Patent ID: 6738455
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
An apparatus for testing subscriber terminals connected to an access network device in a telecommunications system where a local exchange is connected to the access network device via a first link, the apparatus comprising:(a) subscriber test control means for controlling a process of a subscriber test by sending related test parameters and identification data to be used to identify a target subscriber terminal to be tested; (b) subscriber data control means, coupled to said subscriber test means, local exchange and access network device for controlling data concerning the subscriber terminals, comprising: (b1) subscriber data management means for collecting subscriber data about the subscriber terminals connected to the access network device and centrally managing the collected subscriber data in a subscriber data cross-reference table, and (b2) target subscriber determination means, coupled to said subscriber test control means and subscriber data management means and responsive to the identification data sent from said subscriber test control means, for identifying the target subscriber terminal by using the received identification data in searching the subscriber data cross-reference table being managed by said subscriber data management means; (c) subscriber test execution means, disposed in the access network device, for receiving the test parameters from said subscriber data control means and running the subscriber test according to the received test parameters; and (d) a second link conveying the test parameters from said subscriber data control means to said subscriber test execution means in the access network device, said second link being physically separate from the first link; wherein: the subscriber data is divided into first data items residing only in the local exchange, second data items residing only in the access network device, and third data items residing in both the local exchange and access network device, the subscriber data cross-reference table associates the first data items with the second data items by using the third data items as common key information thereof, said subscriber data management means collects the second data items from the access network device through said second link, and the second data items include slot identifiers of individual subscriber line cards (SLCs) that are installed in the access network device to interface with the subscriber terminals.