A signal generator is disclosed that generates a test signal to be applied to a first and second wire of a subscriber line. The signal generator is configured to generate the test signal at the first and second test signal outputs in a first time section such that a first potential at the first test signal output is changed from a first value to a second value and a second potential at the second test signal output is maintained constant at least during the change of the first potential. The signal generator is further configured to generate the test signal during a second time section such that the first potential at the first output and the second potential at the second output are oscillating with a predetermined frequency.
1. A method comprising:
generating by a signal generator device a test signal to be applied between a first and second wire of a transmission line, wherein the test signal is generated between a first and second test signal output such that in a first time section a first potential at the first test signal output is changed from a first value to a second value and a second potential at the second test signal output is maintained at a constant value at least during the change of the first potential;
generating the test signal during a second time section such that the first potential at the first output and the second potential at the second output are oscillating with a predetermined frequency;
measuring at least one parameter of a line signal, the line signal resulting from applying the test signal to the transmission line; and
determining at least one line test parameter based on the at least one parameter of the line signal.
2. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein in a third time section the test signal is generated between the first and second test signal output such that the second potential at the second test signal output is changed from a third value to a fourth value and the first potential at the first test signal output is maintained at a constant value during the change of the second potential.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the third time section for a time period after the change from the third to the fourth value, the second potential at the second test signal output is provided constant at the fourth value or is oscillating around the fourth value with a predetermined first frequency.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method comprises:
measuring at least one first parameter of a line signal resulting from applying the test signal during the first time section on the subscriber line;
measuring at least one second parameter of a further line signal resulting from applying the test signal during the second time section on the subscriber line; and
selecting the at least one first parameter to be used for determining the at least one line parameter and selecting the at least one second parameter to be used for verifying the determined at least one line test parameter.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the first time section the second potential at the second test signal output is equal or close to a ground potential.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the constant value of the second potential is in absolute value equal or smaller than 15% of the absolute value of the voltage between the first and second test outputs.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first value of the first potential and the constant value of the second potential are the same.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the first time section for a time period after the change from the first to the second value, the first potential at the first test signal output is provided constant at the second value or is oscillating around the second value with a predetermined first frequency.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, during the oscillating in the third time section, the first potential and the second potential have opposed signs.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
generating in a further time section the test signal, such that the first potential at the first test output and the second potential at the second test output are at a same value; and
measuring at least one parameter of a further line signal resulting from the test signal in the further time section; and
determining the at least one line test parameter by utilizing the at least one parameter of the line signal and the at least one parameter of the further line signal.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one parameter of the line signal and the at least one parameter of the further line signal include one or more of the parameters of the group of parameters comprising:
a DC voltage between the first wire and ground,
a DC voltage between the second wire and ground,
an AC voltage between the first wire and ground,
an AC voltage between the second wire and ground,
a DC current flowing in the first wire,
a DC current flowing in the second wire
an AC current flowing in the first wire, and
an AC current flowing in the second wire.
12. A test signal generating device comprising:
a first test signal output;
a second test signal output;
a signal generator to generate a test signal to be applied to a first and second wire of a subscriber line, wherein the signal generator is configured to generate the test signal at the first and second test signal outputs in a first time section such that a first potential at the first test signal output is changed from a first value to a second value and a second potential at the second test signal output is maintained constant at least during the change of the first potential, the signal generator further configured to generate the test signal during a second time section such that the first potential at the first output and the second potential at the second output are oscillating with a predetermined frequency.
13. The device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the signal generator is configured to generate in a third time section the test signal between the first and second test signal output such that the second potential at the second test signal output is changed from a third value to a fourth value and the first potential at the first test signal output is maintained at a constant value at least during the change of the second potential.
14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the device is configured to provide the test signal such that in the third time section for a time period after the change from the third to the fourth value, the second potential at the second test signal output is provided constant at the fourth value or is oscillating around the fourth value with a predetermined first frequency.
15. The device according to claim 12 , wherein in the first time section the potential of the second test signal output is equal or close to a ground potential.
16. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the device is configured to provide the test signal such that in the first time section for a time period after the change from the first to the second value the first potential at the first test signal output is provided constant at the second value or oscillating around the second value with a predetermined first frequency.
17. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a measuring circuit, the measuring circuit being configured to
measure at least one first parameter of a line signal resulting from applying the test signal during the first time section on the subscriber line;
to measure at least one second parameter of the line signal resulting from applying the test signal during the second time section on the subscriber line; and
and to select the at least one first parameter to be used for determining at least one line parameter and selecting the at least one second parameter to be used for verifying the determined at least one line test parameter.
18. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the device is configured to:
generate the test signal in a further time section with a same potential at the first and second test outputs; and
measure at least one parameter of the line signal resulting from the test signal in the further time section; and
determine at least one line test parameter based on the at least one first parameter and the at least one parameter resulting from the test signal in the further time section.
19. The device according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one first parameter and the at least one parameter of the line signal resulting from the test signal in the further time section includes one or more of the parameters of the group of parameters comprising:
a DC voltage between the first wire and ground,
a DC voltage between the second wire and ground,
an AC voltage between the first wire and ground,
an AC voltage between the second wire and ground,
a DC current flowing in the first wire,
a DC current flowing in the second wire
an AC current flowing in the first wire, and
an AC current flowing in the second wire.
20. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the constant value is in absolute value equal or smaller than 15% of the absolute value of the voltage between the first and second test outputs.
21. A DSL system comprising:
a line test circuit, the line test circuit comprising:
a first test signal output;
a second test signal output;
a signal generator to generate a test signal to be applied to a first and second wire of a subscriber line, wherein the signal generator is configured to generate the test signal at the first and second test signal outputs in a first time section such that a first potential at the first test signal output is changed from a first value to a second value and a second potential at the second test signal output is maintained constant during the change of the first potential, the signal generator further configured to generate the test signal during a second time section such that the first potential at the first output and the second potential at the second output are oscillating with a predetermined frequency.