Apparatus for generating and transmitting digital information

Claim 3

An apparatus as in claim 1 including a clock means for producing electrical clock pulses to drive said pulse generator means and said priority determining means.

Claim 4

An apparatus as in claim 2 for use with a source of clock pulses wherein said pulse generator means comprises: a pluraity of serially connected flip-flops for sequentially flipping to a predetermined stable state and remaining thereat in response to sequential clock pulse from said source of clock pulses, an ''''AND'''' gate having at least two inputs and an output respectively associated with each of said flip-flops, one of said ''''AND'''' gate inputs being connected to at least one output of its respectively associated flip-flop for producing a gating input to the ''''AND'''' gate whenever its associated flip-flop is in said predetermined stable state, and the other of said ''''AND'''' gate inputs being connected to said source of clock pulses thereby providing a train of clock pulses at the ''''AND'''' gate output whenever said gating signal is present from its respectively associated flip-flop.

Claim 5

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein: each of said flip-flops includes a first and a second input terminal for causing the associated flip-flop output to take on a respectively corresponding one of first and second stable states upon the next clock pulse occurrence, said first input of the first of said serially connected flip-flops being connected to a start terminal for beginning a complete cycle of said sequential flipping, and an output of the last of said serially connected flip-flops being connected to an end cycle terminal for signaling the end of said complete cycle.

Claim 6

An apparatus as in claim 4 including a reset line commonly connected to all of said second inputs of said plurality of flip-flops for simultaneously resetting all of said flip-flops to said second stable state upon the next clock pulse occurrence.

Claim 7

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pulse generator produces one complete cycle of output pulse trains in response to a start signal and produces an end cycle signal upon the completion of said complete cycle, said apparatus further including a driver starting unit comprising: input means for receiving said end cycle signal, first inverter means having an output and having an input connected to said input means, second inverter means having an output and having an input connected to the output of said first inverter, the output from said first inverter being effective for use as a reset signal for resetting said pulse generator to an inactive state characterized in the absence of output from said pulse generator, and the output from said second inverter being effective for use as said start signal.

Claim 8

An apparatus as in claim 1 for use with a source of clock pulses wherein said priority determining means comprises: a digital counter having a plurality of binary stages for counting pulses input thereto, said counter being connected tO said source of clock pulses but being normally inhibited from counting in response to said clock pulses unless an enabling signal is also present, and a plurality of logic gates, each having an output and at least one input connected to at least one of said binary stages for generating said sequential ordinal place signals at outputs of said logic gates in correspondence with sequential changes in the contents of said digital counter.

Claim 9

An apparatus as in claim 7 including means for resetting said pulse generator to a non-active state at the end of a complete cycle of said output pulse trains and wherein said means is also effective to simultaneously produce said enabling signal for said digital counter.

Claim 10

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means comprises: a starting unit for producing an output request signal, a plurality of ''''AND'''' gates with inputs operatively connected to said output request signal, to select predetermined ones of said output pulse trains from said pulse generator means and to select predetermined ones of said ordinal place signals, said selected output pulse trains and said selected ordinal place signals being chosen to represent digit values of said predetermined number, and ''''OR'''' gate means for effectively combining the gated outputs from all of said ''''AND'''' gates onto a single output line.

Claim 11

An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said starting unit comprises: a flip-flop which normally does not change its state unless enabled by a start signal, and input means connected to said priority determining means for sensing the incipient beginning of a cycle of said ordinal place signals, for causing said flip-flop to change states and produce said output request signal if said start signal is present and for causing said flip-flop to change states and remove said output request signal at the next sensing of said incipient beginning.

Claim 12

Pulse train generating and selection apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange which is connected to a plurality of subscribing telephone lines whereby successive digits or characters of predetermined data values that are associated with any particular subscriber''s calling line may be automatically transmitted as corresponding successive electrical pulse trains to a connected called telephone line, said pulse train generating and selection apparatus comprising: centralized pulse train generating means for automatically and successively generating a plurality of electrical pulse trains representing all possible values of said predetermined data to be transmitted, and further means including a pluraity of output units, each output unit being associated with one corresponding subscriber''s telephone line and also being connected to said centralized pulse train generating means, said further means automatically selecting and routing a particular predetermined sequence of said pulse trains representing the predetermined data values to a selected called telephone line.

Claim 13

Pulse train generating and selection apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange which is connected to a plurality of subscribing telephone lines whereby successive digits or characters of predetermined data values that are associated with any particular subscriber''s calling line may be automatically transmitted as corresponding successive electrical pulse trains to a connected called telephone line, said pulse train generating and selection apparatus comprising: centralized pulse train generating means for automatically and successively generating a plurality of electrical pulse trains representing all possible values of said predetermined data to be transmitted, and further means including a pluraity of output units, each output unit being associated with one corresponding subscriber''s telephone line and also being connected to said centralized pulse train generating means, said further means automatically selecting and routing a particular predetermined sequence of said pulse trains representing the predetermined data values to a selected called telephone line.

Claim 14

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successive digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically and simultaneously generating electrical pulse trains representing all possible data values to be transmitted, each pulse train corresponding to a separate channel, and further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected ones of said pulse trains, which trains correspond to said successive digits or characters of the predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line.

Claim 15

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successive digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically and simultaneously generating electrical pulse trains representing all possible data values to be transmitted, each pulse train corresponding to a separate channel, and further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected ones of said pulse trains, which trains correspond to said successive digits or characters of the predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line.

Claim 16

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successiVe digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically generating electrical pulse trains representing all possible data values to be transmitted, each pulse train corresponding to a separate channel, further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected ones of said pulse trains, which trains correspond to said successive digits or characters of predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line, and said first-mentioned means comprising a pulse generator having a different output terminal for each possible data value and including means for repetitively and simultaneously producing electrical pulse trains on each of said output terminals.

Claim 17

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successiVe digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically generating electrical pulse trains representing all possible data values to be transmitted, each pulse train corresponding to a separate channel, further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected ones of said pulse trains, which trains correspond to said successive digits or characters of predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line, and said first-mentioned means comprising a pulse generator having a different output terminal for each possible data value and including means for repetitively and simultaneously producing electrical pulse trains on each of said output terminals.

Claim 18

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successive digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically generating electrical pulse trains representing each possible data value, further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected ones of said pulse trains, which trains correspond to said successive digits or characters of predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line, said first-mentioned means comprising a pulse generator having a different output terminal for each possible data value and including means for repetitively and simultaneously producing electrical pulse trains on each of said output terminals, each of said output means including a plurality of gating means each corresponding to one of said digits or characters for passing electrical signals in response to being enabled, said output terminals being selectively connected to each of said gate means in correspondence with the predetermined data values represented thereby, and said first-mentioned means include priority determining means connected to each of said gating means for sequentially enabling said gates in a predetermined order whereby said successive digits or characters of predetermined data values are accurately represented as sequential groups of electrical pulse trains on the selected called telephone line.

Claim 19

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successive digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically generating electrical pulse trains representing each possible data value, further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected ones of said pulse trains, which trains correspond to said successive digits or characters of predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line, said first-mentioned means comprising a pulse generator having a different output terminal for each possible data value and including means for repetitively and simultaneously producing electrical pulse trains on each of said output terminals, each of said output means including a plurality of gating means each corresponding to one of said digits or characters for passing electrical signals in response to being enabled, said output terminals being selectively connected to each of said gate means in correspondence with the predetermined data values represented thereby, and said first-mentioned means include priority determining means connected to each of said gating means for sequentially enabling said gates in a predetermined order whereby said successive digits or characters of predetermined data values are accurately represented as sequential groups of electrical pulse trains on the selected called telephone line.

Claim 20

Transmitting apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising a common clock means for synchronously driving both a pulse train generating section of said first-mentioned means and said priority determining means.

Claim 21

Transmitting apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising: start/stop means connected to all the gate means in a respectively associated output means for insuring that said gate means are enabled only when a called line is actually connected thereto and then only for complete transmission cycles during which all of said successive digit or character data values are transmitted whereby an incomplete transmission beginning in the midst of a string of data values is prevented.

Claim 22

In a telephone central exchange, centralized transmitting apparatus associated with a plurality of incoming subscriber''s telephone lines in the exchange for successively transmitting a plurality of electrical pulse trains representing a predetermined plurality of predetermined data values over called telephone lines, said centralized transmitting apparatus comprising: centralized pulse train generating means for automatically generating a plurality of electrical pulse trains corresponding to all possible predetermined data values to be transmitted, and further means including an outputting unit for each of said plurality of incoming telephone lines, each oF said outputting units being connected to said centralized pulse train generating means, to a respectively associated calling or incoming telephone line and to central exchange switching equipment which will cause eventual connection to a selected called telephone line, and said further means including gating means connected for successively routing predetermined ones of said electrical pulse trains to said called telephone line in correspondence with said predetermined data values.

Claim 23

In a telephone central exchange, centralized transmitting apparatus associated with a plurality of incoming subscriber''s telephone lines in the exchange for successively transmitting a plurality of electrical pulse trains representing a predetermined plurality of predetermined data values over called telephone lines, said centralized transmitting apparatus comprising: centralized pulse train generating means for automatically generating a plurality of electrical pulse trains corresponding to all possible predetermined data values to be transmitted, and further means including an outputting unit for each of said plurality of incoming telephone lines, each oF said outputting units being connected to said centralized pulse train generating means, to a respectively associated calling or incoming telephone line and to central exchange switching equipment which will cause eventual connection to a selected called telephone line, and said further means including gating means connected for successively routing predetermined ones of said electrical pulse trains to said called telephone line in correspondence with said predetermined data values.

Claim 26

Pulse train generating and selection apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange which is connected to a plurality of subscribing telephone lines whereby successive digits or characters of predetermined data values that are associated with any particular subscriber''s calling line may be automatically transmitted as corresponding successive electrical pulse trains to a connected called telephone line, said pulse train generating and selection apparatus comprising: centralized pulse generating means for automatically and successively generating a plurality of data outputs representing all possible values of said predetermined data to be transmitted, and further means including a plurality of output units, each output unit being associated with one corresponding subscriber''s telephone line and also being connected to said centralized pulse generating means, said further means automatically selecting and routing a particular predetermined sequence of pulse trains corresponding to predetermined ones of said data outputs and representing the predetermined data values to a selected called telephone line.

Claim 27

Pulse train generating and selection apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange which is connected to a plurality of subscribing telephone lines whereby successive digits or characters of predetermined data values that are associated with any particular subscriber''s calling line may be automatically transmitted as corresponding successive electrical pulse trains to a connected called telephone line, said pulse train generating and selection apparatus comprising: centralized pulse generating means for automatically and successively generating a plurality of data outputs representing all possible values of said predetermined data to be transmitted, and further means including a plurality of output units, each output unit being associated with one corresponding subscriber''s telephone line and also being connected to said centralized pulse generating means, said further means automatically selecting and routing a particular predetermined sequence of pulse trains corresponding to predetermined ones of said data outputs and representing the predetermined data values to a selected called telephone line.

Claim 28

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successive digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically and simultanteously generating a plurality of data outputs representing all possible data values to be transmitted, each data output corresponding to a separate channel, and further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected pulse trains, which trains correspond to predetermined ones of said data outputs and to said successive digits or characters of the predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line.

Claim 29

Transmitting apparatus for use in a central telephone exchange to transmit electrical pulses representing successive digits or characters of predetermined data values to a called telephone site, said transmitting apparatus comprising: means for automatically and simultanteously generating a plurality of data outputs representing all possible data values to be transmitted, each data output corresponding to a separate channel, and further means including a plurality of output means connected to said first-mentioned means and corresponding to a like plurality of telephone lines in said central exchange, said further means automatically and successively routing selected pulse trains, which trains correspond to predetermined ones of said data outputs and to said successive digits or characters of the predetermined data values, to an appropriate called telephone line.