| 摘要 |
A communications system (801) includes a communication line (802), a plurality of user devices (803) coupled to the communication line (802), and a computer system (804) coupled to the communication line (802). The computer system (804) includes a modem (805) and a test unit (806). The modem (805) is adapted to communicate over the communication line (802) using an out-of-band data transmission protocol. The test unit (806) is adapted to determine the suitability of the communicant line (802) for use in transmitting data signals using the out-of-band data transmission protocol. The test unit (806) is adapted provide a test signal having a known relationship to the out-of-band data transmission protocol on the communication line (802), monitor a response of the communication line (802) to the test signal as influenced by the user devices (803), and output an indication of the suitability of the communication line (802) for use in transmitting data signals using the particular out-of-band data transmission protocol based on the response. A method for determining the suitability of a communication line (802) for transmitting data using an out-of-band data transmission protocol is provide. The communication line (802) has a plurality of user devices (803) attached thereto, and the method includes providing a test signal on the communication line (802) having a known relationship to the out-of-band data transmission protocol; monitoring a response of the communication line (802) to the test signal as influence by the user devices (803); determining the suitability of the communication line (802) for use in transmitting data signals using the particular out-of-band data transmission protocol based on the response; disconnecting at least one of the user devices (803) form the communication line (802); and repeating the providing, monitoring, and determining steps to determine if the at least one user device (803) disconnected from the communication line (802) is an interfering device. |
