Coding and decoding method and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein steps (a)-(e) are repeated for a second signal that is applied to the coding matrices of the first station on different input leads.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the leads monitored at the second station during the second execution of step (d) is different from the leads monitored during the first execution of step (d).

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of the coding matrices has a plurality of input leads and the step of applying a signal to an input lead of said coding matrix comprises the step of applying a signal successively to each of a plurality of input leads to said coding matrix, whereby the code character generator produces a plurality of sets of MARKS and SPACES constituting a plurality of code characters in a calling code.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the connecting means has a plurality of input leads and the step of applying a signal to an input lead of said connecting means comprises the step of applying a signal successively to each of a plurality of input leads to said connecting means, whereby the code characteR generators produce a plurality of groups of sets of MARKS and SPACES constituting a plurality of code characters in a calling code.

Claim 11

In a communication system in which coded signals in the form of MARKS and SPACES are transmitted from one station and received by another, apparatus at the transmitting station comprising: at least two programmable coding matrices, each matrix comprising a first plurality of input leads, a second plurality of output leads, and selective ohmic connections between said input leads and said output leads; an input means for applying signals on a plurality of sets of leads, one lead of each set being an input lead to one coding matrix and another lead being an input lead to another coding matrix; and a code character generator connected to the plurality of output leads from each coding matrix, each generator producing a different set of MARKS and SPACES for a signal on at least some of the different leads from the coding matrix to which it is connected, said input means, coding matrices, and code character generators producing at the output of the character generators a different group of MARKS and SPACES for signals on at least some of the different sets of leads from the input means; and apparatus at the receiving station comprising: at least two decoding stages, each of which converts a portion of a received group of MARKS and SPACES into an output on one of a plurality of leads; means for monitoring at least one set of selected leads for the coincidence of a signal thereon, one lead of each set being connected to a lead from one decoding stage and another lead being connected to a lead from another decoding stage, whereby the presence of a particular character in the coded signal may be determined; and programmable means for selectively connecting the plurality of leads from each decoding stage to the set of leads to the monitoring means.

Claim 12

In a communication system in which coded signals in the form of MARKS and SPACES are transmitted from one station and received by another, apparatus at the transmitting station comprising: at least two programmable coding matrices, each matrix comprising a first plurality of input leads, a second plurality of output leads, and selective ohmic connections between said input leads and said output leads; an input means for applying signals on a plurality of sets of leads, one lead of each set being an input lead to one coding matrix and another lead being an input lead to another coding matrix; and a code character generator connected to the plurality of output leads from each coding matrix, each generator producing a different set of MARKS and SPACES for a signal on at least some of the different leads from the coding matrix to which it is connected, said input means, coding matrices, and code character generators producing at the output of the character generators a different group of MARKS and SPACES for signals on at least some of the different sets of leads from the input means; and apparatus at the receiving station comprising: at least two decoding stages, each of which converts a portion of a received group of MARKS and SPACES into an output on one of a plurality of leads; means for monitoring at least one set of selected leads for the coincidence of a signal thereon, one lead of each set being connected to a lead from one decoding stage and another lead being connected to a lead from another decoding stage, whereby the presence of a particular character in the coded signal may be determined; and programmable means for selectively connecting the plurality of leads from each decoding stage to the set of leads to the monitoring means.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each input lead in a coding matrix that is connected to an output lead is connected to only one such output lead and a different set of MARKS and SPACES are provided by the code character generator for a signal on each different lead from the coding matrix.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the monitoring means in the receiving station monitors a plurality of sets of selected leads, whereby the presence of a plurality of characters in the coded signal may be determined.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the monitoring means further comprises a first set of logic gates each of which monitors a set of selected leads and logic means for producing a signal in response to signals from all of said logic gates, whereby a received calling code may be recognized.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the transmitting apparatus further comprises a parallel-to-serial converter for combining the sets of MARKS and SPACES produced in each code character generator in response to an input signal on a set of input leads to the coding matrices.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the input means comprises a commutator that applies signals successively to each of a first plurality of sets of input leads, whereby there is produced at the output of the character generators a plurality of groups of MARKS and SPACES constituting a calling code.