Method and apparatus for identifying AC service configuration

Claim 1

A method for identifying at a remote location the configuration and the phase relationship of a plurality of low frequency alternating current input signals having a preset line period, relative to the configuration and the phase relationship of a plurality of low frequency alternating current signals at a main location, the steps comprising: a) at said main location, selecting one of said alternating current input signals for designation as a reference signal; b) deriving the period of said reference signal; c) determining the phase relationship of the other of said plurality of alternating current input signals relative to said reference signal at said main location; d) loading a counting means with a value representative of said derived period of said reference signal; and e) subsequently comparing each of said plurality of low frequency alternating current input signals at a remote location with said derived period for identifying the reference signal for said plurality of alternating current input signals at said remote location, whereby said configuration and said phase relationship at said remote location are determined.

Claim 2

A method for identifying at a remote location the configuration and the phase relationship of a plurality of low frequency alternating current input signals having a preset line period, relative to the configuration and the phase relationship of a plurality of low frequency alternating current signals at a main location, the steps comprising: a) at said main location, selecting one of said alternating current input signals for designation as a reference signal; b) deriving the period of said reference signal; c) determining the phase relationship of the other of said plurality of alternating current input signals relative to said reference signal at said main location; d) loading a counting means with a value representative of said derived period of said reference signal; and e) subsequently comparing each of said plurality of low frequency alternating current input signals at a remote location with said derived period for identifying the reference signal for said plurality of alternating current input signals at said remote location, whereby said configuration and said phase relationship at said remote location are determined.

Claim 12

A method for identifying at a remote location the relative phase relationship of an alternating current service configuration and its comparison with a predetermined reference location, the steps comprising: a) connecting a first test lead to a first source of two signals at said predetermined reference location and assigning it as a reference signal source; b) connecting a second test lead to a source of a second signal of said source of two signals at said predetermined reference locations; c) deriving the alternating current period of said reference signal; d) loading a counting means with a value representative of said alternating current period; e) determining a phase relationship of said second signal relative to said reference signal at said predetermined reference location; f) disconnecting said first and second test leads from said source of said first and second signals at said predetermined reference location, and connecting means defining two signals at a remote location, a phase relationship of which is unknown; and g) determining the phase relationship of said two signals at said remote location by a comparison with said phase relationship determined at said predetermined reference location.

Claim 13

A method for identifying at a remote location the relative phase relationship of an alternating current service configuration and its comparison with a predetermined reference location, the steps comprising: a) connecting a first test lead to a first source of two signals at said predetermined reference location and assigning it as a reference signal source; b) connecting a second test lead to a source of a second signal of said source of two signals at said predetermined reference locations; c) deriving the alternating current period of said reference signal; d) loading a counting means with a value representative of said alternating current period; e) determining a phase relationship of said second signal relative to said reference signal at said predetermined reference location; f) disconnecting said first and second test leads from said source of said first and second signals at said predetermined reference location, and connecting means defining two signals at a remote location, a phase relationship of which is unknown; and g) determining the phase relationship of said two signals at said remote location by a comparison with said phase relationship determined at said predetermined reference location.