Apparatus and method for troubleshooting internet protocol telephony networks

A method for troubleshooting on an IP telephony network comprising the steps of:

• connecting a telephony troubleshooting device to said IP telephony network;
• transmitting a first digital telephony signal from said telephony troubleshooting device via said IP telephony network to a remotely located device, including generating said first digital signal to contain information requesting a return digital telephony signal from said remotely located device, said digital telephony signal exchange between said telephony troubleshooting device and said remotely located device being dedicated to establishing bidirectional audio communication capability over said IP telephony network;
• and
• monitoring said connection between said telephony troubleshooting device and said remotely located device to determine whether said return digital telephony signal is received.

An IP telephony adaptor for an analog telephony troubleshooting device comprising:

• an electrical circuit connected to said analog telephony troubleshooting device for converting an analog DTMF signal generated by said analog telephony troubleshooting device to a first digital control message;
• a system control, connected and responsive to said electrical circuit, for transmitting said first digital control message over an IP telephony network and for receiving a second digital control message, said transmission and receipt of said first and second digital control messages being necessary to establish a bidirectional audio communications link between said IP telephony adaptor and a remote telephonic device over said IP telephony network;
• a converter connected to a microphone and a speaker of said analog telephony troubleshooting device for converting a first digital audio signal received from said remote telephonic device to a first analog audio signal transmitted to said speaker and for converting a second analog audio signal generated by said microphone to a second digital audio signal transmitted to said remote telephonic device;
• a plurality of connectors, each individual connector designed for connecting said IP telephony adaptor to said IP telephony network at a different site on said network;
• and
• an audio codec, connected to said converter and one of said plurality of connectors, for processing digital audio signals transmitted and received by said IP telephony adaptor.