Method and apparatus for combining digitized information

Claim 2

A plurality of communication stations for permitting simultaneous exchange of vocal information between said communication station wherein each of said stations comprises: first means for combining first digitally-encoded signals from a first group of said communication stations with second digitally encoded signals from a second group of said communication stations, output signals from said first combining means providing data to said station from said first and second group of communication stations; second means for combining said first signals with digitally encoded local signals, output signals from said second combining means for distribution to said second group of said communication stations; and third means for combining said second signals with said local signals, output signals from said third combining means for distribution to said first group of said communication stations.

Claim 3

The communication station of claim 1 further including means for synchronizing said first and said second digitally encoded signals.

Claim 4

The communication station of claim 1 further including means for encoding said local signals; and means for decoding output signals from said second combining means.

Claim 5

The communication station of claim 1 wherein each of said combining means includes a switch, wherein a first state of said switch causes a first input signal to be applied to an output terminal of said switch and wherein a second state of said switch causes a second input signal to be applied to said output terminal of said switch; first means for identifying a preselected condition in said first input signal, wherein identification of said preselected condition by said first identification means causes said switch to be in said first state; and second means for identifying a preselected condition in said second input signal, wherein identification of said preselected condition by said second identification means causes said switch to be in said second position.

Claim 6

The communication station of claim 4 wherein each of said identification means includes a plurality of elements for storing digital data; and means for identifying simultaneous storage of preselected logic signals in said plurality of storage elements.

Claim 7

The communication station of claim 5 wherein said switch includes: logic means for applying a first logic signal to a first output terminal when a signal is applied to a first input terminal of said logic means, said logic means applying a second logic signal to second output terminal when a signal is applied to a second input terminal; a first logic gate having a first input terminal coupled to said first output means of said logic means and a second input terminal coupled to said first input signals; and a second logic gate having a first input terminal coupled to said second out means of said logic means and a second input terminal coupled to second input signals.

Claim 8

The communication station of claim 2 wherein said signal synchronizing means includes: a logic element, wherein a first digital signal is applied to an input terminal of said logic, said first digital signal synchronized with first clock signals, a clock terminal of said logic element coupled to second clock signals; a switch, a first position of said switch coupling said first digital signal to an output terminal of said switch, a second position of said switch coupling an output terminal of said logic element to said switch output terminal; and means for detecting an occurrence of said first clock signals and said second clock signals within a preestablished period causing said switch to be in said second position.

Claim 9

Apparatus for receiving data from and for entering data into a communication system comprising: first means for synchronizing second digitally encoded data signals with first clock signals; first means for combining output signals from said first synchronizing means with first digitally encoded data signals; means for decoding output signals from said first signal combining means; second means for combining said first synchronizing means output signals with output signal from said encoding means; third means for combining said encoding means output signals and said first digitally encoded data signals; and second means for synchronizing a selected one of output signals from said second combining means output signals with said second clock signals.

Claim 10

Apparatus for receiving data from and for entering data into a communication system comprising: first means for synchronizing second digitally encoded data signals with first clock signals; first means for combining output signals from said first synchronizing means with first digitally encoded data signals; means for decoding output signals from said first signal combining means; second means for combining said first synchronizing means output signals with output signal from said encoding means; third means for combining said encoding means output signals and said first digitally encoded data signals; and second means for synchronizing a selected one of output signals from said second combining means output signals with said second clock signals.

Claim 13

The method of exchanging data of claim 9 wherein combining information includes the steps of: identifying a preselected condition in a first and in a second digitally encoded signal channel; and transmitting information in a signal channel in which said preselected condition has been identified.

Claim 16

The method of combining digitally encoded vocal data of claim 11 wherein step a includes identifying an initiation of vocal information in said first channel and wherein step c includes identifying an initiation of vocal information in said second channel.

Claim 17

A communication station for extracting data signals from and for entering data signals into a communication system comprising: a first decision element for producing a first decision signal upon identification of a preselected condition in first digitally encoded data signals; a second decision element for producing a second decision signal upon identification of said preselected condition in second digitally encoded data signals; a third decision element for producing a third decision signal upon identification of said preselected condition in local data input signals; a first gate element for transmitting said first data signals in response to said first decision signal, said first gate element transmitting said second data signals in response to said second decision signals, said transmitted signals from said first gate element providing communication station output signals; a second gate element for transmitting said first data signals in response to said first decision signals, said second gate element transmitting said local input signals in response to said third decision signal; said transmitted signals from said second gate element providing first data output signals; and a third gate element for transmitting said second data signal in response to said second decision signal, said third gate element for transmitting said local input signals in response to said third decision signals, transmitted signals from said third gate element providing second data output signals.

Claim 18

A communication station for extracting data signals from and for entering data signals into a communication system comprising: a first decision element for producing a first decision signal upon identification of a preselected condition in first digitally encoded data signals; a second decision element for producing a second decision signal upon identification of said preselected condition in second digitally encoded data signals; a third decision element for producing a third decision signal upon identification of said preselected condition in local data input signals; a first gate element for transmitting said first data signals in response to said first decision signal, said first gate element transmitting said second data signals in response to said second decision signals, said transmitted signals from said first gate element providing communication station output signals; a second gate element for transmitting said first data signals in response to said first decision signals, said second gate element transmitting said local input signals in response to said third decision signal; said transmitted signals from said second gate element providing first data output signals; and a third gate element for transmitting said second data signal in response to said second decision signal, said third gate element for transmitting said local input signals in response to said third decision signals, transmitted signals from said third gate element providing second data output signals.

Claim 19

The communication station of claim 13 further including means for digitally encoding said local data input signals; and means for decoding said digitally encoded communication station output signals.

Claim 20

The communication station of claim 13 wherein said communication system is comprised of said communication station, a first group of communication stations, and a second group of communication stations, said first input signal including signals from said first group of stations, said first output signals including signals to said second group of stations, said second input signal including signals from said second group of stations, said second output signal including signals to said first group of stations.

Claim 21

The communication station of claim 13 further including means for a synchronizing said second input signals with first clock signals; and means for synchronizing a selected one of said first and said second output signals with preselected clock signals.

Claim 22

A communication station for entering digitally encoded data into and for extracting digitally encoded data from a communication system, first means for combining first digitally encoded input data signals and local digitally encoded input signals to supply first output signals, wherein said first combining means transmitting signals from a one of said first data signals and said input signals having most recently included a preselected data condition; second means for combining second digitally encoded input data signals and said local input signals to supply a second output signal, wherein said second combining means transmitting signals from a one of said second data input and said local input signals having most recently included said preselected data condition; and third means for combining said second input data signals and said first data input signals to supply information to said communication station.

Claim 23

A communication station for entering digitally encoded data into and for extracting digitally encoded data from a communication system, first means for combining first digitally encoded input data signals and local digitally encoded input signals to supply first output signals, wherein said first combining means transmitting signals from a one of said first data signals and said input signals having most recently included a preselected data condition; second means for combining second digitally encoded input data signals and said local input signals to supply a second output signal, wherein said second combining means transmitting signals from a one of said second data input and said local input signals having most recently included said preselected data condition; and third means for combining said second input data signals and said first data input signals to supply information to said communication station.

Claim 24

The communication station of claim 17 wherein said preselected condition is an initiation of vocal information.

Claim 25

The communication station of claim 17 wherein said signals include continuously variable slope delta modulation of vocal information.

Claim 26

A communication station for entering digitally encoded data into and extracting digitally encoded data from a communication system, first means for combining first input data signals, wherein said first combining means supplies signals from a one of said first data signals and said input signals and said input signals display a preselected condition; second means for combining second input data signals and said local input signals to supply a second output signal, wherein said second combining means supplies signals from a one of said second data input and said local input signals displaying said preselected condition; and third means for combining said second input data signals and said first data input signals to supply information to said communication station, wherein said signals include continuously variable slope delta modulation of vocal information and wherein three consecutive identical logical signals identify the initiation of vocal information in a signal channel.

Claim 27

A communication station for entering digitally encoded data into and extracting digitally encoded data from a communication system, first means for combining first input data signals, wherein said first combining means supplies signals from a one of said first data signals and said input signals and said input signals display a preselected condition; second means for combining second input data signals and said local input signals to supply a second output signal, wherein said second combining means supplies signals from a one of said second data input and said local input signals displaying said preselected condition; and third means for combining said second input data signals and said first data input signals to supply information to said communication station, wherein said signals include continuously variable slope delta modulation of vocal information and wherein three consecutive identical logical signals identify the initiation of vocal information in a signal channel.