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US4039751A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for closed loop testing of first and second modulators and demodulators

Assignee: General Datacomm Inc
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Filing: 1976-03-22
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1996-03-22
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus are disclosed for closed loop testing of first and second modulators and demodulators from the modulated signal side of the first modulator and first demodulator. During ordinary communication, the first modulator and second demodulator are connected in series and the first demodulator and the second modulator are connected in series. In response to each test initiate signal, a loop is established between the second modulator and the second demodulator on their modulated signal side. Upon reception of some test initiate signals, a loop is established between the first modulator and first demodulator on their demodulated side and they are disconnected from the second demodulator and second modulator. Thus, the first modulator and demodulator can be tested from their modulated signal side when a loop is established between them; and the first and second modulators and demodulators can be tested when a loop is established between the second modulator and demodulator but not between the first modulator and demodulator.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert A. Couturier
  • 👤 Steven J. Davis
  • 👤 G. Howard Robbins

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 01:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04J; H04J1/00; H04J1/02; H04J1/14; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/24; H04L1/242; H04L1/243

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 278 words
In a communication terminal comprising: a first modulator with an input terminal for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal; a first demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal; a second modulator having an input termianl for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal, said input terminal being connected to the output terminal of the first demodulator; and a second demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal, said output terminal being connected to the input terminal of the first modulator; a method of closed loop testing the operation of said modulators and demodulators from the modulated signal side of the first modulator and first demodulator comprising: sensing a first signal supplied to the first demodulator and producing in response thereto a test initiate signal; connecting the output of the second modulator to the input of the second demodulator in response to said test initiate signal; connecting the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator while disconnecting the first modulator and the first demodulator from the second demodulator and second modulator, said connecting and disconnecting occurring in response to an additional test initiate signal; and sensing at least one additional signal supplied to the first demodulator and in response thereto restoring the terminal to normal operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 278 words
In a communication terminal comprising: a first modulator with an input terminal for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal; a first demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal; a second modulator having an input termianl for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal, said input terminal being connected to the output terminal of the first demodulator; and a second demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal, said output terminal being connected to the input terminal of the first modulator; a method of closed loop testing the operation of said modulators and demodulators from the modulated signal side of the first modulator and first demodulator comprising: sensing a first signal supplied to the first demodulator and producing in response thereto a test initiate signal; connecting the output of the second modulator to the input of the second demodulator in response to said test initiate signal; connecting the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator while disconnecting the first modulator and the first demodulator from the second demodulator and second modulator, said connecting and disconnecting occurring in response to an additional test initiate signal; and sensing at least one additional signal supplied to the first demodulator and in response thereto restoring the terminal to normal operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the communication terminal is part of a frequency division multiplex (FDM) system and the first modulator and first demodulator are an FDM transmitter/receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: operating the second modulator in one of the originate or answer modes in response to said test initiate signal; and operating the second demodulator in the other of said originate or answer modes in response to said test initiate signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of attenuating the signal connected from the output of the the second modulator to the input of the second demodulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first signal is a particular tone signal and said additional signal is an interruption in signals applied to the first demodulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of applying the test initiate signals to a multistate recording means and controlling the connection of the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator in response to the state of the recording means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the connecting of the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator occurs in response to every other test initiate signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 where the communication terminal is a data transmission terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 285 words
In a communication terminal comprising: a first modulator with an input terminal for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal; a first demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal; a second modulator having an input terminal for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal, said input terminal being connected to the output terminal of the first demodulator; and a second demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal, said output terminal being connected to the input terminal of the first modulator; means for closed loop testing the operation of said modulators and demodulators from the modulated signal side of the first modulator and first demodulator comprising: means for sensing a first signal supplied to the first demodulator and producing in response thereto a test initiate signal; means responsive to said test initiate signal for connecting the output of the second modulator to the input of the second demodulator; means for connecting the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator while disconnecting the first modulator and the first demodulator from the second demodulator and the second modulator, said connecting and disconnecting occurring in response to an additional test initiate signal; and means for sensing at least an additional signal supplied to the first demodulator and in response thereto restoring the terminal to normal operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 285 words
In a communication terminal comprising: a first modulator with an input terminal for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal; a first demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal; a second modulator having an input terminal for receiving a signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a modulated signal representative of said signal at its input terminal, said input terminal being connected to the output terminal of the first demodulator; and a second demodulator with an input terminal for receiving a modulated signal and an output terminal to which is supplied a signal demodulated from said modulated signal, said output terminal being connected to the input terminal of the first modulator; means for closed loop testing the operation of said modulators and demodulators from the modulated signal side of the first modulator and first demodulator comprising: means for sensing a first signal supplied to the first demodulator and producing in response thereto a test initiate signal; means responsive to said test initiate signal for connecting the output of the second modulator to the input of the second demodulator; means for connecting the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator while disconnecting the first modulator and the first demodulator from the second demodulator and the second modulator, said connecting and disconnecting occurring in response to an additional test initiate signal; and means for sensing at least an additional signal supplied to the first demodulator and in response thereto restoring the terminal to normal operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the communication terminal is part of a frequency division multiplex (FDM) system and the first modulator and first demodulator are an FDM transmitter/receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 46 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means responsive to said test initiate signal for energizing the second modulator for operation in one of the originate or answer modes and for energizing the second demodulator for operation in the other of said originate or answer modes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an attenuator and means for connecting it between the output of the second modulator and the input of the second demodulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 41 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for sensing said first signal comprises means for detecting a tone signal and the means for sensing said additional signal comprises means for detecting an interruption in signals applied to the first demodulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 69 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for connecting the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator comprises a multistate recording means to which the test initiate signals are applied and means for controlling the connection of the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator in response to the state of said recording means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the output terminal of the first demodulator and the input terminal of the first modulator are connected after receipt of every other test initiate signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the communication terminal is a data transmission terminal.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-08-01 1981-01-31 1981-08-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-08-01 1985-01-31 1985-08-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-08-01 1989-01-31 1989-08-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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