US3617644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Satellite communication exchange station
Assignee: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
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Filing: 1968-07-08
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Granted: 1971-11-02
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Expires: 1988-07-08
Abstract
Abstract Communication paths between a plurality of earth stations on a demand assignment basis are provided. Each participating station transmits a carrier that is received by all other stations and identifies the transmitting station. A remote station is called by transmitting the remote station calling frequency or address via the local carrier. The remote station then detects its address frequency on the local station carrier and automatically locks onto the channel carrying signals received from the local station. The remote station then transmits the signal frequency or address of the local station via the remote station carrier. When the address is received at the local station, it automatically locks onto the channel carrying signals received from the remote station, thereby providing a communication circuit (two-way communication path) between the calling and the called stations. Each participating station sends out a busy signal during the entire time it is in use. The busy signal from any one station is received by all other stations and prevents the calling of a busy station.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Boag
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
418 words
An exchange for providing a communication path between a local communication path on the local side of said exchange and one of N possible remote similar exchanges on the line side of said exchange on a demand basis, said local path being adapted to be connected to said exchange by means of a plug-in cord circuit, said exchange comprising: a. a two-wire to four-wire terminating set having a common input/output connection on the local side of said exchange and separate input and output connections on the line side of said exchange, b. N outgoing jacks adapted to receive said plug for calling said N remote exchanges respectively, c. an incoming jack adapted to receive said plug for answering a call from any of said remote exchanges, all of said incoming and outgoing jacks being normally connected to said input/output connection of said terminating set, d. N input channels on the line side of said exchange for receiving communications from said N remote exchanges respectively, e. an outgoing channel on the line side of said exchange for sending signaling and voice communication to all of said N remote exchanges, f. N tone generator means for generating tones corresponding to address frequencies of said N remote exchanges respectively, g. N busy circuits, one associated with each of said outgoing jacks and each being operative when energized by a busy signal to provide a busy tone at the associated outgoing jack and to disconnect said associated outgoing jack from said input/output connection, h. means responsive to the insertion of said plug into one of said outgoing jacks connected to said input/output connection for selecting one of said address frequencies to be transmitted over said outgoing channel, said selected address frequency being the address of the exchange called by said outgoing jack, and for transmitting a busy signal to said remote exchanges, said busy signal being a frequency outside of the voice band, i. means associated with each busy circuit responsive to busy signals received from said remote exchanges for energizing the corresponding busy circuit, j. means for connecting said selected frequency to said outgoing channel and for disabling said last-mentioned means for energizing at a first predetermined time thereafter, k. N address detector means for detecting the exchange address frequency on said N input channels, respectively, l. means responsive to the detection of said exchange address by one of said detector means for connecting the incoming channel associated with said one detector means to the input connection of said terminating set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
418 words
An exchange for providing a communication path between a local communication path on the local side of said exchange and one of N possible remote similar exchanges on the line side of said exchange on a demand basis, said local path being adapted to be connected to said exchange by means of a plug-in cord circuit, said exchange comprising: a. a two-wire to four-wire terminating set having a common input/output connection on the local side of said exchange and separate input and output connections on the line side of said exchange, b. N outgoing jacks adapted to receive said plug for calling said N remote exchanges respectively, c. an incoming jack adapted to receive said plug for answering a call from any of said remote exchanges, all of said incoming and outgoing jacks being normally connected to said input/output connection of said terminating set, d. N input channels on the line side of said exchange for receiving communications from said N remote exchanges respectively, e. an outgoing channel on the line side of said exchange for sending signaling and voice communication to all of said N remote exchanges, f. N tone generator means for generating tones corresponding to address frequencies of said N remote exchanges respectively, g. N busy circuits, one associated with each of said outgoing jacks and each being operative when energized by a busy signal to provide a busy tone at the associated outgoing jack and to disconnect said associated outgoing jack from said input/output connection, h. means responsive to the insertion of said plug into one of said outgoing jacks connected to said input/output connection for selecting one of said address frequencies to be transmitted over said outgoing channel, said selected address frequency being the address of the exchange called by said outgoing jack, and for transmitting a busy signal to said remote exchanges, said busy signal being a frequency outside of the voice band, i. means associated with each busy circuit responsive to busy signals received from said remote exchanges for energizing the corresponding busy circuit, j. means for connecting said selected frequency to said outgoing channel and for disabling said last-mentioned means for energizing at a first predetermined time thereafter, k. N address detector means for detecting the exchange address frequency on said N input channels, respectively, l. means responsive to the detection of said exchange address by one of said detector means for connecting the incoming channel associated with said one detector means to the input connection of said terminating set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An exchange as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for disabling the detector means associated with the incoming channel for the called exchange for a second predetermined time following said first predetermined time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
An exchange according to claim 2 further comprising: a. means responsive to the detection of said exchange address by one of said detector means for providing an indication of the incoming channel carrying said exchange address, and b. means responsive to said plug being inserted into said incoming jack following detection by one of said detector means for connecting the address frequency corresponding to the calling station to said output channel for a predetermined period of time and for transmitting said busy signal to said remote locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An exchange according to claim 3 further comprising means for energizing said busy circuit a predetermined time following the initiation of call in the absence of a response from the called exchange or a call from another of said remote exchangers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An exchange according to claim 4 further comprising means responsive to the connection of said input connection to one of said incoming channels for holding said connection until the call is terminated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
178 words
An exchange for providing a communication path between a local communication path on the local side of said exchange and a remote exchange on the line side of said exchange comprising: a. means for calling said remote exchange comprising, i. means for transmitting a tone which uniquely identifies said remote exchange over a channel which uniquely identifies said local exchange, b. means for accepting a response from said remote location comprising, i. means for detecting a tone frequency, which uniquely identifies said local exchange, over a channel which uniquely identifies said remote exchange, and ii. means responsive to the detection of said tone frequency by said latter means for applying communications received over said channel to said local side of said exchange, c. means for transmitting a busy-indicating frequency which is outside of the voice band for the duration of said call, and d. means responsive to the receipt of said busy frequency from said remote exchange prior to a first predetermined time following the calling of said remote exchange for terminating the call to said remote exchange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
178 words
An exchange for providing a communication path between a local communication path on the local side of said exchange and a remote exchange on the line side of said exchange comprising: a. means for calling said remote exchange comprising, i. means for transmitting a tone which uniquely identifies said remote exchange over a channel which uniquely identifies said local exchange, b. means for accepting a response from said remote location comprising, i. means for detecting a tone frequency, which uniquely identifies said local exchange, over a channel which uniquely identifies said remote exchange, and ii. means responsive to the detection of said tone frequency by said latter means for applying communications received over said channel to said local side of said exchange, c. means for transmitting a busy-indicating frequency which is outside of the voice band for the duration of said call, and d. means responsive to the receipt of said busy frequency from said remote exchange prior to a first predetermined time following the calling of said remote exchange for terminating the call to said remote exchange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An exchange as claimed in claim 6 further comprising means for disabling said detecting means for a second predetermined time following said first predetermined time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An exchange as claimed in claim 7 further comprising seCond detector means for detecting said tone frequency uniquely identifying said local exchange over a channel which identifies another remote exchange, and means responsive to the detection of said tone frequency by said second detection means for disabling said means for accepting a response.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An exchange as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means for disabling said second detector means at the end of said first predetermined time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
An exchange for providing communicating paths with other exchanges on a demand basis comprising means for receiving busy signals from said other exchanges when said other exchanges are transmitting and means connected to said busy-signal-receiving means for stopping an attempted call to one of said other exchanges in response to a busy signal from said other exchange being received when said call is initiated or at any time during a first predetermined time after said call is initiated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
An exchange for providing communicating paths with other exchanges on a demand basis comprising means for receiving busy signals from said other exchanges when said other exchanges are transmitting and means connected to said busy-signal-receiving means for stopping an attempted call to one of said other exchanges in response to a busy signal from said other exchange being received when said call is initiated or at any time during a first predetermined time after said call is initiated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
An exchange as claimed in claim 10 further comprising: a. call selector means for initiating a call to a selected exchange, b. busy signal generator means for generating a busy signal frequency outside of the voice band, c. a plurality of address tone generators, each generating a tone which is associated with one of said remote exchanges, and d. means responsive to the initiation of a call by said call selector means for transmitting said busy signal frequency and said address tone corresponding to said selected remote exchange.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An exchange as claimed in claim 11 further comprising means for stopping said call if no answer is received for a second predetermined amount of time following the initiation of said call.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-01 | 1975-05-03 | 1975-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-01 | 1979-05-03 | 1979-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-01 | 1983-05-03 | 1983-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |