Abstract: Communications services and circuits are tested by a system which includes a voice response unit (VRU) operating under the control of processes performed in a workstation. The system can automate the various tasks associated with making test calls, such as by initiating one or multiple simultaneous test calls to a customer's telephone number, and then by playing a stored voice message when any of the test calls is answered by customer personnel, or by establishing a voice path that can be used to talk to the customer personnel. The circuits being tested are then monitored by the VRU, which can both detect supervisory signals as well as perform call disposition analysis by detecting ring, ring/no answer, busy, fast busy, tones, or other audible conditions that are indicative of many circuit abnormalities. A display indicates test system status to a technician, including the progress of all test calls as well as information pertaining to the test system itself.

Abstract: An "intelligent" maintenance termination unit (MTU) that can be installed at or near the demarcation point between the telecommunications network and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), includes a program controlled processor arranged to perform numerous testing and evaluation functions on (1) the CPE and the drop portion of the telecommunications circuit located on the customer side of the MTU, as well as (2) the line portion of the telecommunications circuit on the network side of the MTU. Testing may be initiated in response to actuation of a pushbutton switch or other initiation means by the customer. Specific tests are then performed in response to receipt of signal sequences (such as Touch-Tone signals) received from a technician at a remote test center.