Method and apparatus for telephone line testing

At a customer node of a public switched telephone network comprising a telephone line associated with a customer premises, a method of qualifying said customer node for broadband digital subscriber line communication services from a service provider without the need for a technician dispatch to said customer node, said customer node having a customer-operable modem connected to said telephone line at said customer premises, said method comprising the steps of:

• utilizing a controller within said modem to initiate execution of a testing sequence pre-stored within a memory associated with said controller;
• utilizing said modem in accordance with said testing sequence to transmit a first plurality of test signals from said customer premises and onto said telephone line within a frequency range of approximately 0 Hz to 5 MHz;
• measuring a second plurality of response signals with said modem received in response to reflections of said first plurality of test signals on said telephone line;
• generating an output value as a function of said first plurality of test signals and said second plurality of response signals indicative of the electrical characteristics of said customer node;
• displaying said output value on a user interface of said modem;
• transmitting said output value over said telephone line to said service provider;
• and
• utilizing said output value for qualifying said customer node along with said telephone line for broadband digital subscriber line communication services.

At a customer node of a public switched telephone network comprising a customer-operable XDSL modem at said customer node connected to a telephone line, a method of qualifying said customer node for broadband digital subscriber line communication services from a service provider without the need for a technician dispatch to said customer node, said method comprising the steps of:

• utilizing a controller within said modem to initiate execution of a testing sequence pre-stored within a memory associated with said controller;
• utilizing said modem in accordance with said testing sequence to generate test signals having frequencies within a frequency range of approximately 0 Hz to 5 MHz at said customer node;
• delivering said test signals onto said telephone line;
• generating a first plurality of values as a function of the amplitude, phase, and delay of response signals received in response to reflections of said test signals on said telephone line;
• generating a second plurality of values indicative of line voltages associated with said telephone line;
• generating a third plurality of values indicative of resistance associated with said telephone line;
• generating a fourth plurality of values indicative of capacitance values associated with said telephone line;
• generating a fifth value indicative of the background noise in at least one frequency band between approximately 0 Hz and 5 Mhz;
• generating an output value as a function of said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth values indicative of the electrical characteristics of said customer node;
• displaying said output value on a user interface of said modem;
• transmitting said output value over said telephone line to said service provider;
• and
• utilizing said output value for qualifying said customer node along with said telephone line for broadband digital subscriber line communication services.

A portable hand-held test set apparatus for analyzing electrical signals to qualify a broadband communication channel between a service provider and a customer premises for XDSL communication services, said apparatus comprising:

• a modem programmed to generate test signals, deliver said test signals onto said broadband communication channel to Thereby stimulate said broadband communication channel from said customer premises, measure response signals that are generated solely in response to stimulated effects of said test signals on said broadband communication channel, measure a line voltage associated with said broadband communication channel, and generate an output value as a function of said test signals, response signals, and line voltage, said output value indicating either a line pass or a line fail for the purpose of qualifying said broadband communication channel for XDSL communication services;
• a user interface in communication with said modem and comprising at least one indicator activated to indicate said output value;
• and
• means for selectively connecting said modem to a network interface device associated with said broadband communication channel at said customer premises;
• whereby said portable hand-held test set apparatus is capable of being both situated and operated exclusively at said customer premises, at the option of a user, for qualifying said broadband communication channel for XDSL communication services.

A hand-held testing apparatus for qualifying a customer telephone line for XDSL communication services, said apparatus comprising:

• a modem for connecting to said customer telephone line, said modem programmed to generate a plurality of test signals, transmit said plurality of test signals from a customer premises and onto said customer telephone line within a frequency range of approximately 0 Hz to 5 MHz, measure a plurality of response signals in response to reflections of said plurality of test signals on said customer telephone line, measure a line voltage between a tip and ring connection associated with said customer telephone line, and generate an output value as a function of said response signals and said line voltage;
• a user interface in communication with said modem and comprising at least one indicator for communicating said output value to a user, wherein said output value indicates either a line pass or a line fail result for the purpose of qualifying said customer telephone line for XDSL communication services;
• and
• means for selectively connecting said modem to a network interlace device associated with said broadband communication channel at said customer premises;
• whereby said hand-held testing apparatus is capable of being both situated and operated exclusively at said customer premises, at the option of said user, for qualifying said customer telephone line for XDSL communication services.