US3906175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple link nodal switching network
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-20
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A multilink nodal switching network is disclosed which permits heavy traffic among a plurality of equi-interconnectible switching nodes. Circuitry for busy-testing, for marking idle links and for steering crosspoint operating potential to a selected idle link in a designated direction is shown. The multilink nodal network is a higher traffic carrying version of the single link nodal switching network of my prior patent application Ser. No. 393,595 filed Aug. 31, 1973. A link marking potential is applied at the given node to which the connection has reached, a next node in the direction of the called node is ascertained and a group of its links lying in the direction of the given node are busy tested. A crosspoint operating potential is steered to a first idle one of the tested links at the next node and, in cooperation with the marking potential, operates a crosspoint at the given node. After the crosspoint operates at the given node the link marking potential replaces the crosspoint operating potential at the next node.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Amos Edward Joel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In a nodal switching system having a plurality of switching nodes, a group of links interconnecting each node with a respective one of a plurality of neighbor nodes, and means for designating an appropriate link group to extend a connection from a given node to a next one of said neighbor nodes, the combination comprising means responsive to said link group designating means for selecting an idle link in a designated link group appearing at said next one of said neighbor nodes, meaNs for applying a particular polarity marking potential to said idle link, and means at said given node for applying an opposite polarity marking potential to at least one of the links in a link group appearing thereat corresponding to the link group designated by said designating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a nodal switching system having a plurality of switching nodes, a group of links interconnecting each node with a respective one of a plurality of neighbor nodes, and means for designating an appropriate link group to extend a connection from a given node to a next one of said neighbor nodes, the combination comprising means responsive to said link group designating means for selecting an idle link in a designated link group appearing at said next one of said neighbor nodes, meaNs for applying a particular polarity marking potential to said idle link, and means at said given node for applying an opposite polarity marking potential to at least one of the links in a link group appearing thereat corresponding to the link group designated by said designating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A nodal switching system according to claim 1 wherein said opposite polarity potential applying means comprises means for marking the link in the link group over which the connection had been extended to said given node.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A nodal switching system having a plurality of switching nodes, a network of links for interconnecting each node with a plurality of neighbor nodes, and means for designating an appropriate link to extend a network connection from a given node to a next one of said neighbor nodes, characterized in that the links for interconnecting each node with its neighbor nodes includes a link group for connecting each node with a respective one of its neighbor nodes and in that said means for designating an appropriate link includes means for testing the links in a particular link group and for applying a marking potential to a selected idle link in said group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
A nodal switching system having a plurality of switching nodes, a network of links for interconnecting each node with a plurality of neighbor nodes, and means for designating an appropriate link to extend a network connection from a given node to a next one of said neighbor nodes, characterized in that the links for interconnecting each node with its neighbor nodes includes a link group for connecting each node with a respective one of its neighbor nodes and in that said means for designating an appropriate link includes means for testing the links in a particular link group and for applying a marking potential to a selected idle link in said group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A nodal switching system according to claim 3 wherein said testing means comprises means for testing said particular link group appearing at said next one of said neighbor nodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A nodal switching system according to claim 3 wherein said marking potential is opposite in polarity to the potential applied to the link of the node which precedes said given node in the establishment of a connection extending toward said given node.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A nodal switching system according to claim 3 wherein said designating means includes means for changing said marking potential incident to the extension of said connection from said given node to a subsequent node.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A circuit connectible to two switching nodes of a nodal switching network, comprising means for testing the links of a designated link group at one of said nodes, steering means controlled by said testing means for applying a particular polarity potential to an idle link of said group, means for applying an opposite polarity potential to a link of a group at the release of said other of said nodes, and means responsive to the release of said other of said nodes from said circuit for reversing the polarity of said particular potential applied to said link of said one of said nodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A circuit connectible to two switching nodes of a nodal switching network, comprising means for testing the links of a designated link group at one of said nodes, steering means controlled by said testing means for applying a particular polarity potential to an idle link of said group, means for applying an opposite polarity potential to a link of a group at the release of said other of said nodes, and means responsive to the release of said other of said nodes from said circuit for reversing the polarity of said particular potential applied to said link of said one of said nodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit according to claim 7 wherein said testing means includes means for indicating when all of the links of a designated link group are busy to inhibit operation of said steering means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
A nodal switching system having a plurality of switching nodes, a network of links for interconnecting each node with a plurality of neighbor nodes and recurrently operable means for designating the appropriate link to extend a network connection from node to node characterized in that the links for interconnecting each node with its neighbor includes a link group for connecting each node with a respective one of its neighbor nodes; in that said means for designating an appropriate link includes means for applying a particular polarity marking potential to a selected idle link in a particular link group during one operation thereof and for reversing said polarity incident to the next successive operation thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
A nodal switching system having a plurality of switching nodes, a network of links for interconnecting each node with a plurality of neighbor nodes and recurrently operable means for designating the appropriate link to extend a network connection from node to node characterized in that the links for interconnecting each node with its neighbor includes a link group for connecting each node with a respective one of its neighbor nodes; in that said means for designating an appropriate link includes means for applying a particular polarity marking potential to a selected idle link in a particular link group during one operation thereof and for reversing said polarity incident to the next successive operation thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A nodal switching system as in claim 9 wherein said designating means includes a circuit interconnectible to two of said switching nodes having first means for applying to a given node a potential opposite in polarity to said particular polarity and second means for applying said particular polarity potential to said selected idle link in said link group appearing at said next node.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a switching system having a network of switching nodes each having a plurality of links and crosspoints operable to connect said node to any of a predetermined number of surrounding switching nodes, and a central network control for ascertaining which one of the Surrounding switching nodes shall be included in an extension of a switching path for a given switching node, the combination comprising means connectible to a node to which said switching path has been extended for maintaining a link marking potential at a particular link thereof, means for testing the plurality of links at the ascertained one of said switching nodes which links lie in the direction of said node to which said path has been extended, and means for steering an opposite polarity link marking potential to a first idle one of said links tested by said testing means to operate a crosspoint at said node to which said switching path has been extended.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a switching system having a network of switching nodes each having a plurality of links and crosspoints operable to connect said node to any of a predetermined number of surrounding switching nodes, and a central network control for ascertaining which one of the Surrounding switching nodes shall be included in an extension of a switching path for a given switching node, the combination comprising means connectible to a node to which said switching path has been extended for maintaining a link marking potential at a particular link thereof, means for testing the plurality of links at the ascertained one of said switching nodes which links lie in the direction of said node to which said path has been extended, and means for steering an opposite polarity link marking potential to a first idle one of said links tested by said testing means to operate a crosspoint at said node to which said switching path has been extended.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A nodal switching system comprising a plurality of switching nodes, a plurality of groups of links for connecting each node with respective ones of its neighboring nodes, means for designating a particular link group of a given node of said plurality of switching nodes for connection to a respective link group of one of its neighboring nodes, and means responsive to said link group designating means for selecting idle links in said particular link group for extending a connection between neighboring nodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A nodal switching system comprising a plurality of switching nodes, a plurality of groups of links for connecting each node with respective ones of its neighboring nodes, means for designating a particular link group of a given node of said plurality of switching nodes for connection to a respective link group of one of its neighboring nodes, and means responsive to said link group designating means for selecting idle links in said particular link group for extending a connection between neighboring nodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3729593A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |