Abstract: Ruggedized voice and data communication systems are disclosed having at least two communications boards. Each communications board has at least one transceiver and a plurality of interfaces. A first communications board includes a primary network communicator having a non-transitory memory connected to a processor. The non-transitory memory has computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to attempt a first network connection using at least one transceiver, and upon failure, enter a failover mode such that a second network connection is directly provided by the second communications board.

Abstract: Ruggedized voice and data communication systems are disclosed having ruggedized enclosures for housing a communications board with at least one transceiver and a plurality of interfaces. The system has a power supply configured to receive a first voltage and convert the first voltage to a second voltage and provide the second voltage to the communications board.

Abstract: Ruggedized voice and data communication systems are disclosed having ruggedized enclosures for housing a communications board with at least one transceiver and a plurality of interfaces. The system has a power supply configured to receive a first voltage and convert the first voltage to a second voltage and provide the second voltage to the communications board.

Abstract: Ruggedized voice and data communication systems are disclosed having ruggedized enclosures for housing a communications board with at least one transceiver and a plurality of interfaces. The system has a power supply configured to receive a first voltage and convert the first voltage to a second voltage and provide the second voltage to the communications board.

Abstract: A loop responder enables a telephone technician to use a test device to automatically and accurately validate the performance of a telephone subscriber loop from the originating equipment to the subscriber demarcation point without any human assistance at the central office. The directory number for the subscriber loop under test is automatically identified and stored without any human intervention such that a No Test Trunk can be automatically used and test results can be automatically associated with the respective line record information. Data is collected and then transmitted in suitable manner and stored in non-volatile memory for collection by and/or transmission to a central host processing system. Particular aspects of the aforementioned collection and storage processes relate to the transmission of the data packets via several input/output (I/O) ports. Either modem or DTMF communication can occur over the same pair of tip and ring wires.

Abstract: A telephone technician's remote assist apparatus connects into a telephone line to be tested by the technician from a remote location. Control signals are sent from the remote location to the remote assist apparatus over the same pair of wires of the telephone line under test. A particular control signal encoding includes two consecutive leading star (**) dual-tone multi-frequency tones. The remote assist apparatus opens the telephone line in response to at least one control signal, and the apparatus preferably automatically restores the line after a predetermined time so that the subscriber is not left disconnected. The particular control signal encoding and the automatic restoring features can be implemented without using the same pair of wires under test.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method automatically receive remote communications and automatically print paper copies of messages within the received communications. In a telephone technician's van, a pager is directly connected to a printer. The pager automatically receives a message and transfers the message to the printer, and the printer automatically responds to print the message onto paper.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved data terminal for use in communication and testing of telephone lines which data terminal is operated by a 16-bit microprocessor operating under control of MS-DOS 5.0 program. The data terminal with operating computer and large plurality of telephone test functions is fully contained in a hermetically sealed, lightweight housing to enable easy field handling through data send and receive operations as well as the multiple of telephone line test operations. Power saving aspects of the invention include automatically adjusted LCD backlight control and LCD adjustment caused by large or abrupt temperature changes in the field. The system uses a large microprocessor with EPROM and random access memory with field programmable gating arrays offering virtually thousands of different gate logic decisions.

Abstract: A system and method for providing wireless access to a telephone line of a telephone network utilize a mobile terminal and a crossconnect base station. The mobile terminal transmits a radio frequency signal carrying a telephone communication. The crossconnect base station connects to a telephone line at a crossconnect box of a telephone network, receives the radio frequency signal carrying a telephone communication, and communicates the telephone communication over a connected telephone line.

Abstract: A data terminal which enables a craft technician to communicate through a gateway processor to other computers includes a program language support library and an operating system which can receive a condensed form applications program and supplement the received program to create a fully executable applications program. This permits convenient downloading into the terminal over a conventional telephone circuit. Also disclosed is an improved interface through which a telephone circuit can be tested to determine if it is active and idle in a substantially non-invasive manner. Respective computer protocols can be entered in the terminal in association with telephone numbers of respective computers for automatic use whenever the respective computer is called. A limited display area of the terminal is controlled so that a larger page of text can be sequentially displayed through it as if the limited display area is scanning across the larger page of text.

Abstract: The equipment includes a front panel with LED indicators, key pad and a number of special function keys as well as an LCD message printout and volt/ohm meter. A hand set is readily available at the front panel as the line check unit functions with a commercially available craft terminal, a CMC Type 7910D terminal known as DATASTAR.TM., which includes the master central processing unit and random access memory for interactive function with the line check system. The DATASTAR.TM. unit communicates directly with a controller section that includes speaker power amp, LCD circuitry and 128K random access memory as well as a digital bus interface. The controller board is then connected through both a digital bus and an analog signal bus to an analog circuitry that includes relay control and various signal routing and test signal functions. The analog circuitry is then in communication with the volt/ohm meter and analyzer circuitry.

Abstract: A telephone test instrument permits voice communications with and monitoring of a telephone circuit to be tested. The instrument includes a microprocessor used in controlling various functions of the instrument. The microprocessor and other circuits of the instrument are energized from a connected telephone circuit and/or an internal energy supply which is automatically recharged from the telephone circuit. The microprocessor continually checks the voltage of the internal energy supply and automatically turns off a loudspeaker of the instrument, or prevents it from being turned on, if the voltage is too low. The instrument includes circuitry which, in combination with the microprocessor, measures loop current or line voltage while the instrument is connected for making voice communications with the telephone circuit. When the loudspeaker within the instrument is energized, the earpiece receiver remains active.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing voltage arresters and current shunting circuits within a telephone circuit protector are described. A typical protector tested by the apparatus and method includes two voltage arresters and two current limiting circuits. One set of a voltage arrester and a current limiting circuit are tested for voltage breakdown, continuity and ground faults by actuation of a single test operating switch. The other voltage arrester and current limiting circuit are then selected and tested by a single actuation of the test operating switch. Breakdown voltage, continuity, ground fault and low battery visual indicators are provided.

Abstract: An improved craft technician's field terminal of the portable, hand-held type for use in communicating in diverse modes with a central technician access network. The terminal is connected to the telephone line in conventional manner in communication with the telephone access network; however, the terminal includes a SMART DIAL program that determines the type of service of the seized subscriber line thereby to facilitate out-dialing from the terminal. Job data can then be transmitted from the central network and downloaded to the terminal for instantaneous display. Re-transmission can be requested if needed. The terminal is capable of uploading data from the terminal display in either DTMF and/or ASCII to the central network. The craft technician's terminal contains a much greater storage capacity than any similar devices heretofore and it is capable of holding job order and response data for what amounts to greater than a full days technician work.

Abstract: An improved craft technician's field terminal of the portable, hand-held type for use in communicating in diverse modes with a central technician access network. The terminal is connected to the telephone line in conventional manner in communication with the telephone access network. Job data can then be transmitted from the central network and downloaded to the terminal for instantaneous display. Re-transmission can be requested if needed. The terminal is capable of uploading data from the terminal display in either DTMF and/or ASCII to the central network. The craft technician's terminal contains a much greater storage capacity than any similar devices heretofore and it is capable of holding job order and response data for what amounts to greater than a full days technician work. In addition, data displayed at the terminal may readily be transmitted for printer access while still being retained in the terminal storage.

Abstract: Apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of communication line pairs, typically voice frequency lines of the telephone type. A passive resistance bridge with pairs of bridge terminals and switches for connecting bridge terminal pairs to communication line pairs or to terminating resistors. Local and remote control for the switches and control apparatus which permits service personnel to selectively terminate a bridge terminal pair with a fixed resistor and leave a subscriber's communication line open, for maintaining service for other communication lines connected to the bridge while performing maintenance on the disconnected line. The apparatus is suitable for two wire and for four wire systems and for resistance bridges with various numbers of terminals, such as six way, eight way and twelve way.

Abstract: An apparatus for remotely testing electrical circuits, such as telephone circuits, includes a stand-alone unit which is located in the end office, for example, for remote access by use of an ordinary push-button telephone set sending dual tone multiple frequency signals. The apparatus has a twin-bus structure wherein one of the busses is an analog bus through which the telephone link is made and over which analog test signals are communicated; the other bus is a digital bus for communicating digital control and data signals with a microcomputer included within the apparatus. Operating between the two busses are suitable interface circuits for receiving the control signals from the telephone set and for communicating the analog test signals to a selected electrical circuit to be tested. The analog test signals are generated by an analog test signal circuit also connected between the analog and digital busses.