Synchronizing unit

Claim 2

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n+1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m+1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and receiption of said data items within said time channels, wherein the code corresponding to a frame synchronization signal is contained in the initial time channel of an even frame, and wherein said first means comprises: detection means for receiving said data signals and detecting a frame synchronization signal therein; and control means, responsive to the output of said detection means, for monitoring whether a frame synchronization signal has been detected in the initial time channel of a respective even frame, said control means including a binary decoder circuit coupled to the output of said detection means and a countingdecoder circuit coupled to said binary decoder circuit for decoding signals representative of specific ones of the time channels received, so as to control the operation of said binary decoder.

Claim 3

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n+1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m+1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels, wherein the code corresponding to a multiframe synchronization signal iS contained in the ((n + 1)/2) th time channel of the initial frame of which a multiframe is composed, and wherein said second means comprises: detection means, for receiving said data signals and detecting a multiframe synchronization signal therein; and control means, responsive to the output of said detection means, for monitoring whether a multiframe synchronization signal has been detected in said ((n + 1)/2) th time channel of the initial frame, said control means including a binary decoder circuit coupled to the output of said detection means and a counting-decoder circuit coupled to said binary decoder circuit for decoding signals representative of the initial frame in said multiframe, so as to control the operation of said binary decoder.

Claim 4

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n+1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m+1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels, wherein the code corresponding to a multiframe synchronization signal iS contained in the ((n + 1)/2) th time channel of the initial frame of which a multiframe is composed, and wherein said second means comprises: detection means, for receiving said data signals and detecting a multiframe synchronization signal therein; and control means, responsive to the output of said detection means, for monitoring whether a multiframe synchronization signal has been detected in said ((n + 1)/2) th time channel of the initial frame, said control means including a binary decoder circuit coupled to the output of said detection means and a counting-decoder circuit coupled to said binary decoder circuit for decoding signals representative of the initial frame in said multiframe, so as to control the operation of said binary decoder.

Claim 5

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n+1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m+1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels; wherein said speech channels occupy the time channels of a frame from the second to the ((n - 1)/2)th and from the ((n + 3)/2)th the nth time channel, and wherein said third means comprises: a pair of memory circuits, each of which is coupled to the speech channel portions of the data signals, to respectively store the said second to the ((n - 1)/2)th channels and the ((n + 3)/2)th to the nth channels; a pair of elements for providing first and second signals, respectively representative of the ((m + 1)/2)th received time channel and the initial received time channel having a prescribed duration and delay; and a read-write control circuit for controlling the alternate storage and read-out of time channels into and from said memories, said read-write control circuit including: means counting local time channels; means for generating a third signal, an interval of time after the beginning of one of the nth local time channel and ((n -1)/2)th time channel; means for comparing one of said first and second signals with said third signal subsequent to the termination of one of said nth and ((n - 1)/2)th local time channels; and means, coupled between said comparing means and said memory circuits, for selectively changing the storage and read-out states of said memories, so that the time channels of a reading memory are in phase with the local time channels.

Claim 6

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n+1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m+1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels; wherein said speech channels occupy the time channels of a frame from the second to the ((n - 1)/2)th and from the ((n + 3)/2)th the nth time channel, and wherein said third means comprises: a pair of memory circuits, each of which is coupled to the speech channel portions of the data signals, to respectively store the said second to the ((n - 1)/2)th channels and the ((n + 3)/2)th to the nth channels; a pair of elements for providing first and second signals, respectively representative of the ((m + 1)/2)th received time channel and the initial received time channel having a prescribed duration and delay; and a read-write control circuit for controlling the alternate storage and read-out of time channels into and from said memories, said read-write control circuit including: means counting local time channels; means for generating a third signal, an interval of time after the beginning of one of the nth local time channel and ((n -1)/2)th time channel; means for comparing one of said first and second signals with said third signal subsequent to the termination of one of said nth and ((n - 1)/2)th local time channels; and means, coupled between said comparing means and said memory circuits, for selectively changing the storage and read-out states of said memories, so that the time channels of a reading memory are in phase with the local time channels.

Claim 7

A synchronizing unit according to claim 2, wherein the code corresponding to a multiframe synchronization signal is contained in the ((n + 1)/2)th time channel of the initial frame of which a multiframe is composed, and wherein said detection means includes means for detecting a frame synchronization signal in said received data signals, and wherein said second means further includes: further control means, responsive to the output of said detection means, for monitoring whether a multiframe synchronization signal has been detected in said ((n + 1)/2)th time channel of the initial frame, said further control means including a further binary decoder circuit coupled to the output of said detection means and a further counting-decoder circuit coupled to said further binary decoder circuit for decoding signals representative of the initial frame in said multiframe, so as to control the operation of said binary decoder, and further including means, coupled between the output of the binary decoder circuit of said first means and said further binary decoder, for controlling the decoding of a multiframe synchronization signal in response to the decoding of a frame synchronization signal.

Claim 8

A synchronizing unit according to claim 3, wherein said pair of memory circuits comprise a pair of addressable active memories having ((n + 1)/2) storage positions, each position made of 8 binary elements, and further including means for effecting write-addressing of a memory in response to a respective code for a non-local time channel, during the storage period for the memory, and for effecting read-addressing of a memory in response to a respective code for a local time channel, during the read-out period for the memory.

Claim 9

A synchronizing unit according to claim 3, wherein means for generating said third signal and said selective changing means comprise bistable circuits.

Claim 10

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n + 1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m + 1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels, wherein said signaling data items for telegraph channels within a multiframe of data signals to be transmitted from a logic control element provided within said local station to a connection unit, for providing data transmission between said local station and an external station, occupy the ((n + 1)/2)th time channels of prescribed frames of said multiframe and wherein said fourth means comprises: means for storing data items to be transmitted, a register connected thereto, and a coder circuit for generating a transmission control code for data items occupying the ((n + 1)/2)th time channel of the (m-1)th frame of said multiframe; and a command menory, rEsponsive to the code representative of a transmission frame, for sending out a series of command signals for synchronizing the operations said data item storing means, said register and said coder.

Claim 11

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n + 1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m + 1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels, wherein said signaling data items for telegraph channels within a multiframe of data signals to be transmitted from a logic control element provided within said local station to a connection unit, for providing data transmission between said local station and an external station, occupy the ((n + 1)/2)th time channels of prescribed frames of said multiframe and wherein said fourth means comprises: means for storing data items to be transmitted, a register connected thereto, and a coder circuit for generating a transmission control code for data items occupying the ((n + 1)/2)th time channel of the (m-1)th frame of said multiframe; and a command menory, rEsponsive to the code representative of a transmission frame, for sending out a series of command signals for synchronizing the operations said data item storing means, said register and said coder.

Claim 12

A synchronizing unit according to claim 7, wherein said multiframe is transmitted from a connection unit to said logic control element and said fourth means further comprises: a further register storing telegraph channel data items, connected to further means for storing said data items, and a decoder circuit for controlling the code for transmission of data items; and a further command memory, responsive to the code representative of a receiving frame, for sending out a series of further command signals for synchronizing the operations of said further data item storage means, said further register and said decoder circuit.

Claim 13

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n + 1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m + 1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels, wherein signaling data items for channel-by-channel signaling within a multiframe of data signals, to be transmitted from a connection unit provided at said local station to said local time switching apparatus, occupy the ((n + 1)/2)th time channel of prescribed frames of said multiframe, and wherein said fourth means comprises means for controlling the synchronization of channel-by-channel data items including means for storing signaling data items, during a time interval between two respective local time channels i and j, which occupy the intervals 1 < or = i < or = (n -1)/2 and (n + 3)/2 < or = j < or = n, and for reading out data items in response to a local clock signal.

Claim 14

A synchronizing unit for synchronizing the time channels of multiplexed data transmitted between a distant station and a local station, said local station having a time switching apparatus, said unit being disposed at the input of said apparatus, wherein n + 1 of said time channels constitute a data frame and m + 1 frames constitute a multiframe, n and m being odd integers, and said time channels are made up of channels having a code characteristic of a frame or multiframe, speech channels and channels including signaling data items, more particularly, those for telegraph channels and channel-by-channel operation, said synchronizing unit comprising: first means, responsive to received multiplexed data signals, and a local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a frame, to synchronize the frame with said local clock signal; second means, responsive to said received multiplexed data signals and said local clock signal, for controlling the code characteristic of a multiframe, to synchronize a multiframe with said local clock signal; third means, coupled to said local clock signals and responsive to the received data signals, for synchronizing the speech channels within said data signals with said local clock signals; and fourth means, responsive to said received signals, for synchronizing the transmission and reception of said data items within said time channels, wherein signaling data items for channel-by-channel signaling within a multiframe of data signals, to be transmitted from a connection unit provided at said local station to said local time switching apparatus, occupy the ((n + 1)/2)th time channel of prescribed frames of said multiframe, and wherein said fourth means comprises means for controlling the synchronization of channel-by-channel data items including means for storing signaling data items, during a time interval between two respective local time channels i and j, which occupy the intervals 1 < or = i < or = (n -1)/2 and (n + 3)/2 < or = j < or = n, and for reading out data items in response to a local clock signal.

Claim 15

A synchronizing unit according to claim 9, wherein signaling data items for channel-by-channel signaling within a multiframe of data signals, are transmitted from said local time switching apparatus to a distant connection unit provided at said local station, and said fourth means comprises means for controlling the synchronization of said data items including a pair of memory circuit means, one of which stores the time channels 1 to (n - 1)/2 and the other of which stores the time channels (n + 3)/2 to n, connected to a register in which are recorded the signaling data items of the channel i (1 < or = i < or = (n - 1)/2) and of the channel i + ((n + 1)/2), and means for reading-out said register in response to the appearance of the ((n + 1)/2)th local time channel.

Claim 16

A synChronizing unit according to claim 9, wherein signaling data items for channel-by-channel signaling are transmitted from a distant digital terminal set to said local time switching apparatus, and wherein said fourth means further comprises: a pair of storage memories for storing signaling data items and for retaining the condition of a pair of preceding states therein; first and second comparators, responsive to the states of said data items, for respectively comparing a new state thereof with respect to the pair of preceding states for the time channel i (1 < or = i < or = (n - 1)/2) and for the time channel i +((n + 1)/2); and a recording register, for storing the new state, subsequent to a change in states, together with the address of the corresponding time channel.

Claim 17

A synchronizing unit according to claim 11, wherein signaling data items are transmitted from said local time switching apparatus to a digital terminal set of inter-exchange circuits, and wherein said fourth means further comprises: first and second storage memory means for respectively storing channel-by-channel data signals of the channels i, 1 < or = i < or = (n - 1)/2 and of the channels i + ((n + 1)/2), connected to a further register in which are recorded channel-by-channel data signals of the channels i and i + ((n + 1)/2), and means for reading-out said further register upon the appearance of the ((n + 1)/2)th local time channel.

Claim 18

A synchronizing unit according to claim 9, wherein signaling data items are transmitted from a connection network provided for said time switching apparatus to a multiplex synchronizing module provided at said local station, and wherein said fourth means further comprises: first and second memory elements for respectively storing the channel i (1 < or = i < or = (n - 1)/2) and the channel + ((n + 1)/2) ; respective comparator circuits for comparing the contents of said first and second memory elements with incoming received data items; and a storage register for storing said data items and the address of the corresponding time channel in response to the output of said comparator circuits indicating a change in the states of the data items.

Claim 19

A synchronizing unit according to claim 9, wherein channel-by-channel signaling data items are transmitted from multiplex synchronizing modules to a multi-recorder provided at said local station, and wherein said fourth means further comprises: first and second memory circuit means for respectively storing the time channels i, 1 < or = i < or = (n - 1)/2 and the time channels i + ((n + 1)/2), connected to a register circuit for successively recording signaling data items of the time channel i and the time channel i + ((n + 1)/2), read-out in response to the clock signals of the signaling channels.

Claim 20

A synchronizing unit according to claim 14, wherein said memory circuit means are active addressable memory circuits.