Telephone switching system

Claim 2

A telephone switching system comprising a. a line circuit switching network to which line circuits are connected, b. a destination switching network, c. a service circuit switching network to which service circuits are connected, and d. originating junctor means connected to the service circuit switching network, the line circuit switching network and the destination switching network, comprising: i. input leads connected to the line circuit switching network, ii. output leads connected to the destination switching network, iii. first junctor switch means for connecting the input leads to the output leads via a direct metallic transmission path, under control of the control means, iv. second junctor switch means for alternatively connecting the input leads to the output leads via a direct currentblocking transmission path, under control of the control means, v. means for connecting transmission paths between the input leads and the service circuit switching network, and the output leads and the service circuit switching network; and e. control means for effecting the operation of the junctor switch means in accordance with the requirements of a call.

Claim 3

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 1, wherein the originating junctor means further comprises: a. first and second impedance compensation means connected to the input leads and output leads respectively for maintaining the nominal impedance of the input and output leads at a predetermined approximate value during calls being transmitted via trunks having a higher impedance than said nominal impedance, under control of the control means, and b. sensory responsive means for determining the busy or idle status of the originating junctor means and for providing an indication of said status to the control means.

Claim 4

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 1, wherein the originating junctor means further comprises: a. first and second impedance compensation means connected to the input leads and output leads respectively for maintaining the nominal impedance of the input and output leads at a predetermined approximate value during calls being transmitted via trunks having a higher impedance than said nominal impedance, under control of the control means, and b. sensory responsive means for determining the busy or idle status of the originating junctor means and for providing an indication of said status to the control means.

Claim 5

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 2 wherein the originating junctor means further comprises: a. first supervisory means connected to the input leads for supervising the input leads, b. second supervisory means connected to the output leads for supervising the output leads, c. activation means for selectively activating either or both the first and the second supervisory means under control of the control means.

Claim 6

A telephone switching network as defined in claim 3 wherein, the second supervisory means comprises at least two sensitivity states, and further comprising means for detecting the presence or absence and the polarity of potential which may appear on the output leads.

Claim 7

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 3 including means for providing talking battery potential to the input leads when the first supervisory means is activated.

Claim 8

A telephone switching system comprising: a. a line circuit switching network to which line circuits are connected, b. a destination switching network, having input terminals and output terminals, c. a service circuit switching network, to which service circuits are connected, d. originating junctor means connected to the service circuit switching network, the line circuit switching network, and the destination switching network, comprising junctor switch means for providing transmission paths between the service circuit Switching network and the line circuit switching network or the destination switching network or both said latter networks, and between the line circuit switching network and the destination switching network, e. terminating junctor means interconnecting a group of the output terminals to the line circuit switching network, f. incoming trunks connected to a group of the input terminals, and outgoing trunks connected to a second group of the output terminals, g. control means for effecting the operation of the junctor switch means in accordance with the requirements of a call, h. marker means for selecting an idle transmission path through each of said networks, out of predetermined groups of transmission paths, i. scanning means for detecting the supervisory status of lines connected to the line network, junctors, trunks, service circuits, and marker means, j. central control and memory means for storing the supervisory states of said lines, junctors, trunks, service circuits, and marker means, and for specifying said predetermined groups of transmission paths to the marker means, in response to requests for service originating from said lines.

Claim 9

A telephone switching system comprising: a. a line circuit switching network to which line circuits are connected, b. a destination switching network, having input terminals and output terminals, c. a service circuit switching network, to which service circuits are connected, d. originating junctor means connected to the service circuit switching network, the line circuit switching network, and the destination switching network, comprising junctor switch means for providing transmission paths between the service circuit Switching network and the line circuit switching network or the destination switching network or both said latter networks, and between the line circuit switching network and the destination switching network, e. terminating junctor means interconnecting a group of the output terminals to the line circuit switching network, f. incoming trunks connected to a group of the input terminals, and outgoing trunks connected to a second group of the output terminals, g. control means for effecting the operation of the junctor switch means in accordance with the requirements of a call, h. marker means for selecting an idle transmission path through each of said networks, out of predetermined groups of transmission paths, i. scanning means for detecting the supervisory status of lines connected to the line network, junctors, trunks, service circuits, and marker means, j. central control and memory means for storing the supervisory states of said lines, junctors, trunks, service circuits, and marker means, and for specifying said predetermined groups of transmission paths to the marker means, in response to requests for service originating from said lines.

Claim 10

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 6, wherein the marker means comprises: a. first sensing means for sensing idle transmission paths through each of said networks, and b. second sensing means for sensing idle originating junctor means, c. matching means for matching said idle paths and said idle junctor means, d. selecting means for selecting one of each of the matched said idle paths and said idle junctor means, and e. operation means for operating said networks in response to the selection of one of said idle paths and one of said idle junctor means, to connect said selected one idle junctor means to said selected one idle path.

Claim 11

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 7 further including means connected in the scanning means for detecting and identifying said selected one said idle path and said idle junctor means.

Claim 12

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 7, including buffer storage means for temporarily storing signals which may be transmitted thereto by the central control and memory means, and in response to predetermined types of said signals, for initiating the first and second sensing means.

Claim 13

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 6, wherein the scanning means comprises: a. a multiplicity of interrogatable current-sensitive means which may be disposed in intermittently current carrying portions of the line network, junctors, trunks, service circuits and marker means, b. means for enabling the operation of the scanning means, c. means for addressing one of said current-sensitive means, d. the means for enabling and the means for addressing providing an interrogation of said current sensing means, e. means for reading the state of saturation of said one of the current-sensitive means, f. means for returning to the central control and memory means a signal corresponding to the state of saturation of said one of the current-sensitive means.

Claim 14

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 10, the scanning means further comprising: means for returning an enable and address correlation signal to the central control and memory means.

Claim 15

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 11 including an enable bus for transmitting an enabling signal from the central control and memory means to said enabling means, an address bus for transmitting an address signal from the central control and memory means to the scanning means, a scan return bus for transmitting the state of the current-sensitive means to the central control and memory means, and an all-seems-well bus for transmitting said correlation signal to the central control and memory means; each of said buses coupling the scanning means and the central control and memory means.

Claim 16

A telephone switching system as deFined in claim 6, further comprising a. scanning means for detecting the supervisory states of lines which may be connected to the line network, junctors, trunks, service circuits, and said control means, b. central control and memory means for storing the supervisory states of said lines, junctors, trunks, service circuits and said control means and c. data bus means coupling the scanning means, and central control and memory means for carrying the transmission of enable and address data, and for carrying the return of supervisory state data to the central control and memory means.

Claim 17

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 13 wherein the data bus means is comprised of: an enable bus for carrying the transmission of enabling signals from the central control and memory means, an address bus for carrying the transmission of address signals from the central control and memory means, a scan return bus for carrying the transmission of supervisory state signals from the scanning means to the central control and memory means.

Claim 18

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 6, further comprising ringing means connectable to a calling and a called subscriber''s line through the service circuit switching network, including means responsive to the central control and memory means for applying ringing signals to the called subscriber''s line and ringback tone to the calling subscriber''s line.

Claim 19

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 10 wherein the ringing means also includes means for sensing the supervisory states of the calling and called subscriber''s lines and for providing an indication of said status to the central control and memory means; and means for applying or cutting off the ringing signals and ringback tone in accordance with sequence instructions stored in said memory of the central control and memory means.

Claim 20

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 16, further comprising means in the ringing means for holding operated a transmission path through the service circuit switching network during the application of ringing signals and ringback tone to the calling and called subscriber''s lines.

Claim 21

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 6, further comprising: digit receiving means connected to the service circuit switching network for indicating the central control and memory means via the scanning means, a digit transmitted from said subscribers line circuits and trunks.

Claim 22

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 18 further comprising means, in response to the connection of the digit receiving means to the service network, to the dialing of a digit, to the completion of dialing and to the reception of a hookswitch ''''flash,'''' for modifying the responsive operation of the digit receiving means in accordance with sequence instructions stored in said memory of the central control and memory means.

Claim 23

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 18 further comprising pulse transmitter means connected through the service circuit switching network to an outgoing trunk for outpulsing over the outgoing trunk a series of digits identifying a trunk or a called subscriber''s line.

Claim 24

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 20, further comprising, in said transmitter, first means for terminating the subscriber''s line and second means for monitoring the supervisory state of the subscriber''s line through the service circuit switching network, third means for monitoring the supervisory state of the outgoing trunk, and fourth means, under control of the central control and memory means for applying a series of digits to the outgoing trunk through the service network.

Claim 25

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 21, further comprising means in said transmitter for holding operated a transmission path through the service circuit switching network during the application of the series of digits to the outgoing trunk.

Claim 26

A telephone switching system as defIned in claim 6, including control means connected to the central control and memory means, comprising buffer storage means for temporarily storing signals which may be transmitted thereto by the central control and memory means, and in response to predetermined types of said signals for affecting the operation of the junctor switch means, service circuits and trunks, and for effecting the operation of the marker means.

Claim 27

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 23, wherein the central control and memory means comprises a call store memory for storing the supervisory state of active lines, trunks, service circuits, and originating and terminating junctor means, a program store memory for storing call process instructions, and central processing means for receiving, processing, and transmitting signals to the marker means and to the control means in response to the change in supervisory state of a particular line, trunk, service circuit and junctor means, and to the call process instructions.

Claim 28

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 24, wherein the marker means comprises a. first sensing means for sensing idle transmission paths through each of said networks, b. second sending means for sensing idle originating junctor means, c. matching means for matching said idle paths and said idle junctor means, d. selecting means for selecting one each of the matched said idle paths and said idle junctor means, e. operation means for operating said networks in response to the selection of one of said idle paths and one of said idle junctor means, to connect said one idle junctor means to said one idle path, f. buffer storage means for temporarily storing signals which may be transmitted thereto by the central control and memory means, and in response to predetermined types of said signals, for initiating operation of the first and second sensing means, and g. a first number of interrogatable current sensitive means of the scanning means connected in predetermined intermittently current carrying portions of the marker means for detecting and identifying the said one idle path and said one idle junctor means for the central and memory means, the scanning means comprising: h. a multiplicity, including said first number, of interrogatable current-sensitive means disposed in intermittently current carrying portions of the line network, junctors, trunks, service circuits, and marker means, i. means for enabling the operation of the scanning means, j. means for addressing one of said current-sensitive means, k. the enabling and addressing providing an interrogation of said current-sensitive means, l. means for reading the state of said one of the current-sensitive means, and m. means for returning to the central control and memory means signals corresponding to the state of said one of the current-sensitive means.

Claim 29

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 24 further comprising: a. digit receiving means connected to the service circuit switching network for indicating to the central control and memory means via the scanning means, digits transmitted from said subscriber''s line circuits and trunks, b. pulse transmitter means connected to the service circuit switching network for outpulsing over an outgoing trunk a series of digits identifying a trunk or a called subscriber''s line, and c. ringing means connected through the service circuit switching network to a calling and a called subscriber''s line, including means responsive to the central control and memory means for applying ringing signals to the called subscriber''s line, and ringback tone to the calling subscriber''s line.

