Abstract: A system and method for verification of a communication path between a first and a second network by turning on and off a loop back mode. Firstly, verification begins by requesting verification of a communication path by the first network. The second network then acknowledges the verification request and places the communication path in a loop back mode. The first network sends a verification signal over the communication path, which is returned by the second network over the communication path. The second network then terminates the loop back mode. Timers can be included for the acknowledgment and termination steps to ensure the temporary nature of the loop back mode.

Abstract: Line terminal equipment (30, 35) transmits health and status information (66, 68) to bearer payload processors (50-N). Each bearer payload processor (50-N) concatenates (96) the health and status information of the line terminal equipment. Each bearer payload processor transmits the concatenated health and status information including bearer traffic to each of the line terminal equipment (30, 35). Both the line terminal equipment and bearer payload processors compare (98, 100) the health and status information.