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The basics of LMOS have been covered in part I. Part II will take a
closer look at the Mechanized Loop Testing process and its relation with LMOS.
As mentioned previously, the equipment for the MLT system is located in
or near the Central Office or End Office in which the customer loops
terminate. The MLT equipment (being a third generation of automated testing
system) is connected by test trunks through the switching system to customer
loops. The MLT controller located in the Repair Service Bureau enables tests
to be made on up to 12 local loops simultaneously, sets up the testing
sequence, and controls the connection of test equipment to the loops. To make
the appropriate tests, information in the LMOS data base(s) about the customer
loop and station equipment is transmitted to the MLT controller when the test
request is initiated. This information controls certain phases of each test
and is used to analyze and decipher test results.
On command from the MLT controller, which will now be referred to as
simply 'the Controller', the MLT system dials the number to be tested. If the
line is busy, the cause is automatically determined (a conversation, phone
off-hook, or a fault), and further tests are not made until the line is free.
If the line is idle, the MLT system proceeds to make tests for purposes of
maintenance and detection of faults in the loop.
MLT test specifics
* AC and DC (Alternating Current and Direct Current) measurements to determine
if the loop is proper for the customer's station equipment, to determine the
type and the extent of any electrical leakage through cable insulation, and to
detect broken cable pairs and the location of the break in terms of distance
from the CO where MLT is being used.
* A 'Soak Test' to see if leakage will disappear after a high voltage is
applied from the Central Office battery. The voltage dries up moisture, which
is a frequent cause of leakage.
* A Balance Check to reveal how susceptible the loop is to noise causing
voltage, which would impair conversation over the line.
* A measurement to tell whether CO battery voltage (voltage drops when the
phone goes to an off-hook condition) and dial tone can be placed on the loop.
All MLT test measurements are converted by the MLT hardware to digital
form and returned to the Controller for analysis. The analysis is based on the
test results and the line-record info from LMOS.
Here is an example of how the Automated Repair Service Bureau (ARSB)
works with the repair service attendants. A customer can't get a dial tone, so
he calls the repair service from a neighbor's phone. An attendant who answers
the call types the customer's phone number into a computer terminal. In
response to this, LMOS displays the customer's name, address, class of service
(in this case, it would be residential service), and information about any
recent trouble on that loop. At the same time, LMOS causes the MLT system to
test the loop. The CRSAB Attendant types in a description of the reported
trouble. The MLT system returns the results of the tests on the line within a
few seconds. Say, for example, the fault in question was a cable fault. This
information would be displayed on the screen. The attendant would tell the
customer that a visit is not needed, and that line will be repaired by a
certain time. The data on the screen is automatically added to the LMOS
database. A BOR is printed in the RSB serving the customer, and is screened to
decide if it should be given to a dispatcher or a tester. The content of a BOR
is explained in part one, and a diagram of a BOR is included below.
**** BASIC OUTPUT REPORT ***** PAGE- 01
UNIT-99900000 10-08-86 0300P TTN-0000110
TN-999 5557009 CAT-CD
SC-1FR CS-RES PUB CPE-NO SWC- WKNG -0-
SMITH, JOHN
1000 NOWHERE LN.
--RMKR--
--TRBL--NDT-CCO-CBC-ALL CALLS
--RCH-- REACH NBR-
COMM-10-09-86 0700P VER-4 CALLED NBR- OVER-
STATUS-PS 10-09-77 0400P
--STATUS NAR--
SO DATE 03-27-85 SO# N0901
--S/E--
QTY-0001 USOC-1FRBC KS-0000 LTD- REF-
--ASGM--
OE-000B-010-09 VT-0146 RT-0500 NSTA-0001 BRG-N NSV-N
WC-999 F1 NPA-999 CA- TT101 PR-109 PRU- BP-10
TEA-R1304 NOWHERE LN.
--HIST--
NO REPORT SUBS CLEARED TH-KEY TST RPM O/S } T } D } C }
1 10-01-85 205P 0 10-02-77 0130P 10-02-77 620P 110 111 * }330}320}320}
REPLACED INSIDE WIRE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MLT RESULTS SUMMARY: OPEN OUT, DISTANCE TO OPEN=39,200 FT
OPEN OUT
OPEN TIP
DISTANCE TO OPEN
39,200 FT (FROM C.O.)
VALID DC RESISTANCE AND VOLT
VALID LINE CKT CONFIGURATION
CAN DRAW AND BREAK DIAL TONE