Multiplexing system

Claim 2

In a voice communication system having a plurality of voice input signals, means for providing successive formats of multiplexed digital sample words representative of said input signals, each format having a particular digit therein occurring a small number of times on the average based upon the statistical distribution of different amplitudes of the original voice signals, means for representing each format as a series of digital location words identifying the locations of said particular digits in each format, and receiver means for reconstructing each format and the voice input signals from each corresponding series of location words.

Claim 3

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for providing successive formats includes a plurality of parallel shift registers for storing the successive bits of said binary sample words in parallel, and said means for representing each format including means for reading out said shift registers in successive series.

Claim 4

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein one bit of each binary sample word is a sign bit, the locations of said particular digit in each sample word except for said sign bits thereof together with said sign bits being represented simultaneously by said means for representing.

Claim 5

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 3 wherein said sign bits are read out of said shift registers in parallel with the other bits.

Claim 6

In a voice communication system, in combination, conversion means for multiplexing a plurality of voice signals to provide a binary bit stream representative of said voice signals, encoder means for converting successive frames of said bit stream into a series of binary location numbers, each frame consisting of n-bits and the number of bits of said binary location numbers corresponding to each frame being very much less than n, means for transmitting said series of binary location numbers, decoder means receiving the transmitted series of binary location numbers for converting said transmitted series of binary location numbers to reconstruct said binary bit stream, and means for demultiplexing said reconstructed binary bit stream to reproduce said voice signals.

Claim 7

In a voice communication system, in combination, conversion means for multiplexing a plurality of voice signals to provide a binary bit stream representative of said voice signals, encoder means for converting successive frames of said bit stream into a series of binary location numbers, each frame consisting of n-bits and the number of bits of said binary location numbers corresponding to each frame being very much less than n, means for transmitting said series of binary location numbers, decoder means receiving the transmitted series of binary location numbers for converting said transmitted series of binary location numbers to reconstruct said binary bit stream, and means for demultiplexing said reconstructed binary bit stream to reproduce said voice signals.

Claim 8

The voice communication system as defined in claim 5 wherein said encoder means includes means for counting the locations of similar bits occurring in each frame of said bit stream, and means for identifying said locations throuGh said location numbers.

Claim 9

The voice communication system as defined in claim 5 wherein said encoder means includes means for determining the locations of similar bits occurring in each frame of said bit stream, and means for representing said locations as said location numbers.

Claim 10

In a voice communication system having first and second remotely located voice communication stations into each of which a large number of separate voice signals are channeled, the combination of: first means associated with said first voice communication station for multiplexing the large number of voice signals channeled thereinto to produce a succession of multiple-bit digital sample words; means for dividing said succession of sample words into successive group frames in which the time interval associated with each frame is sufficient to encompass a large number of sample words per frame; means for transmitting the information content of each frame as a succession of digital location numbers in which the total number of bits contained in said location numbers is much lower than the number of bits per frame; means associated with said second voice communication station for receiving said digital location numbers and reconstructing said successive frames therefrom; and means associated with said second station for demultiplexing said reconstructed frame to reproduce the original voice signals therefrom.

Claim 11

In a voice communication system having first and second remotely located voice communication stations into each of which a large number of separate voice signals are channeled, the combination of: first means associated with said first voice communication station for multiplexing the large number of voice signals channeled thereinto to produce a succession of multiple-bit digital sample words; means for dividing said succession of sample words into successive group frames in which the time interval associated with each frame is sufficient to encompass a large number of sample words per frame; means for transmitting the information content of each frame as a succession of digital location numbers in which the total number of bits contained in said location numbers is much lower than the number of bits per frame; means associated with said second voice communication station for receiving said digital location numbers and reconstructing said successive frames therefrom; and means associated with said second station for demultiplexing said reconstructed frame to reproduce the original voice signals therefrom.

Claim 12

In a communication system having first and second remotely located stations into each of which a large number of separate and uncorrelated signals are channeled, the combination of: first means associated with each said first and said second communication stations for multiplexing the large number of uncorrelated signals channeled thereinto to produce a succession of multiple-bit digital sample words representing successive instantaneous values of said uncorrelated signals; means for dividing said succession of sample words into successive sample word group frames in which the time interval associated with each frame is sufficient to encompass a large number of sample words; means associated with each said first and second stations for representing and transmitting each said frame as a succession of digital location numbers in which the total number of bits contained in said succession of location numbers is much less than the total number of bits per frame; means associated with each said first and said second stations for receiving said digital location numbers and reconstructing therefrom said successive sample word group frames transmitted from the other station; and means associated with each said first and said second stations for demultiplexing said reconstructed frames to reproduce the original signals therefrom.

Claim 13

In a communication system having first and second remotely located stations into each of which a large number of separate and uncorrelated signals are channeled, the combination of: first means associated with each said first and said second communication stations for multiplexing the large number of uncorrelated signals channeled thereinto to produce a succession of multiple-bit digital sample words representing successive instantaneous values of said uncorrelated signals; means for dividing said succession of sample words into successive sample word group frames in which the time interval associated with each frame is sufficient to encompass a large number of sample words; means associated with each said first and second stations for representing and transmitting each said frame as a succession of digital location numbers in which the total number of bits contained in said succession of location numbers is much less than the total number of bits per frame; means associated with each said first and said second stations for receiving said digital location numbers and reconstructing therefrom said successive sample word group frames transmitted from the other station; and means associated with each said first and said second stations for demultiplexing said reconstructed frames to reproduce the original signals therefrom.

Claim 14

In a voice communication system having a great number of remotely situated communicating stations between pairs of which voice communication is to be established, the combination of: means for multiplexing voice communication signals between pairs of said stations on a time staggered basis and dividing said multiplexed signals into successive digital frames, the time duration of each of which is sufficient to assure a large number of bits per frame; and means for digitally representing each frame by a series of digital location words constituted by a number of bits much less than the number of bits per frame.

Claim 15

In a voice communication system having a great number of remotely situated communicating stations between pairs of which voice communication is to be established, the combination of: means for multiplexing voice communication signals between pairs of said stations on a time staggered basis and dividing said multiplexed signals into successive digital frames, the time duration of each of which is sufficient to assure a large number of bits per frame; and means for digitally representing each frame by a series of digital location words constituted by a number of bits much less than the number of bits per frame.

Claim 16

In a communication system including a large number of pairs of remotely located transmitting-receiving stations between each pair of which two-way communication is to be established; first means for processing and transmitting the signals of one of each of said pairs of stations in multiplexed digital form at a predetermined rate; second means for receiving said multiplexed signals and for demultiplexing them to establish communication in one direction between each pair of stations; third means for processing and transmitting the signals of the other of said pairs of stations in multiplexEd digital form at said predetermined rate; and fourth means for receiving the multiplexed digital signals of said third means and for demultiplexing them to establish communication in the other direction between said pairs of stations; the improvement wherein: said first and said third means each quantize the signal samples handled thereby to levels at which said predetermined rate would have to be exceeded substantially in order to provide useful communication quality between said pairs of stations, each said first and said third means including processing means for representing the quantized signal samples as a binary bit stream which may be transmitted at said predetermined rate; and said second and said fourth means including means for reconstructing said quantized signal samples from said binary bit stream.

Claim 17

In a communication system including a large number of pairs of remotely located transmitting-receiving stations between each pair of which two-way communication is to be established; first means for processing and transmitting the signals of one of each of said pairs of stations in multiplexed digital form at a predetermined rate; second means for receiving said multiplexed signals and for demultiplexing them to establish communication in one direction between each pair of stations; third means for processing and transmitting the signals of the other of said pairs of stations in multiplexEd digital form at said predetermined rate; and fourth means for receiving the multiplexed digital signals of said third means and for demultiplexing them to establish communication in the other direction between said pairs of stations; the improvement wherein: said first and said third means each quantize the signal samples handled thereby to levels at which said predetermined rate would have to be exceeded substantially in order to provide useful communication quality between said pairs of stations, each said first and said third means including processing means for representing the quantized signal samples as a binary bit stream which may be transmitted at said predetermined rate; and said second and said fourth means including means for reconstructing said quantized signal samples from said binary bit stream.

Claim 18

In a communication system including a large number of stations from which communications are to be transmitted over a single data link, the combination of: means for converting successive frames of the large number of stations into formats in which multiplexed samples thereof are each in the form of a multiple-bit binary sample number, one bit of each number being a most significant bit, another bit of each number being a next most significant bit, and so on for all bits of each number except a remaining bit which is a sign bit; processing means for locating the positions of similar bits, either ''''zeros'''' or ''''ones,'''' in said format starting serially with the most significant bits and progressing serially therefrom in descending order of bit significance; counter means for representing each of said positions as a multiple-bit binary location number having one bit thereof representing the sign bit corresponding to each sample number at which such a position occurs; means for transmitting said binary location numbers over said data link; and receiver means for reconstructing said format from the transmitted binary location numbers.

Claim 19

In a communication system including a large number of stations from which communications are to be transmitted over a single data link, the combination of: means for converting successive frames of the large number of stations into formats in which multiplexed samples thereof are each in the form of a multiple-bit binary sample number, one bit of each number being a most significant bit, another bit of each number being a next most significant bit, and so on for all bits of each number except a remaining bit which is a sign bit; processing means for locating the positions of similar bits, either ''''zeros'''' or ''''ones,'''' in said format starting serially with the most significant bits and progressing serially therefrom in descending order of bit significance; counter means for representing each of said positions as a multiple-bit binary location number having one bit thereof representing the sign bit corresponding to each sample number at which such a position occurs; means for transmitting said binary location numbers over said data link; and receiver means for reconstructing said format from the transmitted binary location numbers.

Claim 20

In a communication system as defined in claim 12 including means for storing successive formats, said processing means operating on a completed format while the next format is being stored; said processing means including means for recycling said sign bits as the series of descending significance bits are being processed.

Claim 21

In a communication system as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for converting stores said binary sample numbers in parallel and said processing means shifts said sample numbers out in series.

Claim 22

In a communication system as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for converting stores said binary sample numbers in parallel and said processing means shifts said binary sample numbers out in series.

Claim 23

In a communication system as defined in claim 12 including means for storing two groups of binary location numbers, said groups corresponding to successive formats and said means for transmitting including means for shifting out one group of binary location numbers while another group is being stored.

Claim 24

In a communication system as defined in claim 16 wherein said counter means includes means for generating and storing a unique synchronization number when fewer than a predetermined number of location numbers is generated per format.

Claim 25

In a communication system as defined in claim 17 wherein said receiver means includes a clock generated by said synchronization numbers.

Claim 26

In a communication system as defined in claim 18 wherein said receiver means includes means for storing successive groups of binary location numbers; means for shifting out one stored group of location numbers while another group is being stored; and counter and comparator means for reconstructing said formats from successive groups of binary location numbers.

Claim 27

In a communication system as defined in claim 19 wherein said means for transmitting transmits each location number in series.

Claim 28

In a communication system as defined in claim 20 including means For counting the number of binary location numbers generated per format, and means for generating filler numbers so that each group contains a predetermined number of numbers.

Claim 29

In a communication system as defined in claim 16 including means for counting the number of binary location numbers generated per format, and means for generating filler numbers so that each group contains a predetermined number of numbers.

Claim 30

In a communication system as defined in claim 17 including means for counting the number of binary location numbers generated per format, and means for generating filler numbers so that each group contains a predetermined number of numbers.

Claim 31

In a communication system as defined in claim 18 including means for counting the number of binary location numbers generated per format, and means for generating filler numbers so that each group contains a predetermined number of numbers.

Claim 32

In a communication system as defined in claim 19 including means for counting the number of binary location numbers generated per format, and means for generating filler numbers so that each group contains a predetermined number of numbers.

Claim 33

In a voice communication system, in combination: means for representing a set of k voice signals as a frame consisting of kn bits; means for specifying, with high probability, the information contained in said kn bits as a group of rm-bit numbers, where rm is much less than kn; means for receiving said group of rm-bit numbers; means for reconstructing said frame from the received group of rm-bit numbers; and means for reproducing said set of k voice signals from such reconstructed frame.

Claim 34

In a voice communication system, in combination: means for representing a set of k voice signals as a frame consisting of kn bits; means for specifying, with high probability, the information contained in said kn bits as a group of rm-bit numbers, where rm is much less than kn; means for receiving said group of rm-bit numbers; means for reconstructing said frame from the received group of rm-bit numbers; and means for reproducing said set of k voice signals from such reconstructed frame.

Claim 35

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 26 wherein the first mentioned means includes means for sequentially sampling said set of k voice signals and representing each sample as an n-bit binary number in which the average member of either ''''ones'''' or ''''zeros'''' is made small; the second mentioned means specifying the locations within said frame of those bits whose average number is made small.

Claim 36

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 27 wherein said first mentioned means represents each voice sample as an n-bit number in which at least some of the bits thereof are of descending order of significance.

Claim 37

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 28 wherein said second mentioned means specifies the information in said n-bit numbers in sequential fashion according to the descending significance of the bits thereof.

Claim 38

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 26 wherein said first mentioned means represents each voice sample as an n-bit number in which at least some of the bits thereof are of descending order of significance.

Claim 39

In a voice communication system as defined in claim 30 wherein said second mentioned means specifies the information in said n-bit numbers in sequential fashion according to the descending significance of the bits thereof.

Claim 40

In a communication system having capability for transmitting digital data at a predetermined rate; means for generating and storing samples of a large number of uncorrelated signals as multiple-bit sample words at a rate such that the total number of bits of the sample words generated within a given time period far exceeds the capability of transmission at said predetermined rate; means for storing a selected plurality of multiple-bit location words within a time period equal to said given period, in which the total number of bits of said selected plurality of location words is within the capability of transmission at said predetermined rate; means for shifting the bits of said sample words out of storage at a rate sufficiently greater than said predetermined rate as to encompass all of the bits thereof within a time period equal to said given period; and means for generating said location words from thE outshifted sample word bits.

Claim 41

In a communication system having capability for transmitting digital data at a predetermined rate; means for generating and storing samples of a large number of uncorrelated signals as multiple-bit sample words at a rate such that the total number of bits of the sample words generated within a given time period far exceeds the capability of transmission at said predetermined rate; means for storing a selected plurality of multiple-bit location words within a time period equal to said given period, in which the total number of bits of said selected plurality of location words is within the capability of transmission at said predetermined rate; means for shifting the bits of said sample words out of storage at a rate sufficiently greater than said predetermined rate as to encompass all of the bits thereof within a time period equal to said given period; and means for generating said location words from thE outshifted sample word bits.

Claim 42

In the communication system as defined in claim 32 wherein said means for generating said location words comprises a counter driven at that rate at which said sample word bits are outshifted, detector means for detecting the presence of sample word bits of a kind whose probability of occurrence within said given time period is small, and means for generating at least some of the bits of a location word from said counter and for resetting said counter in response to detection of a sample bit of said kind.

Claim 43

In the communication system as defined in claim 33 wherein one bit of each sample word is recycled during outshifting, and including means for generating a bit of each location word from said one bit when said detector means is actuated.

Claim 44

In the communication system as defined in claim 34 wherein at least some of the bits of each sample word are of descending order of significance, and said means for shifting shifts out the bits of said sample words in such descending order of significance.

Claim 45

In the communication system as defined in claim 33 wherein at least some of the bits of each sample word are of descending order of significance, and said means for shifting shifts out the bits of said sample words in such descending order of significance.

Claim 46

In the communication system as defined in claim 32 wherein at least some of the bits of each sample word are of descending order of significance, and said means for shifting shifts out the bits of said sample words in such descending order of significance.