Traffic usage encoder

Claim 2

In combination with electromechanical circuit scanning mechanism that includes a plurality of crossbar switches each having mutually transverse sets of crossbars with respective crossbar operating magnets and having at each crosspoint a plurality of levels of switch contact sets comprising respective input and output switch contacts closable in response to coincident operation of both crossbars at the crosspoint, scan control means for developing successive cycle of crossbar operating magnet pulses, each cycle including magnet pulses for operating the respective crossbars in such time relation as to close the contact sets at all crosspoints in sequence, switch control means for delivering the pulses of successive cycles to the corresponding crossbar operating magnets of the respective switches in sequence, means for coupling distinct communication circuits to the respective switch input contacts, and detector circuit means for each level coupled in multiple to the switch output contacts thereof for producing a busy signal in response to busy condition of a coupled communication circuit; encoding means comprising first circuit means coupled to the scan control means for deriving binary position signals identifying the crossbar with which each crossbar operating magnet pulse is associated, second circuit means coupled to the switch control means for deriving binary switch signals identifying the switch with which each operated crosspoint is associated, third circuit means coupled to the respective detector circuit means and responsive to the busy signals produced thereby, and code translating means for receiving the position signals, the switch signals and the busy signals associated with each operated crosspoint and for converting the same to a unitary set of binary code signals that identify the communication circuit corresponding to each received busy signal.

Claim 3

Encoding means according to claim 1, and wherein said scan control means produces crossbar operating magnet pulses in such time relation thaT the crossbars of one set are operated in ordered sequence and that the crossbars of the other set are operated in ordered sequence during said operation of each of the crossbars of said one set, said encoding means including gating means for supplying to the code translating means the position signals for each operated crossbar only after termination of the position signals for the previously operated crossbar of the same set.

Claim 4

Encoding means according to claim 1, wherein said scanning mechanism includes means for generating periodic timing pulses for time control of said scan control means, said encoding means including means for supplying the position signals and the busy signals to the code translating means in differential time relation to said timing pulses.

Claim 5

Encoding means according to claim 1, wherein said scanning mechanism includes means for generating periodic timing pulses, said scan control means developing each magnet pulse under time control of a timing pulse, said encoding means including means for latching the respective position signals at a first time interval following a timing pulse, and means for releasing the latched position signals for supply with the busy signals to the code translating means after a second time interval.

Claim 6

Encoding means according to claim 1, wherein said scanning mechanism includes means for generating a series of periodic timing pulses for time control of the generation of the magnet pulses of each cycle with interruption of the timing pulses between cycles, said encoding means including timing mechanism for sensing interruption of the periodic timing pulses, and means responsive to the timing mechanism for supplying to the code translating means binary code signals representing supplementary data in response to a sensed interruption of the timing pulses.

Claim 7

In combination with electromechanical circuit scanning mechanism that includes a plurality of frames of crossbar switches, each frame including a plurality of crossbar switches with respective mutually transverse sets of crossbars and with crossbar operating magnets and having at each crosspoint a plurality of levels of switch contact sets comprising respective input and output switch contacts closable in response to coincident operation of both crossbars at the crosspoint, scan control means for each frame for developing successive cycles of crossbar operating magnet pulses, each cycle including magnet pulses for operating the respective crossbars in such time relation as to close the contact sets at all crosspoints of a switch in sequence, switch control means for each frame for delivering the pulses of successive cycles to the corresponding crossbar operating magnets of the respective switches in sequence, means for coupling distinct communication circuits to the respective switch input contacts, and detection circuit means for each frame coupled in multiple to the switch output contacts of each level for producing a busy signal in response to busy condition of a coupled communication line: encoding means comprising first circuit means coupled to the scan control means for each frame for deriving binary position signals identifying each operated crossbar, second circuit means coupled to the switch control means for each frame for deriving binary switch signals identifying the switch with which each operated crosspoint is associated, means for receiving the busy signals for each operated crosspoint and the position signals and the switch signals associated therewith to form a signal set, means for developing frame signals identifying the frame with which the received signals of each set are associated, and code translating means for converting said received signals and frame signals to serial binary code signals that identify the communication circuit corresponding to each received busy signal.

Claim 8

In combination with electromechanical circuit scanning mechanism that includes a plurality of frames of crossbar switches, each frame including a plurality of crossbar switches with respective mutually transverse sets of crossbars and with crossbar operating magnets and having at each crosspoint a plurality of levels of switch contact sets comprising respective input and output switch contacts closable in response to coincident operation of both crossbars at the crosspoint, scan control means for each frame for developing successive cycles of crossbar operating magnet pulses, each cycle including magnet pulses for operating the respective crossbars in such time relation as to close the contact sets at all crosspoints of a switch in sequence, switch control means for each frame for delivering the pulses of successive cycles to the corresponding crossbar operating magnets of the respective switches in sequence, means for coupling distinct communication circuits to the respective switch input contacts, and detection circuit means for each frame coupled in multiple to the switch output contacts of each level for producing a busy signal in response to busy condition of a coupled communication line: encoding means comprising first circuit means coupled to the scan control means for each frame for deriving binary position signals identifying each operated crossbar, second circuit means coupled to the switch control means for each frame for deriving binary switch signals identifying the switch with which each operated crosspoint is associated, means for receiving the busy signals for each operated crosspoint and the position signals and the switch signals associated therewith to form a signal set, means for developing frame signals identifying the frame with which the received signals of each set are associated, and code translating means for converting said received signals and frame signals to serial binary code signals that identify the communication circuit corresponding to each received busy signal.

Claim 9

Encoding means according to claim 1, wherein said code translating means include first mEans for converting said position signals, said switch signals and said busy signals to a unitary set of parallel binary code signals, digital storage buffer means for storing the parallel code signals, and second means for converting the stored parallel code signals to serial binary code signals.

Claim 10

Encoding means according to claim 6, wherein said code translating means include first means for converting said position signals, said switch signals and said busy signals to a unitary set of parallel binary code signals, digital storage buffer means for storing in parallel each said signal set and the frame signals associated therewith, and second means for converting the stored parallel code signals to serial binary code signals.