Claim 30

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 26, a. wherein the ringing means also includes means for sensing the supervisory states of the calling and called subscriber''s lines, and for providing an indication of said states to the central control and memory means; and meanS for applying or cutting off the ringing signals and ringback tone in accordance with sequence instructions stored in said memory of the central control and memory means, b. said pulse transmitter comprising first means for terminating the subscriber''s lines, second means for monitoring the supervisory states of the subscriber''s line through the service circuit switching network, third means for monitoring the supervisory state of the outgoing trunk, and fourth means, under control of the central control and memory means, for applying a series of digits to an outgoing trunk through the service circuit switching network.

Claim 31

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 26 wherein the originating junctor means comprises: a. input leads connected to the line circuit switching network, b. output leads connected to the destination switching network, c. first supervisory means connected to the input leads for supervising the states of the input leads, d. second supervisory means connected to the output leads comprising at least two sensitivity states, and including means for detecting the presence, and its polarity, or the absence, of potential which may appear on the output leads, e. activation means for selectively activating either or both the first and second supervisory means under control of the control means, and means for providing talking battery potential to the input leads when the first supervisory means is activated.

Claim 32

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 26 including: a. an enable bus for transmitting an enabling signal from the central control and memory means to the scanning means, marker means, control means, and pulse transmitting means, b. an address bus for transmitting an address signal from the central control and memory means to the scanning means, marker means, control means, and pulse transmitting means, c. a scan return bus for transmitting the state of the current sensitive means in the scanning means, to the central control and memory means, and d. an all-seems-well bus for transmitting an address correlation signal to the central control and memory means; e. the scan return and all-seems-well buses coupling the scanning means and the central control and memory means, and the enable and address buses coupling the scanning means, marker means, control means and pulse transmitting means.

Claim 33

A telephone switching system as defined in claim 26, wherein the marker means comprises: a. first sensing means for sensing idle transmission paths through each of said networks, b. second sensing means for sensing idle originating junctor means, c. matching means for matching said idle paths and said idle originating junctor means, d. selecting means for selecting one each of the matched said idle paths and said idle junctor means, e. operation means for operating said networks in response to the selection of one of said idle paths and one of said idle junctor means, to connect said one idle junctor means to said one idle path, f. buffer storage means for temporarily storing signals which may be transmitted thereby by the central control and memory means, and in response to predetermined types of said signals, for initiating operation of the first and second sensing means, and g. first number of interrogatable current sensitive means of the scanning means connected in predetermined intermittently current carrying portions of the marker means, for detecting and identifying the said one idle path and said one idle junctor means for the central and memory means, the scanning means comprising: h. a multiplicity, including said first number, of interrogatable current-sensitive means disposed in intermittently current carrying portions of the line network, junctors, trunks, service circuits, and marker means, i. means for enabling the operation of the scanning means, j. means for addressing one of said current-sensitive means, k. the enabling and addressing providing an interrogation of said current-sensitive means, l. means for reading the state of said one of the current-sensitive means, and m. means for returning to the central control and memory means signals corresponding to the state of said one of the current-sensitive means, wherein the originating junctor means comprises: n. input leads connected to the line circuit switching network, o. output leads connected to the destination switching network, p. first supervisory means connected to the input leads for supervising the state of the input leads, q. second supervisory means connected to the output leads comprising at least two sensitivity states, and means for detecting the presence, and its polarity, or the absence of potential which may appear on the output leads, r. activation means for selectively activating either or both the first and second supervisory means under control of the control means, and means for providing talking battery potential to the input leads when the first supervisory means is activated, further including: s. an enable bus for transmitting enabling signals from the central control and memory means to the scanning means, marker means, control means, and pulse transmitting means, t. an address bus for transmitting address signals from the central control and memory means to the scanning means, marker means, control means, and pulse transmitting means, u. a scan return bus for transmitting the saturation states of the current-sensitive means in the scanning means, to the central control and memory means, and v. an all-seems-well bus for transmitting an address correlation signal to the central control and memory means; w. the scan return and all-seems-well buses coupling the scanning means and the central control and memory means, and the enable and address buses coupling the scanning means, marker means, control means and pulse transmitting means.