Time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus
First Claim
1. In a telephone system, digital time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus for establishing on demand, time shared connections between pairs of ports comprisinga plurality of port means, each of said port means having a unique address, said port means including means for generating predetermined digital signaling signals in response to particular conditions at said port means and said port means further including means for generating digital information signals in response to an applied information signal,central processor unit means including memory means having a plurality of recirculating slots including slots for storing pairs of port means addresses and information signals directed to said addresses and means responsive to said signaling signals for inserting in said memory means slots pairs of port means addresses to establish time-multiplex information exchanging connections between said pairs of port means and means responsive to the sequential occurrence of port means addresses in said memory means slots for simultaneously sending digital information stored with each of said port means addresses in said memory means slots to said addressed port means and for receiving digital information from said addressed port means, andcommon bus means interconnecting all of said plurality of port means and said central processor means.
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Abstract
Time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus for establishing on demand time shared connections between pairs of ports. Signals within the system are digital. The invention is described in the context of an electronic private automatic branch exchange (EPABX) telephone system. A central processor unit (CPU) including a recirculating memory carries port address pairs and digital information to be exchanged along with a status word used for identifying program loops. Program steps are sequenced or initiated by timing signals and signaling data from the port units. Common buses interconnect the port units with the central processor unit. Port units are grouped with a common buffer memory for converting parallel data from the CPU to serial form. The CPU memory includes slots for housekeeping functions to detect, inter alia, an off-hook telephone. The principles of the invention are applicable to telephone central offices and digital switching systems as for computers, for example. Individual EPAX'"'"'s may be interconnected for expanded service.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a telephone system, digital time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus for establishing on demand, time shared connections between pairs of ports comprising
a plurality of port means, each of said port means having a unique address, said port means including means for generating predetermined digital signaling signals in response to particular conditions at said port means and said port means further including means for generating digital information signals in response to an applied information signal, central processor unit means including memory means having a plurality of recirculating slots including slots for storing pairs of port means addresses and information signals directed to said addresses and means responsive to said signaling signals for inserting in said memory means slots pairs of port means addresses to establish time-multiplex information exchanging connections between said pairs of port means and means responsive to the sequential occurrence of port means addresses in said memory means slots for simultaneously sending digital information stored with each of said port means addresses in said memory means slots to said addressed port means and for receiving digital information from said addressed port means, and common bus means interconnecting all of said plurality of port means and said central processor means.
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8. In a telephone system, digital time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus for establishing on demand, time shared connections between pairs of ports comprising
a plurality of port means, each of said port means comprising one or more port circuit means having a common buffer memory means, each of said port circuit means having a unique address, said port circuit means including means for generating predetermined digital signaling signals in response to particular condition at said port circuit means and said port circuit means further including means for generating digital information signals when an information input signal is applied, central processor unit means including memory means having a plurality of recirculating slots and means for inserting in said memory means slots pairs of port circuit means addresses and information signals directed to said addresses in response to said signaling signals from said port circuit means to establish time-multiplex information exchanging connections between said pairs of port circuit means, and common bus means interconnecting all of said plurality of port means and said central processor means.
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13. In a telephone system, digital time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus for establishing on demand, time shared connections between pairs of ports comprising
a plurality of port means, each of said port means comprising one or more port circuit means having a common buffer memory means, each of said port circuit means having a unique address, said port circuit means including means for generating predetermined digital signaling signals in response to particular conditions at said port circuit means and said port circuit means further including means for generating digital information signals when an information input signal is applied, central processor unit means including memory means having a plurality of recirculating slots and means for inserting in said memory means slots pairs of port circuit means addresses and information signals directed to said addresses in response to said signaling signals from said port circuit means to establish time-multiplex information exchanging connections between said pairs of port circuit means and means for controlling the content of said memory means slots in response to signaling signals received from said port circuit means, and common bus means interconnecting all of said plurality of port means and said central processor means.
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15. In a telephone system, digital time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus for establishing on demand, time shared connections between pairs of ports comprising
a plurality of port means, each of said port means comprising one or more port circuit means having a common buffer memory means, each of said port circuit means having a unique address, said port means including means for generating predetermined digital signaling signals in response to particular conditions at said port circuit means and said port circuit means further including means for generating digital information signals when an information input signal is applied, central processor unit means including memory means having a plurality of recirculating slots and means for inserting in said memory means slots pairs of port circuit means addresses and information signals directed to said addresses and status signals in response to said signaling signals from said port circuit means to establish time-multiplex information exchanging connections between said pairs of port circuit means and means for controlling the content of said memory means slots in response to signaling signals received from said port circuit means, and to status signals stored in said memory means slots and to predetermined program circuit means, wherein a status signal defines a subroutine of a predetermined program, and common bus means interconnecting all of said plurality of port means and said central processor means.
Specification