Automated telephone line test apparatus with intelligent diagnostic function

• US 6,438,212 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Lysaght, Robert J., Finger, Donald, Hahn, Jeffrey, Kolodzinski, Anthony M., Citron, Howard, Wu, Yu-Ling
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Application Number:
  US08/933,485
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 379/21, 379/22, 379/23, 379/24, 379/25, 379/26, 379/27, 379/29, 379/30, 379/5, 379/6, 379/1, 379/1.01, 379/12, 379/10.01, 379/22.02, 379/22.07, 379/27.01, 379/27.03, 379/27.04, 455/423, 364/528
• US Class Current: 379/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/085 Fault locating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/305 testing of physical copper line parameters, e.g. capacitance or resistance locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/308 Craftsperson test terminals

Abstract

A portable, automated telephone line test device includes a test module which applies test signals to a telephone line to be tested and detects electrical characteristics of the telephone line, and a user interface module. The user interface module includes a microprocessor, a display, a keyboard and a program memory in accordance with a standard microcomputer architecture. The processor of the user interface module is programmed to control the test module to perform a pre-programmed sequence of tests. The display provides indications of the tests being performed. The programmed sequence is varied by the device according to test results. Depending on the results obtained, the device also provides interpretative diagnostic messages and instructs the user to carry out additional test procedures.

Claims

1. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:

test circuit means for applying test signals to a telephone line to be tested, and for detecting electrical characteristics of said telephone line to be tested;

a processor connected to said test circuit means for controlling said test circuit means;

display means connected to said processor; and

a program memory connected to said processor;

said processor being programmed;

to control said test circuit means such that said test circuit means performs a pre-programmed sequence of a plurality of different tests with respect to said telephone line to be tested, said pre-programmed sequence of a plurality of different tests being performed in accordance with a program stored in said program memory;

to control said display means such that said display means provides at the start of said performance of said pre-programmed sequence of tests a display having a first field in which alphabetic information identifying each of said plurality of different tests is together listed and a second adjacent field in which the results of said tests are to be displayed and as testing proceeds to further control said display means to provide for each test;

in said first field adjacent the listing of the corresponding test and during the performance of the test a display of an indication that the test is being performed; and

in said second field a display of the numeric readings of the results of the test.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said plurality of different tests which are listed in said first field include at least an AC voltage test, a DC voltage test, a loop current test, a ground test and a two wire current loss test.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said plurality of different tests which are listed in said first field further includes a circuit noise test, a power influence test, a longitudinal balance test and a stress test.

4. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:

test circuit means for applying test signals to a telephone line to be tested and to a cable containing the telephone line to be tested, and for detecting electrical characteristics of said telephone line to be tested and said cable, said test circuit means having capabilities for performing a plurality of tests that are different from each other;

a processor connected to said test circuit means for controlling said test circuit means, and for receiving test results from said test circuit means;

a program memory connected to said processor; and

a program stored in said program memory, said program for controlling said processor to cause said test circuit means to selectively perform said plurality of tests; and

said program being adapted to cause for each of one or more of said plurality of tests being performed on the basis of a result of the test being performed said processor to only branch from the test being performed to subsequent tests of said plurality of tests which will provide meaningful test results, said test circuit means branching to said subsequent tests responsive to said processor.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said test being performed is a ground test on said cable and when:

said test indicates a good ground, said branch of subsequent tests has one or more of a voltage test and a loop current test on said line to be tested to determine if said line to be tested is functioning, and if said line to be tested is determined to be functioning, said branch of subsequent tests further has a two-wire circuit loss test and a circuit noise test circuit, and one or more of a power influence test, a longitudinal balance test and stress test on said line to be tested; and

when said ground test indicates a failure to find a good ground, said branch of subsequent tests has one or more of a voltage test and a loop current test on said line to be tested to determine if said line to be tested is functioning, and if said line to be tested is determined to be functioning, said branch of subsequent tests further has a two-wire circuit loss test and a circuit noise test on said line to be tested.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said test being performed is one or more of a voltage test and a loop current test on said line to be tested, and:

if said test being performed indicates a functioning line, said branch of subsequent tests has a two-wire circuit loss test and a circuit noise test and one or more of a power influence test, a longitudinal balance test and stress test on said line to be tested; and

if said test being performed indicates a non-functioning line, said branch of subsequent tests has an ohms test on said line to be tested to determine a fault on the line to be tested, and if a fault is not determined on the line to be tested, said branch of subsequent tests has one or more of a capacitive kick test and a stress test on the line to be tested.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said test being performed is an ohms test on the line to be tested to determine a fault on the line to be tested, and if said test being performed indicates:

a fault has not been detected on the line to be tested said branch of subsequent tests has one or more of a capacitive kick test and a stress test on the line to be tested.

8. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:

test circuit means for applying test signals to a telephone line to be tested, and for detecting electrical characteristics of said telephone line to be tested;

a processor connected to said test circuit means for controlling said test circuit means;

display means connected to said processor; and

a program memory connected to said processor;

said processor being programmed;

to control said test circuit means so that said test circuit means performs a test with respect to said telephone line to be tested;

to receive data from said test circuit means indicative of a result of said test; and

according to said result of said test, to control said display means to display a message instructing a user of the apparatus to perform a second test with respect to a cable which includes said telephone line to be tested.

9. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:

test circuit means for applying test signals to a telephone line to be tested, and for detecting electrical characteristics of said telephone line to be tested;

a processor connected to said test circuit means for controlling said test circuit means;

display means connected to said processor; and

a program memory connected to said processor;

said processor being programmed;

to control said test circuit means such that said test circuit means performs a test with respect to said telephone line to be tested,

to receive data from said test circuit means indicative of a result of said test; and

according to said result of said test to control said display means to display a message instructing a user of the apparatus to perform a second test with respect to a cable which includes said telephone line, said second test being a test with respect to a wire pair other than a wire pair corresponding to said telephone line to be tested.

10. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:

test circuit means for applying test signals to a telephone line to be tested, and for detecting electrical characteristics of said telephone line to be tested;

a processor connected to said test circuit means for controlling said test circuit means;

display means connected to said processor; and

a program memory connected to said processor;

said processor being programmed;

to control said test circuit means so that said test circuit means performs a test with respect to said telephone line to be tested;

to receive data from said test circuit means indicative of a result of said test; and

according to said result of said test, to control said display means to display a string of alphabetic characters which informs a user of the apparatus of said result of said test, said string of alphabetic characters including a verbal message stating to the user that the test result is one of within a range of acceptable values and not within a range of acceptable values.

11. A method of testing a telephone line utilizing a portable test device, said test device including a test module connected to said telephone line, a microprocessor for controlling the test module, and a memory storing a program for controlling the microprocessor, the method comprising the steps of:

operating the test module to carry out a sequence of tests with respect to said telephone line in response to said stored program, said sequence of tests automatically branching on the basis of respective results of said tests;

displaying a message instructing a user of the testing device to perform a test with respect to a cable which contains said telephone line to which said test module is connected; and

performing said test with respect to the cable.

12. A method of testing a telephone line utilizing a portable test device, said test device including a test module connected to said telephone line, a microprocessor for controlling the test module, and a memory storing a program for controlling the microprocessor, the method comprising the steps of:

operating the test module to carry out a sequence of tests with respect to said telephone line in response to said stored program, said sequence of tests automatically branching on the basis of respective results of said tests; and

displaying a message instructing a user of the testing device to perform a test with respect to a cable which contains said telephone line to which said test module is connected;

performing said test with respect to said cable; and

prior to said performing step, connecting said test module to a wire pair contained in said cable, said wire pair being different from a wire pair corresponding to said telephone line.