Programmable telecommunication switch for personal computer
First Claim
1. A programmable communications switch comprising:
- controllable-switching means for dynamically connecting or disconnecting communication paths between various ones of a plurality of ports in response to predetermined messages, including means for processing said messages, a time slot interchange and a real time operating system;
a first host computer in which said switching means resides, said first host computer for providing electrical power to said switching means, having a first application-oriented operating system and being programmable to generate said messages;
means for connecting one or more line cards in communicating relationship with said switching means, each of said one or more line cards for terminating either analog lines or trunks or digital lines or trunks, each of said digital line cards including processing means for performing one or more predetermined call processing tasks;
said message processing means being operable to distinguish between said analog and digital line cards, whereby said message processing means may assign responsibility to said digital line card processing means for performing said one or more predetermined call processing tasks, while retaining responsibility for performing such tasks with respect to said analog line cards.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user-programmable telephone switch which resides within a commercially available personal computer. The switch is controllable by either the personal computer'"'"'s microprocessor or a separate, external host connected to an interface provided within the switch. The switch includes a CPU/matrix card that contains a time slot interchange and a CPU running under a real time operating system. The CPU/matrix card controls the overall operation of the switch in accordance with messages received from the operative host. In general, those tasks or functions which must be performed in real time are the responsibility of the switch, as opposed to the internal or external host. Within the switch, certain tasks or functions may be delegated by the CPU/matrix card to intelligent line cards which contain their own microprocessors having substantial call processing capability.
27 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A programmable communications switch comprising:
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controllable-switching means for dynamically connecting or disconnecting communication paths between various ones of a plurality of ports in response to predetermined messages, including means for processing said messages, a time slot interchange and a real time operating system; a first host computer in which said switching means resides, said first host computer for providing electrical power to said switching means, having a first application-oriented operating system and being programmable to generate said messages; means for connecting one or more line cards in communicating relationship with said switching means, each of said one or more line cards for terminating either analog lines or trunks or digital lines or trunks, each of said digital line cards including processing means for performing one or more predetermined call processing tasks; said message processing means being operable to distinguish between said analog and digital line cards, whereby said message processing means may assign responsibility to said digital line card processing means for performing said one or more predetermined call processing tasks, while retaining responsibility for performing such tasks with respect to said analog line cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A programmable communications switch comprising:
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controllable-switching means for dynamically connecting or disconnecting communication paths between various ones of a plurality of ports in response to predetermined messages, including means for processing said messages, a time slot interchange and a real time operating system; a first host computer in which said switch means resides comprising a personal computer motherboard that includes an input/output bus and a power bus, said switching means being connected to both of said busses, said first host computer having a first application-oriented operating system and being programmable to generate said messages; means for interfacing said switching means with a second host computer having a second application-oriented operating system and being programmable to generate said messages; means, coupled to the message processing means, for selecting one of said first and second host computers to control said controllable-switching means; and one or more line cards connected in communicating relationship with said switching means, each of said one or more line cards for terminating either analog lines or trunks or digital lines or trunks, each of said digital line cards including means for processing messages generated by said switching means and performing one or more predetermined call processing tasks, said message processing means of said switching means being operable to distinguish between said one or more line cards and to assign responsibility to said digital line cards for performing one or more predetermined call processing tasks, while retaining responsibility for performing said tasks with respect to said analog line cards. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A programmable communications switch comprising:
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controllable-switching means for dynamically connecting or disconnecting communication paths between various ones of a plurality of ports in response to predetermined messages, including a time slot interchange, a real time operating system and means for processing said messages and for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from one or more line cards; a first host computer in which said switching means resides, said first host computer for providing electrical power to said switching means, having a first application-oriented operating system and being programmable to generate said messages; means for connecting said one or more line cards in communicating relationship with said switching means, each of said one or more line cards for terminating either analog lines or trunks or digital lines or trunks, each of said digital line cards including processing means for performing one or more predetermined call processing tasks and for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from said switching means; said message processing means of said switching means being operable to distinguish between said analog and digital line cards, whereby said message processing means of said switching means may assign responsibility to said digital line card processing means for performing said one or more predetermined call processing tasks, while retaining responsibility for performing such tasks with respect to said analog line cards. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification