APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE IN MAINTENANCE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

摘要

A status report of equipment in a telecommunications network is transmitted automatically from the equipment to the network maintenance center. The status report includes information such as the serial number of the equipment and its location. Based on such a status report, the network maintenance center can keep up-to-date records of where equipment is located, how the equipment is interconnected with other components, and whether that equipment is functioning correctly. Furthermore, a portable test device can be used by a maintenance person to read the status report transmitted on the line and thereby determine the end points of any transmission line.