Systems and methods for determining the status of telephone lines
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for detecting a status of a telephone line. Some of the systems include a telecommunications system which comprises a dial tone tester integrated with a demarcation device. Such dial tone testers can include a visual device or an audible device indicative of line status. Various methods are also described for detecting the status of a telephone line. Such methods can include receiving a response originating from a customer premises, viewing a demarcation device located at the customer premises, and determining line status from a dial tone tester integrated with the demarcation device.
1. A system for determining a status of telephone service at a demarcation point, the system comprising:
a demarcation device associated with a customer premises;
a dial tone tester integrated with the demarcation device, wherein the integrated dial tone tester includes a visual device, including at least two LEDs, configured to indicate reversed polarity on at least one of a plurality of telephone lines;
a signal carrier extending from the demarcation device; and
a connection interface coupled with the signal carrier and operable for attachment to a plurality of inside wiring, wherein the connection interface provides for coupling of the demarcation device with a plurality of customer premises equipment.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dial tone tester comprises:
a voltage dividing circuit, wherein the voltage dividing circuit accepts a signal-in voltage and provides a signal-out voltage.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the visual device is activated when a threshold voltage on the telephone line is greater than forty-three volts.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the visual device is deactivated when a threshold voltage on the telephone line is less than forty-four volts.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dial tone tester comprises an audible device.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the dial tone tester is operable to audibly indicate the status of the telephone line.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the audible device indicates an active status of the telephone line.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the audible device is activated when a threshold voltage on the telephone line is greater than forty-three volts.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the audible device is deactivated when a threshold voltage on the telephone line is less than forty-four volts.
10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the audible device is a piezoelectric buzzer.
11. A demarcation device, comprising:
an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit accepts upstream voltage and provides downstream voltage;
a connection operable to couple the upstream voltage with a telecommunications network;
a connection interface operable to couple the downstream voltage with a plurality of customer premises equipment;
a first circuit for communicating information between the integrated circuit and the telecommunications network via the upstream voltage;
a second circuit for communicating information between the integrated circuit and the customer premises equipment via the downstream voltage; and
an integrated dial tone tester, wherein the integrated dial tone tester includes a visual indicator, including at least two LEDs, configured to indicate reversed polarity on at least one of a plurality of telephone lines.
12. A method for detecting line status within a customer premises, the steps comprising:
detecting an absence of a dial tone of a telephone line;
viewing a demarcation device located at a demarcation location on the customer premises, wherein the demarcation device is integrated with a dial tone tester and is connected to a connection interface, and wherein the dial tone tester includes a visual indicator, including at least two LEDs, configured to indicate reversed polarity on at least one of a plurality of telephone lines;
determining a status from the dial tone tester;
disconnecting one of a plurality of inside wiring from the connection interface; and
determining the line status within the customer premises or outside of the customer premises.
13. A method for detecting line status within a customer premises, the steps comprising:
receiving an inquiry originating from a customer premises;
sending a signal to a demarcation device located at the customer premises, wherein the demarcation device is integrated with a dial tone tester and is connected to a connection interface providing for coupling of the demarcation device with a plurality of inside wiring, and wherein the dial tone tester includes a visual indicator, including at least two LEDs, configured to indicate reversed polarity on at least one of a plurality of telephone lines; and
receiving a response originating from the customer premises, wherein the response indicates a status of the dial tone tester.