Integrated communications system

• US 5,150,357 A
• Filed: 06/12/1989
• Issued: 09/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emil Hopner, John R. Featherston, Michael A. Patten
• Original Assignee: Emil Hopner, John R. Featherston, Michael A. Patten
• Inventors: Hopner, Emil, Patten, Michael A., Featherston, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Christopher O.
• Application Number:
  US07/365,175
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 370/65.5, 370/53, 370/54, 370/58.3, 370/68.1, 370/110.1
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0407 using a stored programme control

Abstract

Information pathways for communications among personnel, among computers, and between personnel and computers, in a local communication system, including remote communications via leased lines or the public network is described. To a public central office, the present invention appears as a private branch exchange (PBX), served by many trunks, WATS, and "Foreign Exchange" lines, and providing all the standard PBX services; to the remote leased facility, it appears as a standard tie line terminator or, if the remote is another ICS, as a logical tie line terminator for which several logical tie lines are combined into each leased T1 line; to the in-house computer, it provides switched connection to other computers or to terminals at up to 19,200 Baud modulated data, at 32K-Baud for native (internal system) data (including 2K-Baud of forward error correction), or up to several gigabits direct binary transmission (such as the transmission scheme used with NDS and ANR displays, etc.); to the in-house human user, it appears as a unique electronic telephone which offers many special services to facilitate his communications with other people and with computers. Advanced features such as optional hands-off voice on/off hook control, personal identification by voice print and remote chart presentation are provided.

Claims

1. Apparatus for connecting an originating port to a receiving port in a communication system, said apparatus comprising:

a distributed control switching matrix having a plurality of originating group submatrices, a plurality of intermediate group submatrices and a plurality of terminating group submatrices;

said originating port transmitting a first control signal for selecting an originating group submatrix;

said originating group submatrix selecting a path to a terminating group submatrix via an intermediate group submatrix in response to the combination of a second control signal produced by said intermediate group submatrix with said first control signal;

said intermediate group submatrix selecting a path to the receiving port via a terminating group submatrix in response to the combination of a third control signal produced by said terminating group submatrix with said second control signal;

said terminating group submatrix producing and transmitting a fourth control signal to said originating port which represents verification that connection form said originating port to said receiving port has been made.

2. A method for connecting an originating port to a receiving port in an integrated communications system having a distributed control switching matrix which includes a plurality of originating group submatrices, a plurality of intermediate group submatrices and a plurality of terminating group submatrices, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting an originating group submatrix in response to a first control signal;

producing a second control signal;

selecting a path to a terminating group submatrix via an intermediate group submatrix in response to the combination of said first and second control signals;

producing a third control signal;

selecting a path to the receiving port via a terminating group submatrix in response to the combination of said third control signal with said second control signal;

producing a fourth control signal representing verification that connection from said originating port to said receiving port has been made; and

transmitting said fourth control signal to said originating port.

3. A high-capacity integrated communications system for establishing data and voice communication among computers connected to data ports, among telephones connected to voice ports, and between said computers and said telephones, said system comprising:

a switching matrix having a plurality of originating group submatrices, a plurality of intermediate submatrices and a plurality of terminating group submatrices;

an originating port for transmitting a first control signal for selecting an originating group submatrix;

a receiving port;

an originating group submatrix selecting a path to a terminating group submatrix via an intermediate group submatrix in response to the combination of a second control signal produced by said intermediate group submatrix with said first control signal;

said intermediate group submatrix selecting a path to the receiving port via a terminating group submatrix in response to the combination of a third control signal produced by said terminating group submatrix with said second control signal;

said terminating group submatrix producing and transmitting a fourth control signal to said originating port, which represents verification that connection from said originating port to said receiving port have been made;

a telephone call processor, coupled to the switching matrix, for producing voice control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said voice ports; and

a switching matrix controller, coupled to the switching matrix, for producing control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said data ports and voice ports, said switching matrix being responsive to said control signals for establishing connections among computers.

4. An integrated communications system as in claim 3 wherein said telephone call processor establishes connection between voice ports and said switching matrix controller independent of said switching matrix.

5. An integrated communications system as in claim 3 wherein:

said telephone call processor produces video control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said voice ports; and

said switching matrix is responsive to said video control signals for establishing video connections among telephones.

6. An integrated communications system as in claim 3 wherein said switching matrix is responsive to said control signals for establishing telephone-to-computer connections.

7. An integrated communications system as in claim 3 wherein said switching matrix is responsive to said voice control signals for establishing voice connections among telephones.

8. An integrated communications system as in claim 3 further including a data exchange controller for establishing interconnection with a packet switching system.

9. A high-capacity integrated communications system for establishing data and voice communication among computers connected to data ports, among telephones connected to voice ports, and between said computers and said telephones, said system comprising:

a distributed control switching matrix;

a telephone call processor, coupled to the distributed control switching matrix, for producing voice control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said voice ports; and

a distributed control switching controller, coupled to said distributed control switching matrix, for producing control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said data ports and voice ports;

said distributed control switching controller including a port signalling concentrator for establishing connection between data ports and said distributed control switching controller independent of said distributed control switching matrix; and

said distributed control switching matrix being responsive to said control signals for establishing connections among computers.

10. An integrated communications system as in claim 9 wherein said distributed control switching controller includes a control adaptor for establishing connection between two data ports.