Automated telephone line test apparatus with intelligent diagnostic function
First Claim
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:
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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.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:
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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.
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9. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:
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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.
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10. An automated telephone line test apparatus, comprising:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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Specification