Integrated message accounting system

• US 4,172,214 A
• Filed: 03/25/1977
• Issued: 10/23/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: McDonald, John C., Baichtal, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart, David L.
• Application Number:
  US05/781,348
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 179/15 AQ, 179/15 AT, 179/15 BS, 179/15 BY
• US Class Current: 370/370
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0407 using a stored programme control

Abstract

An integrated message accounting system for use in a telephone system operating in time frames each consisting of a plurality of time slots. The system includes line groups each having a number of primary and secondary input and output portions for receiving input data signals and transmitting output data signals where one or the other of the primary and secondary portions is activated for receiving and transmitting the input and output signals. The system also includes a second number of time slot interchangers for connecting the active input portions to the active output portions where one of the interchangers is activated for connecting the input portions to the output portions. The system also includes a system controller for activating the primary or secondary portions and one of the interchangers.

Claims

1. An integrated message accounting system operating in a multiframe format, each frame having a plurality of time slots, where each of said time frames include a framing bit for identifying each frame in said format, said system operating to switch data samples between a time slot on one communication line and a time slot on another communication line, where the samples occur as serial bits in said time slots at a predetermined rate, comprising:

line group means including a number of primary and secondary input portions for receiving input data signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary input portions is activated for receiving said input signals, and

a number of primary and secondary output portions for transmitting output signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary portions is activated for transmitting said output signals,

a second number of time slot interchangers for connecting said active input portions to said active output portions where one of said interchangers is activated for connecting said input portions to said output portions whereby said input signals become output signals,

system controller means for activating said primary or secondary portions and one of said interchangers,

said input portions including elastic store means for storing said data samples,

clock recovery means connected to receive said data samples for providing a clocking edge lacking the data bit for each of said samples,

read/write control means,

address select means responsive to said read/write control means for selecting location in said elastic store means into which said data bit is to be written,

write address counter means and read address counter means connected to said address select means for specifying the address at which data is to be written into or read from said elastic store means,

serial to parallel converter means connected to said elastic store means for converting said serial data samples to parallel samples,

reframe control means connected to said read address counter for clocking said data samples from said elastic store to said converter means, and

output buffer means for connecting said parallel samples to one of said time slot interchangers specified by said system controller means.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said system controller means include

a primary system controller for activating said primary portions of said line group means and one of said time slot interchangers,

and a second system controller for activating said secondary portions of said line group means and one of said time slot interchangers, where one of said primary or secondary system controllers is in an active state and said other is in a stand-by state.

3. A system as in claim 1 further including primary service generator means connected to said primary portions and secondary service generator means connected to secondary portions for connecting selected tone signals in time slots specified by said system controller means.

4. A system as in claim 1 further including primary signal processor means connected to said primary portions and secondary signal processor means connected to said secondary portions, said signal processor means responsive to said system controller means for detecting changes of state of supervisory signals where the supervisory signals occur as signaling bits during a signaling frame of a multiframe format.

5. A system in claim 1 wherein said line group means further include primary multifrequency sender means connected to said primary portions and secondary multifrequency sender means, connected to said secondary portions, said sender means responsive to said system controller means for sending multifrequency signals in selected time slots specified by said system controller means.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said line group means further include primary multifrequency receiver means connected to said primary portions and secondary multifrequency receiver means for detecting in specified time slots the presence of multifrequency tone signals.

7. A system as in claim 1 further including primary master clock means for activating said primary portions and said time slot interchangers and secondary master clock means for activating said secondary line group means and said time slot interchangers, said master clock means responsive to an active signal from said system controller means.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein said master clock means includes means for generating a framing bit code identifying each of said frames in a multiframe formal thereby forming system frame bits.

9. A system as in claim 8 where said input portions include data selector means activated by said system controller means for receiving said data samples.

10. A system as in claim 7 wherein said master clock means generate clock signals to said line group means where the rate of said clock signals is twice the rate of said data samples.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said system controller means include real time clock means for timing the duration of a call between a calling and called party.

12. A system as in claim 1 further including signal processor means for monitoring the state of an outgoing trunk signal whereby said signal processor means signals said system controller means upon termination of said call.

13. A system as in claim 12 further including elastic store means for storing said data signals, read/write control means for reading and writing said data signals into said elastic store means, said read/write control means responsive to said master clock signals thereby providing two rising clocking edges per incoming data bit thereby providing two write windows per incoming bit.

14. A system as in claim 1 wherein said system controller means include means for receiving automatic number identification data.

15. A system as in claim 14 wherein said system controller means include means for receiving operator number identification data.

16. A system as in claim 1 wherein said time slot interchangers include processor means for controlling the operation of said interchanger.

17. A system as in claim 16 wherein said processor means include means for determining availability of a path in said interchangers without requirement of a memory map in said system controller means.

18. A system as in claim 17 wherein said system controller means include means for storing a called record for a telephone call.

19. An integrated message accounting system operating in a multiframe format, each frame having a plurality of time slots where each of said time frames includes a framing bit for identifying each frame in said format, said system operating to switch data samples between a time slot and one communication line and a time slot on another communication line, where the samples occur as serial bits in said time slot at a predetermined rate, comprising:

line group means including

a number of primary and secondary input portions for receiving input data signals where one or the other of said primary or secondary input portions is activated for receiving said input signals, and

a number of primary and secondary output portions for transmitting output signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary portions is activated for transmitting said output signals,

a second number of time slot interchangers for connecting said active input portions to said active output portions where one of said interchangers is activated for connecting said input portions to said output portions whereby said input signals become output signals,

system controller means for activating said primary or secondary portions in one of said interchangers,

said input portions including data selector means activated by said system controller means for receiving said data samples,

elastic store means for storing said data samples,

clock recovery means connected to receive said data samples for providing a clocking edge lagging the data bit for each of said samples,

read/write control means,

address select means responsive to said read/write control means for selecting the location in said elastic store means into which said data bit is to be written,

write address counter means and read address counter means connected to said address select means for specifying the address at which data is to be written into or read from said elastic store means,

serial to parallel converter means connected to said elastic store means for converting said serial data samples to parallel samples,

reframe control means connected to said read address counter for clocking said data samples from said elastic store to said converter means, and

output buffer means for connecting said parallel samples to one of said time slot interchangers specified by said system controller means.

20. A system in claim 19 wherein said reframe control means includes processor means for comparing once per frame said framing bit in each of said frames with said framing bit code whereby said reframe control means synchronizes said frame bit to the nearest system frame bit.

21. A system as in claim 20 further including signal bit store means connected to receive signal bits frame said converter means under control of said reframe control means where said signal bits occur during a signaling frame of a multiframe format.

22. A system as in claim 20 wherein said output portions include line receiver means for receiving said input signals from one of said interchangers, input buffer means for storing said samples, parallel to serial converter means for converting said parallel samples to serial samples, and line converter means for connecting said serial samples to said communication line.

23. A system as in claim 22 wherein said output portions include line receiver means connected to said signal processor means for receiving signal bits from said signal processor means, input buffer means for storing said signal bits, and signal select means for connecting signaling bits from said input buffer means into said converter means.

24. A digital switching system operating in a multiframe format having a number of time frames each consisting of a plurality of time slots, said system operating to switch data samples between time slots, where said samples occur as serial bits in said time slots, comprising:

line group means including

a number of primary and secondary input portions for receiving input data signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary input portions is activated for receiving said input signals,

a number of primary and secondary output portions for transmitting output signals where one or the other of said primary and said second portions is activated for transmitting said output signals,

means for connecting said input portion to said output portion whereby said input signals become output signals, and

system controller means for activating said primary or secondary portions,

said input portions further including elastic store means for storing said data samples,

clock recovery means connected to receive said data samples for providing a clocking edge lagging the data bit for each of said samples,

read/write control means,

address select means responsive to said read/write control means for selecting the location in said elastic store means into which said data bit is to be written,

write address counter means and read address counter means connected to said address select means for specifying the address at which data is to be written into or read from said elastic store means,

serial to parallel converter means connected to said elastic store means for converting said serial data samples to parallel samples,

reframe control means connected to said read address counter for clocking said data samples from said elastic store to said converter means, and

output buffer means for connecting said parallel samples to one of said time slot interchangers specified by said system controller means.

25. An integrated message accounting system operating in time frames each having a plurality of time slots, said system operating to switch data samples between a time slot on one communication line and a time slot on another communication line, where the samples occur as serial bits in said time slots, comprising:

line group means including

a number of primary and secondary input portions for receiving input data signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary input portions is activated for receiving said input signals,

a number of primary and secondary output portions equal to said input portions for transmitting output signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary output portions is activated for transmitting said output signals,

time slot interchanger means for connecting said nput portion to system controller means for activating said primary or secondary portions,

said input portions further including elastic store means for storing said data samples,

clock recovery means connected to receive said data samples for providing a clocking edge lagging the data bit for each of said samples,

read/write control means,

address select means responsive to said read/write control means for selecting the location in said elastic store means into which said data bit is to be written,

write address counter means and read address counter means connected to said address select means for specifying the address at which data is to be written into or read from said elastic store means,

serial to parallel converter means connected to said elastic store means for converting said serial data samples to parallel samples,

reframe control means connected to said read address counter means for clocking said data samples from said elastic store to said converter means, and

output buffer means for connecting said parallel samples to one of said time slot interchangers specified by said system controller means.

26. An integrated message accounting system operating in time frames each having a plurality of time slots where each of said time frames includes a framing bit for identifying each frame in a multiframe format, said system operating to switch data samples between a time slot on one communication line and a time slot on another communication line, where the samples occur as serial bits in said time slots on said lines, comprising:

line group means including

a number of primary and secondary input portions for receiving input data signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary portions is activated for receiving said signals,

a number of primary and secondary output portions equal to said input portions for transmitting output signals where one or the other of said primary and secondary output portions is activated for transmitting said output signals,

time slot interchanger means for connecting said input portion to said output portion whereby said input signals become output signals,

system controller means for activating said primary or secondary portions,

master clock means for activating said primary or secondary line group means and said time slot interchangers, said master clock means including means for generating a clock signal equal to twice the data rate of said data samples and means for generating a frame bit signal identifying each of the frames of said multiframe format,

said input portions including data selector means activated by said system controller means for receiving said data samples, elastic store means for storing said samples,

clock recovery means connected to receive said data samples for providing a clocking edge lagging the data bit for each of said samples,

read/write control means,

address select means responsive to said read/write control means for selecting the location in said elastic store means into which said data bit is to be written,

write address counter means and read address counter means connected to said address select means for specifying the address at which said data bit is to be written into or read from said elastic means,

serial to parallel converter means connected to said elastic store means for converting said serial data samples to parallel data samples,

reframe control means connected to said read address counter for clocking said data samples from said elastic store to said converter means,

output buffer means for connecting said parallel samples to one of said time slot interchangers specified by said system controller means,

said reframe control means including processor means for comparing once per frame said frame bit with said master clock frame bit whereby said reframe control means synchronizes the incoming frame bit to the nearest clock frame bit.

27. In a telephone system operating in a multitime frame format, each frame having a plurality of time slots, said system operating to switch data samples between said time slots where the samples occur as serial data bits at a predetermined rate, line group apparatus comprising:

data selector means for receiving input data samples,

elastic store means for storing said data samples,

clock recovery means connected to receive said data samples for providing a clocking edge lagging the data bit for each of said samples,

read/write control means,

address select means responsive to said read/write control means for selecting the location in said elastic store means into which said data bit is to be written,

counter means connected to said address select means for specifying the address at which data is to be written into or read from said elastic store means,

serial to parallel converter means connected to said elastic store means for converting said serial data samples to parallel samples, and

reframe control means connected to said counter means for clocking said data samples from said elastic store means to said converter means.

28. An integrated message accounting system operating in a multiple frame format, each frame having a plurality of time slots, said system operating to switch data samples between time slots on a plurality of multitime slot input and output digital data buses, comprising:

line group means including

a number of primary and secondary input portions for receiving input data samples on said input buses where one or the other of said primary or secondary input portions is activated for receiving said input samples,

a number of primary and secondary output portions for transmitting output data samples on said output buses where one or the other of said primary or secondary output portions is activated for transmitting said output data samples,

a second number of time slot interchangers for connecting said active input portions to said active output portions where one of said interchangers is activated for connecting said input portions to said output portions whereby said input samples become output samples,

system controller means for activating said primary or secondary portions in one of said interchangers wherein said system controller means include

a primary system controller for activating said primary portions of said line group means and one of said time slot interchangers, and

a second system controller for activating said secondary portions of said line group means and one of said time slot interchangers, where one of said primary or secondary system controllers is in an active state and said other controller is in a standby state,

primary service generator means connected to said primary portions and second service generator means connected to said secondary portions for connecting selected service tone signals to selected time slots specified by said system controller means,

primary signal processor means connected to said primary portions and secondary signal processor means connected to said secondary portions, said signal processor means responsive to said system controller means for detecting changes of state of supervisory signals for each of said time slots where said supervisory signals occur as signaling bits during a signaling frame of said multiframe format, and for sending supervisory signals in specified ones of said time slots,

primary multifrequency sender means connected to said primary portions and secondary multifrequency sender means connected to said secondary portions, said sender means responsive to said system controller means for sending multifrequency signals in selected time slots specified by said system controller means,

primary multifrequency receiver means connected to said primary portions and secondary multifrequency receiver means connected to said secondary portions for detecting the presence of multifrequency tone signals in time slots specified by said system controller means.