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: A method and apparatus are described for testing a telecommunication line despite a gap in a metallic line between the testing system at a central office and the subscriber's line. On the subscriber's or remote end of the gap in the metallic line, apparatus is provided for performing certain desired tests on the continuous metallic portion of the subscriber's line. This apparatus is connected to a testing system on the central office or local side of the gap with suitable communication equipment so that tests performed on the remote end may be reported back to the testing system. The remote end testing apparatus is similar to apparatus described in application Ser. No. 645,479. The testing system at the central office preferably is a conventional system, such as the MLT system which already is installed in many central offices throughout the United States, together with the necessary modifications to communicate with and control the remote end testing apparatus.

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.