Data conference system
First Claim
1. For use in a communications network having data terminals, communication channels and a switching system for interconnecting said terminals over said channels for the exchange of data, a conference arrangement comprisingprocessor means coupled to said switching system;
- a plurality of ports connectable to said communication channels;
means coupling said ports to said processor means; and
a buffer memory connectable to said processor means, said ports and said coupling means;
said processor means comprising means responsive to a conference request signal from said switching system for designating a plurality of ports for conferencing by individually coupling one of said communication channels serving a said data terminal to one of said ports;
each said port comprising means responsive to a data signal from said terminals for storing said data signals at a preassigned location in said buffer memory and for transmitting a data received signal to said processor means indicating that said data signal has been stored; and
said processor means responsive to said data received signal from one of said designated ports for ordering the other of said designated ports to transmit over their communication channels to their respective data terminals the contents of said preassigned memory location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications network having a multiport data conference system is disclosed. The data conference system includes a multilevel processor arrangement with the lower level port processors communicating directly with data terminals and higher level processors controlling conference configuration. Data to be conferenced is put in a buffer memory which is shared by all levels of processors. The ports can be configured to be compatible with different type terminals that operate at different data speeds.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. For use in a communications network having data terminals, communication channels and a switching system for interconnecting said terminals over said channels for the exchange of data, a conference arrangement comprising
processor means coupled to said switching system; -
a plurality of ports connectable to said communication channels; means coupling said ports to said processor means; and a buffer memory connectable to said processor means, said ports and said coupling means; said processor means comprising means responsive to a conference request signal from said switching system for designating a plurality of ports for conferencing by individually coupling one of said communication channels serving a said data terminal to one of said ports; each said port comprising means responsive to a data signal from said terminals for storing said data signals at a preassigned location in said buffer memory and for transmitting a data received signal to said processor means indicating that said data signal has been stored; and said processor means responsive to said data received signal from one of said designated ports for ordering the other of said designated ports to transmit over their communication channels to their respective data terminals the contents of said preassigned memory location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. For use in a communication network having first data terminals for transmitting and receiving data in a first format, second data terminals for transmitting and receiving data in a second format, communication channels and a switching system for interconnecting said terminals over said channels for the exchange of data, a data conference arrangement for interconnecting said first and second data terminals comprising
processor means connected to said switching system; -
a plurality of ports each connectable to any one of said terminals via a said communication channel; a buffer memory for temporarily storing data receiving from said terminals; and means coupling said processor means, said buffer memory and said ports; said processor means comprising means responsive to a conference request signal from said switching system for designating a plurality of ports to be included in said conference, for indicating the format of the corresponding one of each terminals to be connected to each said designated port and for connecting the communication channel serving the corresponding terminal with the designated port, each said port comprising means for transferring data between the associated terminal and said buffer memory, said coupling means comprising means interposed between each said port and said associated terminal for converting the format of the data received from the associated terminal into a common format for transmittal to said port and for converting the data received from said port in a common format into one of said formats compatible with said associated terminal connected thereto. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification