U.S. patent application number 11/475004 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for terminal block for readily connecting customers to any of a plurality of telecommunications service providers.
Invention is credited to John J. Korman, Russell J. Smith.
Application Number | 20070071231 11/475004 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33434675 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070071231 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Korman; John J. ; et
al. |
March 29, 2007 |
Terminal block for readily connecting customers to any of a
plurality of telecommunications service providers
Abstract
An improved terminal block includes a first connection mechanism
which, when not disabled, connects a customer to a first service
provider, a second connection mechanism which, when not disabled,
connects the customer to a second service provider, and a disabling
mechanism for disabling either the first connection mechanism or
the second connection mechanism.
Inventors: |
Korman; John J.; (Stony
Brook, NY) ; Smith; Russell J.; (Bethpage,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VERIZON;PATENT MANAGEMENT GROUP
1515 N. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 500
ARLINGTON
VA
22201-2909
US
|
Family ID: |
33434675 |
Appl. No.: |
11/475004 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09263311 |
Mar 8, 1999 |
|
|
|
11475004 |
Jun 27, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/413.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 1/028 20130101;
H04M 3/42289 20130101; H04Q 1/142 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/413.03 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/00 20060101
H04M001/00; H04M 9/00 20060101 H04M009/00 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. A terminal block for connecting a customer with any of a
plurality of telecommunications service providers, the block
including: a first connection mechanism which, when not disabled,
connects a customer to a first service provider; a second
connection mechanism which, when not disabled, connects the
customer to a second service provider; and a disabling mechanism
for disabling either the first connection mechanism or the second
connection mechanism, wherein the first and second connection
mechanisms each include normally-closed contacts, and the disabling
mechanism includes one or more insulating plugs insertable into at
least one of the normally-closed contacts, so as to disable the
first connection mechanism or the second connection mechanism or
both the first and the second connection mechanisms.
4. A terminal block for connecting a customer with any of a
plurality of telecommunications service providers, including: a
plurality of first connection mechanisms and a plurality of second
connection mechanisms; each first connection mechanism including a
first normally-closed contact in series between a first terminal
and a second terminal, and a second normally-closed contact in
series between a third terminal and a fourth terminal; each second
connection mechanism including a first normally-closed contact in
series between a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second
normally-closed contact in series between a third terminal and a
fourth terminal; and a disabling mechanism in the form of removable
insulating plugs which are insertable into any of the
normally-closed contacts such that, upon insertion, electrical
continuity between the normally-closed contacts is broken.
5. A terminal block for connecting a customer with any of a
plurality of telecommunications service providers, including: a
plurality of first connection mechanisms and a plurality of second
connection mechanisms; each first connection mechanism including a
first normally-closed contact in series between a first terminal
and a second terminal, and a second normally-closed contact in
series between a third terminal and a fourth terminal; each second
connection mechanism including a first normally-closed contact in
series between a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second
normally-closed contact in series between a third terminal and a
fourth terminal; wherein each of respective first connection
mechanisms is associated with a corresponding second connection
mechanism such that the second terminal of a respective first
connection mechanism is electrically connected to the first
terminal of a corresponding second connection mechanism, and the
fourth terminal of a respective first connection mechanism is
electrically connected to the third terminal of a corresponding
second connection mechanism.
6. The terminal block of claim 5 further including a disabling
mechanism in the form of removable insulating plugs which are
insertable into any of the normally-closed contacts such that, upon
insertion, electrical continuity between the normally-closed
contacts is broken.
7. The terminal block of claim 6 wherein each of respective pairs
of first and third terminals of first connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding incoming twisted-pair telephone lines
from a first telecommunications service provider, and each of
respective pairs of second and fourth terminals of second
connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding incoming
twisted-pair telephone lines from a second telecommunications
service provider.
8. The terminal block of claim 7 wherein each of respective pairs
of second and fourth terminals of first connection mechanisms
and/or each of respective pairs of first and third terminals of
second connection mechanisms are electrically connected to
corresponding outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines.
9. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the outgoing twisted-pair
telephone lines are routed to a customer premises.
10. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein the outgoing twisted-pair
telephone lines are routed to a customer premises through ancillary
equipment.
11. The terminal block of claim 10 wherein the ancillary equipment
is configured to provide a local loop to the customer premises.
12. The terminal block of claim 8 wherein one or more removable
insulating plugs are inserted into the first and second
normally-closed contacts so as to connect a customer with the
second telecommunications service provider, or into the third and
fourth normally-closed contacts so as to connect the customer with
the first telecommunications service provider.
13. The terminal block of claim 7 wherein each of a plurality of
first and second connection mechanisms is associated with a
corresponding set of third and fourth connection mechanisms.
14. The terminal block of claim 13 wherein each third connection
mechanism includes a first normally-closed contact in series
between a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second
normally-closed contact in series between a third terminal and a
fourth terminal, and each fourth connection mechanism includes a
first normally-closed contact in series between a first terminal
and a second terminal, and a second normally-closed contact in
series between a third terminal and a fourth terminal.
15. The terminal block of claim 14 wherein each respective third
connection mechanism is associated with a corresponding fourth
connection mechanism such that the second terminal of a respective
third connection mechanism is electrically connected to the first
terminal of a corresponding fourth connection mechanism, and the
fourth terminal of a respective third connection mechanism is
electrically connected to the third terminal of a corresponding
fourth connection mechanism.
16. The terminal block of claim 15 wherein each of respective pairs
of first and third terminals of third connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines
routed to a customer premises.
17. The terminal block of claim 15 wherein each of respective pairs
of second and fourth terminals of fourth connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines
routed to a customer premises.
18. The terminal block of claim 16 wherein each of respective pairs
of second and fourth terminals of first connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding input terminals of an ancillary
switching device including a mechanism for providing local loops on
the outgoing twisted-wire pair telephone lines.
19. The terminal block of claim 17 wherein each of respective pairs
of second and fourth terminals of first connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding input terminals of an ancillary
switching device including a mechanism for providing local loops on
the outgoing twisted-wire pair telephone lines.
20. The terminal block of claim 18 wherein each of respective pairs
of second and fourth terminals of third connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding output terminals of the ancillary
switching device.
21. The terminal block of claim 19 wherein each of respective pairs
of second and fourth terminals of third connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding output terminals of the ancillary
switching device.
22. The terminal block of claim 15 wherein each of respective pairs
of first and third terminals of third connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines
routed to a customer premises, and each of respective pairs of
second and fourth terminals of fourth connection mechanisms are
connected to corresponding outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines
routed to a customer premises.
23. The terminal block of claim 22 wherein a disabling mechanism
disables the first connection mechanism and the associated third
connection mechanism to provide access to the second service
provider, or disables the second connection mechanism and the
associated fourth connection mechanism to provide access to the
first service provider.
24. The terminal block of claim 23 wherein the disabling mechanism
includes one or more removable insulating plugs which are
insertable into any of the normally-closed contacts such that, upon
insertion, electrical continuity between the normally-closed
contacts is broken.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of prior co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/263,311, filed Mar. 8, 1999, now
abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to communications
equipment and, more specifically, to hardware for providing wired
communications connections between customers and service
providers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Presently-existing telecommunications infrastructure has
been inherited from an era where customers were not offered a
choice of landline service providers. Each geographic region of the
United States was served by a corresponding service provider
commonly referred to as a Regional Bell Operating Company, or RBOC.
Accordingly, telecommunications interconnection hardware was
originally designed with the assumption that all landline customers
in a given geographic area would be served by the same
telecommunications service provider.
[0004] More recently, the Federal Communications Commission has
opened up the wired telecommunication services marketplace to free
competition. This policy shift was not without its practical
ramifications, the most significant of which relates to the
adaptability of presently-existing interconnection hardware for use
in environments where customers are offered a selection of two or
more service providers. Although existing hardware may perform
adequately in the operational environment of a single landline
service provider, it is oftentimes woefully inadequate to meet the
needs of multiple service providers.
[0005] Another factor serving to further complicate
interconnections between customers and multiple service providers
is the current proliferation of ancillary customer premises
equipment. This equipment permits the tip/ring wire pair entering
the customer premises to be utilized for implementing one or more
ancillary functions in addition to providing access to the public
switched telephone network (PSTN) via a service provider. These
ancillary functions are provided via a local service loop, and the
ancillary equipment may therefore be equipped with a switching
mechanism for selecting either the local loop or the PSTN loop. The
local loop may be utilized for a doorbell answering system, a mass
announcement system, an emergency notification system, a fire alarm
notification system, a security system, or for various other
purposes. Since the ancillary equipment must be placed in series
(or, less commonly, in parallel) with the tip/ring lines running to
the customer premises, the use of such ancillary equipment
necessitates additional interconnections.
[0006] Refer to FIG. 1, which is an electrical schematic diagram
showing the manner in which customers may be connected to single
service providers and ancillary equipment using prior art devices
and techniques. Terminal block 100 includes a set of respective
first terminals 102, 104, 106, 108, each of which is connected to a
corresponding second terminal 118, 120, 122, 124, through a
corresponding normally-closed contact 134, 136, 138, 140. During
normal operation, contacts 134, 136, 138, and 140 remain closed.
However, for testing and diagnostic purposes, one or more of these
contacts may be temporarily opened, for example, by introducing an
insulating plug between the electrical conductors of a contact.
These insulating plugs do not remain in the contacts, and are
removed after testing is completed.
[0007] A service provider provides incoming telephone lines in the
form of tip/ring wire pairs. A tip wire 130 of a first phone line
from the service provider is connected to terminal 102 of terminal
block 100, and a ring wire 132 of this first phone line is
connected to terminal 104. Terminal 102 is connected to terminal
118 through a normally closed contact 134. Terminal 118 is
connected to a tip wire 138 which is routed to an input port of
ancillary equipment such as a doorbell answering system 170.
Terminal 104 is connected to terminal 120 through a normally closed
contact 136. Terminal 120 is connected to a ring wire 140 which is
routed to the input port of doorbell answering system 170. A tip
wire 142 and a ring wire 144 are connected to an output port of the
doorbell answering system 170.
[0008] Tip wire 142 is connected to terminal 122 of terminal block
100, and ring wire 144 is connected to terminal 124 of terminal
block 100. Terminal 122 is connected to terminal 106 via a
normally-closed contact 138, and terminal 124 is connected to
terminal 108 via a normally-closed contact 140. Terminal 106 is
connected to a tip wire 135 routed to a customer premises, and
terminal 108 is connected to a ring wire 137 routed to this
customer premises.
[0009] The doorbell answering system provides a mechanism for
selectively coupling tip wire 138 to tip wire 142 and ring wire 140
to ring wire 144 when access from the customer premises to the PSTN
is desired. However, when it is desired to furnish a local loop to
the customer premises, doorbell answering system 170 disables
coupling between tip wire 138 and tip wire 142, and also between
ring wire 140 and ring wire 144.
[0010] Although the interconnection topology of FIG. 1 is adequate
in the operational environment of a single service provider,
difficulties arise when such a topology is utilized in an
environment of multiple service providers. For example, assume that
a given customer uses Ameritech for PSTN access, but resides in an
area where PSTN access is also offered by Bell Atlantic. The
customer decides that he will discontinues his Ameritech ring
service in favor of Bell Atlantic. To implement this change, tip
wire 130 and wire 132, connected to an Ameritech switching office,
must be physically removed from terminals 102 and 104. New tip and
ring wires from a Bell Atlantic switching office must then be
attached to terminals 102 and 104.
[0011] In some alternative, operational environments, tip/ring
wires 135,137_would no longer be utilized if the customer's service
provider was changed. In these alternative environments, another
set of tip/ring wires other than wires 135, 137 would be used to
provide access to the new service provider between the customer
premises and the terminal block 100. These other tip/ring wires
would be connected to terminals 106, 108. Physically removing and
reconnecting wires to terminal block 100 in order to change service
providers is disadvantageous. First of all, most presently
available terminal blocks are not designed for repeated wire
removals and reconnections. Mechanically, the terminals are
designed for applications such that, once a wire is connected, it
will usually remain so connected for the entire lifetime of the
terminal block. With repeated wire removals and reconnections, some
or all of the terminals will experience mechanical degradations
over time, resulting in poor contact and imminent failure of the
electrical connection. Moreover, as the quality of the connection
deteriorates, its resistance to the flow of electrical current
increases. This added resistance generates heat and, under some
circumstances, may cause a fire. Even if a fire does not occur,
repairing a broken or intermittent connection is a very arduous,
labor-intensive, and time-consuming process.
[0012] Another disadvantage of physically removing and reattaching
wires is that it creates the possibility of confusion. Technicians
may inadvertently remove a wire from the wrong terminal,
inconveniencing a customer who does not expect a disruption of
service. Similarly, a technician may inadvertently connect the
wrong wire to a terminal, which, depending upon what this wire is
actually connected to, may totally deprives the customer of all
wired telecommunications service. Moreover, as a practical matter,
wiring errors are very time consuming to trace and correct in the
field.
[0013] With the current and expected proliferation of
telecommunication service providers, it is likely that customers
will be changing service providers more frequently than in years
past. Such changes will cause ever-increasing amounts of terminal
block wear-and-tear. Moreover, the opportunities for wiring errors
will also increase what is needed is an improved hardware topology
specifically adapted to environments where service providers may be
changed on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In view of the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art, it
is an object of the invention to provide a hardware mechanism for
readily changing a customer's landline telecommunications service
provider.
[0015] It is a further object of the invention to provide
interconnection techniques which do not require the rewiring of
terminal blocks in order to change a customer's landline
telecommunications service provider.
[0016] It is a still further object of the invention to provide
interconnection techniques which do not cause unnecessary wear and
tear on terminal blocks due to repeated changes in a customer's
choice of service provider.
[0017] It is yet a further object of the invention to provide
interconnection techniques for use in operational environments
where more than one service provider is available, and where the
customer is to be provided with a local telephone loop in addition
to service provider access.
[0018] It is a still further object of the invention to provide
interconnection techniques which enable technicians to identify
wiring errors via a quick visual inspection.
[0019] In accordance with the objects of the invention, an improved
terminal block is adapted to connect a customer with any one of a
plurality of telecommunications service providers, so as to permit
the customer's service provider to be changed without inserting or
removing wires from the terminal block.
[0020] Pursuant to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an
improved terminal block includes a first connection mechanism
which, when not disabled, connects a customer to a first service
provider, a second connection mechanism which, when not disabled,
connects the customer to a second service provider, and a disabling
mechanism for disabling the first connection mechanism or the
second connection mechanism.
[0021] Pursuant to a further embodiment of the invention, a
terminal block provides a plurality of first connection mechanisms
and a plurality of second connection mechanisms. Each connection
mechanism includes a first normally-closed contact in series
between a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second
normally-closed contact in series between a third terminal and a
fourth terminal. Each respective first connection mechanism is
associated with a corresponding second connection mechanism such
that the second terminal of a respective first connection mechanism
is electrically connected to the first terminal of a corresponding
second connection mechanism, and the fourth terminal of a
respective first connection mechanism is electrically connected to
the third terminal of a corresponding second connection mechanism.
Each of respective pairs of first and third terminals of the first
connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding incoming
twisted-pair telephone lines from a first telecommunications
service provider. Each of respective pairs of second and fourth
terminals of the second connection mechanisms are connected to
corresponding incoming twisted-pair telephone lines from a second
telecommunications service provider. Each of respective pairs of
second and fourth terminals of first connection mechanisms, and,
consequently, each of respective pairs of first and third terminals
of second connection mechanisms, are electrically connected to
corresponding outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines routed to a
customer premises. These telephone lines may be routed directly to
the customer premises, or routed to the customer premises through
optional ancillary equipment that may place switching devices in
series or parallel with these telephone lines. A disabling
mechanism is used to open both normally-closed contacts of the
first connection mechanism, thereby connecting a customer with the
second telecommunications service provider, or to open both
normally-closed contacts of the second connection mechanism,
thereby connecting the customer with the first telecommunications
service provider. The disabling mechanism may include one or more
insulating plugs that are insertable between one or more
normally-closed contacts.
[0022] A still further embodiment of the invention is used in the
operational environment of optional ancillary equipment. Each of a
plurality of first and second connection mechanisms is associated
with a corresponding set of third and fourth connection mechanisms.
Each third connection mechanism includes a first normally-closed
contact in series between a first terminal and a second terminal,
and a second normally-closed contact in series between a third
terminal and a fourth terminal. Each fourth connection mechanism
also includes a first normally-closed contact in series between a
first terminal and a second terminal, and a second normally-closed
contact in series between a third terminal and a fourth
terminal.
[0023] Each respective third connection mechanism is associated
with a corresponding fourth connection mechanism such that the
second terminal of a respective third connection mechanism is
electrically connected to the first terminal of a corresponding
fourth connection mechanism, and the fourth terminal of a
respective third connection mechanism is electrically connected to
the third terminal of a corresponding fourth connection mechanism.
Each of respective pairs of first and third terminals of third
connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding outgoing
twisted-pair telephone lines routed to a customer premises. Each of
respective pairs of second and fourth terminals of fourth
connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding outgoing
twisted-pair telephone lines routed to a customer premises. Each of
respective pairs of second and fourth terminals of first connection
mechanisms are connected to corresponding input terminals of
optional ancillary equipment. Each of respective pairs of second
and fourth terminals of third connection mechanisms are connected
to corresponding output terminals of this optional ancillary
equipment. A disabling mechanism disables the first connection
mechanism and the associated third connection mechanism to provide
access to the second service provider, or disables the second
connection mechanism and the associated fourth connection mechanism
to provide access to the first service provider. This disabling
mechanism may be provided in the form of removable insulating plugs
which are insertable into any of the normally-closed contacts such
that, upon insertion, electrical continuity between the
normally-closed contacts is broken.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments in conjunction with a review of the appended drawings
in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is an electrical schematic diagram showing the manner
in which customers may be connected to any of a plurality of
service providers using prior art devices and techniques.
[0026] FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic diagram showing the manner
in which customers may be connected to any of a plurality of
service providers using the techniques and devices of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] In overview, an improved terminal block is provided for
connecting a customer with any one of a plurality of
telecommunications service providers, so as to permit the
customer's service provider to be changed without inserting or
removing wires from the terminal block. Refer to FIG. 2, which is
an electrical schematic diagram showing the manner in which these
customers may be connected to any of a plurality of service
providers. Pursuant to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an
improved terminal block 200 includes a first connection mechanism
associated with a corresponding second connection mechanism. The
first connection mechanism, when not disabled, connects a customer
to a first service provider, and the second connection mechanism,
when not disabled, connects the customer to a second service
provider. A disabling mechanism is provided for disabling the first
connection mechanism and/or the second connection mechanism.
[0028] In practice, terminal block 200 may provide a plurality of
first connection mechanisms and a plurality of second connection
mechanisms, but the example of FIG. 2 shows only one pair of first
and second connection mechanisms for the sake of clarity. Each
first connection mechanism includes a first normally-closed contact
266 in series between a first terminal 202 and a second terminal
218, and a second normally-closed contact 268 in series between a
third terminal 204 and a fourth terminal 220. Each second
connection mechanism includes a first normally-closed contact 282
in series between a first terminal 234 and a second terminal 250,
and a second normally-closed contact 284 in series between a third
terminal 236 and a fourth terminal 252. Each respective first
connection mechanism is associated with a corresponding second
connection mechanism such that the second terminal 218 of a
respective first connection mechanism is electrically connected to
the first terminal 234 of a corresponding second connection
mechanism, and the fourth terminal 220 of a respective first
connection mechanism is electrically connected to the third
terminal 236 of a corresponding second connection mechanism. Each
of respective pairs of first and third terminals 202, 204 of the
first connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding incoming
twisted-pair telephone lines 130, 132 from a first
telecommunications service provider. Each of respective pairs of
second and fourth terminals 250, 252 of the second connection
mechanisms are connected to corresponding incoming twisted-pair
telephone lines 146, 148 from a second telecommunications service
provider. Each of respective pairs of second and fourth terminals
218, 220 of first connection mechanisms, and, consequently, each of
respective pairs of first and third terminals 234, 236 of second
connection mechanisms, are electrically connected-to corresponding
outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines 138, 140 routed to a customer
premises. These telephone lines 138, 140 may be routed directly to
the customer premises, or routed to the customer premises through
optional ancillary equipment that may place switching devices in
series or parallel with these telephone lines. The example of FIG.
2 uses ancillary equipment in the form of doorbell answering system
170, although the use of such ancillary equipment is optional. A
disabling mechanism is used to open both normally-closed contacts
266, 268 of the first connection mechanism, thereby connecting a
customer with the second telecommunications service provider, or to
open both normally-closed contacts 282, 284 of the second
connection mechanism, thereby connecting the customer with the
first telecommunications service provider. The disabling mechanism
may include one or more insulating plugs that are insertable
between one or more normally-closed contacts.
[0029] A still further embodiment of the invention is used in the
operational environment of optional ancillary equipment, such as
doorbell answering system 170. Each of a plurality of first and
second connection mechanisms is associated with a corresponding set
of third and fourth connection mechanisms. Each third connection
mechanism includes a first normally-closed contact 274 in series
between a first terminal 210 and a second terminal 226, and a
second normally-closed contact 276 in series between a third
terminal 212 and a fourth terminal 228. Each fourth connection
mechanism also includes a first normally-closed contact 290 in
series between a first terminal 242 and a second terminal 258, and
a second normally-closed contact 292 in series between a third
terminal 244 and a fourth terminal 260. Each respective third
connection mechanism is associated with a corresponding fourth
connection mechanism such that the second terminal 226 of a
respective third connection mechanism is electrically connected to
the first terminal 242 of a corresponding fourth connection
mechanism, and the fourth terminal 228 of a respective third
connection mechanism is electrically connected to the third
terminal 244 of a corresponding fourth connection mechanism.
[0030] Each of respective pairs of first and third terminals 210,
212 of third connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding
outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines 135, 137 routed to a customer
premises. Each of respective pairs of second and fourth terminals
258, 260 of fourth connection mechanisms are connected to
corresponding outgoing twisted-pair telephone lines routed to a
customer premises.
[0031] Typically, twisted-pair telephone lines 135, 137 and
twisted-pair telephone lines 150, 152 of a given set of associated
third and fourth connection mechanisms are routed to the same
customer premises, and each line is "owned" by a corresponding
service provider. This practice results in a situation where one of
the two twisted pairs is always inactive at any given moment in
time. However, from a technical standpoint, the same pair of wires
135, 137 could be used to carry signals from either service
provider, even though this is not "conventional" practice at the
present time. In such an alternate system, wire 135 would be
connected to terminal 210 as well as terminal 258, and wire 137
would be connected to terminal 212 as well as terminal 260,
eliminating the need for redundant wire pair 150-152. Such an
alternate system is described herein inasmuch as future regulatory
developments and changes to what is now considered common practice
are difficult to predict with accuracy.
[0032] Each of respective pairs of second and fourth terminals 218,
220 of first connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding
input terminals of optional ancillary equipment which, in the
present example, is a doorbell answering system 170. Each of
respective pairs of second and fourth terminals 226, 228 of third
connection mechanisms are connected to corresponding output
terminals of doorbell answering system 170. From a functional
standpoint, doorbell answering system 170 includes switching
devices to selectively couple wire 138 to wire 142, and to
selectively couple wire 140 to wire 144. When wire 138 is not
coupled to wire 142, and wire 140 is not coupled to wire 144,
doorbell answering system 170 provides a local loop across wires
142 and 144 to the customer premises. This local loop enables
communications between a customer and a person ringing the
customer's doorbell.
[0033] A disabling mechanism disables the first connection
mechanism and the associated third connection mechanism to provide
access to the second service provider, or disables the second
connection mechanism and the associated fourth connection mechanism
to provide access to the first service provider. This disabling
mechanism may be provided in the form of removable insulating plugs
which are insertable into any of the normally-closed contacts such
that, upon insertion, electrical continuity between the
normally-closed contacts is broken. In this manner, terminal block
200 is wired so as to permit any of a plurality of customers to be
connected to any of a plurality of service providers without the
necessity of removing and/or reconnecting wires from the terminal
block 200.
[0034] The arrangement of contacts on terminal block 200 provides a
configuration wherein diagnostics and troubleshooting may be
readily performed. Due to the fact that the contacts are organized
into a predetermined arrangement, only certain arrangements of
insulating plugs in these contacts will provide a complete
connection between a given service provider and a given set of
telephone lines routed to a customer premises. Other arrangements
of insulating plugs are erroneous, possibly resulting in a
customer's line which is actually dedicated to a first service
provider instead being connected to a second service provider. By
viewing terminal block 200, it will be easy for service personnel
to quickly identify any erroneous connections. If a first
connection mechanism is disabled with an insulating plug, its
associated third connection mechanism should also be disabled. If a
second connection mechanism is disabled with an insulating plug,
its associated fourth connection mechanism should also be disabled.
Finally, the first connection mechanism and its associated second
connection mechanism should not be enabled at the same time.
[0035] By adding additional contact sets to terminal block 200, it
is possible to connect a customer to any of three, four, or more
service providers. In the example of FIG. 2, a third service
provider may be added by adding additional first, second, third,
and fourth connection mechanisms to terminal block 200. The
additional first connection mechanism would be connected to
terminals 218, 220; the additional second connection mechanism to
terminals 234, 236, the third connection mechanism to terminals
226, 228, and the fourth connection mechanism to terminals 242,
244. As is apparent to those skilled in the art, the foregoing
principles can be applied to add any number of service providers to
terminal block 200.
* * * * *