Method and apparatus for transmission line testing

Abstract

A method includes applying, with a test device, a test signal to a transmission line coupled to a customer premises device. The method includes measuring, at the test device, a reflection of the test signal. The method also includes determining, at the test device, whether the transmission line supports a transmission service based on the reflection of the test signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 applying, with a test device, a test signal to a transmission line coupled to a customer premises device;   measuring, at the test device, a reflection of the test signal; and   determining, at the test device, whether the transmission line supports a transmission service based on the reflection of the test signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a result indicating whether the transmission line supports the transmission service to a service provider associated with the transmission service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating an output at the test device, the output indicative of whether the transmission line supports the transmission service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the output comprises a solid green light when the reflection of the test signal indicates that the transmission service is supported. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the output comprises a solid or blinking red light when the reflection of the test signal indicates that the transmission service is not supported. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the output comprises a light that alternates flashing green and red to indicate a possible open circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test device is a hand-held device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test signal comprises a tone. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein measuring the reflection of the test signal includes determining an amplitude of the reflection of the test signal and a phase shift of the reflection of the test signal relative to the test signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test signal comprises a pulse signal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein measuring the reflection of the test signal includes determining an amplitude of the reflection of the test signal and a delay of a particular reflection of the pulse signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the test signal is part of a transmission line test. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transmission line test includes:
 measuring background noise power in a frequency band at a connection to the transmission line;   measuring a voltage between a first conductor and a second conductor of the transmission line; and   measuring a capacitance between the first conductor and the second conductor of the transmission line.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a transmission line interface to connect to a transmission line;   a processor; and   a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including:
 applying a test signal to the transmission line, the transmission line coupled to a customer premises device; 
 measuring a reflection of the test signal; and 
 determining whether the transmission line supports a transmission service based on the reflection of the test signal. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a first indicator light to display a result that indicates whether the transmission line supports the transmission service. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a second indicator light, the second indicator light configured to indicate that the apparatus is functional. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a result that indicates whether the transmission line supports the transmission service to a service provider associated with the transmission service. 
     
     
         18 . A processor-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 applying a test signal to a transmission line coupled to a customer premises device;   measuring a reflection of the test signal; and   determining whether the transmission line supports a transmission service based on the reflection of the test signal.   
     
     
         19 . The processor-readable storage device of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a result indicating whether the transmission line supports the transmission service to a service provider associated with the transmission service. 
     
     
         20 . The processor-readable storage device of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise generating an output indicative of whether the transmission line supports the transmission service.