US3636280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone line testing from remote locations
Assignee: Frontier California Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-17
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1990-09-17
Abstract
Abstract Telephone line testing from a remote location such as a testing facility is accomplished by providing a disconnect switch at the interface connection of the line to suitable customer equipment. A known impedance is provided at the interface connection point such that by passing a signal from the testing facility to the interface connection point the switch will disconnect the customer equipment and connect into the circuit the known impedance. Tests may then be made by passing current down the telephone line from the testing facility to the interface point, any failure to measure the known impedance indicating that trouble exists between the testing facility and the interface connection point. In this event, the customer need not be bothered by telephone men in effecting repairs. If the telephone line shows proper continuity between the testing facility and the interface connection point, it is then known that the customer''s equipment is causing the trouble. The equipment can then properly be repaired by telephone men if authorized by the customer or by the customer himself.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Emery Wetzel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/26; H04M3/28; H04M3/30; H04M3/301
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for determining whether trouble in a telephone line exists between a testing facility and the interface connection point to customer equipment or in the customer equipment itself, comprising the steps of: a. providing a known load impedance at said interface connection point; b. providing a signal-responsive switch at said interface connection point responsive to a control signal from the testing facility to disconnect the telephone line at the interface connection point from the customer equipment and reconnect it to said known impedance; c. passing a control signal down the telephone line from the testing facility to the interface connection point to operate said signal-responsive switch; and d. measuring any signal in the line passing through the known impedance to thereby provide an indication if the line between the testing facility and interface connection point is operative, failure to measure any signal in the line indicating that the trouble is in the line between the testing facility and interface connection point and measurement of a proper signal indicating that the trouble is in the customer equipment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for determining whether trouble in a telephone line exists between a testing facility and the interface connection point to customer equipment or in the customer equipment itself, comprising the steps of: a. providing a known load impedance at said interface connection point; b. providing a signal-responsive switch at said interface connection point responsive to a control signal from the testing facility to disconnect the telephone line at the interface connection point from the customer equipment and reconnect it to said known impedance; c. passing a control signal down the telephone line from the testing facility to the interface connection point to operate said signal-responsive switch; and d. measuring any signal in the line passing through the known impedance to thereby provide an indication if the line between the testing facility and interface connection point is operative, failure to measure any signal in the line indicating that the trouble is in the line between the testing facility and interface connection point and measurement of a proper signal indicating that the trouble is in the customer equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
A means for determining whether trouble in a telephone line exists between a testing facility and the interface connection point to customer equipment or in the customer equipment itself, comprising, in combination: a. a given electrical impedance at said interface connection point; b. switch means responsive to a control signal on said telephone line from said testing facility for disconnecting said telephone line from the customer equipment and connecting it to said given electrical impedance for a given length of time; and, c. means for passing a testing signal down said telephone line from said testing facility to said electrical impedance so that the continuity of the line between said testing facility and interface connection point can be checked whereby if there is no continuity it is known that trouble in the line exists between the testing facility and customer equipment whereas if there is continuity, it is known that trouble is in the customer equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
A means for determining whether trouble in a telephone line exists between a testing facility and the interface connection point to customer equipment or in the customer equipment itself, comprising, in combination: a. a given electrical impedance at said interface connection point; b. switch means responsive to a control signal on said telephone line from said testing facility for disconnecting said telephone line from the customer equipment and connecting it to said given electrical impedance for a given length of time; and, c. means for passing a testing signal down said telephone line from said testing facility to said electrical impedance so that the continuity of the line between said testing facility and interface connection point can be checked whereby if there is no continuity it is known that trouble in the line exists between the testing facility and customer equipment whereas if there is continuity, it is known that trouble is in the customer equipment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The subject matter of claim 2, in which said switch means includes a time delay means responsive to said control signal to hold said switch in its switched pOsition in which the telephone line to the customer equipment is disconnected and said electrical impedance is connected for said given length of time, said switch means returning to its initial position to disconnect the impedance and reconnect the line to the customer equipment at the end of said given period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
The subject matter of claim 3, in which the telephone line comprises a two-wire line from said testing facility terminating in switch arms normally connected to the customer equipment, said switch means including said two-switch arms and a relay coil for simultaneously disconnecting said switch arms from said customer equipment and connecting them to said electrical impedance, one end of said relay coil being grounded; and branch leads from said two-wire line, each including a diode connecting to said time delay means, the output of said time delay means connecting to the other end of said relay coil and being responsive to the control signal passed through either diode to energize said coil for a sustained period corresponding to said given length of time so that test signals may be applied between either of said two lines and ground to energize said relay coil and enable testing of each individual line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |