US 6,983,038 B2
Maintenance termination unit
Blake R. Urban, Lenior, N.C. (US); and Isaac D. M White, Orlando, Fla. (US)
Assigned to BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation, Wilmington, Del. (US)
Filed on Oct. 29, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/282,827.
Prior Publication US 2004/0109549 A1, Jun. 10, 2004
Int. Cl. H04M 1/24 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 379—29.11 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
communicating signals from a central office along a local loop, the local loop comprising a ring wire and a tip wire;
reversing polarity between the ring wire and the tip wire;
in response to the reversed polarity, moving a magnet to isolate a customer's wiring from the local loop; and
remotely performing a test of the local loop,
wherein the reversed polarity causes the customer's wiring to be isolated from the local loop, and the local loop may be remotely tested for trouble.