Methods for detecting defective communications lines

• US 6,577,711 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1998
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Robert Franklin, Greer, William Halliburton, Williamson, William A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/085,304
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/9, 379/10, 379/15, 379/27, 379/29, 379/32, 379/34, 379/22, 379/22.02, 379/22.03, 379/12, 379/22.07, 379/24, 379/29.09
• US Class Current: 379/22.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for identifying defective communications lines. The method generally involves passively detecting signals symptomatic of and generated by a defective communications line rather than by a user accessing a communication network via the line. One alternative involves monitoring calls to a selected number having low digit and set values. Analysis of the pattern of calls to the selected number, or directly monitoring the frequencies upon the communications line, identify calls that are effectively generated by defects in a communications line rather than legitimate calls generated by network users. Spurious calls are associated with the originating communications line. The line can then be automatically tested or service dispatched. More automated alternatives are also disclosed that make use of switch reconfigurations. Central office switches may be programmed to detect a variety of events that indicate a spurious pulse or seizure is being generated by a communication line. The detected spurious signal is associated with its originating communications line. The line can then be flagged for service or further tested, including automatically by switch equipment, to determine whether it is defective.

Claims

1. A method for passively detecting an intermittently defective communications line within a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring for and identifying at least one signal symptomatic of an intermittently defective communications line, wherein the at least one signal comprises at least one of the following;

(i) communications line seizures wherein a complete telephone number is not dialed;

(ii) pulses whose characteristics do not meet selected threshold parameters;

(iii) pulses appearing on a communications line normally using DTMF signaling; and

(iv) pulses of unequal amplitude or whose amplitude are not typical of that particular line; and

b) correlating the at least one signal with an identifier describing the intermittently defective communications line.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the at least one signal comprises a spurious communication generated by the defective communications line.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which the monitoring step comprises the steps of monitoring communications to a selected number and the identifying step comprises the step of determining through pattern analysis that a particular communication was spurious.

4. A method according to claim 3 in which the pattern analysis is based upon a combination of a history of calls obtained from the communications line, pre-set standards for pulse and dialing characteristics, or frequency of detected events over defined time periods.

5. A method for passively detecting an intermittently defective communications line within a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring for and identifying at least one signal symptomatic of an intermittently defective communications line by programming a switch to identify the at least one signal, which is selected from the group consisting of the following signals;

(i) communications line seizures wherein a complete telephone number is not dialed;

(ii) pulses whose characteristics do not meet selected threshold parameters;

(iii) pulses appearing on a communications line normally using DTMF signaling; and

(iv) pulses of unequal amplitude or whose amplitude are not typical of that particular line; and

b) correlating the at least one signal with an identifier describing the intermittently defective communications line.

6. A method for improving communication services by detecting defective communications lines within a communications network, in which the method comprises the steps of:

a) identifying spurious pulses intermittently generated by a particular defective communications line, wherein the spurious pulses correspond to at least one of the following;

(i) communications line seizures wherein a complete telephone number is not dialed;

(ii) pulses whose characteristics do not meet selected threshold parameters;

(iii) pulses appearing on a communications line normally using DTMF signaling; and

(iv) pulses of unequal amplitude or whose amplitude are not typical of that particular line; and

b) associating the spurious pulses with an identifier associated with the line that generated the spurious pulses.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which the identification step comprises the step of configuring the switch to detect events that coincide with spurious pulses.

9. A method according to claim 6 in which the identification step comprises the step of monitoring the communications line associated with each of the events to determine absence or presence of selected frequencies upon the line.

10. A method according to claim 6 in which the association step comprises the steps of:

a) configuring a central office switch to capture call detail records, including identifier data describing origination of terminating communications to be routed to a selected number; and

b) correlating a detected spurious pulse with the origination data.

11. A method according to claim 6 in which the identification step comprises the steps of:

a) defining a selected number to which terminating communications are routed by the communication network; and

b) analyzing the terminating communications to identify spurious communications.

12. A method according to claim 11 in which the defining step comprises the step of selecting an N11 number wherein N is a number from 2 to 5.

13. A method according to claim 11 which the defining step comprises the step of selecting a number having a digit value between 1 and 4 and a set value less than 5.

14. A method according to claim 11 in which the analyzing step comprises the step of reviewing data describing multiples of the terminating communications to determine atypical patterns of communication to the selected number.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of capturing data describing the multiples of the terminating communications.

16. A method according to claim 15 in which the capturing step comprises the step of monitoring terminating communications to the selected number to capture call detail records, including data describing the origination of each of the terminating communications.

17. A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of determining the absence or presence of signals selected from the group consisting of human voice frequency, data signal, a facsimile signal and a noise signal.

18. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of testing a communications line associated with a particular spurious communication.

8. A method for improving communication services by detecting defective communications lines within a communications network, in which the method comprises the steps of:

a) identifying spurious pulses intermittently generated by a particular defective communications line by configuring a switch to detect events that coincide with the spurious pulses, wherein the events are from the group consisting of;

(i) communications line seizures wherein a complete telephone number is not dialed;

(ii) pulses whose characteristics do not meet selected threshold parameters;

(iii) pulses appearing on a communications line normally using touch tone signaling; and

(iv) pulses of unequal amplitude or whose amplitude are not typical of that particular line; and

b) associating the spurious pulses with an identifier associated with the line that generated the spurious pulses.