US3829627A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic line insulation routiner
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1992-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a testing apparatus for automatically routining or testing the lines in a conventional telephone exchange under the control of a small or medium size computer. Lines are tested consecutively by equipment locations with four lines being selected for test at one time. The address of the lines to be tested is sent to a test connector which seizes a test relay associated with the lines to be tested to initiate testing. A series of error checks and verification checks are incorporated into the test procedures to discontinue testing on the sensing of conditions of a serious nature while providing an out put or alarm signal. On sensing conditions of lesser significance, testing is continued with a notation being made of the number of gross errors of the less serious condition. The apparatus, as disclosed, could readily be used for traffic testing of the exchange lines.
Inventors
- 👤 T Short
- 👤 D Marcum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/26; H04M3/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for testing lines of a telecommunications exchange under the control of a program-controlled central processing unit, comprising means for addressing a plurality of lines to be tested at one time, means for setting said addressed plurality of lines into a test sequence, means responsive to a setting of said lines for returning to the processor an indication of the status of said lines, as available for test, testing means for each line of said plurality, means operative under the control of said processor for seizing said plurality of lines found to be available, means for Initiating testing the seized lines of said plurality simultaneously for sequential tests for false ground, foreign battery and leakage of current between the leads of said lines, means for detecting failure of one or more of said lines to any one of said tests for providing a failing indication to the processing unit and means for registering the address of any line failing the tests.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for testing lines of a telecommunications exchange under the control of a program-controlled central processing unit, comprising means for addressing a plurality of lines to be tested at one time, means for setting said addressed plurality of lines into a test sequence, means responsive to a setting of said lines for returning to the processor an indication of the status of said lines, as available for test, testing means for each line of said plurality, means operative under the control of said processor for seizing said plurality of lines found to be available, means for Initiating testing the seized lines of said plurality simultaneously for sequential tests for false ground, foreign battery and leakage of current between the leads of said lines, means for detecting failure of one or more of said lines to any one of said tests for providing a failing indication to the processing unit and means for registering the address of any line failing the tests.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, for an exchange in which the lines are grouped into a plurality of multiple-line groups, in which the lines to be tested simultaneously are all within the same line group, and means for checking to produce an alarm signal when lines in more than one group are set for test at one time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which there are means responsive to completion of a test on one plurality of lines for initiating the setting of the next successive plurality of lines for test.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are means for checking the exchange prior to the setting of lines for activity in the exchange directed toward seizing one of the lines for use, and means for preventing the setting for test of a line to which such activity is directed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
226 words
A line insulation test apparatus adapted to be controlled by a general purpose data processor for routining the lines of a common control telecommunications exchange, comprising: decoding means for decoding line addresses received from said processor for use by said apparatus, selecting means responsive to decoded line addresses for accessing a line group containing lines to be tested, means for testing the status of said group for an available condition, means responsive to the group found to be available for checking the common control to determine that addressed group to be tested is not being sought for a call, means responsive to a group being available and addressed group not being sought for thereafter checking the individual lines of the group to be tested for busy indications, means responsive to one line of said addressed lines providing a busy indication for producing a busy indication for that line for the pendency of a testing period, means for connecting idle ones of said plurality of lines to an insulation testing network, said network including a detector circuit for each line being tested, said detector circuits being rendered operative on said network connection to initiate testing of the lines connected thereto for said test period, and means responsive to any line being tested failing the test for transmitting the address of said line to said processor for registration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
226 words
A line insulation test apparatus adapted to be controlled by a general purpose data processor for routining the lines of a common control telecommunications exchange, comprising: decoding means for decoding line addresses received from said processor for use by said apparatus, selecting means responsive to decoded line addresses for accessing a line group containing lines to be tested, means for testing the status of said group for an available condition, means responsive to the group found to be available for checking the common control to determine that addressed group to be tested is not being sought for a call, means responsive to a group being available and addressed group not being sought for thereafter checking the individual lines of the group to be tested for busy indications, means responsive to one line of said addressed lines providing a busy indication for producing a busy indication for that line for the pendency of a testing period, means for connecting idle ones of said plurality of lines to an insulation testing network, said network including a detector circuit for each line being tested, said detector circuits being rendered operative on said network connection to initiate testing of the lines connected thereto for said test period, and means responsive to any line being tested failing the test for transmitting the address of said line to said processor for registration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said common control includes a marker for processing calls through the exchange, and said common control checking means comprises a scanner for checking said marker for activity, and in which there is means for performing a second marker activity check prior to said connection of said lines to said detector.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for automatically testing the lines of a telecommunications exchange under the program control of a general purpose computer, the invention comprising a controller circuit for interfacing said computer with testing circuits, said controller circuits receptive of addresses of lines to be tested from said computer for decoding said addresses for use by a test controller and for returning the status of addressed lines to said computer in coded form suitable for said computer, a test connector operative to select lines for testing according to addresses received from said controller circuits, and a plurality of testing circuits for simultaneously performing a series of insulation tests on said plurality of addressed lines, means for providing indications of results of said tests from said testing circuits to said controller circuits for decoding and transmission to said computer, and an automatic means connected to said controller for providing visual read-out of test results.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for automatically testing the lines of a telecommunications exchange under the program control of a general purpose computer, the invention comprising a controller circuit for interfacing said computer with testing circuits, said controller circuits receptive of addresses of lines to be tested from said computer for decoding said addresses for use by a test controller and for returning the status of addressed lines to said computer in coded form suitable for said computer, a test connector operative to select lines for testing according to addresses received from said controller circuits, and a plurality of testing circuits for simultaneously performing a series of insulation tests on said plurality of addressed lines, means for providing indications of results of said tests from said testing circuits to said controller circuits for decoding and transmission to said computer, and an automatic means connected to said controller for providing visual read-out of test results.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the lines of said exchange are grouped into line groups, and in which there is a test relay for plural lines in each group, and line select means in said controller for checking the test relay lines to be tested, and in which there are markers for completing calls to and from lines of said exchange, and means in said test connector for checking the marker unit to determine if a call to lines of a group being addressed are active in a call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said test connector seizes the test relay representing lines to be tested responsive to an idle test on said relay indicating said test relay is idle prior to checking the marker for the lines being tested.
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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |