FR2727271A1 - Telephone subscriber line test device using caller identification - Google Patents

Abstract

The test device (22) can be installed in an equipment rack at the telephone exchange or can be portable with a standard two-wire connection (50) into the network (49). The test device has a number as do all the telephone units on the network. The test device detects (52) the identification information of a caller which is transmitted between first and second rings.The identified number is stored in memory (61) and relayed by a speech synthesiser (54) to the caller, who is then asked to replaced the receiver for a call-back test. The caller identification can also be visually displayed at the test device.

Description

Headline
TELEPHONE RECALL TEST DEVICE AND METHOD
The present invention relates to methods and devices for testing telephone circuits, and in particular to a method and device for testing a public switched telephone network (PSTN) circuit in which a caller relies on caller identification information ( hereinafter referred to as "Caller ID '') available through the telephone system to perform a caller recall test.

FIG. 1 illustrates recall test devices 10, known as means for testing a circuit
PSTN. A subscriber or a telephone service agent (both hereinafter referred to as "caller"), equipped with a telephone handset 12 or a test station 14, can test the circuit when the caller's telephone number is called from another part of the circuit, known as the recall test. The recall tests make it possible to check the continuity and the functioning of the automatic lines between the telephone exchange 16 and the caller 12 or 14. They provide a relatively complete test of a circuit from the caller's communication, via the PSTN circuit , including equipment of the telephone exchange 16 capable of providing the telephone service ("OE" in the figures), and of returning to the caller's communication. The recall tests can also be performed on circuits of a private premises equipment (CPE) and, for reference, the tests of the circuits of public switched telephone networks include tests of the CPE circuits and tests of a CPE at l other.

 A recall test device is described in the specifications of US Patent No. 4,764,949.

One of the problems solved by the device described in this patent is the method by which the telephone number of the caller is obtained in order to be able to carry out the recall test. Callers, such as agents working on a telephone line with an intervention test station and telephone line installers, can ignore the telephone number associated with a particular cable they are working on. The telephone number can be obtained when the caller calls a prescribed callback access code which allows access to the callback test device 10 at the telephone exchange. Upon receipt of the callback access code, the device 10 signals a specialized long distance device 18 in the telephone exchange 16, known as the long distance circuit or outgoing circuit, and causes the transmission of a message identifying the telephone number of the caller. The number is stored in the recall test device 10 and the caller then receives an instruction asking him to leave the circuit (to hang up). When the caller is disconnected, the test device 10 sends a signal to the exchange 16, asking it to dial the stored telephone number. The test is successful if the caller's phone rings. However, this method poses certain problems, since the use of trunk circuits can be costly and these circuits may not be available for testing. In addition, the test unit is located in the exchange and is not therefore available only if it is equipped with the test device. It is desirable to have a portable recall test device, which can be used when the telephone exchange is not equipped with a test device, or to avoid the charges which may be associated with the use of the call device. someone else's test (for example the telephone company).

 It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for picking up the telephone number of a caller to perform a callback test and to provide a novel method and system for using the caller ID information to execute tests on a circuit in a telephone network.

Caller ID is a service available to subscribers in telephone systems that include the out-of-band signaling system protocol
Signal System 7 (SS7). The Caller ID service in its current embodiment provides the caller's telephone number, time of call, name of the caller and other information in a signal which is transmitted from the central office to the subscriber called during the three-second silent interval between the first and second ringing of the subscriber's telephone. Caller ID information is generally transmitted over the telephone network in standard serial binary format by a transmitter made up of a modem for frequency shift modulation (MDF). With a suitable receiver, Caller ID information can be displayed at the subscriber's called, so the caller can determine who is calling before picking up to answer the call. Subscribers can choose not to have their Caller ID information transmitted by adding a private flag (for example, the letter "P") to the Caller ID information, such as when a phone number is "not listed". . If caller ID information is not available, such as when the caller ID service is not working or when the caller is out of area (applicable to CPE caller ID systems) an out of area / unavailable indicator may appear (for example, the letter "O") instead of caller ID information.

Additional information regarding the caller ID is available in Bellcore Technical Reference TR-TSY000031, published January 3, 1990 (Bellcore, Morristown,
NJ).

 Another object is to provide a portable test device that takes advantage of calling ID services to perform tests of the telephone network, including recall tests, tests of characteristics of calling IDs, such as private and out of area indications and tests. connections to other numbers.

 Another object is to provide a telephone circuit test device in which the caller ID information is displayed on a visual display device for performing telephone circuit tests.

 The present invention includes a callback test device for testing a telephone network circuit by calling a caller's telephone, including a receiver for detecting the caller's telephone number from the caller ID information transmitted over a network. telephone when a call is made from the caller's telephone, including a voice synthesizer to announce the caller's telephone number obtained from the caller ID information, so that number can be heard by the caller .

The invention also includes a system for testing a telephone circuit comprising: a telephone circuit to be tested, said circuit having to provide caller ID information by a signal transmitted in said circuit when a caller is switched to said circuit
a calling telephone set to be selectively switched to said circuit to be tested; and
a recall test device to be selectively switched to said circuit to be tested and to test said telephone circuit by calling the caller's telephone set, said recall test device comprising,
a receiver for detecting the caller's telephone number from the caller ID information,
means for providing the detected telephone number to said calling telephone station and
means for automatically recalling the detected telephone number after providing it and after the hang-up instruction has been sent to the calling party's telephone.

The invention further comprises a method for testing a telephone circuit comprising the following steps
(a) detecting caller ID information when a caller is switched to a test device in a telephone circuit, the caller ID information including the caller's telephone number
(b) memorization of the telephone number detected by the test device
(c) automatic dialing of the telephone number stored from the test device when the caller has hung up; and
(d) voice announcement of the detected telephone number, obtained from the caller ID information, so that this number can be heard by the caller.

The invention will now be described with the aid of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an illustration of part of a typical telephone network with a call back test device at the central office
Figure 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a telephone circuit with a recall test device
Figure 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of a recall test device
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a recall test device of the present invention, installed in a central office equipment box; and
Figure 5 is an illustration of a portable recall test device.

 FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment which can include a calling station 12 or 14 connected to a telephone exchange 20 by a telephone network and a test device 22. The test device 22 can be installed in a box. telephone exchange equipment, or can be portable and connected to the telephone network by a standard telephone connection. The test device 22 is assigned to a telephone number and therefore becomes a subscriber to the telephone network. Unlike the prior art, the test device 22 does not require any special long distance facility in the central office, but takes advantage of the caller ID information available from the telephone system to obtain the caller's telephone number.

 The operation of the device begins when a call from a calling telephone set 12 or 14 arrives at the telephone number assigned to the test device 22. Once the call has been switched to device 22, the device 22 detects caller ID information, which is provided between the first and second rings. After the second ring, the device 22 picks up to allow connection to the caller's telephone set. If the device 22 has detected the caller ID information, it stores the telephone number identified in the caller ID and gives the number to the caller, using a voice synthesizer to "speak" the identified telephone number so that After the telephone number has been transmitted, the caller can be asked to hang up so that the device 22 can call the identified telephone number to execute a recall test. The device 22 calls the caller by automatically dialing the stored telephone number using the normal lines of the telephone network.

 FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the test device 22 assembled in a single unit, such as a printed circuit board 48. The device 22 can be connected to a POTS telephone network loop line (old telephone service) 49 configured for accept the caller ID; for the portable model, a 2-wire interface 50, such as an RJ-11 telephone jack, can be provided, and for installation in an equipment box, a printed circuit board connector with pins for plugs and necks, battery and ground (51 in Figure 4) can be provided. Caller ID information can be detected by a Caller ID receiver 52, such as the Bell 202, Bell 103 or Bell 212A.

A digital voice synthesizer 54 can give voice instructions to a caller and can include a voice library of phone numbers and words that can be retrieved and transmitted on command. For example, the library can have the numbers 0 through 9 and the words "entry", "password", "number", "phone", "hang up", "user" and "administrator", and the entries can be combined to form messages of appropriate length, for example up to 20 seconds. A multi-frequency decoder 56 and a multi-frequency generator 58 can be provided for conventional telephone functions. A voice frequency generator 59 can also be provided to generate other specific frequencies which can be used by an agent carrying out other tests (for example , a "working" frequency of 1200 Hz and a "resting" frequency of 2200 Hz, although such frequencies need not be limited to the voice band 4 Rhz).

 A processor 60 and a memory 61 can be provided for control and storage. The memory 61 can store the telephone number and / or a name identified by the caller ID information, as well as other information from the caller ID information that the caller can selectively retrieve. Memory 61 can also store numbers entered manually by the caller from the caller's phone, allowing him to call other phone numbers at the caller's discretion or to be used for calls. 'other tests.

A power outlet 62 can be provided to receive current from the central office (nominal voltage of 48 volts DC) or from an external source (such as 110 volts AC) for which a transformer 64 can be used to convert the external current into an appropriate voltage, such as 9 volts
CC. The device 22 can be in a central equipment box 66, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and at this end, can be configured for sliding insertion. Another solution is to place the device 22 in a container 68, illustrated in FIG. 5, which can be transported and has standard connections for an available current source (for example, conventional household current or portable generator) and a network, for example using a cable or mobile systems. The portable container 68 can operate at the place where the telephones are installed.

 In another embodiment, the caller can be equipped with a visual display device 70 (FIG. 2), such as a video screen, a printer or a data terminal, in order to display the caller ID information edited for the 'display. The test device 22 may be provided with a data terminal, such as a modem 72, to provide correctly edited caller ID information, so that the caller's telephone number, name, etc. can be displayed instead of, or in addition to, the message provided by the speech synthesizer 54. This possibility can be particularly useful when a large number of recall tests are carried out and it is desired to record these tests. The test device 22 can also be adapted to provide a menu of tests which can be displayed and / or selected using the display device 70.

 An agent using the testing device 22 can perform a large amount of testing. As noted above, the device will perform a recall test without using specialized long distance devices.

It also appears that it can be used to verify a caller ID by verifying that the caller ID provides the correct telephone number (if this number is known), or to validate distribution disruption ticket information from of an agent, relating to the subscriber's telephone number. The device can also be used to verify that the caller ID is correctly coded for unlisted phone numbers. An agent can call the test device using an unlisted number and will not receive the unlisted phone number if the calling ID information is correctly coded.

For example, a voice message may indicate that the caller ID is private coded. If the agent then wishes to carry out a recall test of an unlisted number, he can enter this number manually (the number entered manually can be stored in memory 61) and instruct the device to dial the entered number.

In addition, the device 22 can be used to verify that the caller receives the ID information correctly. This device can be ordered to provide frequencies (eg modem frequencies) that duplicate the calling ID frequencies so that the agent can run tests on the calling party's equipment to verify that it is functioning properly. The tests can also be performed using the modem 72 and the display device 70.

 During operation, access to the test device 22 can be limited by using a password. For example, when the device 22 is called, it can ask for a password by asking "enter password". The caller can enter the password (for example, a sequence of multi-frequency entries) to access the device. The password can be stored in the EEPROM 63 memory and kept in the event of a power failure. After accessing the device, the device can speak the caller's telephone number. In the event that Caller ID information has not been obtained (for example when the Caller ID service is unavailable or is out of order), the caller may be asked to enter the caller's telephone number .

Then, the device 22 can propose a menu containing other options intended for the agent. For example, the device can offer a recall test by pressing "1", a working frequency of 1200 Hz by pressing "2", a rest frequency of 2200 Hz by pressing "3", or a combination of work / rest frequency by pressing "4". If the callback option is selected, the device asks the caller to "hang up". After a predetermined period of time, for example 5 seconds, the device calls the stored number. If the number is busy, it can wait a while, such as ten seconds, and then calls again. If the caller's phone is not busy, the device can wait for a set number of rings or a period of time. defined, for example 5 rings or 30 seconds, before stopping its attempts and ending the recall test. In another option, the caller can manually enter the phone number of another phone to perform a callback test on that phone.

 A device and a method for testing a telephone circuit in which the caller benefits from the caller ID information available to perform a callback test, the device is accessible to a caller who may not know the telephone number of the extension from which he calls when the caller makes a call from a phone number assigned to the device. When the caller accesses the test device, the latter detects the caller identification available between the first and the second ring to identify the caller's telephone number and answers the call after the second ring. The test device presents the phone number to the caller. Caller ID information can be edited for display on the test device and allows visual display.

Claims (12)

 1. Callback test device for testing a telephone network circuit by calling a telephone station of the caller, comprising a receiver for detecting the telephone number of the caller from caller ID information transmitted in a telephone network when a call is made from the caller's phone, including a voice synthesizer to announce the caller's phone number obtained from the caller ID information, so that a caller can hear the caller's phone number appellant.  2. Device according to claim 1, comprising a memory for storing the telephone number of the caller obtained from the caller ID information and means for calling the stored telephone number when the caller hangs up to execute a callback test .  3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a modem for obtaining information Caller IDs edited to allow visual display, wherein said receiver detects the identity of the caller in the Caller ID information.  4. System for testing a telephone circuit comprising  a telephone circuit to be tested, said circuit having to supply the caller ID information by a signal transmitted in said circuit when a caller is switched to said circuit  a calling telephone set to be selectively switched to said circuit to be tested; and  a recall test device to be selectively switched to said circuit to be tested and intended for testing said telephone circuit by calling the telephone set of the caller, said recall test device comprising,  a receiver for detecting the caller's telephone number from the caller ID information,  means for providing the detected telephone number to said calling telephone station and  means for automatically recalling the detected telephone number after providing it and after the hang-up instruction has been sent to the calling party's telephone.  5. The system of claim 4, wherein said caller's telephone comprises a test station allowing an agent to intervene and said receiver comprising a modem for frequency shift modulation (MDF) receiver.  6 The system of claim 4 or 5, wherein said recall test device further comprises means for installing said recall test device in a telephone exchange, and comprises in said recall test device an outlet for receiving and converting current from an available source to nine volts Cc.  7. The system of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said recall test device further comprises an EEPROM memory for storing a password allowing access to said recall test device, with a data terminal to provide the Caller ID information in a format for visual display and having a voice synthesizer for announcing Caller ID information.  8. Device for testing a telephone circuit comprising  means for obtaining the telephone number of the caller from the caller ID information available from a telephone device when the caller is switched to the telephone circuit  storage means for storing the telephone number of the caller obtained from the caller ID information  means for requesting the caller to disconnect from the circuit when the caller's telephone number has been stored; and  means for automatically calling the stored telephone number from the device when the caller is disconnected from the circuit, so that a caller call number recall test can be performed, and said means for obtaining the number telephone including a modem receiver (MDF).  9. Method for testing a telephone circuit comprising the following steps  (a) detecting caller ID information when a caller is switched to a test device in a telephone circuit, the caller ID information including the caller's telephone number  (b) memorization of the telephone number detected by the test device  (c) automatic dialing of the telephone number stored from the test device when the caller hangs up; and  (d) voice announcement of the detected telephone number, obtained from the caller ID information, so that the caller can hear the detected telephone number.  The method of claim 9, including the step of selectively providing, from the test device, a work or rest frequency, or both, to test the caller's telephone, and comprising further, the step of providing the test device with a connection to a power source and a connection to the telephone circuit, so that the test device can be transported.  11. Method for testing a telephone circuit comprising the following steps  (a) call from a calling telephone in a telephone network from a telephone number assigned to a test device in the telephone network  (b) detection at the test device of the telephone number in the caller ID information provided by the telephone network when the test device is switched to the caller's telephone  (c) storage of the detected telephone number at the level of the test device  (d) indication of the detected telephone number to the caller  (e) ask the caller to hang up when the detected telephone number has been stored; and  (f) calling the stored telephone number from the test device; and  (g) use of the caller's telephone as a test station allowing the intervention of an agent.  The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of requesting the caller to enter a password before the step of indicating the detected telephone number, wherein the step of indicating the number detected phone number to caller is limited to caller phone numbers that are not privately encrypted, and detected phone number transmitted to caller is limited to caller phone numbers that are not not coded out of zone, consequently the manual entry of a telephone number of a second extension to store it in the test device and then, the call of the second telephone number memorized to execute a recall test of the second telephone, and the step of editing the telephone number detected for the visual display.