Patent ID: 7190677

Claim:
A test apparatus for use in a communication network having a plurality of cross connect apparatus, the test apparatus comprising: a first FAD (Facility Access Digroup) circuit coupled with a first communication line that is 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 coupled to the first FAD circuit, the second FAD circuit communicating with a second cross connect apparatus that is coupled to the first cross connect apparatus by a second communication line having a second quantity of equal bandwidth communication pathways that are dedicated for test access, wherein the second quantity is less than the first quantity, the second FAD circuit communicating with the second cross connect apparatus using some of the first quantity of equal bandwidth communication pathways; and the test apparatus initiates a test sequence enables the second FAD circuit initiates a test of transport circuits associated with said second cross connect apparatus.