US3916113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for on line expansion of communication switching system call processing capabilities
Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1974-02-27
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1994-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus of on-line expansion of call processing capabilities of a communication switching system, such as a telephone system, having a switching network for establishing connections between calling and called lines in response to common equipment and having space-divided equipment units, such as junctors and others, communicating with the common equipment for performing control operations, includes providing additional space-divided equipment units and testing them in-circuit during on-line operation of the system before permitting them to be used by the system. The additional space-divided units are installed in the system before it is initially cut into service, but the additional units are rendered inoperative by storing information concerning each unit in a system memory until the additional units are needed for expansion purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis A Heck
- 👤 Howard R Miller
- 👤 Jr Leo J Putchinski
- 👤 Kenneth W Vanderlei
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
In a communication switching system having a switching network for establishing connections between calling and called lines and common equipment for controling apparatus to establish connections via said switching network, and having space-divided equipment units communicating with the common equipment for performing a plurality of different control operations for processing of calls through the switching network, a method of on-line expansion of call processing capabilities, comprising: providing and connecting in communication with the common equipment additional space-divided units beyond that originally provided; coupling memory means to said common equipment for storing equipment information concerning said additional units; storing invalidity information in said memory means for the purpose of rendering said additional units unusable by the system common equipment; coupling testing means to said switching equipment for checking the operation of said additional units; establishing a path through the switching network between said testing means and said additional units in accordance with said equipment information; testing said additional units; thereafter storing growth indicator information in said memory means for indicating that said invalidity information is to be ignored; and changing said invalidity information to permit the system to use said additional units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a communication switching system having a switching network for establishing connections between calling and called lines and common equipment for controling apparatus to establish connections via said switching network, and having space-divided equipment units communicating with the common equipment for performing a plurality of different control operations for processing of calls through the switching network, a method of on-line expansion of call processing capabilities, comprising: providing and connecting in communication with the common equipment additional space-divided units beyond that originally provided; coupling memory means to said common equipment for storing equipment information concerning said additional units; storing invalidity information in said memory means for the purpose of rendering said additional units unusable by the system common equipment; coupling testing means to said switching equipment for checking the operation of said additional units; establishing a path through the switching network between said testing means and said additional units in accordance with said equipment information; testing said additional units; thereafter storing growth indicator information in said memory means for indicating that said invalidity information is to be ignored; and changing said invalidity information to permit the system to use said additional units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a communication switching system having a switching network for establishing connections between calling and called lines and common equipment for controlling apparatus to establish connections via said switching network, and having space-divided equipment units communicating with the common equipment for performing a plurality of different control operations for processing of calls through the switching network, an apparatus for on-line expansion of call processing capabilities, comprising: additional space-divided units beyond that originally provided; means for connecting said additional space-divided units in communication with the common equipment; memory means for storing equipment information concerning said additional units; means for storing invalidity information in said memory means for the purpose of rendering said additional units unusable by the system common equipment; testing means for checking the operation of said additional space-divided units; means including said switching network and said common equipment for establishing a path from said testing means to said additional units in accordance with said equipment information for testing said additional units; means for storing growth indicator information in said memory means for indicating that said invalidity information is to be ignored; and means for changing said invalidity information to permit the system to use said additional units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a communication switching system having a switching network for establishing connections between calling and called lines and common equipment for controlling apparatus to establish connections via said switching network, and having space-divided equipment units communicating with the common equipment for performing a plurality of different control operations for processing of calls through the switching network, an apparatus for on-line expansion of call processing capabilities, comprising: additional space-divided units beyond that originally provided; means for connecting said additional space-divided units in communication with the common equipment; memory means for storing equipment information concerning said additional units; means for storing invalidity information in said memory means for the purpose of rendering said additional units unusable by the system common equipment; testing means for checking the operation of said additional space-divided units; means including said switching network and said common equipment for establishing a path from said testing means to said additional units in accordance with said equipment information for testing said additional units; means for storing growth indicator information in said memory means for indicating that said invalidity information is to be ignored; and means for changing said invalidity information to permit the system to use said additional units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3253262A
Cited
US3336442A
Cited
US3409877A
Cited
US3522387A
Cited
US3504129A
Cited
US3613089A
Cited
US3647979A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |