Graphic user interface method and apparatus for testing a customer services terminal and a plurality of telephone lines that are connected thereto

In a telecommunications system for providing telecommunications services between a telephone exchange and a location that includes a plurality of telephone lines that connect to telephones and/or data devices that service said location, a customer services terminal comprising:

• an input connected to said telephone exchange;
• a plurality of outputs individually connected to said plurality of telephone lines;
• a plurality of telephone line service components individually connected to one of said plurality of outputs;
• a communications interface for connection to a computer;
• a graphic user interface within said communications interface;
• a selection field within said graphic user interface enabling selection of one or more of said plurality of outputs;
• a drop-down menu within said graphic user interface enabling selection of loop-tests to be run on telephone lines that are connected to selected outputs, and/or enabling selection of self-tests to be run on telephone line service components that are associated with said selected outputs;
• an apply field within said graphic user interface operable to apply selected loop tests to telephone lines associated with selected outputs, and/or to apply selected self-tests to telephone line service components associated with selected outputs;
• and
• a results field within said graphic user interface for reporting results of said selected loop tests and/or said selected self-tests.

In a telecommunications system wherein a customer services terminal is connected between a telephone exchange and a location having a plurality of telephone lines that connect to telecommunications devices at said location, a method of testing said customer services terminal and/or said telephone lines, comprising the steps of:

• providing a communications interface within said customer services terminal;
• providing a graphic user interface within said communications interface for enabling the selection of self-test to be applied to selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or for enabling the selection of loop test to be applied to selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines;
• and
• applying selected self-tests to said selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or applying selected loop tests to said selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines as a remainder of said portions of said customer services terminal and a remainder of said plurality of telephone lines remain operative to supply telecommunications services to said location.

A telecommunications system comprising:

• a customer services terminal having an input connected to a telephone exchange and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of telephone lines that connect to telephones and/or data devices that are located at a user location;
• a communications interface within said customer services terminal;
• graphic user interface code within said communications interface for enabling the selection of self-test to be applied to selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or for enabling the selection of loop test to be applied to selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines;
• selected self-tests being applied to selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or selected loop tests being applied to selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines, as a remainder of said customer services terminal and/or a remainder of said plurality of telephone lines remain operative to supply telecommunications services to said user location;
• said graphic user interface code including a visual field for reporting results of said selected self-tests and/or said selected loop tests;
• and
• a computer at said user location, and/or at said telephone exchange operable to enable said graphic user interface code.

A customer services terminal for use in providing telecommunications service to a telecommunications user, the customer services terminal having:

• an input for connection to a telephone exchange;
• a plurality of telephone line outputs for individual connection to a plurality of external telephone lines that provide service to a plurality of devices used by said telecommunications user;
• a plurality of telephone line service components;
• individual ones of said plurality of telephone line service components being connected intermediate said input and individual ones of said plurality of telephone line outputs;
• a communications interface;
• an output/input connected to said communications interface for connection to a computer;
• a graphic user interface within said communication interface for selectively enabling self-testing of selected ones of said plurality of telephone line service components;
• a first field within said graphic user interface enabling selection of one or more of said telephone line service components;
• a drop-down menu within said graphic user interface enabling the selection of one or more self-tests;
• an apply field within said graphic user interface operable to apply selected self-tests to selected telephone line service components as a remainder of said telephone line service components remain operative;
• a results field within said graphic user interface whereby self-test results are reported;
• said graphic user interface additionally enabling loop testing of certain ones of said plurality of external telephone lines that connect to individual ones of said plurality of telephone line outputs;
• said first field additionally enabling selection of one or more of said external telephone lines;
• said drop-down menu additionally enabling the selection of one or more loop tests;
• said apply field additionally operable to apply selected loop tests to selected external telephone lines as a remainder of said external telephone lines remain operative;
• and
• said results field additionally reporting loop test results.