Telephonic communications – Diagnostic testing – malfunction indication – or electrical... – Testing of subscriber loop or terminal
Patent
1997-02-11
1998-11-24
Loomis, Paul
Telephonic communications
Diagnostic testing, malfunction indication, or electrical...
Testing of subscriber loop or terminal
379441, 379442, 379 1, 439 44, 439 54, H04M 308, H04M 100, H01R 2100
Patent
active
058418369
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to network termination equipment for connecting telecommunications apparatus such as telephones, fax machines, computer modems etc to a telecommunications network.
2. Related Art
As the range of services available over telephone networks increases, the number of functions required to be performed at the network termination equipment increases correspondingly. The nature of the network termination, and the functions it is required to perform, depend on the service to be provided. This leads to a number of problems.
Firstly, a customer requiring a new service may require a new function to be performed by the network termination. If the existing termination on the customer's premises cannot perform this function it must be replaced by a different design of termination. This usually requires a visit from a technician in order to replace the termination equipment. This makes the introduction of a new service inconvenient for both the service provider and the customer.
Furthermore the physical connection available for the installed termination may be incompatible with the connection required for the new equipment, requiring the replacement of the termination equipment.
Even were it possible to provide a termination equipment having all the functionality necessary for all present and future requirements, such an equipment would be unnecessarily complex, which would adversely affect its cost, reliability and physical size, since for most customers only a few services from the total available would be required.
There is thus a need for a network termination equipment which can readily be upgraded to provide additional services.
United Kingdom patent specification GB2255694 describes a termination in which alternative front plates, carrying socket types which differ in the relative physical positions of their electrical connections, can be fitted to allow accommodation of different plug types. This allows ready adaptation of the termination for different equipment for supporting different services.
However, this is of limited utility because the signals to be transmitted over the network must be compatible with any equipment which may be connected to the termination, and so each alternative front plate merely provides a number of direct connections between the network connection and the socket terminals.
European patent specification EP 0370423 A2 (Walter Rose) and Canadian patent specification 2101980 (Dresser) both disclose termination devices for telecommunications systems which include functionality to allow interaction between the exchange and the termination allowing transmission of signals to the exchange, for diagnostic and other purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided telecommunications equipment, comprising a network termination equipment for forming the physical termination of a telecommunications network and providing a connection by which a user can access the network by use of telecommunications apparatus, the network termination equipment having a first connection point for making connection with the head end of a telecommunications network, at least one second connection point for making connection with a telecommunications apparatus, operative means for generating signals for transmission to the head end and a further connection arranged to allow the connection of different complementary elements, such that the topology of the connection of the elements can be varied to allow the network termination to perform different functions.
This allows for much greater flexibility in the type of services which may be provided. The signals transmitted to the head end may be used to indicate the presence of the complementary elements, which information can be used by the head end to determine what type of service the termination is configured for.
Preferably, the equipment has means for signaling the presence of the complementary element to a telecommunications network through the first conn
REFERENCES:
patent: 3976849 (1976-08-01), Champan
patent: 4807277 (1989-02-01), Perry
patent: 4870679 (1989-09-01), Hanna
patent: 4954672 (1990-09-01), Ruehl
patent: 5003586 (1991-03-01), Wright
patent: 5218633 (1993-06-01), Clagett et al.
patent: 5253289 (1993-10-01), Tanaka
patent: 5272747 (1993-12-01), Meads
patent: 5652575 (1997-07-01), Pryor et al.
Dunn Anthony G.
Kingan Jonathan J.
British Telecommunications public limited company
Loomis Paul
LandOfFree
Network termination equipment does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Network termination equipment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Network termination equipment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1711635