Abstract: An apparatus for accessing and testing communication systems and for controlling said accessing and testing. A microprocessor operates under software control to perform various supervisory and computational functions. Communications components permit the microprocessor to interface with components dedicated to the accessing and testing of telephone lines as well as with terminals and other computers.

Abstract: An apparatus is described having the capability to selectively alert subscribers in a telephone party line system where different subscriber parties are alerted using different ringing configurations. Subscribers are identified as being a member of a party by the connection pattern used to interface the apparatus to the telephone party line. The apparatus comprises means for detecting whether a ringer signal received from the telephone line is meant to alert a given subscriber party, and means for coupling the ringer signal to subscriber alerting equipment when an appropriate ringer signal is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of speech telecommunications tones on a communication line includes a voltage divider for ranging signals received from a communication line, a C-weight filter which receives the ranged signals and simulates the frequency response of the human ear to noise, an RMS-to-DC converter for producing a DC signal from the output of the C-weight filter, an A/D converter for converting the DC signal into digital data and a microprocessor for receiving the digital data and controlling the invented apparatus. Energy samples obtained from an accessed telephone line are, in software, assigned various weights in accordance with the level of energy found in each sample. The microprocessor, under software control, uses the weights actually assigned to determine whether the energy sampled is due to speech or a tone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accessing communication systems includes a microprocessor for controlling said accessing. Communication line access is accomplished by an interface with test trunk equipment and MDF shoes. Capability for generating dial pulse, DTMF and multifrequency dialing signals is included. Communications components and a test bus permit the apparatus to interface with a supervisor unit and a testing unit.

Abstract: A microcomputer controlled apparatus and method for testing communication lines including circuits serving multiple functions in the measurements of line electrical and noise characteristics. A current divider, an analog to digital converter, a constant current source, various filters and an RMS-to-DC converter are used to perform A.C. and D.C. voltage and current measurements, resistance measurement and noise measurement. Capacitance measurement circuits and method utilize a buffer for isolating the capacitance on the wire measured from other capacitance sources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for eliminating the need to access those telephone lines that do not have to be tested while still using the sequential line accessing capabilities of the central office switching equipment. As a result dial access time is minimized without the penalty of having to test non-operational lines. This is accomplished by creating an exceptions list which identifies each line that is not to be tested, by creating a record of the next telephone line to be tested, by comparing this record against the exceptions list. If the next line to be tested appears on the exceptions list, the record of the number of the line to be tested is again incremented and such record is again compared with the exceptions list. When a number is reached that does not appear on the exceptions list, that number is then tested, the record is incremented and the process continues.