Switching strategy for mixed delay transmission channels

Claim 2

In a time division multiplex transmission system serving a plurality of trunks on a plurality of different channel types, the combination comprising: means for generating signals indicating the type of channel assigned to a trunk at the local and remote terminals of the system when the trunk receives a connection; means for storing the signals in the local terminal; and selector means responsive to the stored signals for determining the type of channel the trunk is to be assigned at the local terminal when the trunk is selected for reconnection after having lost its previous connection.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 further comprising; channel ratio signals indicating selected relationships between the quantities of various types of channel available for assignment; where said selector means is further responsive to selected combinations of the channel ratio signals and said stored signals.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said channel ratio signals indicate the type of channel that is available for assignment in the greatest quantity.

Claim 5

In a time divided transmission system utilizing various different types of transmission channels, the combination comprising; signals representing the type of channel a trunk was last assigned at the local terminal serving said trunk; signals representing the type of channel a trunk was last assigned at the remote terminal; signals indicating which type of channel is available for assignment in the greatest quantity; and means for generating an enable signal when said trunk requires another channel assignment at the local terminal; and means responsive to said enable signal and selected combinations of said signals for generating a channel type preference signal indicating the type of channel preferred by said trunk.

Claim 6

In a time divided transmission system utilizing various different types of transmission channels, the combination comprising; signals representing the type of channel a trunk was last assigned at the local terminal serving said trunk; signals representing the type of channel a trunk was last assigned at the remote terminal; signals indicating which type of channel is available for assignment in the greatest quantity; and means for generating an enable signal when said trunk requires another channel assignment at the local terminal; and means responsive to said enable signal and selected combinations of said signals for generating a channel type preference signal indicating the type of channel preferred by said trunk.

Claim 7

In a time divided transmission system utilizing more than one type of transmission channel, the combination comprising; a first trunk store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to a trunk at the local terminal serving the trunk; a second trunk store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to said trunk at the remote terminal; channel ratio signals indicating selected relationships between the quantities of various types of channels available for assignment; means for generating an enable signal indicating that said trunk requires a channel assignment when said trunk is selected for reconnection after having lost its last connection; delay objective logic responsive to said enable signal and selected combinations of the channel ratio signals and signals in first and second trunk stores for generating a channel type preference signal, and Channel selector logic responsive to the preference signal for selecting a channel code identifying the channel to be assigned to said trunk.

Claim 8

In a time divided transmission system utilizing more than one type of transmission channel, the combination comprising; a first trunk store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to a trunk at the local terminal serving the trunk; a second trunk store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to said trunk at the remote terminal; channel ratio signals indicating selected relationships between the quantities of various types of channels available for assignment; means for generating an enable signal indicating that said trunk requires a channel assignment when said trunk is selected for reconnection after having lost its last connection; delay objective logic responsive to said enable signal and selected combinations of the channel ratio signals and signals in first and second trunk stores for generating a channel type preference signal, and Channel selector logic responsive to the preference signal for selecting a channel code identifying the channel to be assigned to said trunk.

Claim 9

In a time divided transmission system utilizing both satellite and cable transmission channels, the combination comprising; a first store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to a trunk at the local terminal serving the trunk; a second store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to said trunk at the remote terminal; a connect queue containing entries identifying trunks awaiting connection at said local terminal; a disconnect queue containing entries identifying trunks at said local terminal awaiting disconnection from channels; means for reassigning the local channel assigned to said trunk when the trunk no longer requires a connection; means for placing an entry identifying said trunk in said connect queue when said trunk later requires a connection; means for selecting said trunk from the entries of said connect queue; Channel candidate selector logic for selecting a candidate channel of each type from the entries in said disconnect queue; means for storing codes identifying the selected candidate channels; means responsive to the selection of said trunk and the signals in said first and second stores representing the types of channels last assigned to said trunk for generating a channel type preference signal; and means responsive to said channel type preference signal for selecting one of said candidate channels identified by the stored codes as the channel to be assigned to said trunk.

Claim 10

In a time divided transmission system utilizing both satellite and cable transmission channels, the combination comprising; a first store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to a trunk at the local terminal serving the trunk; a second store for storing signals representing the type of channel last assigned to said trunk at the remote terminal; a connect queue containing entries identifying trunks awaiting connection at said local terminal; a disconnect queue containing entries identifying trunks at said local terminal awaiting disconnection from channels; means for reassigning the local channel assigned to said trunk when the trunk no longer requires a connection; means for placing an entry identifying said trunk in said connect queue when said trunk later requires a connection; means for selecting said trunk from the entries of said connect queue; Channel candidate selector logic for selecting a candidate channel of each type from the entries in said disconnect queue; means for storing codes identifying the selected candidate channels; means responsive to the selection of said trunk and the signals in said first and second stores representing the types of channels last assigned to said trunk for generating a channel type preference signal; and means responsive to said channel type preference signal for selecting one of said candidate channels identified by the stored codes as the channel to be assigned to said trunk.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 further comprising; means for detecting the availability of channels at the local terminal that are not assigned to a trunk; and means for replacing the code identifying either of candidate channels selected by said candidate selector logic with a code identifying the same type of unassigned channel if such an unassigned channel is detected, where such replacement occurs prior to the selection of the candidate channel to be assigned to said trunk.

Claim 12

In a time divided transmission system utilizing both satellite and cable transmission channels, the combination comprising; a bistable device; an availability signal source for indicating that all channels of a selected type are assigned to trunks; a signal source for indicating that one type of channel is available for assignment in the greatest number connected to the set input of said bistable device; a signal source for indicating when the other type of channel is available for assignment in the greatest number connected to the reset input of said bistable device; means for indicating the type of channel a trunk was last assigned at the local terminal of said transmission system that serves said trunk; means for indicating the type of channel said trunk was last assigned at the remote terminal of said transmission system; a first plurality of AND gates each of which has inputs connected to a selected output of said bistable device and one of the means for indicating the type of channel last assigned to said trunk; a second plurality of AND gates each of which has inputs connected to said signal availability source and one of the means for indicating the type of channel last assigned to said trunk; and an OR gate with its inputs connected to the output of each of said AND gates for generating a channel type preference signal.

Claim 13

In a time divided transmission system utilizing both satellite and cable transmission channels, the combination comprising; a bistable device; an availability signal source for indicating that all channels of a selected type are assigned to trunks; a signal source for indicating that one type of channel is available for assignment in the greatest number connected to the set input of said bistable device; a signal source for indicating when the other type of channel is available for assignment in the greatest number connected to the reset input of said bistable device; means for indicating the type of channel a trunk was last assigned at the local terminal of said transmission system that serves said trunk; means for indicating the type of channel said trunk was last assigned at the remote terminal of said transmission system; a first plurality of AND gates each of which has inputs connected to a selected output of said bistable device and one of the means for indicating the type of channel last assigned to said trunk; a second plurality of AND gates each of which has inputs connected to said signal availability source and one of the means for indicating the type of channel last assigned to said trunk; and an OR gate with its inputs connected to the output of each of said AND gates for generating a channel type preference signal.