US3673340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data-evaluation system for telephone exchange
Assignee: Italtel SpA
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Filing: 1970-04-20
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A monitoring memory (300) of the circulating type has a first section (MC) with 100 phases for the activities of as many local lines identified by two-digit decimal numbers, a second section (MR) subdivided into several multiphase storage units (RET) for receiving, evaluating and transmitting information relating to a call involving an associated local line, and a third section (MS) carrying supplemental information such as the time of day. With 800 phases circulating at a rate of one memory cycle per 800 Mu s, two consecutive counting phases in the third memory section are stepped once per cycle to produce, consecutively, the 100 line-identification numbers or addresses 00-99. A digital counter (100), operating in synchronism with the first section of the monitoring memory, periodically delivers the addresses of the 100 local lines to a comparator (820) matching them with the progressively changing address information stored in the third memory section for a successive sampling of all the lines at intervals of 100 cycles, or 80 ms; this comparison is facilitated by the concurrent tapping of the two consecutive counting phases of the third memory section (MS) whereby the two address digits are simultaneously made available. If a line is found engaged, this information is fed to a logic network (EC) which thereupon seizes an available storage unit (RET) to register the pertinent data in the phases thereof and to feed them to a tape perforator (PF). Upon the response of the called station, or upon premature termination by the calling party, the storage unit (RET) is released; when the call is completed, the same or another such unit and perforator are seized to record the length of the conversation.
Inventors
- 👤 Luigi Casella
- 👤 Aldo Perna
- 👤 Giuseppe Valbonesi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
355 words
A time-sharing telecommunication system comprising an exchange; a multiplicity of local lines terminating at said exchange; test means at said exchange for cyclically detecting the state of energization of said lines in the course of a scanning period; a circulating monitoring memory with a repetition cycle equal to said scanning period, said monitoring memory being serially divided into several sections including a multi-phase first section subdivided into a multiplicity of time slots individually assigned to respective local lines and a second section subdivided into a plurality of multiphase storage units for temporarily registering numerical information relating to any one of said lines; address means at said exchange synchronized with said monitoring memory for selectively operating said test means in different time slots of said first section, identifying respective lines, during successive repetition cycles; logical circuitry at said exchange connected to said monitoring memory and to said test means for seizing a free storage unit upon initiation of a call on a line thus identified and for inscribing code words relating to the progress of said call in successive phases of the seized storage unit and in an assigned time slot of said first section; data-processing means in said circuitry for discriminating among different events including (a) discontinuance of an uncompleted call by the initiating party, (b) response of a called party and (c) completion of a call after establishment of interparty communication; recording means for data relating to such call; and control means for said recording means connected to said monitoring memory for reading out the numerical information registered in said seized storage unit during an initial stage of the call, Said initial stage ending with the occurrence of either one of events (a) and (b); said circuitry being responsive to the ending of said initial stage for releasing the seized storage unit and to the occurrence of event (c), relating to a call whose progress is registered by a code word inscribed in the assigned time slot, for thereafter again seizing a free storage unit with reactivation of said control means to record further information registered therein during a terminal stage of the call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
355 words
A time-sharing telecommunication system comprising an exchange; a multiplicity of local lines terminating at said exchange; test means at said exchange for cyclically detecting the state of energization of said lines in the course of a scanning period; a circulating monitoring memory with a repetition cycle equal to said scanning period, said monitoring memory being serially divided into several sections including a multi-phase first section subdivided into a multiplicity of time slots individually assigned to respective local lines and a second section subdivided into a plurality of multiphase storage units for temporarily registering numerical information relating to any one of said lines; address means at said exchange synchronized with said monitoring memory for selectively operating said test means in different time slots of said first section, identifying respective lines, during successive repetition cycles; logical circuitry at said exchange connected to said monitoring memory and to said test means for seizing a free storage unit upon initiation of a call on a line thus identified and for inscribing code words relating to the progress of said call in successive phases of the seized storage unit and in an assigned time slot of said first section; data-processing means in said circuitry for discriminating among different events including (a) discontinuance of an uncompleted call by the initiating party, (b) response of a called party and (c) completion of a call after establishment of interparty communication; recording means for data relating to such call; and control means for said recording means connected to said monitoring memory for reading out the numerical information registered in said seized storage unit during an initial stage of the call, Said initial stage ending with the occurrence of either one of events (a) and (b); said circuitry being responsive to the ending of said initial stage for releasing the seized storage unit and to the occurrence of event (c), relating to a call whose progress is registered by a code word inscribed in the assigned time slot, for thereafter again seizing a free storage unit with reactivation of said control means to record further information registered therein during a terminal stage of the call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said storage units includes a first subunit with phases for instantly receiving said code words from said circuitry and a second subunit with additional phases for subsequently storing said data preparatorily to their transmission to said recording means, said circuitry comprising transfer means for shifting said code words from said first to said second subunit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined claim 2 wherein said sections include a third section with phases for ancillary information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said transfer means has access to said third section for retrieving said ancillary information and storing same in certain of said additional phases substantially concurrently with related code words from said first subunit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said exchange is provided with clock means for registering chronometric data in said third section as part of said ancillary information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said chronometric data occupy several clock phases of said third section, said monitoring memory being provided with a counting phase advancing once every repetition cycle for sequentially reading out the contents of said clock phases to said transfer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein the phases of said third section include a plurality of consecutive counting phases, said address means comprising a digital counter and comparison means having access to the output of said counter an to said consecutive counting phases for matching the contents thereof with the counter output during each repetition cycle, said counting unit advancing once every repetition cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said monitoring memory is provided with several output paths having relatively staggered transit times for giving simultaneous access to said plurality of consecutive phases, said comparison means including a buffer register for storing the contents of the phases of said counting unit, read out via said several output paths, until recurrence of the counter output.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said storage units includes at least one address phase for receiving the identification of a line to be tested, said circuitry comprising first bistable means settable by said data-processing means for signaling the initiation of a call and second bistable means settable under the control of said address phase for signaling the availability of such storage unit in the absence of a line-identifying code word in said address phase, said circuitry further comprising resetting means for said first and second bistable means operative in a subsequent phase of said storage unit upon concurrent setting thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a time-sharing telecommunication system comprising gate means adapted to give access to any one of a multiplicity of local lines identified by call numbers of at least two digits, the combination therewith of a circulating memory with a plurality of consecutive phases, inscription means for consecutively entering the digits of the call number of any one of said lines in said phases, counting means for periodically reproducing the combinations of digits of the call numbers of all said lines in cyclic succession, said memory being provided with several output paths having relatively staggered transit times for making the contents of said consecutive phases simultaneously available at a predetermined point of a repetition cycle, comparison Means connected on the one hand to said counting means and on the other hand to said output paths for matching the simultaneous contents of said consecutive phases with the call numbers reproduced by said counting means, and circuit means for operating said gate means under the control of said comparison means to give access to a line identified by a matching call number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a time-sharing telecommunication system comprising gate means adapted to give access to any one of a multiplicity of local lines identified by call numbers of at least two digits, the combination therewith of a circulating memory with a plurality of consecutive phases, inscription means for consecutively entering the digits of the call number of any one of said lines in said phases, counting means for periodically reproducing the combinations of digits of the call numbers of all said lines in cyclic succession, said memory being provided with several output paths having relatively staggered transit times for making the contents of said consecutive phases simultaneously available at a predetermined point of a repetition cycle, comparison Means connected on the one hand to said counting means and on the other hand to said output paths for matching the simultaneous contents of said consecutive phases with the call numbers reproduced by said counting means, and circuit means for operating said gate means under the control of said comparison means to give access to a line identified by a matching call number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said memory comprises a plurality of parallel delay lines, a single-stage shift register with a like plurality of storage elements, and transfer means for nondestructively reading out the contents of said delay lines and entering same in respective storage elements of said shift register, said staggered output means including a first set of leads connected to said transfer means and a second set of leads connected to the outputs of said storage elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |