Method and apparatus for performing transmission line testing

• US 6,400,802 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minacom International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Minacom International Incorporated
• Inventors: Légaré, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/523,074
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/3, 379/22, 379/24, 379/26, 379/27, 379/29, 379/339, 379/406, 379/407, 379/410, 379/411
• US Class Current: 379/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for testing and measuring transmission line parameters, such as the post-dial delay, the line rate, the noise level and the signal level, among others. The method comprises the step of enabling an echo canceler present in the transmission line and afterwards measuring the parameters of the line.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line including an echo cancellation device, the voice transmission line including a terminating device and an originating device being capable of establishing a data communicative relationship by exchanging data over the voice transmission line, the echo cancellation device being capable of acquiring an enabled mode and a disabled mode, in the enabled mode the echo cancellation device performing echo cancellation on the voice transmission line, in the disabled mode the echo cancellation device being responsive to the terminating device and the originating device co-acquiring first and second signal conditions, respectively, to acquire the enabled mode, the terminating device manifesting a predetermined pattern of signal variations that includes the first signal condition, said method comprising:

observing the predetermined pattern of signal variations manifested by the terminating device;

establishing at the originating device the second signal condition at a point in time whereby the first and second signal conditions occur over a common time period, such that the echo cancellation device acquires the enabled mode;

applying a signal to the transmission line to measure the certain parameter.

2. A method for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line as defined in claim 1, wherein the echo cancellation device is responsive to co-acquisition of the first and second signal conditions during a minimal time period to acquire the enabled mode, the common time period having a duration at least equal to the minimal time period.

3. A method for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line as defined in claim 1, wherein the first signal condition is absence of signal transmission by the terminating device.

4. A method for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line as defined in claim 3, wherein the second signal condition is absence of signal transmission by the originating device.

5. A method for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line as defined in claim 4, wherein the terminating device includes a modem.

6. A method for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line as defined in claim 5, wherein the terminating device is a facsimile machine.

7. A method for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line as defined in claim 1, wherein the certain parameter is selected from the group consisting of echo level, signal level, noise level, signal to noise ratio, round trip delay, ring duration, call set-up duration, post dial delay, call disposition status and link type.

8. A measuring device for measuring a certain parameter of a voice transmission line including an echo canceler and a terminating device, the terminating device and said measuring device being capable of establishing a data communicative relationship by exchanging data over the voice transmission line, the echo canceler being capable of acquiring an enabled mode and a disabled mode, in the enabled mode the echo canceler performing echo cancellation on the voice transmission line, when in the disabled mode, the echo canceler being responsive to the terminating device and said measuring device co-acquiring first and second signal conditions, respectively to acquire the enabled mode, the terminating device manifesting a predetermined pattern of signal variations that includes the first signal condition, said measuring device including a signal processing unit coupled to the transmission line and being operative for:

observing said predetermined pattern of signal variations manifested by said terminating device and for establishing on the transmission line said second signal condition at a point in time such that the first and second signal conditions occur over a common time period, such that the echo canceler acquires the enabled mode; and

measuring the certain parameter.

9. A measuring device as defined in claim 8, wherein the echo canceler is responsive to co-acquisition of the first and second signal conditions during a minimal time period to acquire the enabled mode, the common time period having a duration at least equal to the minimal time period.

10. A measuring device as defined in claim 9, wherein the first signal condition is absence of signal transmission by the terminating device.

11. A measuring device as defined in claim 10, wherein said second signal condition is absence of signal transmission by said measuring device.

12. A measuring device as defined in claim 11, wherein the terminating device includes a modem.

13. A measuring device as defined in claim 12, wherein the terminating device is a facsimile machine.

14. A measuring device as defined in claim 8, wherein said certain parameter is selected in the group consisting of echo level, signal level, noise level, signal to noise ratio, round trip delay, ring duration, call set-up duration, post dial delay and link type.