Harris Corporation

Fluke Corporation

Paul H Katz

Michael F Kennedy

Roy Lujan Soto

Linda L Hathorn

An ISDN test set employs a user selectable dialing mechanism, that allows the test set user to select from multiple types of dialing&#x2014;overlap dialing and enbloc dialing, through the use of a simplified functional dialing key set. The dialing key set, in combination with dialing software employed by the test set's supervisory control processor, provides the user with substantial ISDN dialing flexibility, while reducing interaction between the user/craftsperson and the test set, that minimizes dialing inaccuracies that often depend upon the skill and familiarity of the technician with ISDN communications. Enbloc redialing (of the most recently dialed number) or of a stored number in memory is provided only in ON-HOOK mode by the operation of a REDIAL or RECALL key. Otherwise (whenever OFF-HOOK) only overlap mode dialing is employed.

User selectable overlap and enbloc dialing of ISDN line

An integrated services digital network (ISDN) test set includes an ISDN transceiver, a supervisory control processor which is operative to cause the ISDN transceiver to controllably transmit and receive ISDN communication messages over a communication circuit, and an alpha-numeric message display through which messages associated with the operation of the ISDN test set are displayed. The test set keypad also includes a dedicated 'ASSIST' key, that is selectably operated by the user, to cause the control processor to execute a user assistance routine, which accesses a contextual-based alpha-numeric database, whose contents are associated with and provide additional information of a displayed alpha-numeric message. This enables a test set user, regardless of training or experience, to be provided with information necessary to competently operate the test set and successfully test an ISDN line.

Interactive contextual-based assistance for portable ISDN test set

An ISDN test set employs a user selectable dialing mechanism, that allows the test set user to select from multiple types of dialing&mdash;overlap dialing and enbloc dialing, through the use of a simplified functional dialing key set. The dialing key set, in combination with dialing software employed by the test set's supervisory control processor, provides the user with substantial ISDN dialing flexibility, while reducing interaction between the user/craftsperson and the test set, that minimizes dialing inaccuracies that often depend upon the skill and familiarity of the technician with ISDN communications. Enbloc redialing (of the most recently dialed number) or of a stored number in memory is provided only in ON-HOOK mode by the operation of a REDIAL or RECALL key. Otherwise (whenever OFF-HOOK) only overlap mode dialing is employed.

A portable ISDN test set contains test circuitry that is controllably operative to automatically test the ISDN communication capability of an ISDN circuit. In response to a user operating a prescribed input/output element of a user interface of the test set, the test set's supervisory control processor executes a routine that places an ISDN call over a first bearer channel of the ISDN circuit, the first bearer channel having a first directory number, through a public switched telephone network to a second directory number associated with a second bearer channel of the ISDN circuit. The ISDN call is thus routed by the public switched telephone network back to the ISDN test set. When the ISDN call is received by the test set, it is automatically looped to the public switched telephone network, so that the call is rerouted to the first directory number associated with the first bearer channel to the ISDN test set. When the looped back call is answered, a BERT is conducted over the dual looped bearer channel pair, thereby testing the full 128 Kbps bearer channel bandwidth of the ISDN circuit. The automated testing routine includes a subroutine that automatically derives the first and second directory numbers from respective user-supplied service profile identifiers for the first and second bearer channels.

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Westlake Village, CA, United States of America

Paul H Katz