Store and forward message switching system utilizing a modular data processor

Claim 1

A STORE AND FORWARD MESSAGE SWITCHING CENTER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A TOTALLY MODULAR DATA PROCESSOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF IDENTICAL MEMORY MODULES, AND A PLURALITY OF IDENTICAL PROCESSING MODULES INTERCONNECTED TO A MATRICALLY ARRANGED CENTRAL INTERCHANGE FOR SIMULTANEOUS INTERCOMMUNICATION THEREBETWEEN, A PLURALITY OF IDENTICAL INPUT/OUTPUT CONTROL MODULES EACH CONNECTED TO ALL FOR SELECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OF SAID IDENTICAL MEMORY MODULES THROUGH SAID CENTRAL INTERCHANGE, A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERAL RECORDING AND STORAGE DEVICES INTERCONNECTED THROUGH A MATRICALLY ARRANGED INPUT/OUTPUT INTERCHANGE TO SAID INPUT/OUTPUT CONTROL MODULES FOR SIMULTANEOUS INTERCOMMUNICATION THEREWITH, A PLURALITY OF IDENTICAL DATA DEMAND MODULES INDIVIDUALLY CONNECTED TO ALL FOR SELECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OF SAID MEMORY MODULES THROUGH SAID CENTRAL INTERCHANGE, A PLURALITY OF IDENTICAL DATA BUFFER MODULES INTERCONNECTED THROUGH A MATRICALLY ARRANGED DATA DEMAND INTERCHANGE TO SAID DATA DEMAND MODULES FOR SIMULTANEOUS INTERCOMMUNICATION THEREWITH, EACH OF SAID BUFFER MODULES INTERCONNECTING A PLURALITY OF MESSAGE COMMUNICATION LINES TO SAID DATA DEMAND INTERCHANGE, EACH OF SAID PLURALITIES OF MODULES OF SAID MESSAGE SWITCHING CENTER INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL MODULE IN EXCESS OF SYSTEM OPERATING REQUIREMENTS TO THEREBY PROVIDE A MESSAGE SWITCHING CENTER HAVING THE RELIABILITY ACHIEVED BY A SWITCHING SYSTEM WITH A COMPLETE STANDBY SYSTEM WITHOUT THE EQUIPMENT REDUNDANCY AND INHERENT SWITCHOVER REQUIREMENTS OF A COMPLETE STANDBY SYSTEM.