Way finding with an interactive faceplate
First Claim
1. Apparatus, for use with signal network equipment of the type having modular units which are interconnected through the master backplane of an equipment mounting cabinet to control, through use of a programmed network equipment signal processor, the exchange of network format signals between network subscribers over network trunk lines, the apparatus comprising:
- an interface electronics module (IEM), having an IEM signal processor and associated IEM signal memory, for performing signal analysis of the network format signals to detect the presence and absence of signal fault conditions on a plurality of network trunk lines received therein and for providing signal indicia thereof, said IEM having a housing with a faceplate and an IEM signal connector for receiving said plurality of network trunk lines, said housing being adapted for releasable mounting in the equipment mounting cabinet in a manner so as to position said faceplate in an operator viewable location when said IEM signal connector is engaged with the master backplane; and
a control panel, adapted for mounting to said faceplate and having an array of viewable signal display apparatus and one or more operator controlled input devices disposed thereon, each said signal display being responsive to said signal indicia from said IEM and to said operator controlled input devices for providing, in response to commands from said operator controlled input devices, a viewable display of selectable ones of the IEM detected signal fault conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive electronic module (IEM) is adapted as a retrofit module for use in modular network equipment to provide real time analysis of trunk line signal performance and to detect trunk line signal faults, the IEM including a faceplate display panel accessible to the network operator for displaying the detected signal faults and for providing operator access to the IEM to command the display of selected trunk line faults.
50 Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus, for use with signal network equipment of the type having modular units which are interconnected through the master backplane of an equipment mounting cabinet to control, through use of a programmed network equipment signal processor, the exchange of network format signals between network subscribers over network trunk lines, the apparatus comprising:
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an interface electronics module (IEM), having an IEM signal processor and associated IEM signal memory, for performing signal analysis of the network format signals to detect the presence and absence of signal fault conditions on a plurality of network trunk lines received therein and for providing signal indicia thereof, said IEM having a housing with a faceplate and an IEM signal connector for receiving said plurality of network trunk lines, said housing being adapted for releasable mounting in the equipment mounting cabinet in a manner so as to position said faceplate in an operator viewable location when said IEM signal connector is engaged with the master backplane; and a control panel, adapted for mounting to said faceplate and having an array of viewable signal display apparatus and one or more operator controlled input devices disposed thereon, each said signal display being responsive to said signal indicia from said IEM and to said operator controlled input devices for providing, in response to commands from said operator controlled input devices, a viewable display of selectable ones of the IEM detected signal fault conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. The method of providing an operator interactive interface for detecting trunk line signal faults in telephone network equipment having plural modules which are interconnected with releasable engagement of the module'"'"'s connector with a mating connector in the master backplane of the telephone equipment cabinetry, so as to allow the equipment to control the exchange of network format signals between network subscribers over the trunk lines, and to control the exchange of equipment format signals between equipment modules, comprising:
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providing an interface electronics module (IEM), having an IEM signal processor and associated IEM signal memory, for performing signal analysis of the network format signals to detect the presence and absence of signal fault conditions on a plurality of network trunk lines and for providing signal indicia thereof; enclosing said IEM in a housing having a faceplate and a signal connector for receiving the plurality of network trunk lines; adapting said housing for releasable mounting in the telephone equipment cabinet in a manner so as to position said faceplate in an operator viewable location concurrent with the engagement of said signal connector with the master backplane; and installing a control panel on said faceplate, said control panel having an array of viewable signal display apparatus and one or more operator control devices disposed thereon, each said signal display being responsive to said signal indicia and to said operator control devices for providing a viewable display of the presence and absence of signal fault conditions at said control panel, in response to said operator control devices. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification