Harris Corporation

James D Eckman

Thomas W Durston

Richard W Faith

Leonard E Curtin

Wayne K Wong

Steven R Coffelt

Theodore E Chavannes

George D Fleitz

Chuck Muir

A telephone line test and display circuit for enabling a craftsperson to automatically monitor a plurality of communication aspects of a telephone line without impacting any communications that may be taking place over the telephone line being monitored includes a communication capability detection and indicator unit through which the craftsperson may observe the DC operational state (busy/idle, battery polarity, talk battery present) condition of the line by observing a pair of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes are color-coded in accordance with operational status conditions being monitored and are illuminated in either a steady state or flashing condition, depending upon the DC state of the line. Also contained with the test and display circuit is a frequency discriminator/display unit, having a set of light emitting diodes separate from those employed for monitoring the DC operational status of the telephone line. The frequency discriminator/indicator unit monitors the line for the presence of communication signals and selectively illuminates an individual one of a set of light emitting diodes, each of which is associated with a prescribed frequency band of signals.

Telephone line test and display circuit

The telephone line test capability of a craftsperson's test set is supplemented by communication/interface circuitry which carries out data communications with a host central office control processor, and contains memory for storing (task assignment) information downloaded from the central office control processor. This task assignment information stored in the test set-communications unit may be coupled from the unit to an associated printer for providing a hard copy of service assignment information to the field technician. In addition to printing out the downloaded task assignment information, the printer unit contains a charging circuit which charges a rechargeable battery in the handset for powering its internal circuitry. During off-duty hours, the test set may be connected to a home dispatch unit installed in the craftsperson's home and through which the handset is coupled to a telephone link for providing off-duty communications with the central office processor without technician intervention. The home dispatch unit also contains a battery charging circuit through which the test set's internal battery is charged when the test set is coupled to the dispatch unit and communications between the central office and the test set-communication unit are not taking place.

Test set communication/interface system

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Port Hueneme, CA, United States of America

James D Eckman