Modular user programmable telecommunications system with distributed processing
First Claim
1. A telecommunications system for providing a plurality of ports with switching and telecommunications services, said system comprising:
- a digital communications link comprising a first line for control signals and a second line comprising a serial pulse code modulated highway for voice and data;
a subscriber interface circuit coupled to said digital communications link and too at least one subscriber telecommunications unit and having a first processor for processing output signals generated by said subscriber telecommunications unit; and
a central processing unit coupled to said digital telecommunications link and to said subscriber interface circuit via said digital telecommunications link and having a second processor, a first memory circuit, and program code stored in said memory circuit, said central processing circuit being operable to generate master control signals in accordance with said program code and to transmit said master control signals to said subscriber interface means along said first line;
whereinsaid master control signals are operable in accordance with said program code to command when said subscriber interface circuit can provide signals on said first line and said second line; and
said subscriber interface circuit is operable to generate command signals in response to said master control signals, to transmit said command signals to said central processing circuit along said first line and to transmit at least one of said voice and data along said second line when commanded by said master control signals.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telecommunications system is provided to connect a plurality of dissimilar types of subscriber telecommunications devices and to provide integrated telecommunications services. The system is provided with a digital communications link comprising a PCM bus for voice and data and an HDLC coded PCM highway for control signals to create a master slave environment, wherein a central processing board operates as a master processor for a plurality of peripheral processor boards. The peripheral boards are coupled to various subscriber telecommunications devices. The CPU board is provided with hierarchical program control that includes low level program code for driving CPU board components, and mid-level program code for effecting system functions and CPU board functions. The mid-level code can also be used to create data bases relating to system configuration as well as data bases for each port associated with the peripheral boards. The mid-level code is also provided with an interpreter program code for executing a novel high level code to program code that is recognized by the master CPU board. The high level, telecommunications language provides a system user with a programming language to create program modules for processing packets of data. The hierarchical program control levels operate to conceal dissimilarities between the subscriber telecommunications units to facilitate use of the high level programming language.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A telecommunications system for providing a plurality of ports with switching and telecommunications services, said system comprising:
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a digital communications link comprising a first line for control signals and a second line comprising a serial pulse code modulated highway for voice and data; a subscriber interface circuit coupled to said digital communications link and too at least one subscriber telecommunications unit and having a first processor for processing output signals generated by said subscriber telecommunications unit; and a central processing unit coupled to said digital telecommunications link and to said subscriber interface circuit via said digital telecommunications link and having a second processor, a first memory circuit, and program code stored in said memory circuit, said central processing circuit being operable to generate master control signals in accordance with said program code and to transmit said master control signals to said subscriber interface means along said first line;
whereinsaid master control signals are operable in accordance with said program code to command when said subscriber interface circuit can provide signals on said first line and said second line; and said subscriber interface circuit is operable to generate command signals in response to said master control signals, to transmit said command signals to said central processing circuit along said first line and to transmit at least one of said voice and data along said second line when commanded by said master control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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3. A telecommunications system comprising:
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a digital communications link comprising a first line for control signals and a second line for voice and data; a subscriber interface circuit coupled to said digital communications link and to at least one subscriber telecommunications unit and having a first processor for processing output signals generated by said subscriber telecommunications unit; and a central processing circuit coupled to said digital telecommunications link and to said subscriber interface circuit and having a second processor, a first memory circuit, and program code stored in said memory circuit, said central processing circuit being operable to generate master control signals to control said subscriber interface circuit in accordance with said program code and to transmit said master control signals along said first line; wherein said subscriber interface circuit is operable to generate command signals in response to said master control signals and to transmit said command signals to said central processing circuit along said first line; and wherein said first line is configured to transmit said master control signals and said command signals in accordance with a high level data link control protocol.
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25. A telecommunications system for connecting a plurality of dissimilar types of subscriber telecommunications units, comprising:
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a digital communications link; a switching circuit coupled to said digital communications link; a peripheral processing circuit coupled to said digital communications link having an interface circuit for coupling with at least one of said subscriber telecommunications units; and a central processing circuit coupled to said digital communications link for controlling said peripheral processing circuit, said digital communications link and said switching circuit and for performing at least one of a plurality of system functions;
whereinsaid peripheral processing circuit is provided with program code for operating said interface circuit to transmit and receive signals to and from, respectively, said subscriber telecommunications units; and said central processing circuit is programmed in accordance with a first plurality of program code modules for controlling the operation of said peripheral processing circuit and the execution of said plurality of system functions, and a second plurality of program code modules which are operable to invoke selected ones of said first plurality of program code modules to service said subscriber telecommunications units. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A telecommunications system for providing a plurality of ports with switching and telecommunications services, said system comprising:
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a central processing circuit operable to generate master control signals; at least one subscriber telecommunications unit; a peripheral processing circuit coupled to said central processing circuit and to said subscriber telecommunications unit, said peripheral processing circuit being operable to receive said master control signals, to process voice and data signals transmitted to and received from said subscriber telecommunications unit in accordance with said master control signals, and to generate command signals in response to said master control signals for transmission to said central processing circuit; and a backplane for coupling said central processing circuit and said peripheral processing circuit which comprises a serial pulse coded modulated highway for transmitting voice and data and a control line for transmitting said master control signals and said command signals, wherein said master control signals control when said peripheral processing circuit provides said command signals and said voice and data on said serial pulse code modulated highway and said control line, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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42. A method for processing voice and digital signals from various types of subscriber telecommunications units, comprising the steps of:
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coupling a plurality of peripheral processing circuits to said subscriber telecommunications units, said plurality of peripheral processing circuits comprising various types of peripheral processing circuits which are configured to interface with analog lines, digital lines and trunks, respectively; coupling said plurality of peripheral processing circuits to each other and to a central processing circuit; providing said central processing circuit with program code comprising a plurality of manager subroutines for performing a plurality of functions comprising accommodating various data types, data rates, transmission standards and transmission parameters utilized by said various types of peripheral processing circuits; operating said plurality of peripheral processing circuits to receive said voice and digital signals from said subscriber telecommunications units; generating master control signals using said central processing circuit to control said peripheral processing circuits; generating and transmitting first signals from each of said plurality of peripheral processing circuits to said central processing circuit in response to said master control signals, said first signals comprising data indicating one of said various types of said peripheral processing circuits; processing said first signals using said central processing circuit to select at least one of said manager subroutines for execution in accordance with said peripheral processing circuit type; and generating master control signals using said central processing circuit and transmitting said master control signals to said plurality of peripheral processing circuits, said master control signals comprising commands for processing said voice and digital signals in accordance with said selected one of said manager subroutines. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification