Patent ID: 7734363
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of delivering span power by way of a plurality of telecommunication wireline segments to respective ones of a plurality of remote telecommunication terminals, said method comprising the steps of: (a) coupling said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments to a span power bus, so that span power is coupled from said span power bus to said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments; (b) coupling respective ones of said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments to respective ones of said plurality of remote telecommunication terminals, so that said span power is delivered by said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments to said respective ones of said plurality of remote telecommunication terminals; (c) coupling respective ones of said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments to respective ones of a plurality of ground fault detection and isolation circuits, a respective ground fault being capable of causing electrical current in excess of normal load current to flow in a remote telecommunication terminal that is connected to the respective telecommunication wireline segment in which the ground fault has occurred, and causing a reduction in said span power to a level that prevents proper operation of a remote telecommunication terminal that is coupled to a telecommunication wireline segment in which no ground fault has occurred; (d) causing said ground fault detection and isolation circuits to monitor said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments for the occurrence of a ground fault therein; and (e) in response to a ground fault detection and isolation circuit detecting, in step (d), the occurrence of a ground fault in an associated telecommunication wireline segment to which said ground fault detection and isolation circuit is coupled, causing said ground fault detection and isolation circuit to decouple and isolate said associated telecommunication wireline segment from said span power bus, so as to prevent said reduction in said span power being delivered by others of said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments, in which no ground fault has been detected as having occurred, to remote telecommunication terminals coupled thereto, thereby preventing misoperation of said remote telecommunication terminals coupled to said others of said plurality of telecommunication wireline segments.