Remote telephony testing device

A testing apparatus for testing telephone equipment of a subscriber communicatively connected to a communication medium utilized to convey at least one of voice and data signals, the testing apparatus comprising:

• a first relay disposed in the communication medium and having telephone equipment connected to one side thereof via the communication medium, wherein the communication medium is capable of conveying analog and digital signals;
• a controller;
• a receiver connected between the controller and the communication medium connected to a side of the first relay opposite the telephone equipment;
• a second relay;
• and
• a test circuit, the second relay and the test circuit series connected between the controller and the communication medium connected to the telephone equipment side of the first relay, wherein in response to the receiver receiving a test signal via the communication medium the controller causes the first relay to open thereby disconnecting the communication medium connected to the receiver side of the first relay from the communication medium connected to the telephone equipment side thereof and causes the second relay to close thereby connecting the test circuit to the telephone equipment via the communication medium connected to the telephone equipment side of the first relay.

A method of testing telephone equipment of a subscriber connected to a telephone switching network via a communication medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a signal via the communication medium, wherein the communication medium is capable of conveying analog and digital signals;
• in response to receiving the signal, opening the communication medium thereby separating the communication medium into a first part connected to the telephone equipment and a second part connected to the telephone switching network whereby the telephone equipment is communicatively isolated from the telephone switching network;
• connecting a test circuit to the telephone equipment via the first part of the communication medium connected thereto;
• testing the telephone equipment with the test circuit;
• and
• communicating a result of testing the telephone equipment to the telephone switching network via the second part of the communication medium connected thereto.

A telephone network for communicatively connecting telephone equipment of a plurality of subscribers, the telephone network comprising:

• a switching apparatus adapted to communicatively connect together a plurality of communication medium connected to telephone equipment of a like plurality of subscribers, wherein each communication medium is capable of conveying analog and digital signals;
• and
• a testing apparatus connected to one of the communication medium between the switching apparatus and the telephone equipment of one of the subscribers connected thereto, the testing apparatus comprising:
• a test circuit for testing the telephone equipment via the one communication medium;
• a receiver;
• a transmitter;
• and
• a plurality of relays, wherein in response to the receiver receiving a test signal from the switching apparatus via the one communication medium:
• the plurality of relays (i) open the one communication medium thereby communicatively disconnecting the telephone of the one subscriber from the switching network and (ii) communicatively connect the test circuit to the telephone equipment of the one subscriber via the one communication medium connected thereto;
• the test circuit tests the telephone equipment of the one subscriber via the one communication medium connected thereto;
• and
• the transmitter communicates to the switching apparatus via the one communication medium connected thereto one or more results of the test of the telephone equipment of the one subscriber by the test circuit.