Method and apparatus for verifying and correcting connectivity

• US 6,621,831 B1
• Filed: 01/05/1999
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Semiconductor (U.S.) Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Legerity Incorporated (Microsemi Semiconductor Corp.)
• Inventors: Linz, Alfredo R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, RICKY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/225,387
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 370/493, 370/494, 370/495, 370/496, 370/497, 370/525, 370/526, 370/282, 370/296, 370/351-356, 370/400-402, 370/480, 370/216, 370/254, 379/414, 379/93.05, 379/399, 379/399.01, 379/399.02, 375/222
• US Class Current: 370/480
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0002 analog front ends; means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line duplex arrangements H04L5/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided. The method includes providing an enable signal to a configuration device for generating a preselected signal, providing the preselected signal to a peer station over a subscriber line, and adjusting a transmission path of a signal to the peer station through the subscriber line in response to the preselected signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a first and second terminal, comprising:

a first switching device having an enable input terminal and an output terminal connected to the first terminal of the apparatus, the first switching device capable of connecting the second terminal of the apparatus in response to an enable signal;

a second switching device having an enable input terminal and an output terminal coupled to the second terminal of the of the apparatus, the second switching device capable of connecting to the first terminal of the apparatus in response to an enable signal; and

a configuration device having an enable input terminal, the configuration device capable of transmitting a preselected signal over a subscriber line to a peer station and capable of providing the enable signal to the enable input terminal of the first switching device and to the enable input terminal of the second switching device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration device capable of transmitting a preselected signal includes the configuration device capable transmitting a dual tone multi-frequency sequence.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the configuration device is capable of detecting an acknowledgement of the preselected signal from the peer station in response to the preselected signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the configuration device is capable of providing an enable signal to the enable input terminal of the first switching device and an enable signal to the enable input terminal of the second switching device in response to not detecting an acknowledgment from the peer station.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the preselected signal is within the data frequency band.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the preselected signal is a dual tone multi-frequency sequence within a voice frequency band.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a CODEC capable of receiving a preselected signal over a subscriber line and capable of providing a first and second enable signal in response to receiving the preselected signal;

a configuration device having an input terminal, the configuration device capable of providing an acknowledgement to a peer station over the subscriber line in response to receiving the first enable signal from the CODEC; and

a switching device having an enable input terminal, the switching device capable connecting the configuration device to the subscriber line in response to receiving the second enable signal from the CODEC.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the preselected signal is dual tone multi-frequency sequence within a voice frequency band.

9. A apparatus, comprising:

a splitter having a first and second input terminal;

a first switching device having an enable input terminal and an output terminal connected to the first input terminal of the splitter, the first switching device capable of connecting the second terminal of the splitter in response to an enable signal;

a second switching device having an enable input terminal and an output terminal coupled to the second terminal of the splitter, the second switching device capable of connecting to the first terminal of the splitter in response to an enable signal; and

a configuration device having an enable input terminal, the configuration device capable of transmitting a preselected signal over a subscriber line to a peer station and capable of providing the enable signal to the enable input terminal of the first switching device and to the enable input terminal of the second switching device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the configuration device is capable of detecting an acknowledgement of the preselected signal from the peer station in response to the preselected signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the configuration device is capable of providing an enable signal to the enable input terminal of the first switching device and an enable signal to the enable input terminal of the second switching device in response to not detecting an acknowledgment from the peer station.