WO2005013591A1 - Ensemble de sondage par emission de tonalite pour l'identification non intrusive de paires dans un reseau de telecommunications - Google Patents

Ensemble de sondage par emission de tonalite pour l'identification non intrusive de paires dans un reseau de telecommunications Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005013591A1
WO2005013591A1 PCT/IB2004/002456 IB2004002456W WO2005013591A1 WO 2005013591 A1 WO2005013591 A1 WO 2005013591A1 IB 2004002456 W IB2004002456 W IB 2004002456W WO 2005013591 A1 WO2005013591 A1 WO 2005013591A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tone
signal
unit
probe set
telecommunications line
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2004/002456
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Johannes Cronje
Original Assignee
Telkom Sa Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telkom Sa Limited filed Critical Telkom Sa Limited
Publication of WO2005013591A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005013591A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/22—Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
    • H04M3/26—Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing with means for applying test signals or for measuring
    • H04M3/28—Automatic routine testing ; Fault testing; Installation testing; Test methods, test equipment or test arrangements therefor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
    • G01R31/58—Testing of lines, cables or conductors
    • G01R31/60—Identification of wires in a multicore cable
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/22—Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
    • H04M3/229—Wire identification arrangements; Number assignment determination
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q1/00—Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
    • H04Q1/18—Electrical details
    • H04Q1/30—Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents
    • H04Q1/44—Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents using alternate current

Definitions

  • THIS invention relates to a tone and probe set for non-intrusively identifying pairs in a telecommunications network.
  • Telecommunications lines in the form of twisted copper pairs are the basic building block of most telecommunications networks around the world. It is therefore imperative to be able to trace these cables to ensure their integrity and correct operation. To achieve this it is necessary, over a particular length of line, which typically comprises numerous twisted copper pairs, to be able to identify and isolate the ends of each twisted pair in the line.
  • tone and probe sets available that address the above problems by generating and transmitting a tone on the one end of the twisted pair and receiving the tone on the other end of the twisted pair.
  • the tone cannot be transmitted whilst the twisted pair is carrying voice and/or data.
  • these devices cannot be used on analogue and/or digital lines without first interrupting the services being carried by these lines, which is clearly an undesirable situation for both the telecommunications provider and the subscriber.
  • a tone and probe set for tracing telecommunications lines comprising: a tone generator and transmitter unit for generating and transmitting a tone at one end of a telecommunications line; and a receiver unit that can be used at the other end of the telecommunications line for detecting the generated tone,
  • the tone is of a sufficiently high frequency that any services being carried by the telecommunications line will not be affected and of a sufficiently high amplitude to allow detection by the receiver unit, so as to provide non-intrusive tracing of the telecommunications line.
  • the telecommunications line comprises at least one twisted copper pair.
  • the tone generator and transmitter unit is fitted with a buzzer for indicating to the user when the unit is on.
  • the receiver unit includes a sensitivity control for allowing the user to pinpoint the exact twisted pair of interest.
  • the receiver unit further includes indicating means, typically in the form of a flashing LED, for assisting the user in pinpointing the exact twisted pair.
  • indicating means typically in the form of a flashing LED, for assisting the user in pinpointing the exact twisted pair.
  • the LED will light continuously when a tone of sufficient amplitude is detected, will flicker slowly when some tone is detected, and will be off when no tone is detected.
  • the tone generator and transmitter unit comprises: a micro controller for generating an AC tone signal; a low pass filter for filtering out high frequency noise in the tone signal; and an amplifier for amplifying the signal.
  • the tone generator and transmitter unit further includes a high voltage protection circuit for protecting the unit against high DC and AC voltages on the telecommunications line.
  • the receiver unit comprises: a probe that can be positioned adjacent or proximate to the twisted pairs at a receiving end of the telecommunications line for identifying the relevant pair; a high input impedance amplifier for amplifying the received signal for detection; a band pass filter for filtering out the irrelevant frequencies in the received signal; an analogue to digital converter for sampling the signal; and a micro controller that is connected to the output of the converter, for storing the samples and processing the signal.
  • a tone generator unit for a tone and probe set for tracing telecommunications lines, the tone generator unit comprising a micro controller for generating a tone signal at one end of a telecommunications line that is to be traced, wherein the tone is of a sufficiently high frequency that any services being carried by the telecommunications line will not be affected and of a sufficiently high amplitude to allow detection by a receiver unit, so as to provide non-intrusive tracing of the telecommunications line.
  • the tone generator unit further includes: a low pass filter for filtering out high frequency noise in the tone signal; and an amplifier for amplifying the signal.
  • the tone generator unit is fitted with a buzzer for indicating to the user when the unit is on.
  • a receiver unit for a tone and probe set for tracing telecommunications lines having a first end and a second end, the receiver unit being arranged to detect, at the second end, a tone generated at the first end of the telecommunications line that is to be traced, wherein the tone is of a sufficiently high frequency that any services being carried by the telecommunications line will not be affected and of a sufficiently high amplitude to allow detection
  • the receiver unit comprising: a probe that can be positioned adjacent or proximate to the second end of the telecommunications line; a high input impedance amplifier for amplifying the received signal for detection; a band pass filter for filtering out the irrelevant frequencies in the detected signal; an analogue to digital converter for sampling the signal; and a micro controller that is connected to the output of the converter, for storing the samples and processing the signal.
  • Figure 1 shows twisted copper pairs in a telecommunications network being traced by the tone and probe set of the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the tone generator and transmitter unit of the tone and probe set
  • Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the receiver unit of the tone and probe set.
  • a tone and probe set comprising a tone generator and transmitter unit 10 and a receiver unit 12 is shown fitted to the ends of a twisted copper pair P-i.
  • the tone and probe set will be referred to as the Advanced Tone and Probe (ATP).
  • the end 14 of copper pair Pi could for example be attached to a mounting block within a Main Distribution Frame (MDF), with the end 16 of the copper pair P ⁇ being mounted to a cable distribution point.
  • MDF Main Distribution Frame
  • these mountings are given purely as examples, with the ATP of the present invention being usable between any two points along a twisted copper pair.
  • the twisted copper pair P-i as described above, is one of a plurality of twisted copper pairs P ⁇ to P n , which collectively define a telecommunications line or cable for carrying voice and/or data.
  • the tone generator and transmitter unit 10 introduces a tone into the twisted pair Pi in a non-intrusive manner, such that any tracing on the line will be invisible to the subscriber and will thus not affect the traffic being carried by the twisted pair P-
  • the tone generator and transmitter unit 10 is connected between ground 18 and one of the wires of the twisted pair P .
  • the unit 10 is fitted with a buzzer for reminding the user that it is on by producing a beep every minute.
  • the user can now trace the tone that the unit 10 produces on the other side of the twisted pair Pi with the receiver unit 12.
  • the receiver unit 12 is fitted with a sensitivity control for allowing the user to pinpoint the exact twisted pair of interest.
  • a flashing LED on the receiver unit 12 will also help the user to pinpoint the exact twisted pair Pi.
  • the LED will light continuously when a tone of sufficient amplitude is detected, and, conversely, will be off when no tone is detected.
  • the LED will flicker slowly when some tone is detected.
  • the sensitivity control on the receiver unit 12 will also set the sensitivity of the LED.
  • the receiver unit 12 includes a headphone output to enable the user to use the receiver 12, to detect the received tone, in noisy environments. Both units 10 and 12 have battery low indicators to notify the user when the batteries within each unit need to be replaced.
  • the tone generator and transmitter unit 10 comprises a micro controller 20 for generating an AC tone signal by using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques.
  • PWM Pulse Width Modulation
  • a stable quartz crystal is used as an input clock for the micro controller 20 to ensure a stable output frequency.
  • the micro controller 20 also sounds the buzzer every minute to indicate that it is on, as described above.
  • the amplitude of the output tone signal is very large to help in the detection of this signal by the receiver unit 12.
  • the output signal of the transmitter unit 10 has to have minimal or zero high frequency noise to still ensure that a subscriber who happens to be using the twisted pair P T at that time will him- or herself not hear the tone that is simultaneously being carried by the pair Pi.
  • the output signal produced by the micro controller 20 is filtered by means of a low pass filter 22.
  • the high amplitude, filtered signal then passes through an amplifier 24 for allowing the signal to fit perfectly into the power supply rails of the battery 26 of the unit 10.
  • the resulting signal is then passed through an AC terminate impedance 28, which has a sufficiently high value to ensure that the unit 10 does not load any of the services being carried by the twisted pair line being traced.
  • the unit 10 is fitted with a high voltage protection circuit 30 for protecting the unit 10 against very high DC and AC voltages on the telephone line.
  • the protection circuit 30 is such that DC voltages of up to 280 V will not influence the operation of the transmitter unit 10.
  • the output 32 of the protection circuit 30 is then clipped onto one of the wires in the twisted pair Pi, as shown in figure 1.
  • a power supply module 34 converts the battery voltage to positive and negative power supply rails that are wide enough to amplify the output signal, as indicated above.
  • a fixed square wave oscillating between 18.3 kHz and 19.1 kHz leaves the micro controller 20.
  • the low pass filter 22 processes this wave so as to produce a substantially sine wave having an amplitude of 2,6 V peak-to-peak and an offset of 2,5 V.
  • the amplifier 24 amplifies the signal to 20 V peak-to-peak with an offset of 4 V.
  • the resulting signal is thus a sine wave oscillating between 18.3 kHz and 19.1 kHz with an amplitude of 20 V peak-to-peak under no load, and 2 V peak-to-peak under a load of 270 ⁇ .
  • the receiver unit 12 terminates in a probe 36, the probe 36 being positioned adjacent or proximate to the various twisted pairs at the receiving end 16 for identifying the relevant pair.
  • the tip 38 of the probe 36 is made of an iron powder plastic for defining a non-intrusive tip 38. This ensures that the contacts on the terminal blocks to which the pairs may be connected at the receiving end 16 are not shorted out while the user is tracing for the tone.
  • a high input impedance amplifier 40 ensures that the small incoming tone signal is not detrimentally loaded, whilst at the same time amplifying this signal for detection.
  • the receiver unit 12 includes a band pass filter 42 for filtering out the irrelevant frequencies in the detected signal, thereby preparing the signal for an analogue to digital converter 44.
  • the converter 44 is a 10-bit converter, that undersamples the input signal, by about 6 times, so that the output is frequency divided to an audible oscillating signal.
  • a micro controller 46 is connected to the output of the converter 44 and stores the samples. The controller 46 processes the signal and determines whether the frequency of interest is present in the detected signal.
  • the micro controller 46 further uses the output signal of the converter 44 to determine the- flicker rate of the LED 50 described above. If the level of the signal of interest increases, the LED 50 flickers quicker. Conversely, if the level of the signal of interest decreases, the LED 50 flickers slower. This will help the user to pinpoint the exact location of the twisted pair at the receiving end 16 of the line.
  • the micro controller 46 is also responsible for generating an audible signal for the buzzer 52 at the same amplitude as the incoming signal coming from the filter 42.
  • a power supply module 54 converts the voltage from a battery 56 to positive and negative power supply rails for providing power to the receiver unit 12.
  • the amplitude of the received signal depends on the distance between the probe and the twisted pair, and at what impedance the line is loading the transmitter. This can range from a few nV to a few mV.
  • the amplifier 40 typically amplifies the input signal 1000 times, with the signal at the input of the analogue to digital converter 44 typically having a voltage of between 0 V and 5 V.
  • the ATP of the present invention has numerous advantages. First and foremost, the present invention eliminates the need of first finding out if any service is active on a line and what type of service, before tracing can continue so as to define a truly non-intrusive tracing device. Second, the ATP can be used on numerous technologies, thus making it an extremely versatile device. At present, the ATP can be used to trace any of the following technologies without interfering any of the related services: ADSL, HDSL, ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI, PCM 2Meg services running on copper, DPGS lines, Data lines 64k up to 2Mbs (Diginet, Martis, etc), Telex lines and conventional analogue telephone lines.
  • the ATP can also be used for record purification purposes. Quite often, telecommunications network providers have a database where all the network information is stored. This database continuously gets updated to ensure that the physical networks corresponds to the information on this database, with the ATP being able to assist in this updating process.
  • the ATP is able to assist in fault finding. For example, if a tone is generated on one side of a twisted pair and no signal is received on the other side, the ATP can be used to trace the line to locate the position of an open circuit on the line.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Monitoring And Testing Of Exchanges (AREA)

Abstract

Ensemble de sondage par émission de tonalité permettant de localiser des lignes de télécommunications. L'ensemble comporte un module générateur de tonalités et émetteur (10) permettant de générer et de transmettre une tonalité à une extrémité (14) d'une ligne de télécommunications (P1) et un module récepteur (12) qui peut être utilisé à l'autre extrémité (16) de la ligne pour détecter la tonalité générée. De manière notable, la tonalité présente une fréquence suffisamment élevée pour ne pas affecter des services susceptibles d'être transmis par la ligne de télécommunications (P1), et une amplitude suffisamment élevée pour permettre la détection par le module récepteur (12), ce qui permet de localiser de manière non intrusive la ligne de télécommunications (P1).
PCT/IB2004/002456 2003-08-01 2004-08-02 Ensemble de sondage par emission de tonalite pour l'identification non intrusive de paires dans un reseau de telecommunications WO2005013591A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA2003/5962 2003-08-01
ZA200305962 2003-08-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005013591A1 true WO2005013591A1 (fr) 2005-02-10

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2004/002456 WO2005013591A1 (fr) 2003-08-01 2004-08-02 Ensemble de sondage par emission de tonalite pour l'identification non intrusive de paires dans un reseau de telecommunications

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WO (1) WO2005013591A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA200600892B (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3628138A (en) * 1970-02-02 1971-12-14 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Method for identifying conductors in a cable by utilizing an amplitude-modulated gaussian noise identification signal
US3699274A (en) * 1971-07-22 1972-10-17 Perkins Res & Mfg Co Apparatus for identifying telephone cable pairs
GB1494894A (en) * 1973-11-28 1977-12-14 Post Office Transmitters for conductor identification in multiconductor electric cables and systems and methods employing same
US4165450A (en) * 1978-05-17 1979-08-21 Northern Telecom Inc. Telephone signalling test system
EP0700193A2 (fr) * 1994-09-04 1996-03-06 Rit Technologies Ltd. Explorateur de connectivité

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3628138A (en) * 1970-02-02 1971-12-14 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Method for identifying conductors in a cable by utilizing an amplitude-modulated gaussian noise identification signal
US3699274A (en) * 1971-07-22 1972-10-17 Perkins Res & Mfg Co Apparatus for identifying telephone cable pairs
GB1494894A (en) * 1973-11-28 1977-12-14 Post Office Transmitters for conductor identification in multiconductor electric cables and systems and methods employing same
US4165450A (en) * 1978-05-17 1979-08-21 Northern Telecom Inc. Telephone signalling test system
EP0700193A2 (fr) * 1994-09-04 1996-03-06 Rit Technologies Ltd. Explorateur de connectivité

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Publication number Publication date
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