Apparatus and method for automated testing of the quality of voice communications over data networks

A method comprising:

• establishing first and second phone connections between a slave test unit and a remote test unit through a digital data network, the first and second phone connections being established over first and second phone lines, respectively, each of the first and second phone lines allowing communications to and from the slave test unit over the respective phone line, and each of the first and second phone lines being connected to the digital data network so that communications transmitted between the slave test unit and the remote test unit are transmitted via packets through the digital data network and are transmitted between the digital data network and the slave test unit over the respective phone line;
• receiving electrical signals as communications by the slave test unit from the remote test unit via at least one of the first and second phone lines, the electrical signals comprising test commands;
• decoding the test commands from the electrical signals by the slave test unit;
• and
• executing the test commands by the slave test unit, said executing including the ability to generate test signals on either of the first and second phone lines, the test commands being received exclusively from the remote test unit, to thereby test voice signal quality of voice calls transmitted through the first and second phone lines and as packets through the digital data network.

An apparatus comprising:

• a slave test unit located on a phone company customer's premises and connected to a phone line via a phone jack, and connected to a digital data network via the phone line;
• and
• a remote test unit connected to the digital data network so that electrical signals are transmitted from the remote test unit to the slave test unit by traveling via packets through the digital data network and then over the phone line from the digital data network to the slave test unit, and so that electrical signals are transmitted from the slave test unit to the remote test unit by traveling from the slave test unit to the digital data network over the phone line and then via packets through the digital data network,
• wherein electrical signals transmitted from the remote test unit to the slave test unit in response to a call initiated from the remote test unit with the remote test unit positioned at an end point of the call include a test command indicating a test signal to be generated on the phone line by the slave test unit, and the slave test unit generates the test signal on the phone line in accordance with the test command, the apparatus thereby testing voice signal quality of voice calls transmitted through the phone line and as packets through the digital data network.

An apparatus comprising:

• a slave test unit located on a phone company customer's premises and connected to a phone line via a phone jack, and connected to a digital data network via the phone line;
• and
• a remote test unit connected to the digital data network so that electrical signals are transmitted from the remote test unit to the slave test unit by traveling via packets through the digital data network and then over the phone line from the digital data network to the slave test unit, and so that electrical signals are transmitted from the slave test unit to the remote test unit by traveling from the slave test unit to the digital data network over the phone line and then via packets through the digital data network, electrical signals transmitted from the remote test unit to the slave test unit in response to a call initiated from the remote test unit with the remote test unit positioned at an end point of the call including a test command indicating a test signal to be generated on the phone line by the slave test unit, and
• means for generating the test signal by the slave test unit on the phone line in accordance with the test command, to thereby test voice signal quality of voice calls transmitted through the phone line and as packets through the digital data network.