Programmable telecommunications switch for personal computer

• US 5,598,409 A
• Filed: 05/21/1996
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Excel Switching Corp. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Excel Incorporated
• Inventors: Madonna, Robert P., Buttell, Robert J., Hebert, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Application Number:
  US08/651,123
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88, 379/201, 379/268, 379/269, 379/279, 379/218, 379/225, 379/284, 370/58.3, 370/58.2
• US Class Current: 370/364
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0414 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1308 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 Signaling in general, in-band signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange

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.

Claims

1. A programmable communications switch system comprising:

a personal computer including,

a time slot interchange,

a central call processor configured to perform real-time call control processing functions on said time slot interchange, and

an internal host computer having a first application-oriented operating system to run communications applications that control said central call processor; and

an external host computer having a second application-oriented operating system to run communications applications that control said central call processor;

a host selector coupled to said central call processor, configured to select one of said internal and external host computers to control said central call processor,

wherein said call control processor pertbrms all real-time call control processing in response to commands from said selected host computer,

wherein said selected host computer controls said central call processor exclusively of said non-selected host computer.

2. A programmable communications switch system comprising:

a personal computer including,

a programmable communications switch, including, controllable-switching means for performing real-time call-control processing functions including dynamically connecting or disconnecting communication paths between various ones of a plurality of ports in re.sponse to predetermined messages, including,

means for processing said predetermined messages,

a time slot interchange, and

a real time operating system;

an internal host computer, having a first application-oriented operating system and being programmable to generate said predetermined messages to control said communications switch;

an external host computer having a second application-oriented operating system and being programmable to generate said predetermined messages to control said communications switch;

means for interfacing said switching means with said external host computer; and

host select means, coupled to said message processing means, for selecting one of said internal or external host computers to control said controllable-switching means,

wherein all real-time call control processing is managed by said switching means and wherein when said internal host computer is selected to control said communications switch, said internal host computer runs communications applications that control said switch exclusively of said external host computer and wherein when said external host is selected to control said communications switch, said external host computer controls runs communications applications that control said communications switch exclusive of said internal host computer.

3. The switch system as in claim 2 wherein said internal host computer comprises:

a personal computer motherboard, including,

an input/output bus, and

a power bus,

wherein said switching means is connected to both of said busses.

4. The switch system as in claim 3 wherein said programmable communications switch further comprises:

one or more line cards, connected in communicating relationship with said switching means, for terminating either digital or analog lines or trunks.

5. The switch system as in claim 4 wherein each of said one or more line cards for terminating digital lines or trunks comprises;

second means for processing messages generated by said switching means.

6. The switch system as in claim 5 wherein said message processing means of said switching means is operable to distinguish between said one or more line cards and may assign responsibility to said digital line card message processing means for performing one or more predetermined call processing tasks, while retaining responsibility for performing such tasks with respect to said analog line cards.

7. The switch system as in claim 2 further comprising:

means, responsive to the message processing means, for selecting one of a plurality of synchronization signals available thereto.

8. A programmable communications switch system comprising:

a personal computer including,

a programmable communications switch, including,

a central call processor configured to perform real-time call control processing related to communication paths established between various ones of a plurality of ports within said switch, said central call processor responsive to predetermined messages, including,

a time slot interchange, and

a real time operating system;

a first host computer having a first application-oriented operating system to an communications applications that control said switch;

a second host computer having a second application-oriented operating system to run communications applications that control said switch;

means for interfacing said communications switch with the second host computer; and

host selector, coupled to said central call processor, configured to select one of said first and second host computers to control said communications switch,

wherein all real-time call control processing is managed by said central call processor and wherein when said first host computer is selected to control said communications switch said first host computer runs communications applications that control said switch exclusively of said second host computer and wherein when said second host is selected to control said communications switch, said second host computer runs communications applications that control said communications switch exclusive of said first host computer.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein said first host computer further comprises:

a personal computer motherboard which includes an input/output bus and a power bus and said communications switch is connected to both of said busses.

10. The system as in claim 9 further comprising;

one or more line cards, connected in communicating relationship with said central call processor, said one or more line cards being of a first type for terminating digital lines or trunks, or of a second type for terminating analog lines or trunks.

11. The system as in claim 10 wherein each of said one or more line cards for terminating digital lines or trunks comprises:

means for processing messages generated by said central call processor.

12. The system as in claim 11 wherein said central call processor is operable to distinguish between said one or more line cards and may assign responsibility to said digital line card message processing means for performing one or more predetermined real-time call processing tasks, while retaining responsibility for performing such tasks with respect to said analog line cards.

13. The system as in claim 8 wherein said switch further comprises:

timing selector, responsive to said central call processor, for selecting one of a plurality of synchronization signals available thereto.

14. The system as in claim 10 wherein said second host computer is connected with said interfacing means and exclusively controlling said central call processor without said first host computer.

15. The system as in claim 8, wherein said messages are generated by said first and second host computers in accordance with a predetermined format which is independent of the types of line cards that are included in said communications switch.

16. The system as in claim 10 wherein said analog line cards are connected in communicating relationship with said central call processor by a bus for carrying time division multiplex data, a timing/control bus and a line card status/control bus.

17. The system as in claim 10, wherein said switch further comprises a message processor for receiving and processing said predetermined messages, and further wherein each of said analog line cards includes means for responding to an interrogation by said message processor by identifying one or more types of signaling protocol modules located on said analog line card.

18. The system as in claim 10, wherein said switch further comprises a message processor for receiving and processing said predetermined messages, and further wherein each of said analog line cards includes means for responding to an interrogation by said message processor by indicating the number of signaling protocol modules located on said analog line card.

19. The system as in claim 10 wherein said digital line cards are connected in communicating relationship with said central call processor by a bus for carrying messages bidirectionally, a bus for carrying time division multiplex data, and a timing/control bus.

20. The system as in claim 10 wherein a second message processor of each of said digital line cards transmits one or more messages to said message processor of said central call processor which indicates the status of the digital line card.

21. The system as in claim 20 wherein said second message processor of each of said digital line cards transmits one or more messages to said message processor of said switch which indicates the types of ports provided by the digital line card.

22. The system as in claim 20 wherein said second message processor of each of said digital line cards transmits one or more messages to said message processor of said switch which indicates how many ports are provided on the digital line card.

23. The system as in claim 20 wherein said second message processor of each of said digital line cards transmits one or more messages to said message processor of said switch which indicates whether a download of instructions is needed by the digital line card.

24. The system as in claim 17 wherein said message processor of said central call processor, in response to receiving a message from a digital line card indicating that a download of instructions is needed, downloads instructions to said digital line card.

25. The system as in claim 17 wherein said message processor of said central call processor downloads instructions to said digital line card which include instructions for signalling supervision.

26. The system as in claim 17 wherein said message processor of said central call processor downloads instructions to said digital line card which include instructions for call inpulsing and outpulsing.

27. The system as in claim 17 wherein said message processor of said central call processor downloads instructions to said digital line card which include instructions for detection of incoming calls.

28. The system as in claim 17 wherein said message processor of said central call processor downloads instructions to said digital line card which include instructions for generation of outgoing calls.