Patent ID: 7738389

Claim:
A test apparatus for use in a communication network having a plurality of cross connect apparatus, the test apparatus comprising: a first facilities access digroup (FAD) circuit that includes a port for coupling with a first communication line having multiple communication pathways, the first communication line being coupled to a first cross connect apparatus, the first communication line having a first quantity of equal bandwidth communication pathways that are dedicated for test access; and a second FAD circuit that includes a port for coupling to the first FAD circuit, the second FAD circuit to communicate with a second cross connect apparatus that is coupled to the first cross connect apparatus by a second communication line having multiple communication pathways, and the second communication line having a second quantity of equal bandwidth communication pathways that are dedicated for test access, the second FAD circuit to communicate with the second cross connect apparatus using at least one of the first quantity of equal bandwidth communication pathways; and wherein the test apparatus is controllable is to initiate a test sequence wherein the second FAD circuit initiates a test of transport circuits associated with the second cross connect apparatus.