The Human Interface to the Switched Access Remote Test System

The Switched Access Remote Test System (SARTS) is a computerbased, one-person, remote access and test system for special-service circuits.1 * The system was designed to provide the access and testing functions over a central interface located at a Special Service Center (ssc).3 SARTS is operational and is located in major cities in the U.S. (see Fig. 1). One-person remote testing by means of automated test devices is unique to SARTS and required the development of an interactive human-machine interface for control of the testing process. For the following brief explanation of the operation of SARTS, refer to Fig. 2. Craft personnel (hereafter called testers) are situated at the near-end 52A test positions, consisting of a Dataspeed® 40/4 Keyboard Display (KD), a desk and chair, and a telephone console. The KD interfaces with the minicomputer Process Controller (PC), which processes and translates into control codes the test commands the tester enters into the system via the KD. The PC sends the control codes to the Remote Test System (RTS) over a control data link. The RTS is a microprocessor-controlled test unit capable of performing tests and measurements on special-service circuits. The RTS also directly inter* A discussion of the evolution of S A R T S is given in Ref. 2. 529