Telecommunications service provision equipment transfer

Abstract

This invention relates to arrangements for simplifying the transfer of a source of telecommunications signals, such as a telecommunications customer line or telecommunications trunk, from a first port of a switching system to a second port of that same switching system. Such a transfer requires a transfer of a connection in the outside plant, usually in a manhole, and establishment of a connection from the outside plant to the second port, usually in a distributing frame of the switching system. Translation data is stored for the second port to indicate availability of the second port for assignment to a customer, and, in one embodiment of the invention, to identify the customer to be connected to that second port. In accordance with that embodiment of the invention, the customer line to the first port is tested in the manhole to verify the identity of that customer; the line to the second port is tested to see if the translation data for that second port comprises the same customer identification. If so, a request to assign the translation data for that customer to the second port is then transmitted from the manhole. In response to an acknowledgment that the translation data has been so assigned, the customer's line is transferred to the second port. Advantageously, the translation data can be stored and a connection to the second port can be established ahead of time in the switching system, and the transfer of the line can be carried out by one individual in the manhole without requiring the cooperation of other craft in the switching system.