Sequential gating circuit

Claim 2

A sequential gate circuit for a switching network having common control means for controlling the establishment of connections through said network, and said circuit comprising means monitoring a plurality of output link means of said network to determine the number of said link means having at least one idle output, means for gating each one of a plurality of incoming link means of said network to bid for said control means to control the establishment of connections from said one incoming link means to an idle output of said output link means, and means comparing the determined number of said output link means having at least one idle output with the number of gated ones of said incoming link means for controlling said gating means to enable said incoming link means to be sequentially gated to bid for said control means only when the number of said output link means with an idle output is greater than the number of said incoming link means gated to bid for said control means.

Claim 3

A sequential gate circuit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an accumulator means cooperating with said monitoring means to determine the number of said output link means having at least one idle output, and means included in said comparing means and controlled by said accumulator means for indicating the determined number of said output link means having at least one idle output.

Claim 4

A sequential gating circuit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for registering requests received from said incoming link means for service by said common control means, means controlled by said comparing means for sequentially examining each of said incoming link means for a service request registered in said registering means, and said gating means being controlled by said comparing means for enabling each examined one of said incoming link means with a service request registered in said registering means to be sequentially gated to bid for said common control means only when said comparing means determines that the number of said output link means with an idle output is greater than the number of said incoming link means gated to bid for said control means.

Claim 5

In a switching system comprising a plurality of incoming link frames each having incoming lines terminated thereon, a plurality of output link frames each having output lines terminated thereon, each of said incoming and outgoing link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said incoming lines and available ones of said output lines, and common control means activatable for operating said switch means to establish said connections, the invention comprising means monitoring said output link frames for available ones of said output lines, means for gating each one of said incoming link frames to bid for said common control means to control the establishment of said connections from a calling one of said incoming lines on said one frame to an available one of said output lines on a monitored one of said output link frames, and means comparing the number of said monitored output link frames having at least one available output line with the number of each gated one of said incoming link frames for controlling said gating means to enable said incoming link frames with a calling one of said incoming lines to be gated to bid for said common control means only when the number of said output link frames with an available output line is greater than the number of said output link frames gated to bid for said common control means.

Claim 6

In a switching system comprising a plurality of incoming link frames each having incoming lines terminated thereon, a plurality of output link frames each having output lines terminated thereon, each of said incoming and outgoing link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said incoming lines and available ones of said output lines, and common control means activatable for operating said switch means to establish said connections, the invention comprising means monitoring said output link frames for available ones of said output lines, means for gating each one of said incoming link frames to bid for said common control means to control the establishment of said connections from a calling one of said incoming lines on said one frame to an available one of said output lines on a monitored one of said output link frames, and means comparing the number of said monitored output link frames having at least one available output line with the number of each gated one of said incoming link frames for controlling said gating means to enable said incoming link frames with a calling one of said incoming lines to be gated to bid for said common control means only when the number of said output link frames with an available output line is greater than the number of said output link frames gated to bid for said common control means.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said monitoring means comprises a register for registering when one of said output link frames has at least one available output line, and further comprising means activated by said register means for accumulating the number of said output link frames having at least one available output line, and means controlled by said accumulating means for supplying said comparing means with indications of said accumulated number of said output link frames.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 5 wherein said gating means includes means for supplying said comparing means with indications of the number of said incoming link frames gated to bid for said common control means, means operable for examining said incoming link frames for a calling one of said incoming lines, and said comparing means responsive to said supplied number indications from accumulating means and said supplying means for operating said examining means when the number of said output link frames having at least one available output line is greater than the number of gated incoming link frames.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said examining means comprises for each one of said incoming link frames, apparatus for registering when said last-mentioned one of said frames has a calling one of said incoming lines terminated thereon, means controlled by said comparing means and said registering apparatus for gating said last-mentioned one of said frames to bid for said common control means when the number of said output link frames having at least one available output line is greater than the number of gated incoming link frames.

Claim 10

An automatic call distributor system comprising a plurality of line link frames each having a plurality of individual groups of incoming lines terminated thereon, each of said groups serving an individual different class-of-call, a lesser plurality of trunk link frames each having trunks terminated thereon, each of said line and trunk link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said lines and idle ones of said trunks, a plurality of markers each activatable in response to a line link frame bid for operating said switch means to establish said connections, a plurality of sequential gating circuits, each one of said circuits serving an individual one of said classes-of-call and comprising means for comparing the number of said trunk link frames having at least one idle trunk for serving said individual one of said classes-of-call with the number of said line link frames gated to bid for service by one of said markers on the same individual one of said classes-of-call, and means for sequentially gating each one of said line link frames which has an incoming line with a call within said individual one of said classes-of-call, to bid for one of said markers only after said comparing means indicates that said number of trunk link frames having an idle trunk is greater than the number of said line link frames gated to bid for said markers.

Claim 11

An automatic call distributor system comprising a plurality of line link frames each having a plurality of individual groups of incoming lines terminated thereon, each of said groups serving an individual different class-of-call, a lesser plurality of trunk link frames each having trunks terminated thereon, each of said line and trunk link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said lines and idle ones of said trunks, a plurality of markers each activatable in response to a line link frame bid for operating said switch means to establish said connections, a plurality of sequential gating circuits, each one of said circuits serving an individual one of said classes-of-call and comprising means for comparing the number of said trunk link frames having at least one idle trunk for serving said individual one of said classes-of-call with the number of said line link frames gated to bid for service by one of said markers on the same individual one of said classes-of-call, and means for sequentially gating each one of said line link frames which has an incoming line with a call within said individual one of said classes-of-call, to bid for one of said markers only after said comparing means indicates that said number of trunk link frames having an idle trunk is greater than the number of said line link frames gated to bid for said markers.

Claim 12

An automatic call distributor system according to claim 8 wherein said sequential gating means includes scanner means activatable for sequentially scanning each one of said line link frames to examine when said last-mentioned one of said frames has a calling incoming line terminated thereon, said scanner means being activated by said comparing means only after said comparing means indicates that said number of trunk link frames having an idle trunk is greater than said number of line link frames gated to bid for said markers, and gating circuitry operated by said comparing means under control of said activated scanner means for sequenTially gating an examined one of said line link frames having a calling incoming line terminated thereon to bid for said markers.

Claim 13

An automatic call distributor system according to claim 9 wherein said sequential gating means further includes means for registering when any individual one of said line link frames has an incoming line with a call within said individual one of said classes-of-call, and means controlled by said registering means for cooperating with said activated scanner means and said comparing means to operate said gating circuitry for sequentially gating said individual one of said line link frames to bid for said markers.

Claim 14

An automatic call distributor system according to claim 10 wherein said registering means comprises an individual relay register for registering calls waiting marker service for each one of said line link frames, said gating circuitry includes an individual gate relay for each one of said line link frames, and said scanner means includes a relay arrangement activated by said comparing means for sequentially cooperating with each said relay register to operate each said gate relay of one of said line link frames having a calling one of said incoming lines terminated thereon, and each said operated gate relay being responsive to gate said last-mentioned one of said line link frames to bid for said markers.

Claim 15

An automatic call distributor system according to claim 8 further comprising means activated by said trunk link frames for indicating when said last-mentioned frames have at least one idle trunk terminated thereon, and means operated by said indicating means for accumulating the number of said last-mentioned frames having at least one idle trunk terminated thereon.

Claim 16

An automatic call distributor system according to claim 12 wherein said indicating means comprises an individual relay register for each one of said trunk link frames and being operated by said last-mentioned one of said frames for indicating the availability of a trunk link frame with at least one idle trunk and said accumulating means comprising a contact arrangement of said relay registers and a plurality of accumulator relays activated one at a time by said contact arrangement to indicate the accumulated number of said trunk link frames having at least one idle trunk.

Claim 17

An automatic call distributor system according to claim 13 wherein said comparing means includes a contact arrangement of said accumulator relays and of each said gate relay for comparing the number of gated line link frames with the number of said trunk link frames having at least one idle trunk.

Claim 18

In an automatic call distributor system comprising a plurality of line link frames having a plurality of incoming lines terminated thereon, a lesser plurality of trunk link frames each having a plurality of operator positions terminated thereon, each of said line and trunk link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said lines and idle ones of said positions, a plurality of markers each activatable in response to a line link frame bid for operating said switch means to establish said connections, the invention comprising means comparing the number of trunk link frames having at least one idle position with the number of said line link frames gated to bid for one of said markers, means for scanning each one of said line link frames for calling lines terminated thereon, means controlled by said scanning means for gating a line link frame with a calling line to bid for one of said markers when said comparing means indicates that the number of said trunk link frames having idle positions is greater than the number of gated ones of said line link frames.

Claim 19

In an automatic call distributor system comprising a plurality of line link frames having a plurality of incoming lines terminated thereon, a lesser plurality of trunk link frames each having a plurality of operator positions terminated thereon, each of said line and trunk link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said lines and idle ones of said positions, a plurality of markers each activatable in response to a line link frame bid for operating said switch means to establish said connections, the invention comprising means comparing the number of trunk link frames having at least one idle position with the number of said line link frames gated to bid for one of said markers, means for scanning each one of said line link frames for calling lines terminated thereon, means controlled by said scanning means for gating a line link frame with a calling line to bid for one of said markers when said comparing means indicates that the number of said trunk link frames having idle positions is greater than the number of gated ones of said line link frames.

Claim 20

In combination, a plurality of incoming link frames for terminating a plurality of incoming lines, a plurality of outgoing link frames for terminating a plurality of outgoing lines, each of said link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said incoming lines and idle ones of said outgoing lines, common control means activatable in response to an incoming link fame bid for operating said switch means to establish said connections, the invention comprising means scanning each of said incoming link frames for gating bids by said incoming link frames for said common control means, means comparing the number of gated incoming link frame bids with the number of said outgoing link frames having at least one idle outgoing line, and means controlling said scanning means to stop said scanning when said comparing means indicates that the number of said trunk link frames having idle outgoing lines is less than the number of said link frames gated to bid for said common control means.

Claim 21

In combination, a plurality of incoming link frames for terminating a plurality of incoming lines, a plurality of outgoing link frames for terminating a plurality of outgoing lines, each of said link frames having switch means operable for establishing call connections between calling ones of said incoming lines and idle ones of said outgoing lines, common control means activatable in response to an incoming link fame bid for operating said switch means to establish said connections, the invention comprising means scanning each of said incoming link frames for gating bids by said incoming link frames for said common control means, means comparing the number of gated incoming link frame bids with the number of said outgoing link frames having at least one idle outgoing line, and means controlling said scanning means to stop said scanning when said comparing means indicates that the number of said trunk link frames having idle outgoing lines is less than the number of said link frames gated to bid for said common control means.

Claim 22

The combination in accordance with claim 16 further comprising means for further controlling said scanning means to stop scanning when none of said line link frames has a calling line terminated thereon.

Claim 23

The combination in accordance with claim 17 further comprising means for registering the identity of each of said line link frames having a calling line terminated thereon, and call waiting means responsive to a registering of a line link frame identity in said registering means for operating said scanning means to effect said scanning.

Claim 24

A communication system comprising a plurality of switching frames, a plurality of circuits, common control means for establishing connections between said switching frames and said circuits, means for monitoring traffic at said switching frames requiring connection of said switching frames to said common control means, means for monitoring the availability of said circuits, and means responsive to said first and said second monitoring means for gating a bid from one of said switching frames to said common control means only when the availability of circuits is greater than said traffic at said switching frames.

Claim 25

A communication system comprising a plurality of switching frames, a plurality of circuits, common control means for establishing connections between said switching frames and said circuits, means for monitoring traffic at said switching frames requiring connection of said switching frames to said common control means, means for monitoring the availability of said circuits, and means responsive to said first and said second monitoring means for gating a bid from one of said switching frames to said common control means only when the availability of circuits is greater than said traffic at said switching frames.

Claim 26

A communication system comprising switching network means including a first plurality of switching frames and a second plurality of switching frames, common control means for establishing connections through said network means between said first and second switching frames, means for monitoring traffic at said first switching frames requiring connection of said first switching frames to said common control means, means for monitoring the availability of outputs on said second switching frames, and means responsive to said first and said second monitoring means for gating a bid from one of said first switching frames to said common control means only when the availability of outputs of said second switching frames is greater than said traffic at said first switching frames.

Claim 27

A communication system comprising switching network means including a first plurality of switching frames and a second plurality of switching frames, common control means for establishing connections through said network means between said first and second switching frames, means for monitoring traffic at said first switching frames requiring connection of said first switching frames to said common control means, means for monitoring the availability of outputs on said second switching frames, and means responsive to said first and said second monitoring means for gating a bid from one of said first switching frames to said common control means only when the availability of outputs of said second switching frames is greater than said traffic at said first switching frames.

Claim 28

A communication system comprising switching network means including a first plurality of switching frames and a second plurality of switching frames, a plurality of common control means for establishing connections through said network means between said first and second switching means, first means for monitoring said first switching frames for determining the number of said first switching frames having traffic thereat bidding for connection to one of said common control means, second means for monitoring said second switching frames for determining the number of said second switching frames having at least one available output for said traffic, and means responsive to said first and second monitoring means for gating a request for one of said common control means from one of said first switching frames only when the number of said second switching frames having at least one available output is greater than the number of said first switching frames having traffic thereat bidding for connection to one of said common control means.

Claim 29

A communication system comprising switching network means including a first plurality of switching frames and a second plurality of switching frames, a plurality of common control means for establishing connections through said network means between said first and second switching means, first means for monitoring said first switching frames for determining the number of said first switching frames having traffic thereat bidding for connection to one of said common control means, second means for monitoring said second switching frames for determining the number of said second switching frames having at least one available output for said traffic, and means responsive to said first and second monitoring means for gating a request for one of said common control means from one of said first switching frames only when the number of said second switching frames having at least one available output is greater than the number of said first switching frames having traffic thereat bidding for connection to one of said common control means.