US3883693A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital communication system
Assignee: APPLIED INFORMATION IND
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Filing: 1972-07-11
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1992-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A time division multiplex communication system uses a signal path in the form of cable loops along which terminals for digital data or for voice communication (e.g., telephone hand sets) are coupled at convenient points. A controller for each path has a memory for storing at allocated locations the digital addresses of each pair of linked terminals, together with digital words to be transmitted (e.g., digitized voice samples) that were developed at the linked terminals. At a certain time period, the controller transmits a signal message containing a terminal address and a digital word via the path, so that the addressed terminal recognizes its own address and accepts the digital word (and, if a voice sample, converts it back to an audio signal for operating its telephone receiver). In response, the terminal sends a digital reply message which is stored by the controller until the time period for sending it to the other linked terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence J Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M9/00; H04M9/02; H04M9/022; H04M9/025; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42; H04L12/427; H04L12/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A digital communication system for a plurality of transmitting and receiving terminals connected to a loop signal path, said system comprising the steps of: transmitting in a certain sequence on said loop path at regular time periods digital messages to be received by said terminals in said sequence and having data words and identifying addresses individually associated with said terminals, receiving from said loop path digital reply messages transmitted by said terminals, and storing said reply messages in association with said identifying addresses for subsequent transmitting to said terminals in said sequence, and linking certain terminals for intercommunication including changing the setting of said sequence of terminals that receive said digital messages, and repeating a substantial number of times for each sequence setting the operational cycle of said transmitting, receiving and storing steps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A digital communication system for a plurality of transmitting and receiving terminals connected to a loop signal path, said system comprising the steps of: transmitting in a certain sequence on said loop path at regular time periods digital messages to be received by said terminals in said sequence and having data words and identifying addresses individually associated with said terminals, receiving from said loop path digital reply messages transmitted by said terminals, and storing said reply messages in association with said identifying addresses for subsequent transmitting to said terminals in said sequence, and linking certain terminals for intercommunication including changing the setting of said sequence of terminals that receive said digital messages, and repeating a substantial number of times for each sequence setting the operational cycle of said transmitting, receiving and storing steps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 1 and further comprising the steps by each of said terminals of: recognizing an associated identifying address in said digital messages for accepting from said loop path those of said digital messages having the associated address, and transmitting on said loop path reply messages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 2 and further comprising the steps by said terminals of converting voice signals to digital signals and digital signals to voice signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
A digital communication system having at least one loop signalling system, each comprising: a loop signal path; a plurality of transmitting and receiving terminals connected to said loop path; and a loop controller for linking said terminals, including means for transmitting to said terminals sequentially on said loop path at regularly repeated assignable time periods digital messages having data words and identifying addresses individually associated with said terminals, for assigning said time periods, and for storing in association with said identifying addresses reply messages for said terminals until transmitted at the time periods associated with the addressed terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
A digital communication system having at least one loop signalling system, each comprising: a loop signal path; a plurality of transmitting and receiving terminals connected to said loop path; and a loop controller for linking said terminals, including means for transmitting to said terminals sequentially on said loop path at regularly repeated assignable time periods digital messages having data words and identifying addresses individually associated with said terminals, for assigning said time periods, and for storing in association with said identifying addresses reply messages for said terminals until transmitted at the time periods associated with the addressed terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 4 wherein said terminals include: means for recognizing an associated identifying address in said messages on said loop path and for accepting those of said digital messages having the associated identifying address; and means for developing and transmitting reply messages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 5 wherein said terminals include digital to analog and analog to digital converting means for said means for accepting said digital messages and said means for developing and transmitting reply messAges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 4 and having a plurality of said loop signal systems, and means for transferring said digital and reply messages between the loop controllers of said loop signal systems.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
A digital communication system comprising: a loop signal path; a plurality of transmitting and receiving terminals connected to said loop path; each of said terminals having means for developing message words of digital signals and for transmitting said message words on said loop path in a certain time relation to signals accepted from said loop path, and means connected to said loop path for recognizing an associated digital address and for accepting message words transmitted with said address; and a loop controller including digital memory means having sections for storing words respectively associated with a plurality of said terminals, said stored words including said message words and being identified by digital addresses associated with each terminal, means for receiving message words transmitted by each of said terminals and for storing said words in the associated memory section, and means for transmitting said associated addresses and corresponding message words on said loop path during certain regular time periods individually associated with said terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
A digital communication system comprising: a loop signal path; a plurality of transmitting and receiving terminals connected to said loop path; each of said terminals having means for developing message words of digital signals and for transmitting said message words on said loop path in a certain time relation to signals accepted from said loop path, and means connected to said loop path for recognizing an associated digital address and for accepting message words transmitted with said address; and a loop controller including digital memory means having sections for storing words respectively associated with a plurality of said terminals, said stored words including said message words and being identified by digital addresses associated with each terminal, means for receiving message words transmitted by each of said terminals and for storing said words in the associated memory section, and means for transmitting said associated addresses and corresponding message words on said loop path during certain regular time periods individually associated with said terminals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein said loop signal path includes separate signal loops for transmitting said message words respectively from said terminals to said loop controller and from said loop controller to said terminals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein said message words include digitized voice signals and digital control signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A digital communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein said loop controller includes means for setting the time periods during which certain stored words in the memory section are transmitted on said loop.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
A digital communication system for concurrent transmission between a plurality of terminals to be linked in groups for intercommunication, each of said terminals having transmitting and receiving sections, said system comprising: a loop signal path; a plurality of said terminals connected in parallel to said loop path; and a loop controller connected to said loop path for controlling the linking of said terminals, and including means for transmitting individual digital messages to said terminals sequentially on said loop path at regularly repeated assignable time periods respectively associated with different ones of said terminals over each of a plurality of successive time cycles, and for receiving reply messages from said terminals in time periods different from the transmitting time periods, and means for storing said reply messages until transmitted at the respective transmitting time periods and for assigning said time periods to link said terminals in groups for intercommunication.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
A digital communication system for concurrent transmission between a plurality of terminals to be linked in groups for intercommunication, each of said terminals having transmitting and receiving sections, said system comprising: a loop signal path; a plurality of said terminals connected in parallel to said loop path; and a loop controller connected to said loop path for controlling the linking of said terminals, and including means for transmitting individual digital messages to said terminals sequentially on said loop path at regularly repeated assignable time periods respectively associated with different ones of said terminals over each of a plurality of successive time cycles, and for receiving reply messages from said terminals in time periods different from the transmitting time periods, and means for storing said reply messages until transmitted at the respective transmitting time periods and for assigning said time periods to link said terminals in groups for intercommunication.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |