Simultaneous tracing of multiple phone/data cables

#The present invention relates to the field of communications and more particularly, it relates to a labor-efficient method and apparatus for tracing and identifying, in a junction facility, phone/data cables originating in a large number of different user locations throughout buildings or complexes, while in process of new installation, refurbishment and/or maintenance of communication service.

#Indoor telecommunication hookup technology has evolved to a standard practice of utilizing cables with six or eight copper wire conductors for use as three or four pairs, where each pair provides one basic phone or data line. The six or eight wires in each cable are distinctively color coded and the active conductors are connected at the user end to corresponding contacts in modular jacks, typically of a six- or eight-position type that can be equipped with up to six or eight contacts respectively.

#A simple single “phone line” or “data line” requires only one pair of conductors in the cable and one pair of contacts in a modular jack; however for purposes of easy identification between phone lines and data lines in installation, it has become a standard practice to utilize the six-conductor cable and the six-position modular jacks for phone lines, and to utilize the eight-conductor cable and the eight-position modular jacks for data lines. A small installation with two phone lines and one data line would most likely be implemented with a six-conductor cable for the phone lines, with four conductors connected to two contacts each of two six-position modular jacks, and with an eight-conductor cable for the data line, with two conductors connected to two conductors of an eight-position modular jack. Such a system could be implemented at lower material cost with a single six-conductor cable; however for minimum overall installation cost of labor plus material, the typical tradeoff results in the use of more than the possible minimum number of cables, and many of conductors in the cables may be left unutilized.

#The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a signal sender typical of a multiplicity of such senders that are deployed in phone/data line/cable tracing in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the signal sender of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an audio test signal sender 50 developed particularly for simplicity and low-cost so that large quantities of such senders can be deployed in simultaneous phone/data cable testing in accordance with the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, a custom set of 48 special senders 50 is provided. Each sender 50 delivers an audio test signal that is uniquely identifiable amongst the set of 48 senders, via two output pairs 50B′ and 50B″ connected to at least two of the contacts in each of two standard modular connectors: a six-position modular connector 50C′ and an eight-position modular connector 50C″.

#Each sender 50 is provided with a four-position range switch 50 implemented by two spst switches 58D in a “double DIP”, i.e. two switches in a dual in-line package providing four range settings (00, 01, 10, 11), and a spst ON/OFF switch 50E controlling power from on-board battery 50H.

#To practice the present invention for tracing of phone/data lines/cables from various phone/data cable outlet locations in a building or complex to a junction facility, the quantity of senders required for the outlets, up to the quantity available, typically 48, are deployed simultaneously, connected to energize each cable with an identifying signal at the various phone/data outlet locations throughout the building or complex. Then the signals are sensed at the other end of the cables in the junction facility, where each energized cable can be easily and rapidly identified for proper connection by an unassisted technician in a single session.