JP2921744B2 - Subscriber line test method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a communication network partially including an optical communication line. The present invention is used for subscriber line testing. In particular, it relates to techniques for simplifying test procedures and equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is required to test a subscriber line with the new or relocated subscriber terminal. A conventional example of the subscriber line test system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional subscriber line test system. In the conventional subscriber line test method, as shown in FIG. 6, an independent subscriber line test system 50 is constructed, and a test is executed by providing a completely separate subscriber line test dedicated route from a general telephone route. Was.
The subscriber line test system 50 generally includes a test terminal 2
0, a test control device 21, and a test device 23, and each device is connected by a dedicated line 22. The test operator specifies the subscriber to be tested from the test terminal 20 to the test control device 21 by telephone number. The test control device 21 translates the telephone number to determine which subordinate test device 23 to access, and which switch 25 connected to the test device 23 drives the subscriber of the subscriber to be tested. It is determined whether to connect the terminal 11 to the test apparatus 23, and the test apparatus 23 is started based on the decision.

The activated test apparatus 23 selects one vacant line from the trunk line 24 facing the exchange 25 specified by the test control apparatus 21, activates the exchange 25 via the selected line, and activates the test object. Notify the subscriber's phone number. The activated exchange 25 connects the subscriber terminal 11 of the subscriber to be tested to the corresponding trunk line 24 based on this number. After connection, test terminal 2 of the operator
In response to an instruction from 0, the test device 23 is driven via the test control device 21 to execute various tests. At the end of the test, similarly, the line of each device is restored by an instruction from the test terminal 20 by the test operator. The subscriber line test system 50 is constructed in units of an area in charge of each test center, and a testable range is closed within this area.

[0004]

This conventional example is mainly for a subscriber directly accommodated in the exchange 25 by a subscriber line 10 of a metallic cable. With the emergence of the so-called optical access system, the form of the equipment of the subscriber system became complicated at once. The problem of the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional subscriber line test system corresponding to an optical access system. As shown in FIG. 7, the optical access system has the equipment form of the exchange 25 to the distribution module 3.
0 to the optical communication line 27 to the optical subscriber line transmission device 28. When performing a medium test of a metallic section including the subscriber terminal 11, the access point
Since the test equipment 23 must be provided in the part of the subscriber circuit 26 before the multiplexing is performed, the test equipment 23 has to be necessarily installed in the optical subscriber line transmission equipment 28. As a result, the simple configuration in which one test apparatus 23 faces a plurality of exchanges 25 is broken.

Further, since the distribution module 30 for terminating the optical transmission section has a distribution function of connecting an arbitrary subscriber accommodated in the optical line transmission device 28 to an arbitrary exchange 25, the distribution module 30 is connected to the exchange 25. The correspondence of the optical network unit 28 is not fixed. Also, via the distribution module 30, the optical line transmission device 28
In addition, a new interface is required to connect to the test apparatus 23, and a relay apparatus 32 for that purpose, an exchange / distribution module interface 33 for performing communication between the relay apparatus 32 and the exchange 25, and the like must also be newly provided. Was.

[0006] Under such circumstances, when testing a given subscriber, a simple translation from a telephone number is used for the exchange 2
It is not enough to just identify 5, which optical subscriber line transmission device 28 contains the subscriber under test, which test device 23 should be used, which interface of the distribution module 30 to connect to, and so on. It becomes necessary to have such information as a system, and the subscriber line test system has a database 31 for that purpose and is required to have a function of maintaining the database 31.

In the conventional subscriber line test system in such an optical access system, the system construction cost of the subscriber line test system becomes high. Maintenance and management of the database is required. Since a plurality of devices are configured to be connected in series, when a new test function is added or when a new subscriber accommodation mode appears, it is necessary to add a function to each device. Further, since a plurality of devices are connected in series, the test connection process takes time. Even if you want to run a test for a subscriber outside your area, it is difficult. Various problems occur.

The present invention has been made in such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a subscriber line test system which does not require a dedicated test route. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a subscriber test system capable of simplifying a device configuration. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a subscriber line test system capable of eliminating the restriction on the area under test.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in a medium test for confirming the normality of a subscriber line in a metallic section including a subscriber terminal from an exchange, an instruction is given from a test terminal to a test apparatus and a test result is received. That the call route of the general telephone connection formed when calling the corresponding subscriber terminal is used as it is as the test control route without separately providing a control route for the test as a dedicated test route. Main features.

The present invention has arisen from a desire to simplify a system configuration for implementing a subscriber line test. The basic configuration of the subscriber line test consists of setting an access route from the test terminal to the test equipment, connecting the subscriber terminal to the test equipment, and instructing the test execution by the test terminal and the test equipment communicating end-to-end. And receive the results.

When a caller designates a subscriber specified by a telephone number, the exchange that finds the exchange housed by the subscriber and automatically connects the caller to the subscriber is usually performed by the exchange. The call route can be used for communication for transmitting and receiving data due to the progress of digitization.

[0012] Here, the caller is a test terminal, and in the call processing operation of the exchange, "this is a test call, not a normal call" is identified. Operation of making a call through a test device instead of connecting to the corresponding subscriber terminal in the usual way, that is, connecting the test device to the incoming route and connecting the relevant subscriber to the test device Is performed, the basic configuration of the above test is completed. During a call, after the connection is established, the exchange does not know anything about the contents, only the test terminal and the test equipment are communicating, and the end of the test is recognized by disconnection. It is exactly the same as call processing.

That is, the idea that the subscriber line test can be executed by using the general call processing and the communication path route is an important point of the present invention. This allows
This simplifies the test system, reduces costs, reduces maintenance operations, and speeds up test processing. In addition, since the range where the telephone can be connected can be tested, it is possible to test subscribers nationwide from one test terminal, and if a test terminal is installed at any place as required, the test is executed there And expand the business form.

Further, even if new exchanges and subscriber-related equipment are developed in the future, if the interface between the exchange and the test terminal of the present invention and the interface between the exchange and the test equipment are used as standard ones, respectively. Will be able to develop independently.

Also, as an extension of the present invention, in a case where a line monitor test for listening to a subscriber line noise or the like is performed, a telephone number and a test type of a subscriber to be tested are transmitted from a test terminal to a D channel. If the information is set as a “line monitor”, the exchange can identify the information and establish a monitor route by connecting to the communication path of the subscriber under test.

On the other hand, as one of the variations of the test execution procedure, a form in which an optical subscriber line transmission device is installed in a subscriber's house (a so-called “fiber-to-the-home” form)
There is a method. In this case, the metallic section to be tested is only the subscriber's in-home line, which is very short, so that a simple medium test can be used. Therefore, in this case, a simple medium test function is added in the subscriber line circuit or the like, and a simple test is executed according to the first instruction from the exchange to the optical line transmission device. If the response is returned with the result included in the response to, the test is completed only by the calling operation from the viewpoint of the test terminal without executing the test by communication using the B channel.
An efficient test can be performed in a very short time.

That is, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a subscriber terminal (11) is provided with an optical subscriber line transmission device (28) connected via a subscriber line (10). The transmission device (28) is connected to a digital communication network via an optical communication line (27). The optical subscriber line transmission device (28) includes a test device (23) for testing a subscribed subscriber terminal. This is a subscriber line test system provided with a test terminal (1) that can remotely access this test apparatus. It is a feature of the present invention that the test terminal (1) is connected to the digital communication network, is accessed to the optical network unit (28) through a digital exchange in the communication network, and performs the test. The connection request sent from the terminal includes information indicating a test call, and the digital exchange includes means for connecting the test apparatus (23) to the test terminal (1) according to the information indicating the test call. Including.

A second aspect of the present invention is the optical subscriber line transmission device.

[0019] A third aspect of the present invention is the test terminal.

[0020] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a subscriber terminal (1).
The test terminal (1) accesses a test device (23) provided in an optical line transmission device (28) connected via a subscriber line (10) and the subscriber terminal (1). This is a subscriber line test method for performing the above test. A feature of the present invention is that the test terminal (1) executes a connection to the test apparatus (23) via a digital communication network by adding information indicating a test call to the connection request, The test terminal (1) controls the test device (23).

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the optical line transmission device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, the subscriber terminal 11 is connected to the subscriber line 10.
The optical network unit 28 is connected to a digital communication network via an optical communication line, and the optical network unit 28 has This is a subscriber line test method including a test device 23 for testing the subscriber terminal 11 and a test terminal 1 that can access the test device 23 from a remote place.

Here, the feature of the present invention is that the test terminal 1 is connected to the digital communication network and is accessed to the optical line transmission device 28 via the digital exchange 5 in the communication network. The connection request sent from the test terminal 1 includes information indicating a test call, and the digital exchange 5 performs test connection control as means for connecting the test apparatus 23 to the test terminal 1 according to the information indicating the test call. The part 29 is included. The test terminal 1 in the embodiment of the present invention is realized by a workstation equipped with an ISDN board.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The test terminal 1 uses the ISDN interface to
It is housed in the exchange 2 (originating side). Using the D channel, the test type is notified to the digital exchange 5 (receiving side) accommodating the subscriber terminal 11 via the ISDN exchange 2 and the connection result of the subscriber terminal 11 is received through the reverse route. In addition, by performing communication with the test apparatus 23 using the B channel, a test execution instruction is given,
Receive test results.

The ISDN exchange 2 (originating side) receives a test instruction on the D channel and performs call processing as access for subscriber line test. That is, based on the telephone number input from the test terminal 1, the information (test type) set in the D channel to the corresponding digital exchange 5 is transmitted to the common channel signaling network 4.
To perform call connection (normal call processing). Similarly, it receives information (connection result, etc.) from the corresponding digital exchange 5 and notifies the test terminal 1. After the test terminal 1 is connected to the test apparatus 23 and the communication using the B channel is started, the operation is the same as in the case of a normal call.

The digital exchange 5 (terminating side) has a subscriber circuit drive order (SD) used for controlling a subscriber circuit or the like in call processing as an interface with the test apparatus 23 in the optical subscriber line transmission apparatus 28. Order) and scan information (SCN). A call connected from the test terminal 1 via the ISDN exchange 2 (originating side) is recognized as a test access call by a notification from the common channel signaling network 4, and a subscriber circuit drive is transmitted to the optical line transmission device 28. By transmitting the order, the connection between the subscriber circuit 26 accommodating the subscriber terminal 11 and the test apparatus 23 and the connection between the communication path and the test apparatus 23 are performed. The connection result is recognized by reading the scan information, and is notified to the originating ISDN exchange 2 using the common channel signaling network 4. After the test terminal 1 and the test apparatus 23 are connected and the communication by the B channel is started, it is the same as in the case of a normal call.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a test control route according to the present invention. The optical subscriber line transmission device 28 includes a subscriber circuit 26 for accommodating the subscriber terminal 11 in accordance with a subscriber circuit drive order from the digital exchange 5. The connection between the test equipment 23 and the communication path and the test equipment 23 is performed, and the connection result is returned to the digital exchange 5 as scan information. By connecting the communication path and the test device 23,
The test apparatus 23 can communicate with the test terminal 1 end-to-end via the communication path (B channel). Thereafter, the test is executed based on a test execution instruction from the test terminal 1 and the result is returned to the test terminal 1. I do.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the operation of the optical network unit 28 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, the test operator issues a subscriber line test start instruction from the test terminal 1 and inputs the telephone number of the subscriber to be tested. The test terminal 1 performs a calling operation through the ISDN interface and sends out a SET UP signal. At this time, the called number (= subscriber terminal number) and other information indicating that the test is a subscriber control test are performed on the D channel. Make settings (S
1).

When the ISDN exchange 2 recognizes the call from the test terminal 1 and the information on the D channel, the IAM using the common channel signaling network 4 for the digital exchange 5 accommodating the subscriber specified by the called number. (Initial Address Message)
A call connection control is performed by a signal, and a notification to the effect of a subscriber line test is issued. As a result, normal call processing is executed and the line is connected (S2).

When the destination digital exchange 5 recognizes that the connected call is a subscriber line test call by an IAM signal, it identifies the optical line transmission device 28 accommodated in the subscriber terminal 11. Then, a subscriber circuit drive order (hereinafter, referred to as an SD order) activated by the test apparatus 23 is transmitted (S3).

When the optical subscriber line transmission device 28 receives the SD order for starting the test device 23 from the digital exchange 5, the control unit 36 extracts the SD order () and waits for the start of the test. The test connection control unit 29 of the digital exchange 5 switches the switch 38 of the subscriber circuit 26 in which the subscriber terminal 11 of the subscriber to be tested is accommodated to the medium measuring unit 37 (). In this way, the test apparatus 23 is connected to the communication path, and the connection result is scanned information (hereinafter, referred to as scan information).
(Referred to as SCN information) (S4).

When the digital exchange 5 reads the SCN information and receives the connection result, the digital exchange 5 transmits the SCN to the subscriber circuit 26 of the subscriber terminal 11 to the optical line transmission device 28.
A D order is transmitted, and the subscriber terminal 11 is connected to the test apparatus 23. As a result, the test from the test terminal 1 becomes possible (S5).

The digital exchange 5 starts the operation (ANN)
Is transmitted to the originating ISDN exchange 2 via the common channel signaling network 4 (S6).

Further, this information is transmitted to the test terminal 1,
That effect is displayed on the screen (CONN). Thus, the test operator recognizes that the test can be executed (S7).

The test terminal 1 sends a medium test instruction to the test device 23 via the B channel (S8). Specifically, the measurement of the resistance, capacity, external voltage, etc., between the A line and the B line, between the B line and the ground, and between the A line and the ground of the subscriber line is performed. The test device 23 executes a test and returns test result data. This information is displayed on the screen by the test terminal 1. The test operator judges the result by looking at this display (S9). The test operator repeats the operations of S8 to S9 as necessary.

When the test is completed, the test operator instructs the test terminal 1 to end the test. Thereby, the test terminal 1
Sends a disconnect instruction (DISC) signal to the ISDN exchange 2 (S10).

The ISDN exchange 2 receives this and sends a release instruction (REL) signal to the destination digital exchange 5 and releases the test terminal 1 (S11).

In response to this, the receiving-side digital exchange 5 releases the subscriber terminal 11 from the test apparatus 23 to the optical line transmission apparatus 28 and releases the test apparatus 23 from the communication path (S12). .

From the digital exchange 5 on the receiving side to the IS on the originating side
The release of the release is notified to the DN switch 2, and the entire line is restored (S13).

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A subscriber line test method that does not require a test dedicated route can be realized. Therefore, the device configuration can be simplified. Furthermore, the restrictions on the area under test can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an optical line transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a test control route according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the operation of the optical line transmission device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional subscriber line test system.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional subscriber line test system corresponding to an optical access system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 20 Test terminal 2 ISDN exchange 3 Telephone network 4 Common line signal network 5 Digital exchange 10 Metallic cable 11 Subscriber terminal 21 Test control device 22 Dedicated line 23 Test device 24 Trunk line 25 Switch 26 Subscriber circuit 27 Optical fiber cable 28 Optical subscriber line transmission device 29 Test connection control unit 30 Distribution module 31 Database 32 Relay device 33 Switch / distribution module interface 34 Transmission device unit 35 Subscriber circuit interface 36 Control unit 37 Medium measurement unit 38 Switch 50 Subscriber line test system

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hidenori Kawasaki 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Tadao Ooka 3-19, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 2 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shigeru Mugitani 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Kazuhiko Ogawa 3-chome Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 19-2 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Masahiro Kikuchi 3-1-2, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Kazuo Sato Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 3-9-1, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-3-278660 (JP, A) JP-A-6-90283 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. . ^6, DB name) H04M 3/30

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A subscriber terminal (11) is connected to a subscriber line (10).
An optical line transmission device (28) is connected via an optical communication line (2).
7) connected to a digital communication network, the optical subscriber line transmission device (28) includes a test device (23) for testing subordinate subscriber terminals, and this test device can be accessed remotely. In a subscriber line test system provided with a test terminal, the test terminal is connected to the digital communication network by an ISDN interface , and the optical communication is performed via a digital exchange in the communication network. The subscriber line transmission device (28) is accessed, and the connection request sent from the test terminal includes the number of the subscriber terminal to be tested and information indicating that the call is a test call, and the digital exchange uses the test call. Information to the effect
When it recognizes, the test equipment start command of the optical subscriber line transmission equipment is issued.
Means for issuing and said optical subscriber line for said activation command
Receives the connection result notification from the transmission device and
Means for notifying the test terminal , wherein the test apparatus receives the
Connected to the subscriber line circuit containing the subscriber terminal under test
And a means for executing a test from the test terminal . 2. The test apparatus, when a line monitor is set as test type information from the test terminal, sets a monitor route of the subscriber line circuit in accordance with an instruction from the exchange via a D channel. 2. The subscriber line test system according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing a monitor test. 3. The test apparatus includes means for performing a medium test on a subscriber's line circuit in accordance with a medium test instruction added to a test call display from the exchange, and returning the result to the digital exchange. Item 1. A subscriber line test method according to item 1. 4. A subscription according to claim 1, wherein:
Optical subscriber line transmission equipment used for subscriber line test method . 5. A subscription according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
Test terminal used for the test line test . 6. The subscriber terminal (11) is connected to a subscriber line (10).
Subscriber line test method in which a test terminal (1) accesses a test device (23) provided in an optical subscriber line transmission device (28) connected via a telephone line and tests the subscriber terminal. in the test terminal (1) via a digital communication network by adding information indicating that the test call connection request attempts
The subscriber line transmission device accommodating the subscriber terminal to be tested
ISDN interface to exchanges connected by optical communication lines
Interface, a connection request is made, and the exchange switches to the subscriber accommodating the subscriber terminal to be tested.
The switching equipment issues a start command to the test equipment of the transmission line equipment.
Issue the test equipment and start the test equipment.
Connected to the test terminal, and the subscriber line transmission device collects the subscriber terminal to be tested.
Connecting the subscriber circuit to the test device and the test terminal , and the test terminal
A subscriber line test method characterized by performing a subscriber line test.