Telephonic communications – Diagnostic testing – malfunction indication – or electrical... – Testing of subscriber loop or terminal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-05
2002-09-17
Tieu, Binh (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Diagnostic testing, malfunction indication, or electrical...
Testing of subscriber loop or terminal
C379S027030, C379S001010, C379S012000, C379S029010, C379S027060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06453015
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic relay matrix utilized to selectively connect together a telephone line tester and a customer telephone line.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Until recently, telephone companies (TCs) have enjoyed a monopoly in local exchange carrier markets. Accordingly, in the event of trouble with their telephone service, a customer would notify their TC of the trouble and the TC would initiate an automated test of the telephone and equipment of the customer experiencing the trouble. More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a TC tester
2
provides test and control signals to a TC switch
4
. The control signals cause the TC switch
4
to selectively connect telephony equipment of a customer, e.g.,
6
1
, to the TC tester
2
through a drop-side
8
1
of a telephone line, a main distribution frame (MDF)
10
, a line-side
12
1
of the telephone line, and the TC switch
4
. Similarly, a customer
6
2
can be connected to the TC tester
2
through a drop-side
8
2
, the MDF
10
, a line-side
12
2
and the TC switch
4
.
The Telecommunications (TELCO) Act of 1996 requires TCs to lease customer telephone lines, and specifically the drop-sides
8
of customer telephone lines, to rival telephone companies (RTCs). Hence, the TELCO Act breaks up the monopoly enjoyed by the TCs in the local exchange carrier market.
With reference to
FIG. 2
, to enable an RTC to service the telephony equipment of the customer
6
2
, the line-side
12
2
servicing the telephony equipment of the customer
6
2
is disconnected from the TC switch
4
and connected to an RTC switch
16
through an intermediate distribution frame (IDF)
18
. Hence, the RTC switch
10
can service the telephony equipment of the customer
6
2
that heretofore was serviced by the TC switch
4
.
In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2
, the TC switch
4
and the RTC switch
16
are connected to their respective customers
6
1
and
6
2
through the main distribution frame
10
. Since the TC switch
4
services; only TC customers, i.e.,
6
1
, the TC tester
2
is not available to test the line-side
12
2
, the drop-side
8
2
and the telephony equipment of the RTC customers
6
2
. To test the line-side
12
2
, the drop-side
8
2
and the telephony equipment of the RTC customer
6
2
, the RTC must provide an RTC tester
20
connected to the RTC switch
16
.
If the RTC customer
6
2
reports a problem with their telephone service, the RTC initiates testing of the drop-side
8
2
, the line-side
12
2
and the telephony equipment of the RTC customer
6
2
with the RTC tester
20
. If no problem is found, an assumption is made that the leased TC equipment, i.e., the drop-side
8
2
, the line-side
12
2
or the MDF
10
, is causing the customer problem and the RTC notifies the TC. Since the line-side
12
2
of the RTC customer
6
2
no longer runs through the TC switch
4
, the TC tester
2
is not able to access the line-side
12
2
for automated testing. Hence, a craftsperson must be dispatched to run manual tests of the line-side
12
2
, the drop-side
8
2
and the telephony equipment of the RTC customer
6
2
. If trouble is found, the fault must be located and repaired.
The inability of the TC to automatically test the line-side
12
2
, the drop-side
8
2
and the telephony equipment of the RTC customer
6
2
represents a potential for increased time to repair customer problems, increased use of human resources and increased costs due to the increased use of human resources. The potential for this increased cost is of sufficient concern that utility regulations require RTCs to pay TCs for false trouble reports and no-problem-found situations. However, the regulations also provide that TCs can only bill RTCs for false trouble reports or no-problem-found situations if the TC is capable of submitting a test printout to verify the results. However, since the TCs are unable to use the TC tester
2
, automated test printouts are not readily available. The lack of automated test printouts impedes the ability of the TCs to invoice RTCs for false trouble reports and no-problem-found situations. With poor trouble handling procedures, the TCs and the RTCs may experience profit losses and possibly even customer losses.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a point of access for testing non-switched customer lines and special service circuits using existing test equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that enables TCs and RTCs to test telephone lines leased to RTCs utilizing a TC tester or an RTC tester. Still further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, we have invented a test system for testing a first plurality of telephone lines and a second plurality of telephone lines. The test system includes an electronic relay matrix (ERM) connectable between the line-side and the drop-side of each telephone line of the first plurality of telephone lines and connectable between the line-side and the drop-side of each telephone line of the second plurality of telephone lines. A first tester is connected to the ERM via the line-side of each of the first plurality of telephone lines and via a first test path. A second tester is connected to the ERM via the line-side of each of the second plurality of telephone lines and via a second test path. In response to a control signal on one of the first test path and the second test path, the ERM connects to one of the first test path and the second test path at least one of the line-side and the drop-side of a telephone line of one of the first plurality of telephone lines and the second plurality of telephone lines.
In the absence of the control signal, the ERM connects together the line-side and the drop-side of each telephone line of the first plurality of telephone lines and connects together the line-side and the drop-side of each telephone line of the second plurality of telephone lines.
A first switch can be connected between the first tester and the line-sides of the first plurality of telephone lines. The first switch-is configured to connect the first tester to the line-side of one of the first plurality of telephone lines. A second switch can be connected between the second tester and the line-sides of the second plurality of telephone lines. The second switch is configured to connect the second tester to the line-sides of one of the second plurality of telephone lines.
A third switch can be connected between a third tester and the ERM. The third switch is connected to the ERM via line-sides of a third plurality of telephone lines. The third switch is configured to connect the third tester to at least one of the line-sides of the third plurality of telephone lines. An intermediate distribution frame can be connected between the second switch and the ERM and between the third switch and the ERM. The intermediate distribution frame can be utilized to connect each line-side of the second plurality of telephone lines and each line-side of the third plurality of telephone lines to the second tester and the third tester, respectively.
We have also invented an electronic relay matrix (ERM) which is connectable to a plurality of testers and a plurality of telephone lines. Each tester is connectable to the ERM through a test path and through the line-side of at least one of the plurality of telephone lines. The ERM includes a line matrix having a plurality of relay assemblies. Each relay assembly is configured to connect together the line-side and the drop-side of one of the plurality of telephone lines and to receive an address signal. A relay mechanism is connected between the line matrix and the test paths. A controller is configured to detect a control signal on one of the test paths and to cause the relay mechanism to connect the one test path to the plurality of relay assemblies. The controller causes an address
Benedict John M.
Holmes Bradford R.
Mortimer Larry
Barnie Rexford N.
Tieu Binh
Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
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