MXPA00009925A - Test access and performance monitoring system and method for cross-connect communicationnetworks - Google Patents

Abstract

The system includes a number of line access devices each of which is coupled to at least one of the communication lines, both ends of which terminate at telecommunications termination sites. The system further includes a test device interface, signal direction circuitry, a communications device that facilitates remote access to the test access system by a remote processing unit, and a control device. The control device controls the signal direction circuitry to couple a selected communication line to a selected testing device coupled to the test device interface in response to a control signal received from the remote processing unit. The control device may also control the signal direction circuitry to couple a first selected line access device with a second selected line access device so as to establish a cross-connection between the two selected line access devices.

Description

SYSTEM OF PROOF ACCESS AND PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION NETWORKS WITH CROSS CONNECTION RELATED REQUESTS This application claims the benefit of the Provisional Application of E.U.A. with Serial No. 60 / 081,485, filed on April 13, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present application is generally related to communication line test systems, and more specifically to a system having remote access, which provides selective access to, and in connection between, test equipment and any number of communication lines, and which also provides a verification of the performance of the selected communication lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The digital signal and cross-connection systems used in telecommunications and, in particular, that are used in high-speed digital signaling systems T1, T2, T3, and T4 are well known. Digital Signal Cross Connection (DSX) systems provide both cross-connections and permanent and temporary connections for applications in customer premises, general offices and remote sites. A typical configuration of said digital cross connection system is shown in Figure 11A. Figure 11A shows the configuration of a digital cross connection system that provides cross connection and interim connection capabilities. A first provisional connection panel 180 is connected to the lines T1, RXD and TXD for a transmission and reception of signal T1, in the location of equipment / network 200. Said equipment can be located in a source provider place (for example , AT &T). A second provisional connection panel 140 is connected to the lines T1, RXD and TXD for the transmission and reception of a signal T1, in a separate installation 100. The combination of the provisional panels 180 and 140 allow the signal cross connections of / to team site 200 and to / from the separate facility 100, respectively. Typically, a test device 300 is placed between the temporary panels to evaluate, verify and test the lines T1-T4, as shown in Figure 11B. Each of the temporary panels 180, 140 is externally coupled to the test device 300 through a series of connections (e.g., coiled junction, BNC, etc.), which allow physical access to the transmission lines T1-T4 in the particular temporary panel cabinet. However, there are a number of problems with this configuration. First, the system of Figure 11B, where the temporary panels are externally connected to the test device, results in an excessively voluminous configuration, inappropriate for areas where space is of great importance. Second, each provisional panel connection must be connected individually by means of a coiled connection or through other coupling means (eg, BNC) to the corresponding test device connection. These connections take time, and therefore they are quite expensive. In addition, the test in place of the interim panel requires switching the connection of the communication line so that a technician, who must be physically in the place of the provisional panel, can perform the test and evaluation of the diagnosis. Additionally, the provisional panel 180 is generally owned or controlled by the owner of the equipment 200. In comparison, the provisional panel 140 is generally owned by the customer and is located in a separate installation location 100. In this way, any access test verification performed occurs either in the place of the equipment 200 or in the place of the installation 100, independently for each of the two provisional panels 180 and 140. Consequently, any test that is carried out, very often requires tests in duplicate and the insertion of test devices in the terminations on both sides of the provisional panels 180 and 140. This also results in the duplication of coiled union connections., as well as duplication in terms of performance verification and alarm conditions. Accordingly, a test system that operates to include at least one of the interim panels within its test apparatus to facilitate verification and performance testing of high-speed digital communication lines without requiring switching of the connection of a circuit is highly desirable.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a test access system that allows access to, and configuration of, communication lines and test lines to verify and test such lines. It is another object of the present invention to provide a temporary capability that allows a manual user to directly access the communication lines and the test lines. A system and method implemented in accordance with the principles of the present invention provide a reduction in the number of junction connections wound in the communication lines, while providing total provisional and cross-connect capabilities. The system also includes performance tracking and verification features to identify and evaluate cross connections between communication line circuits, such as T1 circuits, and operate to connect test devices using communication lines, and establish communication links with remote management processors. This allows the verification and testing of communication lines while minimizing the need to send technicians to a particular place. The system includes means for verifying the communication lines, the exchange of test devices between the communication lines, and controlling various operating modes associated with the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a test access system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a test access system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a test access system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4A illustrates an association between communication line access cards, communication line ports and verification busses according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4B shows the output pin configuration for 9 pin coiled connectors for coupling with the matrix board of a test access system according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4C illustrates a relationship of access line card and test equipment card relays associated with each mode of operation in a test access system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 4D to 4M are exemplary schematic representations of change modes and associated communication line and test access ports according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figures 5A-C show a block diagram, a front view and a terminal diagram, respectively, of a communication line access card incorporating a single provisional panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a communication line access card and test equipment card relays and changeover circuits according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic representation of several control registers and their interactions with other portions of the components of a communication line access card according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8A is a schematic representation of a communication line access card incorporating the performance verification capability according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8B is a schematic representation of a communication line access card that incorporates the ability to verify performance and capacity of a single provisional panel according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8C is a schematic representation of the communication line access card that incorporates a performance verification capability and double provisional panel capability according to one embodiment of the present invention.; Figure 9 shows a block diagram of various alarm characteristics of a communication line access card according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 10A-C show a block diagram, front view and terminal diagram, respectively, of a communication line access card incorporating the double provisional panels according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11A illustrates a typical configuration of a digital cross connection system and provisional panel; Figure 11 B illustrates a typical configuration of a test device externally connected to a test panel; Figures 12A-B illustrate an interconnection of the test devices to a test access system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 illustrates a series of test access system units serially coupled together in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 and 2, respective perspective front and rear views of an access system 8 exemplifying the objects and features of the present invention are shown. A commercially available system 8 exemplifying the objects and features of the present invention is manufactured by ADC-Hadax, Inc. of South Hackensack, New Jersey, and is identified as "2004 T-1 Access System". The objects and features of the present invention will generally be described within the context of a telecommunications network conforming to the transmission bearer standard T1, which is widely used in North America. Although the embodiments described herein generally refer to an access test system that incorporates at least one interim and operable panel to cross-check, test and cross-connect the communication transmission lines within the context of the T1 standard, it should be understood that the systems and methods of the present invention can be applied to access, test and verify the performance of other types of transmission lines, including for example, transmission lines T2-T4. As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an access system 8 may be configured to be mounted on a frame. The front of the test access unit 8, as shown in Figure 1, includes fifteen access line cards (LAC1-LAC15), a single test equipment card 35, a control card 25, which it includes a processor that can be programmed or CPU, and a pair of power supplies 28 and 29. Each of the cards 15, 35, 25 can be inserted into one of the 17 slots of the modular chassis 27. The back of the system of test access 8, as shown in Figure 2, includes a row of line access ports (LAP) 10 for connecting communication lines to system 8, communication ports 20 AC, and computer equipment ports. test 30 (TP1 -TP4). As shown in Figure 1, the first seven line access cards 15 (LAC1-LAC /) provide the capacity of a single interim panel, as will be described later, while the other eight line access cards 15 ( LAC8-LAC15), they incorporate a double provisional panel functionality. It should be noted that each of the line access cards 15 can be exchanged instantly, so that, if a line access card 15 is removed, all communication signal connections are maintained. This advantageous feature allows the line access card 15 to be changed without interrupting the data flow in the communication lines. In addition, it should be noted that the types and amounts of line access cards 15 (ie, single or double provisional panel, and the numbers corresponding to each) incorporated into a single access test unit 8 may vary depending on the particular application and the system requirements. Referring to Figure 3, and also to Figures 1 and 2, a block diagram of the test access system 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. As shown in Figure 3, each of the line access cards 15 can support up to 6 communication line ports to which the two sides of 6 complete duplex communication line circuits can be connected. In this way, up to 90 communication line circuits can be routed through a single test access system 8. As further shown in Figure 3, the test equipment card 35 can support up to four test ports, to which four test devices can be connected. Both the test equipment card 35 and the line access cards 15 are respectively controlled by the control card based on a microprocessor 25. Figures 12A and 12B illustrate two of a variety of applications for connecting test devices to a system of test access 8 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 12A, two connection lines can be established, mainly, a test line established between a test device 11 and a test access system 50, and a communication line 2 established between an access system 50 and a management site 12 The test line 1 allows the flow of signals between the communication lines connected to the test access systems 50 and the test device 11. The communication line 2 allows the flow of control signals between the test device 11 and the driving site 12. As can be seen in Figure 12A, a number of test devices 11, 11a can be shared between several test access systems 50. That is, each test device 11, 11a can be connected to more than one test access system 50. This is known as "bridging" test devices 11, 11a. For example, and as shown in Figure 12A, test device 11a is bridged with Unit 1 in the test equipment port 3, with Unit 2 in the test equipment port 3, and with Unit 3 in the test equipment port 3. Said configuration allows a test device 11, 11a to have access to a communication line connected to any of the test access systems 50. Figure 12B shows a similar configuration of three test systems. modular test access 50 connected to the test device 11. Figure 13 shows a number of test access units 50 connected serially to the corresponding other test access units 50 by means of their communication ports 20. Said arrangement it allows a handling device to communicate with a number of test access units 50 through a single line. This feature is advantageous in sites that have limited availability to a network. That is, several test access units chained in the manner of loops 50 anywhere can communicate with the remote management device using a single modem. Each of the test access units 50 can be configured by the use of a single unit address, which can be established using DIP switches on the control card 25, to provide the handling device with the identity of the unit of test access 50 with which you are communicating. In this way, the test access units 50 are connected to each other through their respective communication ports 20. By connecting the control lines with these ports 20 communication between these test access units 50 is provided, as with the system management device, such as a PCS. Preferably, a maximum of eight test access units 50 can be linked in a loop fashion to each other. Referring again to Figure 3, the control card 25 receives the configuration commands of a control device, such as a personal computer or terminal by means of an RS-232 link or a LAN connection provided through the communication ports 20. The control card 25 can also provide output information through one of its communication ports 20, as is status information provided by the control card 25. The use of communication links makes it particularly efficient performing remote tests. The test equipment card 35 and the line access cards 15 are internally connected by means of three verification busbars, MB1, MB2, MB3, provided by means of a matrix board. In a preferred embodiment, the matrix board also contains 9 coiled union pin connectors that provide external connections to the communication line circuits in the rear of the frame mount. The test equipment ports 30, shown in Figure 2, provide access to the test devices. The test equipment card 35 provides test device access to the three verification busbars MB1, MB2 and MB3, simultaneously. Any of three of four test ports, TP1-TP4, provided on the test equipment card 35, can be connected to any of the verification buss by means of a multiplexer (not shown). Each verification bus is assigned to a group of five line access cards 15, as shown in Figure 4A. Only one port of an access line card 15 belonging to a certain verification bus can be connected to that busbar. Up to three ports, each belonging to different verification bus bars, can simultaneously connect to three of the test equipment ports 30 on the test equipment card 35. Preferably, the matrix board includes 90 connectors of 9 junction pins rolled Eight of the pins of the coiled connectors are used to connect the communication line circuits. The ninth plug of each coiled union connector is used to connect an indicator lamp. Indicator lamps, in the preferred embodiment, are light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are used to indicate the connection status of a given communication line from a first terminal (such as a first provisional panel on the side of the installation) to a second terminal (as is a second provisional panel on the side of the equipment). The output pin configuration of the 9-pin coiled connectors is shown in Figure 4B. In addition, the matrix board contains fifteen 72-pin female edge-board connectors for line access cards 15, a 96-pin male DIN connector for the test equipment card 35 and a 40-pin head connector for the Test equipment interface 30. MBB short circuit contacts exist between pins 1-2, 3-4, 5-6,. . ., and 47-48 on the 72-panel board edge connectors, which provide a normal circuit on the communication line ports when the line access cards are not inserted. Referring now to Figure 5A, a block diagram of a line access card 15 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, which provides the ability of a single interim panel to allow cross-connections, commutations, to occur. , tests and verifications, including connections and permanent and temporary terminals, respectively, on the side of the installation 100 of a telecommunications network by means of transmission and reception lines, TXF 110 and RXF 120, respectively. Figure 5B shows a front view of the line access card 15 incorporating the capacity of a single provisional panel. As shown in Figure 5B, the access line card 15 includes plugs 144 to provide the user with manual and direct access to six channels or communication lines routed through the line access card 15. Referring to FIG. Figure 5B, each of the plugs 144 of the installation, which are shown vertically aligned as MON, OUT and IN, (verify, exit and entry) respectively, correspond to one of the six particular communication lines (channels). The plugs 144 of the installation allow the connection of the provisional panel to the test device on the installation side 100. As illustrated in Figures 5A-5B, the line access card 15, which includes a single panel circuit 140, is designed to operate within a test access system 8, providing a provisional panel connection 140, which allows direct access to the side of the installation 100 of the communication line circuit. The provisional panel circuit 140 includes three interfaces, namely, the installation interface 130, the interface of the switching circuit 136, and the plug interface 144. The interface of the installation 130 is connected to the installation side equipment 100. (RXF, TXF) of the network. The interface of the switch circuit 136 is internally connected to the switch circuit 150 of the line access card 15. The plug interface 144 includes three plug connectors located on the front of the line access card 15 labeled IN (input ), OUT (output), and MON (verify), respectively. The IN plug provides access to the equipment to which the IN plug is terminated, and can be used to access or transmit signals to the input of the equipment. The OUT plug is used to check the output signals of the equipment to which the OUT plug is terminated. The MON plug has a function similar to that of the OUT plug since it checks the communication signals, but without interrupting the communication line circuit. In this way, the MON plug allows a bridge in digital line service without interfering with the operation of the line. In a preferred embodiment, the OUT socket observes the output signals of the equipment to which it is terminated by inserting a provisional panel cable into the OUT socket circuit. As also illustrated in FIGS. 5B, the access line card 15, which includes a single-panel interim circuit 140, further includes two groups of LEDs 148, 152 located on the front panel of the line access card 15. The first group consists of six bicolor LEDs 148 labeled "TEST / ALARM" (TEST / ALARM). Each LED 148 corresponds to a line access port. In a "test" mode, the TEST / ALARM LEDs 148 are illuminated with a particular color (e.g., green) to indicate whether a certain communication line port is being tested or not. In the "alarm" mode, the TEST / ALARM LEDs 148 are illuminated with a second color (e.g., amber) to indicate an alarm condition on a certain communication line port. The second group consists of six red 152 LEDs, labeled as "TRACER" (INDICATOR), and are used to identify cross-communications between the different communication line circuits. INDICATORS LEDs 152 light up when a provisional panel cable is inserted into its corresponding socket; all other communication line circuits that are cross-connected to the initial circuit also illuminate their corresponding indicator LEDs 152. This is achieved by connecting the indicator pins on the rear of the test access unit 8 to the indicator pins of the other units 8 by means of coiled union connectors or Telco pins (64 pins). According to one embodiment of the present invention, a line access card 15, which includes a single-panel interim circuit 140, comprises four different printed circuit boards (PCBs). A main PCB contains 48 non-blocking 2-pole relays and six interim panel switches. A card mounted at the top contains relay units, control registers, status regulators and decoders. Two LED cards mounted on the front contain LEDs. An alarm card mounted on the bottom contains alarm circuits for alarm and performance verification. In addition to the relay units, seven control registers are used to activate the relays of the line access card 15 by initiating or terminating the connections between the sides of the communication line ports and the verification busbars, as well as controlling the illumination of the TEST / ALARM and INDICATOR LEDs 148, 152, a schematic representation of which is shown in Figure 7. Figure 5C shows a diagram of the line access card 15 provided with the capability of a single provisional panel circuit. Referring to Figure 5C, a line access card 15 is shown, which includes three interfaces according to one embodiment of the present invention. A 56-finger edge board connector 117 provides an interface to the matrix board. This interface 117 includes a data bus, control signals and power supply lines. A 72-pin edge board connector 119 provides connections to a communication line matrix board. This interface 119 includes a verification bus and six communication line port connections. Six interim panel connectors provide manual access on the installation side to the communication line circuits. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figures 10A and 10B, a line access card 15 may comprise the double provisional panel capability comprising a temporary panel circuit 140 associated with the installation side 100 of a network of telecommunications, as well as a provisional panel connection 180 directly connected to the side of the equipment 200 of the network. According to this embodiment, the line access card 15 incorporates the double provisional panel circuits 140 and 180 to allow online testing at a remote location (ie, in the customer premises of the communication lines that come from a team location). The group of line access cards 15 shown as LAC8-LAC15 in Figure 1 illustrate line access cards that incorporate a double provisional panel capability. As mentioned above, each temporary panel circuit 140, 180 includes a device interface 130, 131, a switching circuit interface 141, 181, and a plug interface 144, 184, respectively. The equipment interface 130, 131 of each provisional panel circuit 140, 180 is connected to the side of the installation 100 or to the equipment side 200 of a communication line circuit. The switch circuit interface 141, 181 of each interposer panel circuit 140, 180 is internally connected to the switch circuit 150 of the line access card 15. The plug interface 144, 184 of each provisional panel circuit 140, 180 includes three plug connectors located on the front of the line access card 15. The three plug connectors are labeled IN, OUT, and MON, respectively, and are associated with, either the equipment side or that of installation 200, 100. Each IN plug provides access to the equipment to which it is terminated. In particular, each IN plug can be used to transmit signals at the input of the equipment (or installation). The OUT plug is used to check the output signals of the equipment to which it is terminated. The MON plug has a similar function but without interrupting the circuit connection. The MON plug, in this way, allows a bridge in service of a digital line without interfering with its operation. Temporary connections can be made using temporary panel cables between the plug circuits, thereby allowing the restoration of downed services or providing temporary connections for interruptions. As with the line access card having the characteristic of a single interim panel, a line access card provided with the double interim panel capability includes two groups of LEDs 148, 152 located on the front panel of the card access line 15, as best you can see in the FiguralOB. The first group consists of six bicolor LEDs 148 labeled "TEST / ALARM". Each of the LEDs 148 corresponds to a line access port. In a "test" mode, the TEST / ALARM LEDs 148 are illuminated in a particular color (e.g., green) to indicate whether a certain communication line port is being tested or not. In an "alarm" mode, the TEST / ALARM LEDs 148 are illuminated in a second color (e.g., amber) to indicate an alarm condition on a certain communication line port. The second group consists of six red LEDs 152 labeled "INDICATOR", and are used to identify cross connections established between the different communication line circuits. INDICATOR 152 LEDs light up when a temporary panel cable is inserted into its corresponding socket; all other communication line circuits that cross-connect with the initial communication line circuit also illuminate their corresponding indicator LEDs. This is achieved by connecting the pins on the back of the access unit 8 with the indicator pins of the other test access units 8 by means of coiled connectors or Telco pins (64 pins). A line access card 15 incorporating double provisional panel circuits 140, 180 comprises four different PCBs. The main PCB includes 48 non-blocking 2-pole relays and 12 interim panel switches. A card mounted at the top contains relay units, control registers, status regulators and decoders. Two LED cards mounted on the front contain LEDs. An alarm card mounted on the bottom contains alarm circuits for alarm and performance verification. Figure 10C shows the diagram of the line access card 15 incorporating the double provisional panel capacity according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 10C, the line access card 15 includes three interfaces. A 56-finger edge board connector 121 provides an interface with the main matrix board. This interface 121 includes a data bus, control signals and power supply lines. A 72-pin edge board connector 123 provides connections to the communication line matrix board. Interface 123 includes a check collector and six communication line port connections. Twelve provisional panel connectors provide manual access to the sides of the equipment and installation 200, 100 of the communication line circuits. Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a detailed block diagram of the connections of the line access card 15 providing connection between a selected communication line port, selected through the switch circuit 150 of the access card of line 15 and a selected test device port (for example, TP1 - TP4). Figure 4C provides a table of various test access modes, and shows the correspondence between a selected mode of operation and the position of the relays K1 to K18 shown in Figure 6. Figures 4D-4M are examples of the connections of port of the test port connections corresponding to each mode associated with a test access system mode of the present invention.

When a communication line port is not being tested, the port operates in a Transparent mode, that is, the port is isolated from the verification bus and there is a normal path between the "E side" and the "side" F "of the communication line port. Note that "side E" represents the side of the equipment 200 while "side F" indicates the side of the installation 100 of a communication line circuit connection. The data flows through the circuit connection on the equipment side 200 and the installation side 100 without interrupting the access system unit 8. While operating in the Transparent mode, the equipment / access port is or not connected or placed in a looping circuit mode. When a test device port is not in use (ie, isolated from the verification bus), it can be placed in a loopback mode. This allows the test device to send and receive back an ideal code while it is not being tested. In an AB loop operation mode, the data received from a test device is sent back to the test device. In particular, the RXA in the test equipment port is connected to the TXA in the same port. Any signal received on the A side of that port is returned to the test device. Likewise, the RXB in the test equipment port is connected to the TXB in the associated port. Any signal received on the B side of the test port is returned to the test device. In an A loop circuit operation mode, the data received on the A side of the test equipment port is sent back to the test device, while being in the B loop circuit operation mode, the received data on the B side of the test equipment port are sent back to the test device. In Mon EF mode there is also a normal path between the E and F sides of the communication line port. In addition, the RXE and RXF of the communication line port are connected to the TXA and the TXB of the test port. These configurations provide a non-intrusive verification on both sides of a communication line circuit. In a split EF operation mode, the E and F sides of the communication line port are split and connected to sides A and B of the test ports. In this mode, a test device is capable of transmitting and receiving test patterns to / from both sides of the communication line circuits. In an AB split operation mode, the communication line circuit is split and connected to the test port in a way that allows the "remove and insert" test to be performed by the test device. The modes Mon EFX, EFX Divided, and ABX Divided are similar, however, the A and B sides of the test port are interchanged.

In addition to the line access card 15 of the present invention includes capabilities, either single or double connection, a line access card 15 may also include a performance verification feature 90, as shown in Figures 8A -8C and 9, which is capable of verifying communication line circuits for a variety of anomalies and error information. Referring to Figures 8A-8C, each line access card is equipped with a verification function to collect line faults on both the installation side and the equipment side 100, 200 of six different communication lines. The operation of the verification function according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 9, while Figures 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate block diagram configurations to incorporate the performance verification in the circuit modalities of without provisional panel, simple provisional panel and double provisional panel, respectively. Preferably, a performance check function circuit 90 incorporated in an access line card 15 of the present invention represents a high impedance device, so that the information signals that pass through the line access card 15 are not degraded. This feature is important to allow non-intrusive verification of the communication line. In one mode, line information is collected and stored constantly in 15-minute registers, 1-hour registers and one-day records. Performance verification occurs on each of the 91-93 line access ports simultaneously; that is, no multiplexing occurs in the preferred embodiment, which allows the performance verification feature to accept simultaneous real-time data from each of the associated lines (e.g., RXE, RXF). The information is stored in the registers and can be retrieved at any time by the operating system 12. Once the alarm condition is detected, the CPU immediately sends an alarm condition signal to the operating system 12, which, upon receiving it, it presents it to the user. Each alarm case is presented to the management software by means of the CPU with a stamp of time and date. The information in the registers can be collected from the CPU at any time. If an SNMP management software with person search capability is used, the management software can call the user each time an alarm occurs. The performance parameters supported by performance verification and alarm functions of a test access system 8 of the present invention include near-end line performance parameters, and near-end path performance parameters and alarms. The alarm and performance verification features are intended to verify and detect line and path anomalies as well as defects. The anomalies include a bipolar violation (BPV), which occurs as a non-zero pulse of the same polarity of the previous pulse, and excessive zeros (EXZ), which include any zero sequence length greater than 15 contiguous zeros (AMI). Path anomalies include CRC-6 errors and frame-bit errors (FE). CRC-6 errors are detected when a received CRC-6 code does not match the calculated CRC-6 code of the received data. Frame bit errors are bit errors that occur in the received frame bit pattern. Line faults include signal loss (LOS), while path defects include off-frame (OOF), severe error (SEF), and alarm indication (AIS) signals. Frames with severe errors include the occurrence of two or more frame bit errors within a window. An AIS case indicates the occurrence of a non-square signal that has a "density one" of at least 99.9% present for at least three seconds. This indicates an upstream transmission interruption. For near-end line faults, an LOS occurs when the LOS defect persists for 2.5 seconds, = .5 seconds. Near-end path failures include an AIS and LOS, while far-end path failures include a remote alarm indication (RAI), which indicates a signal transmitted in the output direction when the equipment determines that it has lost the input signal. Other indicators include the near-end trajectory fault count (near-end trajectory fault account) and the far-end path failure account. Near-end line performance parameters include code violation lines (CV-L), second line with errors (ES-L) and second line with severe errors (SES-1). The near-end path performance parameters include code violation path (CV-P), second path with errors (ES-P) and second path with severe errors (S ES-P), S EF / AI S, seg unda trajectory (SAS-P), and according to a trajectory not available (UAS-P). The supported alarms include the red alarm, the alarm to blue, the yellow alarm, which correspond to the signal loss (LOS), alarm indication signal (AI S) and remote alarm indication (RAI), respectively. Figure 9 shows a detailed block diagram of the line access card and performance verification and alarm functions associated with a test access system mode of the present invention. The alarm function is provided as a connection to the line access card 15, and provides performance verification on both sides of a communication line circuit supported by the line access card 15. The alarm card 127 includes 12 identical channels that verify both sides (E and F) of six line circuits of communication Each channel comprises an insulation and impedance matching circuit (I IM) 131, a receiver (RCV) 133 and a frame (FR) 135. The isolation and impedance matching circuit 131 provides protection against overvoltage, attenuation, insulation and matching of the required impedance to verify the connection line circuit connections. The receiver 1 33 performs the data recovery and stopwatch, and uses a detection of variable peaks and thresholds to reduce the noise of the im pulses. Frames 135 provided for alarm condition detection include: Blue Alarm (AIS): when in a 3 ms window, five or fewer zeros are received; Yellow Alarm: when bit 2 of 256 consecutive channels is set to zero by at least 254 occurrences; or when the I2th frame bit is set as one or two consecutive occurrences; or when 16 consecutive 00FF patterns appear on the Facility Data Link (FDL); Red Alarm (RCL): When 192 consecutive zeros are received.

In addition, framers 135 include large counters for bipolar violations (BPV), line code violations (LCV), excessive zeros (EXZ), CRC-6 code violations, path code violations (PCV), bit errors of frames (FBE) and cases of multiple out-of-frame synchronization (MOS). It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment, each receiver 133 is part of a fully integrated quad-PCM receiver. As previously mentioned, the receivers 133 perform the data recovery and stopwatch, and use the peak detection and a variable threshold to reduce the noise of the pulses. The clock for receivers 133 may be provided by an external quartz crystal oscillator of 1544 MHZ. In addition, each frame 135 is part of a fully integrated quad frame. The four framers 135 are totally independent. The receiver side of each frame 135 performs the alarm detection as described above. A microcontroller 137 shown in Figure 9 is preferably a fully static 8 bit CMOS device with 192 bytes in RAM and 22 l / O ports (such as the Microchip Technology P / N PIC16C63) having a synchronous serial port configured as a 3-wire Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) to communicate with the CPU 8 system (for example, MC68302) by means of a system serial busbar (SB). The microcontroller 137 forms an 8-bit local multiplexed address / data bus 138, which is used for communication with the panners 135. The clock for the microcontroller 137 may be provided by an external quartz crystal oscillator of 3.6864 MHZ. A test access system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a software-based user and operation interface coupled to the CPU to remotely access and control the operation of the test access system. The management software allows a user located remotely from the test access system 8 to perform a variety of functions, including mode changes, diagnostic tests and verification. The test access system 8 operates to support various management options, including SNMP with an Optional Windows Based GUI Manager (graphic user interface) and TL1. SNMP can be compiled into any related management software. Traps can be set for the different alarms, and when they are detected, they are sent to the SNMP management software. The GUI application software then collects the alarm information in a database, and provides reports and statistical graphs for a variety of alarms. By way of example, when an alarm message is received, the appropriate site icon turns red, and an audio alarm sounds to alert the user who is verifying the terminal. Preferably, a TL1 language is used to provide notification of alarm cases. However, other languages may be used, as necessary, depending on the application and the particular requirements of the system. A software interface receives signals from the CPU, such as the CPU 98 shown in FIG. 7, which indicates the status of a particular communication line, and displays said states to the user by means of the user interface display screen 95 Likewise, a user located on the display screen can initiate a change in status or perform a function, such as the selection of a particular indicator LED in a remote console of the test access system 8. Said feature is particularly Useful when trying to identify a particular communication line between multiple rack units. The particular line can be identified by blinking the indicator light associated with that connection. The signal to start the blinking indicator is sent by the user interface to the CPU 98 device, causing the appropriate indicator LED corresponding to the selected line access port to light up. Said "manual" indicator feature, which allows a user in a remote location to directly press a particular LED to indicate to the technician at the site of a particular system, the location of a particular examination line is extremely advantageous when multiple lines and multiple provisional panels co-exist in a common installation. This manual indicator feature is provided in addition to the indicator feature activated by inserting a plug into a particular line access card 15. As can be seen, such remote verification and access significantly decreases the time necessary for a field operator to diagnose and locate communication line connection problems, as well as corrective test actions. Although the embodiments of the preferred system of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, modifications and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a line access card that incorporates a single or dual provisional panel capability, as well as the performance verification feature, can also be incorporated into other test access devices for the T1-T4 transmission lines. Accordingly, it is intended that all variations or modifications of the invention, described herein, be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims (29)

1. A system for accessing a plurality of communication lines by one or more test devices and establishing cross connections between the selected communication lines, each of the plurality of communication lines is coupled through the system and has a first terminal in a first telecommunication terminal site and a second terminal in a second telecommunication terminal site, the system comprises: a plurality of line access devices, each of the line access devices are coupled to at least one of the communication lines ending at the first telecommunication terminal site and at least one of the communication lines ends at the second telecommunication termination site; a test device interface; a signal direction circuit; a communication device that facilitates remote access to the system through a remote processing unit; and a control device, the control device, in response to one or more control signals received from a remote processing unit, controls the signal address circuit for coupling a selected communication line to a selected test device coupled to the test device interface and coupling a first of the plurality of selected line access devices with one second of the plurality of selected line access devices to establish a cross connection between the selected first and second line access devices. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal steering circuit comprises a provisional panel circuit provided in each of the line access devices, each of the provisional panel circuits provides local access to a communication line coupled to its corresponding line access device. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal steering circuit comprises a provisional panel circuit provided in each of the line access devices, each of the provisional panel circuits comprises an input port (IN), one output port (OUT) and one verification port (MON). The system according to claim 3, wherein each input port (IN), output port (OUT) and verification port (MON), comprises a plug-type connector. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal steering circuit comprises a provisional panel circuit provided in each of the line access devices, each of the provisional panel circuits comprises an input port (IN), an output port (OUT) and a verification port (MON), and one or more visual indicators, a visual indicator is associated with the verification port (MON) of each pair of connected line access devices in cross-way illuminating in response to the insertion of a provisional panel connector in at least one of the respective verification ports (MON). The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal steering circuit comprises a provisional panel circuit provided in each of the line access devices, a respective pair of switching and interim panel circuits that cooperate for provide a connection between the selected test device and the equipment coupled to the selected communication line. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal address circuit further comprises a bus bar coupled to the test device interface, the signal direction circuit, in response to the control signal, is coupled to a selected device of the plurality of line access devices and to the selected test device by means of the test device interface. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal address circuit further comprises a busbar, the signal address circuit, in response to the control signal, couples the first selected line access device and the second line access device to the bus collector to establish the cross connection between the first and second selected line access devices. The system according to claim 8, wherein the signal address circuit further comprises an input port (IN) and an output port (OUT) for manually establishing a cross connection between the first and second access device of selected lines. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication lines comprise high-speed digital transmission lines, characterized in that the transmission speed is in the order of tenths or hundredths of megabits per second (Mbps). The system according to claim 1, wherein the system defines all or a portion of the digital signal cross connection (DSX) system. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis, wherein each of the line access devices, signal direction circuits, test device interfaces, control devices and communications devices can be inserted removably in one of the plurality of slots provided in the chassis. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the line access devices comprises one or more visual indicators, the visual indicators can be activated selectively in response to the control signals received from the remote processing unit . The system according to claim 1, wherein: the test device interface comprises a test card, the test card comprises one or more indicators for communicating an operating state of the test device interface; and each of the line access devices comprises a line access card, the line access cards comprise one or more devices that emit light to indicate an operational status of the line access devices. 15. A system for accessing a plurality of communication lines by one or more test devices and establishing cross connections between the selected communication lines, each of the plurality of communication lines is coupled through the system and has a first terminal in a first telecommunication terminal site and a second terminal in a second telecommunication terminal site, the system comprises: a plurality of line access devices, each of the line access devices is coupled to so minus one of the communication lines terminating at the first telecommunication terminal site and at least one of the communication lines ends at the second telecommunication termination site; a test device interface; a signal direction circuit; a communication device that facilitates remote access to the system through a remote processing unit; a performance verification device coupled to each of the line access devices, the performance verification device verifies the performance of the communication line; and a control device, the control device, in response to one or more control signals received from a remote processing unit, controls the signal address circuit for coupling a selected communication line to a selected test device coupled to the test device interface and coupling a first of the plurality of selected line access devices with one second of the plurality of line access devices to establish a cross connection between the first and second selected line access devices, the The control device cooperates with the performance verification device to transmit performance data to the remote processing unit. 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the performance verification device detects path and line anomalies associated with the performance of the communication line. The system according to claim 15, wherein the performance verification device comprises a memory that stores performance data indicating the performance of the communication line, the performance data is transmitted to the remote processing unit in response to the expiration of a preset time duration, an alarm condition or a control signal transmitted from the remote processing unit. 18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the performance verification device comprises impedance matching and isolation circuits to facilitate verification of the performance of the communication line. The system according to claim 15, wherein the performance verification device comprises a receiver circuit performing one or both of the data recovery and the stopwatch recovery. The system according to claim 15, wherein each of the line access devices comprises a performance verification device. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a graphical user interface coupled to one or both of the control device and the remote processing unit, the communication operation status of the graphic user interface and the information alarm to the user. 2

2. A method for accessing a plurality of communication lines by means of one or more test devices and establishing cross connections between the selected communication lines, each of the plurality of communication lines is coupled through the system and has a first terminal in a first telecommunication terminal site and a second terminal in a second telecommunication terminal site, the method comprising: selecting one of the plurality of communication lines terminating in the first or second telecommunication terminal site; selecting one of the plurality of test device interface outputs; receive control signals from a remote processing unit; establishing, in response to a first signal, a signal path between the selected communication line and the output of the selected test device interface; and establishing, in response to a second control signal, a signal path between the selected communication line and a second selected communication line terminating at the first or second telecommunication terminal site. 2

3. The method according to claim 22, further comprising manually establishing a signal path between the selected communication line and a third selected communication line. 2

4. The method according to claim 22, which also comprises visually indicating the establishment of an electrical continuity between the selected communication line and the second selected communication line. 2

5. The method according to claim 22, further comprising illuminating one or more visual indicators associated with one or more selected selected communication lines in response to a lighting control signal received from the remote processing unit. 2

6. The method according to claim 22, further comprising verifying the performance of each of the plurality of communication lines. 2

7. The method according to claim 22, further comprising: detecting the anomalous performance of the communication line; and communicating an error indication in response to the detection of the communication line anomaly. 2

8. The method according to claim 22, wherein the method is performed in a digital signal cross-connect (DSX) environment. 2

9. The method according to claim 22, wherein the communication lines comprise high-speed digital transmission lines, characterized in that the transmission speed is in the order of tenths or hundredths of megabits per second (Mbps).