Apparatus and method for testing voice systems in a telecommunication network

A telecommunication system for testing a telecommunication device comprising switching fabric including a plurality of voice paths, said telecommunication system comprising:

• an originating terminal configured to generate a test call initiation message;
• and
• a test controller configured to receive the test call initiation message from the originating terminal, the test call initiation message being directed to the test controller, to prompt the telecommunication device to allocate one of the voice paths within the telecommunication device for a test call based on the test call initiation message, and to establish a call connection for the test call between the originating terminal and a destination terminal via the allocated voice path and a packet-switched network to test the allocated voice path;
• wherein the test controller comprises a simulator configured to verify a connection to the originating terminal through a signaling connection between the test controller and the originating terminal, wherein the connection is verified by simulating a connection to the originating terminal using a test call comprising at least one voice path within the switching fabric, and
• wherein the originating terminal and the destination terminal are Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, and the test call initiation message is an INVITE message addressed to an Internet Protocol (IP) address of said test controller.

For use in a telecommunication system comprising a telecommunication device, said telecommunication device comprising switching fabric including a plurality of voice paths, a method of testing the voice paths in said telecommunication device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a test call initiation message directed to a test controller from an originating terminal;
• sending a signaling message to the telecommunication device to allocate one of the voice paths for a test call in the telecommunication device based on the test call initiation message;
• verifying a connection to the originating terminal through a signaling connection between the test controller and the originating terminal, wherein the connection is verified by simulating a connection to the originating terminal using a test call comprising at least one voice path within the switching fabric;
• establishing a connection between the originating terminal and a destination terminal for the test call through a packet-switched network using the allocated voice path;
• and
• testing the allocated voice path during the test call,
• wherein the originating terminal and the destination terminal are Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, and the test call initiation message is an INVITE message addressed to an Internet Protocol (IP) address of said test controller.