US 6,584,176 B2 · Loop loss measurement and reporting mechanism for digital data services telephone channel equipment

Abstract

A loop loss measurement and reporting mechanism for a digital data services unit obviates interaction with a test unit at a far end of the loop, by relying upon a priori knowledge of the signal power and spectral content of a data port at the far end of the loop to conduct threshold detection and power level measurements. A received signal is amplified by amplifier circuitry, the gain of which is controllably adjusted by the microcontroller based upon the outputs of threshold detectors and power level measurement circuitry that monitor the amplified received signal. A front panel display is controlled by the microcontroller to display loop loss parameter information. To measure and report loop loss, the digital data services unit turns off its transmitter for a prescribed period of time and monitors an in-band signal of known power and spectral content sourced from the far end of the loop. In response to this measurement it iteratively adjusts, as necessary, the amplifier gains, and illuminates the LED display device in accordance with the power measurement.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method of measuring and reporting an operational parameter of a telecommunication path adapted to transport telecommunication signals between a first telecommunication transceiver unit at a first site and a second telecommunication transceiver unit at a second site, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing said first telecommunication transceiver unit in a receive only mode, and disabling telecommunication signal transmission capability of said first telecommunication transceiver unit, without communicating between said first and second sites that a test of said telecommunication path is to be conducted;
(b) at said first telecommunication transceiver unit, receiving a signal lying in a band of frequencies employed for normal telecommunication signal transmission, that has been transmitted over said telecommunication path from said second telecommunication transceiver unit at said second site at a given power level and spectral content;
(c) measuring signal power received at said first telecommunication transceiver unit;
and
(d) at said first telecommunication transceiver unit, generating an estimate of loop loss of said telecommunication path in accordance with the signal power measured in step (c) and a priori knowledge of signal transmission parameters of said second telecommunication signal transceiver unit at said second site.

2 more elements

An arrangement for measuring and reporting loop loss of a telecommunication signal path to which a digital data services transceiver is coupled at a first site, said telecommunication signal communication path being coupled to a communication device at a second site, said arrangement comprising:

at least one controlled gain amplifier stage which, exclusive of a communication between said first and second sites containing information representative of conducting a test of said telecommunication signal path, is adapted to receive an in-band signal transmitted at a given power level and spectral content from said communication device at said second site, during a receive only mode of said digital data services unit, said in-band signal lying in a band of frequencies employed for normal telecommunication signal transmissions;
signal power measurement circuitry coupled to an output of said at least one controlled gain amplifier stage, and being operative to measure power of said in-band signal as received and amplified by said at least one controlled gain amplifier stage;
and
an output unit adapted to provide an output representative of loop loss of telecommunication signal path in accordance with in-band signal power measured by said signal power measurement circuitry, and a priori knowledge of signal transmission parameters of said communication device at said second site.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Loop loss measurement and reporting mechanism for digital data services telephone channel equipment

Life of this patent

Loop loss measurement and reporting mechanism for digital data services telephone channel equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13