Dynamic, automated double-ended system and method for testing and qualifying metallic telecommunication loops

• US 7,149,285 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Yi, Chong, Lowell, Alan B., Wooton, Clinton J., Kennedy, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/608,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/9, 379/10.01, 379/10.03, 379/15.01, 379/21, 379/22.07, 379 23- 24, 379/27.01, 379/27.04, 379/29.01, 379/29.04, 379/30, 379/32.04
• US Class Current: 379/27.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2209 for lines also used for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/301 Circuit arrangements at the subscriber's side of the line
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier

Abstract

A multi-unit test system performs automated and dynamically alterable, double-ended testing of telephone lines, whose service is provided on copper cable pairs. A prescribed set of (e.g., twelve) individual tests are executed either from a hand-held measurement unit, or by a central office-resident direct access test unit, or by a collaboration of the two. The hand-held measurement unit and the direct access test unit exchange FSK-based test control messages with one another that are effective to cause a selected electrical condition to be applied to a first portion of the wireline and to cause a prescribed electrical measurement to be made at a second portion of the wireline.

Claims

1. An arrangement for testing a telephone line comprising:

a hand-held measurement unit containing communication and test interface circuitry that is configured to be coupled to a telephone wireline and is arranged to engage a personal digital assistant type device, said hand-held measurement unit being controllably operative to participate in testing of characteristics of said telephone wireline; and

a test unit installed in a telephone service facility and containing communication and test interface circuitry that is configured to be coupled to said telephone wireline, and is controllably operative to participate with said hand-held measurement unit in testing characteristics of said telephone wireline.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit are controllably operative to exchange test control messages with one another that are effective to cause a selected electrical condition to be applied to a first portion of said wireline by one of said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, and to cause a prescribed electrical measurement to be made at a second portion of said wireline by another of said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, in response to said selected electrical condition.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said hand-held measurement unit is operative to exchange test control messages with said test unit by means of a test trunk.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said hand-held measurement unit is further operative to couple test interface circuitry thereof to said telephone wireline, and to measure preselected parameters of said telephone wireline independent of participation of said test unit in measuring said preselected parameters of said telephone wireline.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said preselected parameters include at least one of AC voltage, DC voltage and loop current.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein characteristics of said telephone wireline, testing of which is performed by participation of both said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, include at least one of tone loss, power influence, circuit noise, balance, capacitance, resistance, stress and load coil detection.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit are operative to exchange frequency shift keying (FSK)-based messages which are effective to control testing of said wireline.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said hand-held measurement unit is operative to initiate an FSK log-in transmission containing caller ID information, in response to which said test unit transmits the received caller ID information via an FSK communication channel to said hand-held measurement unit as an acknowledgement of an access request, said the hand-held measurement unit capturing and displaying said caller ID information transmitted over said FSK communication channel from said test unit.

9. A portable test device for testing a telephone line comprising:

a hand-held measurement unit containing communication and test interface circuitry that is configured to be coupled to a telephone wireline and is arranged to engage a personal digital assistant type device, said hand-held measurement unit being controllably operative to test characteristics of said telephone wireline;

a personal digital assistant type device through which control inputs and outputs are interfaced with a user of said portable test device; and

wherein

said hand-held measurement unit is operative, for a first mode of operation, to couple test interface circuitry thereof to said telephone wireline, and independently measure preselected parameters of said telephone wireline, and for a second mode of operation, to exchange test control messages with a test unit in a telephone service facility, and to participate with test interface circuitry of said test unit in testing characteristics of said telephone wireline.

10. The portable test device according to claim 9, wherein said preselected parameters include at least one of AC voltage, DC voltage and loop current.

11. The portable test device according to claim 9, wherein said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit are controllably operative to exchange test control messages with one another that are effective to cause a selected electrical condition to be applied to a first portion of said wireline by one of said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, and to cause a prescribed electrical measurement to be made at a second portion of said wireline by another of said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, in response to said selected electrical condition.

12. The portable test device according to claim 11, wherein said hand-held measurement unit is operative to exchange test control messages with said test unit by means of a test trunk.

13. The portable test device according to claim 11, wherein characteristics of said telephone wireline, testing of which is performed by participation of both said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, include at least one of tone loss, power influence, circuit noise, balance, capacitance, resistance, stress and load coil detection.

14. The portable test device according to claim 9, wherein said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit are operative to exchange frequency shift keying (FSK)-based messages which are effective to control testing of said wireline.

15. A method of testing a telephone line comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a hand-held measurement unit containing communication and test interface circuitry that is configured to be coupled to a telephone wireline and is arranged to engage a personal digital assistant type device, said hand-held measurement unit being controllably operative to participate in testing of characteristics of said telephone wireline;

(b) providing a test unit in a telephone service facility and containing communication and test interface circuitry that is configured to be coupled to said telephone wireline, and is controllably operative to participate with said hand-held measurement unit in testing characteristics of said telephone wireline;

(c) coupling said hand-held measurement unit to said telephone wireline and exchanging test control communication messages between said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, so as to establish test connectivity paths between said wireline and each of said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit; and

(d) testing characteristics of said telephone wireline by means of at least said hand-held measurement unit.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein step (c) comprises causing said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit to exchange test control messages with one another that are effective to cause a selected electrical condition to be applied to a first portion of said wireline by one of said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, and to cause a prescribed electrical measurement to be made at a second portion of said wireline by another of said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, in response to said selected electrical condition.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said hand-held measurement unit is operative to exchange test control messages with said test unit by means of a test trunk.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein step (d) comprises coupling test interface circuitry of said hand-held measurement unit to said telephone wireline, and measuring preselected parameters of said telephone wireline independent of participation of said test unit in measuring said preselected parameters of said telephone wireline.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said preselected parameters include at least one of AC voltage, DC voltage and loop current.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein characteristics of said telephone wireline, testing of which is performed by participation of both said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit, include at least one of tone loss, power influence, circuit noise, balance, capacitance, resistance, stress and load coil detection.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein said hand-held measurement unit and said test unit are operative to exchange frequency shift keying (FSK)-based messages which are effective to control testing of said wireline.