claim 15, wherein a local network (LAN) is provided for remote data transmission.

17. A communications system according to claim 15, wherein an internet is provided for remote data transmission.

18. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said transmission station (UEV) is a GSM transmission station comprising a mobile service switching center (MSC), a base switching center (BSC) and a base transceiver station (BTS).

19. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein the interrupt apparatus comprises:

a digital control circuit (DS) with a memory apparatus for the saving of telephone-specific and transmission station specific configuration data for adapting the converter apparatus to various telephones and transmission stations; and

a converter circuit (AS) in order to convert the digital test signals from the digital control circuit (DS) into operating signals for operating the telephones (T_n) or the transmission stations (UEV) and in order to convert the answer signals from the telephones (T_n) into digital operating answer signals.

20. A method of testing, under operational load conditions, a telephone communications apparatus (KV) which contains a plurality of telephones (T₁ to T_n) including mobile telephones, and at least one transmission station (UEV) for transmitting signals in said telephone communications apparatus (KV), comprising:

generating digital test signals in a programmable data processing apparatus (S) of a central signal processing apparatus (ZV) controlled by means of test instructions for testing the telephone communications apparatus (KV);

transmitting the digital test signals to a converter apparatus (WV) of the central signal processing apparatus and converting the digital test signals, by use of telephone-specific configuration data, into operating signals for the operational control of the keypad and microphone of the telephone (T_n); and

converting answer signals received from the loudspeaker and from the calling apparatus of the telephone into digital operating answer signals and transferring the digital operating answer signals to the programmable data processing apparatus (S) and recording the operating answer signals.

21. A method of testing a telephone communications apparatus according to claims 20, with the steps of:

transmitting operating signals from said converter apparatus (WV) to telephone selected according to said test commands via a connection apparatus; and

transmitting response signals of dialed telephone to said converter apparatus via said connection apparatus.

22. A method of testing a telephone communications apparatus according to claim 20, wherein data are transmitted via a remote data transmission apparatus (DFV) between said programmable data processing apparatus (S) of test apparatus (TV) and a plurality of external programmable data processing apparatuses (C₁ -C_n) and data display apparatuses.

23. A method of testing, under operational load conditions, a telephone communications apparatus (KV) which contains a plurality of telephones (T₁ to T_n) including mobile telephones, and at least one transmission station (UEV) for transmitting signals in said telephone communications apparatus (KV), comprising:

generating digital test signals in a programmable data processing apparatus (S) of a central signal processing apparatus (ZV) controlled by means of test instructions for testing the telephone communications apparatus (KV);

transmitting the digital test signals to a converter apparatus (WV) of the central signal processing apparatus and converting the digital test signals, by use of telephone-specific configuration data, into operating signals for the operational control of the keypad and microphone of the telephone (T_n); and

converting answer signals received from the loudspeaker and from the calling apparatus of the telephone into digital operating answer signals and transferring the digital operating answer signals to the programmable data processing apparatus (S) and recording the operating answer signals;

interrupting at least an electrical connection of a plurality of electrical connections of the communications apparatus (KV) by an interrupt apparatus (UV) under the control of further systematic test signals;

comparing the actual signal changes produced on the basis of the systematic interruptions with the corresponding reference signal changes; and

indicating deviations of the actual signal changes from the reference signal changes.

24. A method of testing, under operational load conditions, a telephone communications apparatus (KV) which contains a plurality of telephones (T₁ to T_n) including mobile telephones, and at least one transmission station (UEV) for transmitting signals in said telephone communications apparatus (KV), comprising:

generating digital test signals in a programmable data processing apparatus (S) of a central signal processing apparatus (ZV) controlled by means of test instructions for testing the telephone communications apparatus (KV);

transmitting the digital test signals to a converter apparatus (WV) of the central signal processing apparatus and converting the digital test signals, by use of telephone-specific configuration data, into operating signals for the operational control of the keypad and microphone of the telephone (T_n); and

converting answer signals received from the loudspeaker and from the calling apparatus of the telephone into digital operating answer signals and transferring the digital operating answer signals to the programmable data processing apparatus (S) and recording the operating answer signals;

setting up a voice channel between each pair of telephones of a plurality of telephones (T₁ to T_n) in a call involving two parties or a conference call involving three or more participants;

on the basis of the first telephone, repeatedly transmitting with a predetermined frequency via said voice channel a pattern of tone pulses that clearly identifies said first telephone; and

having a second telephone participating in the call monitor the reception of said first telephone'"'"'s pattern of tone pulses transmitted via said voice channel;

wherein the transmission of said pattern of tone pulses between said first and second telephones includes voice compression and voice decompression; and

said pattern of tone pulses being selected such that an identification of said first telephone is possible when said pattern of tone pulses is received at said second telephone if voice compression and voice decompression are used.