Common control digital echo suppression

Claim 2

In combination: means for comparing the signal level on a first line with a selected set of digital code signals to determine which of a plurality of digital activity status codes is to be assigned to indicate the current activity status of said first line; means for simultaneously comparing said signal level on said first line with the signal level on a second line to determine if said second line is idle; and means for generating a control signal in response to signals indicating that said first line''s current assigned activity status is an active status, and said second line is idle.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 further comprising: means responsive to said control signal for activating echo suppression.

Claim 4

translating the analogue signal level on a second line into a second set of digital level signals;

Claim 5

translating the analogue signal level on a second line into a second set of digital level signals;

Claim 6

generating an active signal, indicating information is being transmitted on said second line, when the comparison of step 1 indicates said signal level on said second line is greater than said signal level on said first line;

Claim 7

generating an active signal, indicating information is being transmitted on said second line, when the comparison of step 1 indicates said signal level on said second line is greater than said signal level on said first line;

Claim 8

comparing the signal level on a second line with said signal level on said first line to determine if said second line is idle; and

Claim 9

comparing the signal level on a second line with said signal level on said first line to determine if said second line is idle; and

Claim 10

generating a control signal when said assigned activity status of said first line is an active status and said second line is idle.

Claim 11

generating a control signal when said assigned activity status of said first line is an active status and said second line is idle.

Claim 12

combining said active signal with selected stored code signals to statistically determine said second line''s assigned activity status.

Claim 13

combining said active signal with selected stored code signals to statistically determine said second line''s assigned activity status.

Claim 14

translating said first set of digital level signals into a selected set of code signals;

Claim 15

translating said first set of digital level signals into a selected set of code signals;

Claim 16

In combination: means for translating analogue signal levels on a first line into a first set of digital level signals; means for simultaneously translating analogue signal levels on a second line into a second set of digital level signals; a first combining means for combining said first set of digital level signals with a first set of selected code signals to determine the current activity status of said first line; a comparison means for comparing said first set of digital level signals with said second set of digital level signals to determine which of the two lines is carrying the highest signal level; a second combining means for combining the output signal of said comparison means with a second set of selected code signals to determine the current activity status of said second line; and means for generating a selected control signal in response to the existence of selected combinations of said first and said second line current activity statuses.

Claim 17

In combination: means for translating analogue signal levels on a first line into a first set of digital level signals; means for simultaneously translating analogue signal levels on a second line into a second set of digital level signals; a first combining means for combining said first set of digital level signals with a first set of selected code signals to determine the current activity status of said first line; a comparison means for comparing said first set of digital level signals with said second set of digital level signals to determine which of the two lines is carrying the highest signal level; a second combining means for combining the output signal of said comparison means with a second set of selected code signals to determine the current activity status of said second line; and means for generating a selected control signal in response to the existence of selected combinations of said first and said second line current activity statuses.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 3 further comprising: a gating means; an impedance means; and means responsive to said selected control signal for enabling said gating means, to insert said impedance means in series with the transmission path over said second line.

Claim 19

comparing said selected set of code signals with a set of stored code signals representing the past assigned activity status of said first line to determine said first line''s current activity status;

Claim 20

comparing said selected set of code signals with a set of stored code signals representing the past assigned activity status of said first line to determine said first line''s current activity status;

Claim 21

deactivating echo suppression upon the occurrence of said active signal generated in step 2.

Claim 22

deactivating echo suppression upon the occurrence of said active signal generated in step 2.

Claim 23

translating said signal level on said first line into a plurality of digital level signals;

Claim 24

translating said signal level on said first line into a plurality of digital level signals;

Claim 25

combining said digital level signals with a set of stored digital signals representing the past assigned activity status of said first line; and

Claim 26

combining said digital level signals with a set of stored digital signals representing the past assigned activity status of said first line; and

Claim 27

combining said active signal with a set of stored digital signals representing the past assigned activity status of said second line; and

Claim 28

combining said active signal with a set of stored digital signals representing the past assigned activity status of said second line; and

Claim 29

comparing said first set of digital level signals with said second set of digital level signals to determine if said second line is active; and

Claim 30

comparing said first set of digital level signals with said second set of digital level signals to determine if said second line is active; and

Claim 31

In a signal controlled communications system, having a plurality of receive-transmit line pairs, the combination comprising: means for converting the analogue signal level on a selected receiving line into a first set of digital level signals; means for converting the analogue signal level on an associated transmitting line into a second set of digital level signals; common time-shared means for statistically translating said first set of digital level signals into one of a first plurality of activating status codes; common time-shared means for statistically translating said second set of digital level signals into one of a second plurality of activity status codes; and common time-shared means responsive to selected combinations of said first and said second activity status codes for generating a control signal.

Claim 32

In a signal controlled communications system, having a plurality of receive-transmit line pairs, the combination comprising: means for converting the analogue signal level on a selected receiving line into a first set of digital level signals; means for converting the analogue signal level on an associated transmitting line into a second set of digital level signals; common time-shared means for statistically translating said first set of digital level signals into one of a first plurality of activating status codes; common time-shared means for statistically translating said second set of digital level signals into one of a second plurality of activity status codes; and common time-shared means responsive to selected combinations of said first and said second activity status codes for generating a control signal.

Claim 33

In a signal controlled communications system having a plurality of receive-transmit line pairs, the combination comprising: means for repetitively sampling each pair of said plurality of line pairs at a selected rate; means for converting the analogue signal level on the sampled receive line into a set of digital level signals; a common time-shared state detector for statistically translating said set of digital level signals into a selected activity status code; and common time-shared means for generating a selected control signal in response to the simultaneous application of said selected activity status code and selected signals which are a function of the analogue signal level on the transmit line sampled concurrently with said receive line.

Claim 34

In a signal controlled communications system having a plurality of receive-transmit line pairs, the combination comprising: means for repetitively sampling each pair of said plurality of line pairs at a selected rate; means for converting the analogue signal level on the sampled receive line into a set of digital level signals; a common time-shared state detector for statistically translating said set of digital level signals into a selected activity status code; and common time-shared means for generating a selected control signal in response to the simultaneous application of said selected activity status code and selected signals which are a function of the analogue signal level on the transmit line sampled concurrently with said receive line.

Claim 35

activating echo suppression when the current activity status, determined in step 4, is an active status, and step 5 indicates said second line is not active.

Claim 36

activating echo suppression when the current activity status, determined in step 4, is an active status, and step 5 indicates said second line is not active.

Claim 37

altering said set of stored digital signals in a selected manner in response to the occurrence of selected combinations of said set of stored digital signals existing concurrently with said active signal.

Claim 38

altering said set of stored digital signals in a selected manner in response to the occurrence of selected combinations of said set of stored digital signals existing concurrently with said active signal.

Claim 39

altering said set of stored digital signals in a selected manner for selected combinations of said set of stored digital signals and said digital level signals.

Claim 40

altering said set of stored digital signals in a selected manner for selected combinations of said set of stored digital signals and said digital level signals.

Claim 41

The combination of claim 6 further comprising: a common time-shared storage means for storing said activity status code; and a common time-shared timing means for generating selected timing signals upon the expiration of selected intervals, said timing means being responsive to selected output signals of said state detector.

Claim 42

The combination of claim 7 wherein said state detector is responsive to selected combinations of sets of digital level signals representing selected signal levels on said receive line, selected ones of said timing signals, and selected activity status codes.

Claim 43

In a signal controlled communications systEm having a plurality of receive-transmit line pairs, the combination comprising: means for repetitively sampling each pair of said plurality of line pairs at a selected rate; means for converting the analogue signal level on the sampled transmit line into a set of digital level signals; means for converting said set of digital level signals into a line activity signal; a common time-shared state detector for statistically translating said line activity signal into a selected one of a plurality of activity status codes; and common time-shared means for generating a selected control signal in response to the simultaneous application of the selected activity status code and selected signals which are a function of the analogue signal level on the receive line sampled concurrently with said transmit line.

Claim 44

In a signal controlled communications systEm having a plurality of receive-transmit line pairs, the combination comprising: means for repetitively sampling each pair of said plurality of line pairs at a selected rate; means for converting the analogue signal level on the sampled transmit line into a set of digital level signals; means for converting said set of digital level signals into a line activity signal; a common time-shared state detector for statistically translating said line activity signal into a selected one of a plurality of activity status codes; and common time-shared means for generating a selected control signal in response to the simultaneous application of the selected activity status code and selected signals which are a function of the analogue signal level on the receive line sampled concurrently with said transmit line.

Claim 45

The combination of claim 9 further comprising: a common time-shared storage means for storing said activity status code; and a common time-shared timing means for generating selected timing signals upon the expiration of selected intervals, said timing means being responsive to selected output signals of said state detector.

Claim 46

The combination of claim 10 wherein said state detector is responsive to said line activity signal, selected ones of said timing signals, and selected activity status codes.

Claim 47

The combination of claim 10 further comprising: a source of enabling signals having pulse recurrent frequencies equal to various submultiples of the line sampling rate, which signals are applied as inputs to said timing means; and said timing means being responsive to the simultaneous application of selected output signals of said state detector and selected ones of said enabling signals.

Claim 48

A combination for providing echo suppression in a signal-controlled communications system having a plurality of odd-even line pairs which comprises: means for repetitively sampling the analogue signal level on both the odd and the even line of each line pair comprising said plurality of line pairs simultaneously at a selected rate; means for converting said signal level on said odd line to a set of digital level signals; means for converting said signal level on said even line to a set of digital level signals; common time-shared comparison means for comparing the sets of digital level signals which comparison means generates an active signal if said signal level on said even line is greater than said signal level on said odd line; a common time-shared odd state detector for translating said set of digital level signals derived from said odd line into an odd activity status code; a common time-shared even state detector for translating said active signal into a selected even activity status code; common time-shared means responsive to said odd activity status code and selected even activity status code for generating a control signal; and common time-shared means responsive to said control signal for activating echo suppression.

Claim 49

A combination for providing echo suppression in a signal-controlled communications system having a plurality of odd-even line pairs which comprises: means for repetitively sampling the analogue signal level on both the odd and the even line of each line pair comprising said plurality of line pairs simultaneously at a selected rate; means for converting said signal level on said odd line to a set of digital level signals; means for converting said signal level on said even line to a set of digital level signals; common time-shared comparison means for comparing the sets of digital level signals which comparison means generates an active signal if said signal level on said even line is greater than said signal level on said odd line; a common time-shared odd state detector for translating said set of digital level signals derived from said odd line into an odd activity status code; a common time-shared even state detector for translating said active signal into a selected even activity status code; common time-shared means responsive to said odd activity status code and selected even activity status code for generating a control signal; and common time-shared means responsive to said control signal for activating echo suppression.

Claim 50

A machine method comprising the steps of:

Claim 51

A machine method comprising the steps of:

Claim 52

The machine method of claim 14 wherein step 4 further comprises the steps of:

Claim 53

The machine method of claim 15 wherein step 5 comprises: combining said digital level signals with a stored digital activity status code, and selected timing signals.

Claim 54

A machine method comprising the steps of:

Claim 55

A machine method comprising the steps of:

Claim 56

The machine method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

Claim 57

The machine method of claim 17 wherein step 3 further comprises:

Claim 58

The machine method of claim 19 wherein step 5 comprises combining said active signal, a stored activity code, and selected timing signals.