Graphic user interface method and apparatus for testing a customer services terminal and a plurality of telephone lines that are connected thereto

1. A telecommunications system comprising:

a telephone exchange;

a customer services terminal located at the premises of a telecommunications user;

said customer services terminal having an input connected to said telephone exchange;

said customer services terminal providing output telecommunications services to a plurality of telephone lines that connected to a plurality of telephone terminals and/or data terminals that are located at said premises;

a plurality of components within said customer services terminal;

individually ones of said plurality of components being connected to individual ones of said plurality of telephone lines;

a communications interface at said customer services terminal;

at least one computer connected to said communications interface;

a graphic user interface operable at said at least one computer for enabling self-testing of selected ones of said plurality of components within said customer services terminal and/or loop-testing of selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines;

a first field within said graphic user interface enabling selection of telephone lines and/or components within said customer services terminal;

a drop-down menu within said graphic user interface enabling selection of loop-tests and/or self-test to be run relative to selected telephone lines and/or components within said customer services terminal;

an apply field within said graphic user interface operable to apply selected loop-tests to selected telephone lines and/or selected self-tests to selected components within said customer services terminal; and

a results field within said graphic user interface whereby test results are reported.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein when said apply field is rendered operative to apply said selected self-tests to components within said customer services terminal, and/or to apply selected loop-tests to said selected telephone lines, as a remainder of said components within said customer services terminal and a remainder of said telephone lines remain operative to supply telecommunications service to said premises.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein at least one computer includes a computer located at said premises and/or a computer located at said telephone exchange.

4. The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein said communications interface is a web server.

5. In a telecommunications system for providing telecommunications services between a telephone exchange and a location that includes a plurality of telephone lines that connect to telephones and/or data devices that service said location, a customer services terminal comprising:

an input connected to said telephone exchange;

a plurality of outputs individually connected to said plurality of telephone lines;

a plurality of telephone line service components individually connected to one of said plurality of outputs;

a communications interface for connection to a computer;

a graphic user interface within said communications interface;

a selection field within said graphic user interface enabling selection of one or more of said plurality of outputs;

a drop-down menu within said graphic user interface enabling selection of loop-tests to be run on telephone lines that are connected to selected outputs, and/or enabling selection of self-tests to be run on telephone line service components that are associated with said selected outputs;

an apply field within said graphic user interface operable to apply selected loop tests to telephone lines associated with selected outputs, and/or to apply selected self-tests to telephone line service components associated with selected outputs; and

a results field within said graphic user interface for reporting results of said selected loop tests and/or said selected self-tests.

6. The customer services terminal of claim 5 wherein when said selected self-tests are applied to telephone line service components associated with said selected outputs, and/or when said selected loop tests are applied to telephone lines associated with said selected outputs, a remainder of said outputs remain operative to supply telecommunications service to said location.

7. The customer services terminal of claim 5 wherein said communications interface is a web server.

8. In a telecommunications system wherein a customer services terminal is connected between a telephone exchange and a location having a plurality of telephone lines that connect to telecommunications devices at said location, a method of testing said customer services terminal and/or said telephone lines, comprising the steps of:

providing a communications interface within said customer services terminal;

providing a graphic user interface within said communications interface for enabling the selection of self-test to be applied to selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or for enabling the selection of loop test to be applied to selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines; and

applying selected self-tests to said selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or applying selected loop tests to said selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines as a remainder of said portions of said customer services terminal and a remainder of said plurality of telephone lines remain operative to supply telecommunications services to said location.

9. The method of claim 8 including the step of:

providing that said graphic user interface includes a visual field for reporting results of said selected self-tests and/or said selected loop tests.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said communications interface is a web server.

11. A telecommunications system comprising:

a customer services terminal having an input connected to a telephone exchange and having a plurality of outputs connected to a plurality of telephone lines that connect to telephones and/or data devices that are located at a user location;

a communications interface within said customer services terminal;

graphic user interface code within said communications interface for enabling the selection of self-test to be applied to selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or for enabling the selection of loop test to be applied to selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines;

selected self-tests being applied to selected portions of said customer services terminal, and/or selected loop tests being applied to selected ones of said plurality of telephone lines, as a remainder of said customer services terminal and/or a remainder of said plurality of telephone lines remain operative to supply telecommunications services to said user location;

said graphic user interface code including a visual field for reporting results of said selected self-tests and/or said selected loop tests; and

a computer at said user location, and/or at said telephone exchange operable to enable said graphic user interface code.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 11 wherein said communications interface is a web server.

13. A customer services terminal for use in providing telecommunications service to a telecommunications user, the customer services terminal having:

an input for connection to a telephone exchange;

a plurality of telephone line outputs for individual connection to a plurality of external telephone lines that provide service to a plurality of devices used by said telecommunications user;

a plurality of telephone line service components;

individual ones of said plurality of telephone line service components being connected intermediate said input and individual ones of said plurality of telephone line outputs;

a communications interface;

an output/input connected to said communications interface for connection to a computer;

a graphic user interface within said communication interface for selectively enabling self-testing of selected ones of said plurality of telephone line service components;

a first field within said graphic user interface enabling selection of one or more of said telephone line service components;

a drop-down menu within said graphic user interface enabling the selection of one or more self-tests;

an apply field within said graphic user interface operable to apply selected self-tests to selected telephone line service components as a remainder of said telephone line service components remain operative;

a results field within said graphic user interface whereby self-test results are reported;

said graphic user interface additionally enabling loop testing of certain ones of said plurality of external telephone lines that connect to individual ones of said plurality of telephone line outputs;

said first field additionally enabling selection of one or more of said external telephone lines;

said drop-down menu additionally enabling the selection of one or more loop tests;

said apply field additionally operable to apply selected loop tests to selected external telephone lines as a remainder of said external telephone lines remain operative; and

said results field additionally reporting loop test results.