Data bridge with gating and/or testing
First Claim
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1. A communication bridge responsive to a series of control signals containing a bridge address code and a port address code, the bridge comprising:
- a primary port,a plurality of secondary ports,branching means for coupling the primary port to the plurality of secondary ports,a plurality of electrically operated switch means connected in series with the respective secondary ports,bridge switch enablement means connected to the primary port and responsive to the bridge address code corresponding to a predetermined bridge address for enabling a bridge switching function, andport address means enabled by the bridge switch enablement means and being responsive to the port address code for selectively operating one of the plurality of electrically operated switch means.
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Abstract
A communication bridge joining a primary communication channel to a plurality of secondary communication channels has electrically operated switches in series with the respective ports to the secondary communication channels. Control signals applied to the primary channel are utilized to address the bridge and to selectively drop or add secondary ports. Additionally a loopback circuit can be connected and disconnected in the primary port.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A communication bridge responsive to a series of control signals containing a bridge address code and a port address code, the bridge comprising:
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a primary port, a plurality of secondary ports, branching means for coupling the primary port to the plurality of secondary ports, a plurality of electrically operated switch means connected in series with the respective secondary ports, bridge switch enablement means connected to the primary port and responsive to the bridge address code corresponding to a predetermined bridge address for enabling a bridge switching function, and port address means enabled by the bridge switch enablement means and being responsive to the port address code for selectively operating one of the plurality of electrically operated switch means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data network for connecting a plurality of user stations to a primary computer station by means of a primary communication line to the primary computer and a plurality of branch secondary communication lines to the user stations, the network comprising,
a communications bridge connecting the primary communication line to the plurality of secondary communication lines, said bridge including a plurality of electrically operated switch means connected in series with the secondary communication lines, bridge switch enablement means connected to the primary communication line and being responsive to a series of bridge address signals for enabling the bridge switch enablement means, and port address means enabled by the bridge switch means and being responsive to port address control signals for operating the switch means; -
a plurality of testing units connected in respective branch lines and each having switching means connected in series with the corresponding branch lines, and terminal address means responsive to predetermined addresses of the terminal address means for operating the corresponding testing unit switching means; said bridge switch enablement means including means responsive to a series of DTMF digits having a beginning digit, a plurality of N address digits, and an end of address digit; said terminal address means including means responsive to a series of DTMF digits having a beginning digit, a plurality of M address digits, and an end of address digit; and wherein N does not equal M whereby the bridge and the testing units are independent of each other. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification