Automatic detection of a telecommunications fractional channel configuration

A method of detecting fractional channels in a telecommunications circuit. A non-idle data rate is measured (200) for each channel (102) in the telecommunications circuit. Channels having matching non-idle data rates are grouped (204) into sets. Non-idle data rates are measured again (206) for the channels within each set. In each set, any channels having non-matching non-idle data rates (with a small predetermined range of permissible variability) are eliminated (208). The measurement for each set is repeated multiple times. Each remaining set has channels that have substantially identical non-idle data rates over multiple time periods and each remaining set is assumed to constitute a fractional channel. Non-idle data rates are measured by counting non-idle octets (106) over a fixed period of time, or by measuring throughput (non-idle octets per second) or by measuring utilization (throughput/capacity). In an alternative embodiment, idle flags or shifted idle flags for non-encrypted HDLC or SDLC protocols are used (212) to identify provisional sets of channels. In still another embodiment, channels identified as voice channels are removed (216) from provisional sets. In an alternative embodiment, idle flags or shifted idle flags for non-encrypted HDLC or SDLC protocols are used to identify provisional sets of channels. In still another embodiment, channels identified as voice channels are removed from provisional sets.