Abstract: A method of rerouting a digital intra-office signal through a telephone central office comprises the steps of retrieving identification data for ports of first and second digital access and cross-connect systems, the ports being connected by an intra-office digital trunk, retrieving identification data for an alternative path from the first cross-connect system to the second cross-connect system, correlating identification data for the alternative path to the identification data for the intra-office digital trunk, determining availability of and displaying alternative path data responsive to entry of identification data for the intra-office digital trunk, and rerouting the intra-office digital signal via the alternative path.

Abstract: To overcome the incompatibility between network-generated and customer premises equipment-generated monitoring signals, a translator device (26) intercepts and strips off a network-generated monitoring signal received from the network (10) on a communication channel (12). In place of the network-generated monitoring signal, the translator provides a first alternate monitoring signal derived (translated) from the network-generated monitoring signal but of a format compatible with the customer premises equipment. The translator device also intercepts the customer premises equipment-generated monitoring signal and substitutes a second alternate monitoring signal derived (translated) from the customer premises equipment-generated monitoring signal but of a format compatible with the network.