Test device for data services

A device for testing a data carrying service operating over a telecommunications line, the device comprising:

• a plurality of test circuits, each test circuit arranged to determine and test one or more characteristics of a data carrying service and providing a termination emulator to emulate a termination of said telecommunications line;
• a processor operable to control the operation of each of said plurality of test circuits;
• one or more connectors arranged to connect said telecommunications line to one or more of said plurality of test circuits;
• and
• said at least one connector providing input to a plurality of test circuits at a time, wherein said test circuits are arranged to enable said data carrying service to remain connected to said at least one connector during all of the testing operations provided by said at least one of the test circuit;
• said processor is operable to control the parallel operation of said plurality of test circuits;
• and
• said data carrying service remains connected to each said connector as each of said plurality of test circuits is operable.

A device for testing a data carrying service operating over a telecommunications line, the device comprising:

• a port for connection to the line so as to send and receive data;
• a line attenuation emulator for modifying the data in a manner to emulate an extended length of line;
• a processor;
• and
• a test circuit for testing in co-operation with the processor a data carrying service using the data sent and received via said input port.

A method of testing a data carrying service operating over a telecommunications line, the method comprising:

• testing a plurality of test circuits, each test circuit arranged to determine and test at least one characteristic of a data carrying service and providing a termination emulator to emulate a termination of said telecommunications line;
• controlling the operation of each of said plurality of test circuits;
• connecting said telecommunications line to at least one of said plurality of test circuits;
• arranging said test circuits to enable said data carrying service to remain connected during all of the testing operations provided by said at least one of the test circuits;
• wherein the connecting step comprises connecting said data carrying service telecommunications line to one test circuit at a time;
• the controlling step comprises using a processor to control the operation of a plurality of said test circuits in a predetermined sequence;
• and
• said data carrying service remains connected as each of said plurality of test circuits is operable in said predetermined sequence.

A method of testing a data carrying service operating over a telecommunications line, the method comprising:

• testing a plurality of test circuits, each test circuit arranged to determine and test at least one characteristic of a data carrying service and providing a termination emulator to emulate a termination of said telecommunications line;
• controlling the operation of each of said plurality of test circuits;
• connecting said telecommunications line to one or more of said plurality of test circuits;
• and
• providing input to a plurality of test circuits at a time;
• wherein said test circuits are arranged to enable said data carrying service to remain connected during all of the testing operations provided by one or more of the test circuits;
• said processor is operable to control the parallel operation of said plurality of said test circuits;
• and
• said data carrying service remains connected as each of said plurality of test circuits is operable.