Programmable traffic-measuring unit for telecommunication system

• US 4,399,332 A
• Filed: 06/01/1981
• Issued: 08/16/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sip--Societa' Italiana Per L'Esercizio Telefonico PA
• Original Assignee: Sip--Societa' Italiana Per L'Esercizio Telefonico PA
• Inventors: Furlan, Antonio, Thiella, Francesco, Tibaldo, Flavio
• Primary Examiner(s): Schreyer, Stafford D.
• Application Number:
  US06/268,853
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 179/8 A, 179/175.2 C, 179/175.2 D, 179/7 R, 179/7.1 TP, 179/9, 179/10, 370/62
• US Class Current: 379/112.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks

Abstract

A programmable unit for the recordal of traffic measurements in a telecommunication system comprises a processor which, in accordance with a stored program, cyclically scans a multiplicity of voltage sensors that are connected to incoming wires from respective signal sources such as wires of subscriber lines terminating at a central office or exchange. The sensors step down the incoming signal levels to a voltage range compatible with the operation of logical circuitry and are connected in sets of eight to respective inputs of a multiplexer whose eight-lead output multiple extends to a comparator receiving a variable threshold voltage from the processor via a digital/analog converter. The magnitude of this threshold voltage is individually determined by the program for each time slot in which a set of eight sensors is connected to the comparator; the latter delivers to the processor an eight-bit word or byte indicating the instant state of activity of the corresponding signal sources. These sources could also be constituted by the outputs of a frequency digitizer to which multifrequency-coded selection signals, dial tones, ringing frequencies and busy signals may be transmitted from the associated subscriber lines. The measuring unit could further be used to check on the operation of traffic-monitoring equipment using cascaded relays. The data supplied by the threshold comparator to the processor are recorded on a magnetic tape and/or a printer; a supplemental unit may include additional tape recorders designed to bridge the gap between cassette changes of the main recorder.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement for checking and recording voltage changes occurring at a multiplicity of sources in a telecommunication system, comprising a measuring unit which includes:

a multiplicity of voltage sensors connectable to respective sources and provided with outgoing leads carrying output voltages which vary within a predetermined range with the voltages of said sources, said outgoing leads being combined into sets each containing a plurality of leads whose output voltages alternate between predetermined levels;

a processor programmed to emit switching signals on a first output for cyclically scanning said sets of leads and to emit coded voltage thresholds coincidentally therewith on a second output, said sets of outgoing leads having respective voltage thresholds assigned thereto;

multiplexer means with a switching input connected to said first output, a multiplicity of arrays of data inputs respectively connected to said sets of leads and an output multiple carrying the output voltages of the currently scanned set of leads;

a digital/analog converter connected to said second output for translating said voltage thresholds into respective reference voltages lying between the predetermined voltage levels of the set of leads being scanned;

comparison means with inputs connected to said output multiple and to said digital/analog converter for delivering a multibit word to said processor in response to each emitted switching signal, each bit of said word representing in binary terms the relationship between the output voltage of a respective lead of the currently scanned set and the corresponding reference voltage; and

recording means controlled by said processor for registering the information conveyed by the bits of each word.

2. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said sources are part of a plurality of signaling devices each containing several such sources, said processor being provided with a read/write memory having a first area allotted to the storage of raw data relating to the states of individual outgoing leads and of the voltage thresholds assigned to said sets, a second area allotted to the storage of processed data relating to individual devices, and a third area allotted to the storage of microprograms for the processing of said raw data.

3. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein said processor is further provided with a read-only memory for the loading of said microprograms into said third area of said read/write memory in a predetermined manner.

4. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said processor is in two-way communication with said recording means for receiving program-modifying instructions therefrom.

5. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said recording means comprises a magnetic-tape recorder.

6. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said recording means comprises a character printer.

7. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said processor is provided with an output bus, further comprising an ancillary unit controlled by said processor via said bus and inserted between said sources and a larger number of telephone lines for selectively connecting said sources to certain of said telephone lines.

8. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein said ancillary unit includes digitizing means for converting periodic signals of predetermined frequencies on said telephone lines into voltage pulses on said sources.

9. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein said ancillary unit includes a cascade of traffic-monitoring relays for sequentially connecting respective groups of said telephone lines to a group of measuring wires constituting said sources.

10. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 9 wherein said ancillary unit further includes a first opto coupler for applying a test voltage to said measuring wires in response to commands from said processor and further includes a plurality of second opto couplers responsive to operation of certain of said relays for transmitting marking signals to said processor.

11. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 5 wherein said processor is provided with an output bus, further comprising an ancillary unit including supplemental tape-recording means connected to said output bus for registering said conveyed information during cassette changes of said magnetic-tape recorder.

12. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein each of said sets consists of eight outgoing leads, said multibit word being an eight-bit byte.