COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 3,693,155 A
• Filed: 03/23/1971
• Issued: 09/19/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ingmar Mittmeyer, Paul A. Crafton
• Original Assignee: Ingmar Mittmeyer, Paul A. Crafton
• Inventors: Crafton, Paul A., Mittmeyer, Ingmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/127,294
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/147R,147T,147C,310,152,151 179/15 325/1,3,5,6,7,13,15
• US Class Current: 340/2.81
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A communication system featuring a pyramid structured interconnecting network, adjacent levels of the interconnecting network being coupled together with single channel links. The system permits lateral signal routing once a common or linking level is reached. The base level of the pyramid structure contains message stations, with each higher level comprised of control stations. Each control station is controlled by the next higher level control station to which it is coupled while simultaneously controlling stations at the next lower level.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising;

a plurality of message stations arranged in grOups;

a pyramid structured interconnecting network coupling each of said message stations to all other message stations;

said interconnecting network comprising a plurality of control stations arranged in groups, each group of control stations being connected to a single higher level control station in the pyramid structure, each group of message stations being coupled to a control station.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said message stations form the base level of said pyramid structured interconnecting network, each control station at the base plus one level being coupled to at least one message station.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each control station includes first receiver means for receiving messages from lower level stations, transmitting means for transmitting said received messages to higher level control stations, second receiver means for receiving messages from the same and higher level control stations, and transmitter means for transmitting messages to lower level control stations whereby a message travels from the sending stations through the control stations of the pyramid structured interconnecting system to a destination message station.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said control stations further includes interrogation means for interrogating each of the lower level stations directly coupled to said each control station, each message and control station includes receiver means for receiving interrogation signals, each identifying one of said stations, from the higher level control station to which it is directly coupled, and means responsive to the interrogation signals for causing said station to transmit messages.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein each control station further includes first storage means for storing messages received from lower level stations and second storage means for storing messages received from higher level stations, and gate control means for causing said control stations to selectively operate in an interrogation mode or a transmitting mode.

6. A pyramid structured communication system comprising, a plurality of message stations, K levels of control stations, K-1 levels containing a plurality of control stations the Kth level containing a single station only, single channel transmission lines interconnecting said levels, each control station being coupled by way of said lines to a plurality of stations at the next lower level, whereby each message station is coupled to every other message station in said communication system through said control stations and single channel lines.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein each control station includes, first receiver means and first transmitter means for transferring messages from lower level stations to higher level stations, and second receiver means and second transmitter means for transferring messages from higher level stations to lower level stations.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each control station includes interrogation means for simultaneously interrogating each of the lower level stations directly coupled to said interrogating control station, each interrogating signal identifying only one of said lower level stations, each of the message and control stations including interrogation receiver means for receiving all interrogating signals from the higher level station to which it is coupled and means, responsive to said one interrogating signal identifying the station, for causing said station to transmit messages to said direct coupled higher level station.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said interrogating signals are unique addresses and said means responsive to interrogating signals comprise first authenticating means including, an authenticating register for receiving said interrogating signals, unique address store means storing the unique address identifying the station, comparator means for comparing the received interrogating signal with the stored unique address and First gate means responsive to an indication by the comparator means that said received interrogating signal is equivalent to the stored address for permitting the transmission of messages from said station to the higher level stations.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each control station includes first storage means for storing messages received from lower level stations, and second storage means for storing messages received from higher level stations, said first gate means selectively blocking the flow of messages between the first storage means and said first transmitter means.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein each of said control stations includes gate control means for controlling transmission and reception of messages from lower level stations.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said first and second storage means comprise, first register means for receiving messages, each message comprising a plurality of characters, means for producing a signal in response to receiving each character, means, responsive to said signal from said means for producing, for counting the number of received characters, means responsive to a predetermined count in said counting means for producing a full signal, and means responsive to coincidence between a full signal and a signal indicating that a complete message has been received for indicating to said gate control means that the station should switch from an interrogation mode of operation to a transmitting mode, and said gate control means including means responsive to said indicating signal from said coincidence responsive means for switching the control station from an interrogation mode to a transmitting mode.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein each message includes a destination address, each control station includes a second authenticating means, responsive to the destination address in the messages from lower level stations, for determining if the message is directed to a message station also under the control of said receiving control station and gate means, responsive to said second authenticating means for selectively permitting said received messages to enter said first storage means only if the message is directed to a message station not under the control of said receiving control station.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein each of said control stations further includes third authenticating means responsive to the destination address in messages received from higher level control stations for determining if the received message is directed to a message station under its control and gate means responsive to said third authenticating means for permitting received messages from higher level stations to enter said second storage means only if directed to a message station under its control.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the destination address portion of each message comprises K subaddresses, each subaddress being associated associated with one level of the pyramid structured system except the apex level, each subaddress further identifying one station at each level, each station being uniquely defined by the addresses of the stations defining the shortest path from the station to the apex station, said second and third authenticating means including, a serial shift register for receiving the destination address in each message, storage means for storing a unique address of the control station, and comparator means for comparing the stored unique address with the received address.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said second authenticating means further includes, means responsive to the comparator means for disabling said gate when said stored unique address corresponds to the received destination address.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said single channel transmission lines comprise power lines.

18. The system of claim 17 further including wireless bypasses for transmitting communication signals across power transformers and switCh gear.

19. The system of claim 18 further including in-line communication signal amplifiers.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said wireless bypass comprises, first clamp-on current transformer means for receiving power line carried communication signals, amplifier means for amplifying the received communication signals, wireless transceiver means for transferring said communication signals across said power transformers and switch gear and second clamp-on current transformer means for coupling said transferred signal back to the power line.