Claims
- 1. A telephone switching system for lines, including trunk lines and subscriber lines, in a telephone network, said system comprising:
- A. call processing means for generating parameter signals that control the operation of said telephone switching system,
- B. a plurality of port group units connected to the trunk and subscriber lines for monitoring and controlling signals on the lines and for transmitting and receiving intelligence signals and supervisory signals onto and from the lines, said supervisory signals including status signals that indicate the status of the lines,
- C. storage means connected to said call processing means for storing the parameter signals from said call processing means and the status signals from said port group units, said call processing means additionally being enabled to retrieve the stored status signals from said storage means,
- D. signal transfer means connected to said storage means and said port group units for transferring the supervisory signals between said port group units and said storage means,
- E. port event processing means connected to said storage means for processing the stored status signals, said port event processing means including:
- i. function processing means connected to said storage means for processing the stored status signals in response to the parameter signals,
- ii. event code means connected to said function processing means and to said storage means for storing in said storage means an event code in response to the operation of said function processing means, and
- iii. indicating means connected to said event code means for transmitting to said call processing means a signal that enables said call processing means to establish a next call progression step in a predetermined sequence of call progression steps, and
- F. switching means connected to said signal transfer means and said call processing means for controlling the transfer of the intelligence signals among said port group units in response to the call progression steps established by said call processing means.
- 2. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
- i. timing means for generating a plurality of time signals,
- ii. said function processing means in said port event processing means including call logic state means for establishing a sequence of logic states that control the operation of said function processing means, said event code means being connected to said call logic state means for storing an event code in said storage means in response to predetermined ones of the logic states.
- 3. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 2 wherein each said port group unit includes at least one port means having a system identification number and wherein said port event processing means further includes:
- i. correspondence means connected to said event code means for generating correspondence signals that identify the port means corresponding to each event code,
- ii. storage queue means connected to said timing means and to said correspondence means for storing the correspondence signals, and
- iii. means connected to said storage queue means for generating queue condition signals when said queue means stores correspondence signals, said call processing means retrieving information including the event code for the identified port means from said storage means in response to the queue condition signals.
- 4. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 3 wherein said storage queue means includes a plurality of separate storage queues and said call processing means transfers to a location in said storage means a priority value that corresponds to one of said storage queues, said port event processing means further including queue control means connected to said storage queues and to said storage means for routing the correspondence signals to the said storage queue identified by the priority value.
- 5. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 2 wherein each said port group unit includes at least one port means and said storage means includes means for storing the status signals for each said port means, said timing means including means for generating a set of control signals and said port event processing means further includes:
- i. port selection means responsive to said timing means for establishing a processing connection for each port means in sequence,
- ii. register means connected to said storage means and to said timing means for receiving status signals for one port means, from said storage means during each operating cycle, and
- iii. means connected to said storage means and to said timing means for transferring status signals from said function processing means to said storage means for the selected port means during each cycle.
- 6. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 5 wherein said port event processing means further includes timeout means connected to said timing means and to said event code means for generating a timeout signal in response to the termination of a predetermined interval, said call logic state means and said event code means responding to said timeout means by generating a timeout signal event code that identifies the occurrence of the timeout.
- 7. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 6 wherein said storage means includes means for storing timeout signals and said port event processing means further includes:
- i. register means connected to said storage means and to said timeout means for receiving the timeout signals from said storage means at the initiation of each port means cycle, said timeout means modifying the timeout signals, and
- ii. means connected to said storage means and to said timeout means for transferring the timeout signals from said timeout means to said storage means at the completion of each port means cycle.
- 8. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 6 wherein said storage means includes means for storing service signals and said call processing means transfers service signals to said storage means, said port event processing means further including:
- i. service control means connected to said port storage means, said timing means and said event code means for generating a service signal, said call logic state means and said event code means responding to said service control means by generating an event code that identifies the service status of a telephone line.
- 9. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 8 wherein said port event processing means further includes:
- i. register means connected to said storage means and to said service control means for receiving the service signals from said storage means at the initiation of each port means cycle, and
- ii. means connected to said storage means and to said service control means for transferring service signals from said service control means to said storage means at the completion of each port means cycle.
- 10. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 5 wherein said port event processing means includes a second function processing means and said call processing means including means for transferring to said port storage means command and command timing information for defining each call progression state, said port event processing means further including:
- i. command decoding means connected to said timing means and said storage means for generating command signals in response to the command from said port storage means,
- ii. function selection means connected to said command decoding means for enabling one of said function processing means in response to a predetermined command, and
- iii. timer means connected to said storage means and to said function processing means for controlling the operation of said function processing means in response to the command timing information.
- 11. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 10 wherein said port event processing means further includes:
- i. command and timing receiver means connected to said storage means, said timer means, and said function processing means for receiving the command and command timing information from said storage means at the initiation of each port means cycle, and
- ii. means connected to said storage means for transferring the command and command timing information to said storage means at the completion of each port means cycle.
- 12. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 11 wherein said event code means includes:
- A. generator means responsive to predetermined logic states for generating event codes that are independent of the command and,
- B. encoding means connected to said event code means and to said storage means for transferring an event code to said storage means.
- 13. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said call processing means transfers to said port storage means a command specifying a receive digits logic state and a number of digits to be expected from a corresponding telephone line and wherein one of said function processing means is a receive digits processor means that includes
- a. digit counting means for generating signals indicating the number of digits that have been received by said receive digits processor means, and
- b. comparison means connected to said digit counting means and said storage means for generating a signal when the number of received digits reaches a predetermined relationship with the number of expected digits, said logic state means and said event code means responding to said comparison means by generating an event code that identifies the accumulation of an expected number of digits in said storage means.
- 14. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 13 wherein the command timing information includes a critical timeout parameter that is stored in said storage means and said receive digits processor means further includes timer means responsive to said critical timeout parameter for identifying an interval and comparison means connected to said timing means for generating a critical timeout signal in response to the termination of the interval established by said timer means, said logic state means and said event code means responding to said timer means by generating an event code that identifies the termination of the interval.
- 15. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 13 wherein the command timing information includes an interdigit timeout parameter that is stored in said port storage means and said receive digit processor means further includes second timing means responsive to said interdigit timeout parameter for identifying an interval and comparison means connected to said first timing means for generating an interdigit timeout signal in response to the termination of the interval established by said first timing means, said call logic state means and said event code means responding to said second timing means by generating an event code that identifies the termination of the interval.
- 16. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said call processing means transfers to said storage means a command specifying a send digits logic state and a sequence of digits to be transferred to a port means and wherein one of said function processing means is a send digits processor means that includes:
- a. digit encoding means for generating control supervisory signals corresponding to each digit in sequence,
- b. transfer means for transferring the control supervisory signals to said storage means, and
- c. logic state means connected to said function selection means and to said event code means for generating state signals identifying each function state in sequence for said send digits processor, said event code means responding to predetermined state signals from said logic state means by generating an event code that identifies the transmission of all the specified digits.
- 17. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 16 wherein said storage means includes means for storing sequence control information from said call processing means and said port event processing means further includes:
- i. control supervisory signal transmitting means responsive to the contents of said storage means for transmitting control supervisory signals for transfer to said port means,
- ii. control register means for receiving the sequence control information from said storage means, and
- iii. means connected to said control register means and to said send digits processor means for enabling said control supervisory signal transmitting means to generate preliminary control supervisory signals to a said port means prior to the transmission of the digits.
- 18. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 16 wherein said storage means includes means for storing sequence control information from said call processing means and said port event processing means further includes;
- i. means responsive to the contents of said storage means for transmitting control supervisory signals for transfer to said port means,
- ii. control register means for receiving the sequence control information from said storage means, and
- iii. means connected to said control register means and to said send digits processor means for enabling said control supervisory signal transmitting means to generate control supervisory signals to a said port means after the transmission of the digits.
- 19. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said call processing means transfers to said storage means a command that includes information specifying one of a predetermined group of transmit supervisory functions and corresponding timing information and each said port group unit includes at least one port means, each said port means further including means responsive to the receipt of the command from said storage means for transmitting the corresponding supervisory signal onto a telephone line and wherein one of the said function processing means is a transmit supervisory signal processor means that includes transmit supervisory signal means connected to said timing means and said command decoding means for transferring control signals to selected locations in said storage means in response to the command and timing information, said signal transfer means transferring the supervisory signals from said storage means to said port group units, said transmit supervisory signal means further being connected to said event code means for causing said event code means to transmit to said storage means an event code indicating the completion of the transmitting function.
- 20. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said call processing means transfers to said storage means a command that includes information specifying one of a predetermined group of sense supervisory functions and corresponding timing information and each said port group unit includes at least one port means, each said port means further including means for transmitting to said storage means sense supervisory signals in response to supervisory signals on a telephone line and wherein one of said function processing means is a sense supervisory signal processor means that includes sense supervisory signal means connected to said timing means and said command decoding means for processing supervisory signals from selected locations in said storage means in response to the command and timing information, said sense supervisory signal means further being connected to said event code means for causing said event code means to transmit to said storage means an event code indicating the receipt of supervisory signals corresponding to the predetermined function.
- 21. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 20 wherein said sense supervisory signal processor means further includes excess event means for sensing a maximum interval of time during which the predetermined function is not satisfied, said excess event means being connected to said event code means for causing said event code means to generate an excess event code for transfer to said storage means.
- 22. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said call processing means transfers to said storage means a command that includes information specifying a ringing function and corresponding timing information and each said port group unit includes at least one port means, each said port means further including means responsive to the receipt of control signals from said storage means for transmitting a ringing signal onto a telephone line and wherein one of such function processing means is a ringing signal processor means that includes:
- a. ringing means connected to said storage means for transmitting control signals corresponding to a ringing operation to said storage means in response to a ringing command, and
- b. ring trip means connected to said ringing means and to said storage means for enabling said event code means to generate a ring trip event code when the telephone being rung is answered.
- 23. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 22 wherein the ringing command additionally includes emergency rering information and said ringing signal processor means further includes means responsive to emergency rering information for generating emergency rering signals and for enabling said event code means to generate an emergency rering event code for transfer to said call processing means.
- 24. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein one of the event codes is a non-event code and said event code means generates an event code each time said port event processing means connects to a port means, said indicating means being responsive only to the generation of an event code other than the non-event code.
- 25. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein one event code is an error code and said port event processing means further includes means for indicating the occurrence of an error condition thereby to enable said event code generating means to transfer an error event code to said call processing means.
- 26. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein one event code is a halt event code and said port event processing means includes means for monitoring halt operations at each said port means thereby to transfer selectively to said call processing means a halt event code.
- 27. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said storage means includes means for storing service information identifying whether the port means are in service and said port event processing means further includes means responsive to the service information for transferring to said call processing means an alarm event code in response to an occurrence of a predetermined alarm condition.
- 28. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said port event processing means further includes means for transferring to said storage means a seizure signal in response to certain of the supervisory signals and means for generating a release event code upon the termination of a telephone call.
- 29. A telephone switching system as recited in claim 12 wherein said port event processing means further includes means for establishing a sequence of logic states, timer means for defining an interval for each said logic state and means for generating a state timeout event code when the said port event processing means remains in a given predetermined logic state longer than a predetermined interval.
- 30. A control system for use in a telephony network including lines attached to a plurality of port group units that transmit and receive supervisory signals onto and from the lines, the supervisory signals including status signals that indicate the status of the lines, said control system comprising:
- A. call processing means for generating parameter signals that control the operation of the telephony network;
- B. storage means connected to said call processing means for storing the parameter signals from said call processing means and the status signals from the port group units, said call processing means additionally being enabled to retrieve the stored status signals from said storage means; and
- C. port event processing means connected to said storage means for processing the stored status signals, said port event processing means including:
- i. function processing means connected to said storage means for processing the stored status signals in response to the parameter signals;
- ii. event code means connected to said function processing means and to said storage means for storing in said storage means an event code in response to the operation of said function processing means; and
- iii. indicating means connected to said event code means for transmitting to said call processing means a signal that enables said call processing means to establish a next call progression step in a predetermined sequence of call progression steps.
- 31. A control system as defined in claim 30 wherein said function processing means in said port event processing means includes call logic state means for establishing a sequence of logic states that control the operation of said function processing means, said event code means being connected to said call logic state means for storing an event code in said storage means in response to predetermined ones of the logic states.
- 32. A control system as defined in claim 31 wherein each port group unit includes at least one port having a system identification number, said port event processing means further including:
- i. correspondence means connected to said event code means for generating correspondence signals that identify the port corresponding to each event code,
- ii. storage queue means connected to said correspondence means for storing the correspondence signals, and
- iii. means connected to said storage queue means for generating queue condition signals when said queue means stores correspondence signals, said call processing means retrieving information including the event code for the identified port means from said storage means in response to the queue condition signals.
- 33. A control system as recited in claim 32 wherein said storage queue means includes a plurality of separate storage queues and said call processing means transfers to a location in said storage means a priority value that corresponds to one of said storage queues, said port event processing means further including queue control means connected to said storage queues and to said storage means for routing the correspondence signals to the said storage queue identified by the priority value.
- 34. A control system as recited in claim 33 wherein each port group unit includes at least one port and said storage means includes means for storing the status signals for each said port means, said control system further including timing means including means for generating a set of control signals during a defined one of successive operating cycles, said port event processing means further including:
- i. port selection means responsive to said timing means for establishing a processing connection for each port means in sequence,
- ii. register means connected to said storage means and to said timing means for receiving, from said storage means, status signals for one port during each operating cycle, and
- iii. means connected to said storage means and to said timing means for transferring status signals from said function processing means to said storage means for the selected port during each cycle.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 6/249,031, filed Mar. 30, 1981, which is a continuation of grandparent application Ser. No. 6/064,230, filed Aug. 6, 1979, which is a continuation of great grandparent application Ser. No. 5/924,769, filed July 14, 1978, which in turn is a continuation in part of great great grandparent application Ser. No. 5/864,401 filed Dec. 27, 1977, all of which applications are now abandoned.
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3974343 |
Cheney et al. |
Aug 1976 |
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Continuations (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
249031 |
Mar 1981 |
|
Parent |
64230 |
Aug 1979 |
|
Parent |
924769 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
864401 |
Dec 1977 |
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