Device and method for managing fault detection and fault isolation in voice and data networks

A method for fault detection in a network, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an intelligent data concentrator coupled to a network, said intelligent data concentrator comprising a housing having a first surface and a second surface and configured to be mounted substantially within a cavity in a wall in such a way that the first surface is internal to the wall and the second surface is external the cavity and substantially planar with the wall, said housing further comprising;
• a first interface at the first surface operable to physically couple to a dedicated drop of network cabling terminating within the wall and to communicatively couple said intelligent data concentrator to said network, said network having a head end, wherein said head end is a central control site at operable to remotely access said intelligent data concentrator over said network;
• a second interface at the second surface comprising a plurality of communication ports for communicatively coupling said intelligent data concentrator to a plurality of client devices at said plurality of communication ports such that said client devices are communicatively coupled to said network;
• means for processing and interpreting data internal to the housing and coupled to said first interface;
• and
• fault detection means internal to the housing and coupled to said means for processing and interpreting data, said fault detection means operable to identify, based on a physical location of the housing and communications from the head end, a physical location of a fault in the network;
• b) monitoring said network for a fault by said intelligent data concentrator and said head end, such that said intelligent data concentrator and said head end operate in conjunction to identify a physical location of the fault.