Simultaneous voice and data communications system
First Claim
1. A communication system for the simultaneous conveying of voice and data messages comprising:
- a ring transmission medium for the serial transmission of message information;
a plurality of taps disposed along said ring transmission medium, each of said plurality of taps forming a means to break said ring and connect into it a receiver, each of said plurality of taps for receiving connections from a communications module having at least an input and an output and connecting said communications module to said ring transmission medium, each of said plurality of taps having input and output means connected to said ring transmission medium and acting when no communications module is connected thereto to convey message information on said ring transmission medium directly from said input means to said output means, each of said plurality of taps further acting when a communication module is connected thereto to apply message information on said ring transmission medium to said input of said communications module and to connect said output of said communications module to said ring transmission medium;
a plurality of telephone stations for communicating voice messages, each of said plurality of telephone stations being connected to an individual one of said plurality of taps, each of said plurality of telephone stations taking the form of a communications module having a basic component nucleus for interfacing with said ring transmission medium and at least one additional component for performing telephone station functions, said basic component nucleus comprising dc to dc converter means, ring interface means, synchronism and switching means and central control means;
a data access unit for connection to one of said plurality of taps for coupling data messages to said ring transmission medium, said data access unit including said basic component nucleus for interfacing with said ring transmission medium and at least a further component for coding digital data applied thereto;
power supply means connected to an individual one of said plurality of taps, said power supply means enabling appropriate voltage and current levels to be provided to each communications module connected to one of said plurality of taps; and
means for applying digital data to said data access unit for application to said ring transmission medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system for simultaneously conveying voice and data messages is provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In the communications system disclosed a ring transmission medium for the serial transmission of message information is provided. A plurality of taps are disposed along the ring transmission medium and each of the plurality of taps acts to receive connections from a communications module having at least an input and an output and acts to connect the communications module to the ring. Each of the plurality of taps is configured to have its inputs and outputs connected to the ring and act when no communication module is connected thereto to convey message information on the ring directly between the input and outputs of the tap. When a communications module is connected to that tap, message information is applied from the ring to the input of the communications module and from the output of the communications module to the ring transmission medium. A plurality of individual telephone stations for communicating voice messages are connected to the ring through individual ones of the taps wherein each of the telephone stations takes the form of a communications module having a basic component nucleus for interfacing with the ring and at least one additional component for performing telephone station functions. A data access unit for connection to one of the plurality of taps acts to couple data messages to the ring. The data access unit also includes the basic component nucleus for interfacing with the ring and at least a further component for coding digital data applied thereto. The data access unit may be connected to terminal devices or the like.
36 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A communication system for the simultaneous conveying of voice and data messages comprising:
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a ring transmission medium for the serial transmission of message information; a plurality of taps disposed along said ring transmission medium, each of said plurality of taps forming a means to break said ring and connect into it a receiver, each of said plurality of taps for receiving connections from a communications module having at least an input and an output and connecting said communications module to said ring transmission medium, each of said plurality of taps having input and output means connected to said ring transmission medium and acting when no communications module is connected thereto to convey message information on said ring transmission medium directly from said input means to said output means, each of said plurality of taps further acting when a communication module is connected thereto to apply message information on said ring transmission medium to said input of said communications module and to connect said output of said communications module to said ring transmission medium; a plurality of telephone stations for communicating voice messages, each of said plurality of telephone stations being connected to an individual one of said plurality of taps, each of said plurality of telephone stations taking the form of a communications module having a basic component nucleus for interfacing with said ring transmission medium and at least one additional component for performing telephone station functions, said basic component nucleus comprising dc to dc converter means, ring interface means, synchronism and switching means and central control means; a data access unit for connection to one of said plurality of taps for coupling data messages to said ring transmission medium, said data access unit including said basic component nucleus for interfacing with said ring transmission medium and at least a further component for coding digital data applied thereto; power supply means connected to an individual one of said plurality of taps, said power supply means enabling appropriate voltage and current levels to be provided to each communications module connected to one of said plurality of taps; and means for applying digital data to said data access unit for application to said ring transmission medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communications systems for the simultaneous conveying of voice and data messages, comprising:
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a ring transmission medium for the serial transmission of pulse code modulated message information; a plurality of taps disposed along said ring transmission medium, each of said plurality of taps forming a means to break said ring and connect into it a receiver, each of said plurality of taps for receiving connections from a communications module having at least an input and an output and connecting said communications module to said ring transmission medium, each of said plurality of taps having input and output means connected to said ring transmission medium and acting when no connections module is connected thereto to convey pulse code modulated message information on said ring transmission medium directly from said input means to said output means, each of said plurality of taps further acting when a communications module is connected thereto to apply pulse code modulated message information on said ring transmission medium to said input of said communications module and to connect said output of said communications module to said ring transmission medium; a plurality of telephone stations for communicating voice messages, each of said plurality of telephone stations being connected to an individual one of said plurality of taps, each of the said plurality of telephone stations taking the form of a communications module having a basic component nucleus for interfacing with said ring transmission medium and at least one additional component for performing telephone functions, each communications module connected to one of said plurality of taps including said basic component nucleus, said basic component nucleus comprising dc to dc converter means, ring interface means, synchronism and switching means, and central control means; a data access unit for connection to one of said plurality of taps for coupling data messages to said ring transmission medium, said data access unit including said basic component nucleus for interfacing with said ring transmission medium and at least a further component for coding digital data applied thereto; and means for applying digital data to said data access unit for application to said ring transmission medium. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification