Abstract:
A method and system for coupling a second wire pair to a communications service are disclosed. The system includes a first connector for receiving an electrical connection to a first wire pair. The first wire pair provides a communication service to a customer location. The system also includes a second connector for receiving an electrical connection to a second wire pair. The system also includes a circuit coupling the first connector to the second connector. Connecting the first connector to the first wire pair and connecting the second connector to the second wire pair activates the communication service on the second wire pair.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/904,842 entitled, “Quick Shift Jack Panel” filed Dec. 1, 2004, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/945,057 entitled, “Quick Shift Jack Panel” filed Aug. 31, 2001, both of which are incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to telephone circuits, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for shifting a cable pair on a main distribution frame.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In order to redirect communication signals and/or services from a first terminal to a second terminal within a telephone circuit, a cable pair shift is required. Typically, using existing techniques, in order to perform a cable pair shift, a pair of wires that terminate on one cable pair location are disconnected at that location and reconnected at a new location. Both the old cable pair location and the new cable pair location are located within a main distribution frame (MDF). Often, the shift of a cable pair includes hard wiring a new jumper from a central office equipment location on a horizontal side of the MDF to a new protector head location on a vertical side of the MDF. In so doing, a technician shifts service equipment for a customer from the original cable pair to the new cable pair. Frequently, the technician must wait for access to the MDF in order to perform the cable pair shift and verify that the circuit is operating properly.  
         [0004]     The cable pair shift is typically performed by an internal service provider technician and an external technician. The internal service provider technician has access to both the horizontal side and the vertical side of the MDF, and the external technician has access only to the vertical side of the MDF. In any event, frequently the external technicians do not have access to special tools, which are required to perform the transfer. Some of the special tools include: wire wrap guns, pushdown tools, and soldering irons among others. Often, such tools are stored in a locked location where access is difficult. Also, contractual obligations may prohibit the external technician from performing any work on the horizontal side of the MDF. As is evident, considerable time can be wasted in performing the cable pair shift. As a result, customer service is delayed, and customer satisfaction is effected.  
         [0005]     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for shifting a cable pair to decrease downtime and costs involved in shifting a cable pair and increase customer satisfaction. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0006]     For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be had to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying figures and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a telephone network wherein the cable pair shifting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may be used to advantage;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a main distribution frame having a cable pair shifting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a quick shift jack panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the quick shift jack panel of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the quick shift jack panel of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an example of a connecting diagram of the quick shift jack panel of  FIG. 3A  and two test cords according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a schematic wiring diagram of a quick shift jack panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a logic flow diagram of one method of shifting a cable pair on a main distribution frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     In the following description the terms “OLD” and “NEW” are used to describe an original location or connection and an updated location or connection, respectively. They may also be used to refer to a component that is connected to an original or updated location or connection. The terms “OLD” and “NEW” do not in anyway describe the age of a connection or component. The following description is of a method and apparatus for shifting of a cable pair on a main distribution frame. A cable pair shifting system for shifting a cable pair from an “old” cable pair location to a “new” cable pair location and a method for doing the same are provided including a quick shift jack panel (jack panel). The jack panel includes an “old” pair of connections electrically coupled to a “new” pair of connections. A first test cord has a first “old” end for electrically coupling to the “old” pair of connections and a second “old” end for electrically coupling to the “old” cable pair location. A second test cord has a first “new” end for electrically coupling to the “new” pair of connections and a second “new” end for electrically coupling to the “new” cable pair location. The quick shift jack panel in combination with the first test cord and the second test cord, shift the cable pair from the “old” cable pair location to the “new” cable pair location.  
         [0016]     While the present invention is described with respect to a method and apparatus for shifting of a cable pair on a main distribution frame, the present invention may be adapted to be used for various purposes and applications including: telephone networks, telephone circuits, communication systems, or other applications, which may require shifting of cable pairs.  
         [0017]     In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for one constructed embodiment. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a schematic view of a telephone network  10  implementing a cable pair shifting system  12  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A central office  14  receives and transmits communication signals to and from a customer premises  16  via a main distribution frame (MDF)  18 . The customer premises  16  may be a residential or commercial customer, either of which may have specific and different service needs. A cable pair  20  enables the connection between a customer  22  and the MDF  18 . Hundreds or thousands of cable pairs  24  may be connected to the MDF  18 . Not only do cable pairs exist and correspond to current customers but also other additional cable pairs may exist as spares. The spare cable pairs may be used when new customers come online, existing customers change their existing services or phone numbers, or when used existing cable pairs are providing a deteriorated signal.  
         [0019]     A cable pair  20  originates at a terminal  26 , is passed through a station protector  28 , and is connected to a servicing terminal  30 . The servicing terminal  30  may be located on a telephone pole  32  as shown or at ground level service box for underground communication systems. From the servicing terminal  30  the cable pair  20  communicates with the central office  14  containing the MDF  18  by way of a corresponding cable pair. The quick shift system  12  is attached to the MDF  18  and is used within the MDF  18  as to allow for an easy and quick shifting of any of the cable pairs  24 .  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram of an MDF  18  having a system  12  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The MDF  18  has a horizontal side  50  and a vertical side  52 .  
         [0021]     The horizontal side  50  contains original equipment  54  and special services equipment  56 . This equipment  54  and  56  is typically only accessible by an internal service provider technician. The original equipment  54  is used for establishing a dial tone on the customer&#39;s cable pair  20 . The special services equipment  56  supplies various other services including: data services, Internet service, T1 lines, DSL lines, and various other communication services.  
         [0022]     The vertical side  52  contains the cable pairs  24 , protector head(s)  58 , and the system  12 . The cable pairs  24  are attached to a protector head  58 .  
         [0023]     The protector heads  58  may be of various type including: C-type, Porta-type, 300-type, 303-type, or other various types known in the art. Each protector head  58  may have hundreds of cable pair connections. Protector heads  58  provide fuse-like protectors for each respective cable pair.  
         [0024]     Typically when a service is provided to a customer, a jumper  60  is hard-wired from a protector head containing the respective customer&#39;s cable pair to a switch (not shown) contained within the originating equipment  54  or the special services equipment  56 . An internal service provider technician connects one end of the jumper  60  to the originating equipment  54  or the special services equipment  56 , and an external technician connects the other end of the jumper to a location on a protector head  62  corresponding to that customer.  
         [0025]     System  12  of the present invention allows the external technician to provide the service to the customer quickly and easily, without having to hard-wire a jumper, until a hard-wire connection is made. The system  12  includes one or more jack panels  64  that are electrically connected together by connecting cables  65  and at least two test cords  66 .  
         [0026]     The following example illustrates how the system  12  is arranged and connected on the MDF  18 . When a customer is changed from one cable pair  20  to another cable pair  68 , as shown, a first test cord  70  is plugged into an “old” protector head  72  and a first jack panel  74 . A second test cord  76  is plugged into a second jack panel  78  and a “new” protector head  80 . The service to the customer is provided through the existing jumper  60 , the first test cord  70 , the first jack panel  74 , a connecting cable  82 , the second jack panel  78 , and the second test cord  76 . This arrangement remains in place until a technician service is dispatched to hard-wire a “new” jumper (shown as hidden line  84 ) directly from the service equipment  56  to the “new” protector head  80 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5  a side view, a rear view, and a front view of the jack panel(s)  64  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are shown, respectively. The panel includes “IN” and “OUT” receptacles  100  for the connecting cables  65 , which are used to wire the panels in parallel. Although, the jack panel  64  as shown has various mounting brackets  102  for attaching the jack panels  64  to the vertical side  52 , other attachment mechanisms known in the art may be used. The jack panel  64  has multiple external connections  104 , which correspond with oscillator ports  108  and auxiliary ports  110 . The external connections  104  also include power connections  112  for supplying power to “OLD” lamps  114  and “NEW” lamps  116 , as best shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0028]     Although, the jack panel  64  is shown as having four shift shoes  106 , it may contain any number of shift shoes. The shift shoes  106  are used for creating a temporary jump between an “old” cable pair and a “new” cable pair. Each shift shoe  106  contains a pair of “OLD” connections  118  and a pair of “NEW” connections  120 . The connections  118  and  120  may be ports as shown or other connector styles known in the art.  
         [0029]     The oscillator ports  108  are used to determine continuity and suitability of cable pairs. Certain services require a certain gauge wire or length of wire. The oscillator ports  108  aid in determining whether an existing cable pair is suitable for such a service. The oscillator port  108  may be a low tone sequencing oscillator connection or a high tone sequencing oscillator connection for determining suitability for different services. The auxiliary ports  108  are available as spare ports, which may be used as oscillator ports or for other related purposes.  
         [0030]     All connections of the present invention may be of various styles including: contacts, ports, connectors, jacks, receptacles, or other styles known in the art.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an example of a connecting diagram of the jack panel  64  and the test cords  70  and  76  of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A single jack panel  64  in combination with the first test cord  70  and the second test cord  76  may be used to shift a customer from a first cable pair to a second cable pair.  
         [0032]     A first “old” end  150  of the first test cord  70  is plugged into the “old” pair of connections  118 , and the second “old” end  152  is plugged into an “old” cable pair location on the “old” protector head  72 . A first “new” end  154  of the second test cord  76  is plugged into the first “new” pair of connections  120 , and a second “new” end  156  is plugged into a “new” cable pair location on either the “old” protector head or a “new” protector head. Although, the first “old” end  150  and the first “new” end  154  are shown as having long sleeves  158  and tips  160 , and the second “old” end  152  and the second “new” end  156  are shown as having pins  162 , other connector ends known in the art may be used. The other connector ends may be of various size, shape, and style, as long as they have corresponding connections in their respective jack panels. The long sleeves  158  when plugged into the first “old” pair of connections  118  and the first “new” pair of connections  120  provide a connection between two contacts so as to illuminate an “OLD” lamp  164  and a “NEW” lamp  166 . The “old” lamp  164  and the “new” lamp  166  allow a technician to determine when the first “old” end  150  and the first “new” end  154  are plugged into the first “old” pair of connections  118  and the first “new” pair of connections  120 .  
         [0033]     Plugging the test cords  70  and  76  into respective ports  118  and  120  is one example of an attachment, depending on the test cords and connections. Other methods of attaching the test cords to the connections may be used, which will be apparent to one of skill in the art. These may include plugging, press fitting, snapping, wrapping, twisting, or clipping a test cord end to a port, receptacle, or other receiving style connector.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a wiring diagram of a quick shift jack panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The first jack panel  74  is wired in parallel to the second jack panel  78 , by the connecting cable  82  represented by ring  200 . The first “old” end  150  is plugged into the first “old” pair of connections  118  and the second “new” end  154  is plugged into a second “new” pair of connections  120 , as described above. A standard connector configuration used in industry for the second “old” end  152  and the second “new” end  156  is shown. The second “old” end  152  has short-pins  202  and the second “new” end  156  has long pins  204 . Short pins  202  on the second “old” end  152  are cross-wired through the test cords  70  and  76  and jack panels  74  and  78  to the long pins  204  on the second “new” end  156 . The cross-wire connection through the jack panels  74  and  78  from the first “old” pair of connections  118  to the first “new” pair of connections  120  is represented by tip wire  206  and ring wire  208 .  
         [0035]     Multiple jack panels may be daisy-chained together using the connecting cables  65 . Other adjacent connecting cables that are attached to jack panels  74  and  78  are represented by arrows  210 . When multiple jack panels are used, they may be mounted at regular or irregular intervals as needed within a MDF. By mounting multiple jack panels at various intervals, connections may be created between “old” locations and “new” locations without long jumpers or test cords.  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a logic flow diagram illustrating one method of shifting a cable pair on a MDF having a cable pair shifting system, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown.  
         [0037]     In step  220 , a first end of an “old” test cord is connected to an “old” location. The “old” location being the location on an “old” protector head where an existing jumper is attached.  
         [0038]     In step  222 , a second end of the “old” test cord is connected to a pair of “old” connections on a first jack panel.  
         [0039]     In step  224 , a first end of a “new” test cord is connected to a “new” location on either the “old” protector head or a “new” protector head.  
         [0040]     In step  226 , a second end of a “new” test cord is connected to a pair of “new” connections on the first jack panel or a second jack panel. This method allows for quick and easy cable pair shifting without the need for tools.  
         [0041]     The present invention provides an easy, time-efficient system and method for shifting a cable pair within a telephone network. The present invention allows for nearly immediate service updates without delays due to lack of access to portions of an MDF or authorization to perform a cable pair shift. The present invention also provides technicians with more time to hard-wire a “new” jumper by providing a temporary connection between an “old” location and a “new” location. The present invention also provides a device for shifting between cable pairs that are located many feet apart without use of long, cumbersome and expensive test cords.  
         [0042]     The above-described apparatus, to one skilled in the art, is capable of being adapted for various purposes and is not limited to the following systems: telephone networks, telephone circuits, communication networks, or other applications that may require shifting of cable pairs. The above-described invention may also be varied without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention as contemplated by the following claims.