Electrical signaling

Claim 2

A signal value permuting system comprising a succession of reentry circuits having successively higher reentry point values, means to send signals through a plurality of said reentry circuits in tandem, and a key for each reentry circuit, means to add key and signal values together at the input side of each reentry circuit, each key having a range of values the maximum value of which is lower than the reentry point value of the reentry circuit with which the respective key is associated.

Claim 3

A signal value permuting system for signals varying in steps comprising a succession of reentry circuits having reentry points differing by one step from one to the next reentry circuit, a source of key currents varying in steps for each reentry circuit, the maximum step value of each key current source being one step below the reentry point of the corresponding reentry circuit, means to supply signal and key currents to the first reentry circuit to produce combined signal and key currents in the output thereof, and means to supply to each succeeding reentry circuit the corresponding key current and the currents in the output of the next preceding reentry circuit.

Claim 4

A signal value permuting system for signals varying in steps comprising a succession of reentry circuits having reentry points differing by one step from one to the next reentry circuit, a source of key currents varying in steps for each reentry circuit, the maximum step value of each key current source being one step below the reentry point of the corresponding reentry circuit, means to supply signal and key currents to the first reentry circuit to produce combined signal and key currents in the output thereof, and means to supply to each succeeding reentry circuit the corresponding key current and the currents in the output of the next preceding reentry circuit.

Claim 5

In a signal system, at least two reentry circuits in tandem, the first having a reentry point one step lower than the reentry point of the second, a source of stepped key currents for each reentry circuit, the key currents for each reentry circuit having a maximumm step value one step lower than the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, means to apply to the first reentry circuit signals varying in steps within a range below the reentry point of said latter circuit and means to apply to said second reentry circuit signal currents varying in steps including the currents received from the first reentry circuit in the step range below the reentry point thereof and other signal currents of step value in excess of said range.

Claim 6

In a signal system, at least two reentry circuits in tandem, the first having a reentry point one step lower than the reentry point of the second, a source of stepped key currents for each reentry circuit, the key currents for each reentry circuit having a maximumm step value one step lower than the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, means to apply to the first reentry circuit signals varying in steps within a range below the reentry point of said latter circuit and means to apply to said second reentry circuit signal currents varying in steps including the currents received from the first reentry circuit in the step range below the reentry point thereof and other signal currents of step value in excess of said range.

Claim 7

In a signaling system, a source of signal currents varying in steps, a first, a second and a third reentry circuit in tandem, having ascending step values of reentry point in that order, a first, a second and a third source of key currents of successively higher step range, each source associated with the corresponding reentry circuit and having a maximum step value one step lower than the reentry point of the associated reentry circuit, means operating in response to the step value of the signal currents to apply step-three signal current only to the third reentry circuit together with key currents from the third source, means operating in response to the step value of the signal currents to apply step-two signal current to only the second reentry circuit together with key currents from the second source, means operating in response to the step value of the signal currents to apply step-one signal current only to the first reentry circuit together with key currents from the first source, and means to apply the output current of each reentry circuit to the next succeeding reentry circuit together with the key currents from the respective associated source.

Claim 8

In a signaling system, a source of signal currents varying in steps, a first, a second and a third reentry circuit in tandem, having ascending step values of reentry point in that order, a first, a second and a third source of key currents of successively higher step range, each source associated with the corresponding reentry circuit and having a maximum step value one step lower than the reentry point of the associated reentry circuit, means operating in response to the step value of the signal currents to apply step-three signal current only to the third reentry circuit together with key currents from the third source, means operating in response to the step value of the signal currents to apply step-two signal current to only the second reentry circuit together with key currents from the second source, means operating in response to the step value of the signal currents to apply step-one signal current only to the first reentry circuit together with key currents from the first source, and means to apply the output current of each reentry circuit to the next succeeding reentry circuit together with the key currents from the respective associated source.

Claim 9

In a signaling system, a succession of reentry circuits, a source of key currents associated with each reentry circuit, said reentry circuits having reentry points varying in ascending steps throughout the succession, a source of stepped signal currents, means to apply maximum value signal currents to the last reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith, means to apply signals having a step value one step below said maximum value to the next preceding reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith and means to apply the output of the last-mentioned reentry circuit to the final reentry circuit of the succession together with the key currents associated therewith; means to apply signals of next lower step value to the next preceding reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith and means to pass the output thereof in succession through the succeeding reentry circuits and to combine the currents so passed from each reentry circuit to the next with the key currents associated with the respective reentry circuit.

Claim 10

In a signaling system, a succession of reentry circuits, a source of key currents associated with each reentry circuit, said reentry circuits having reentry points varying in ascending steps throughout the succession, a source of stepped signal currents, means to apply maximum value signal currents to the last reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith, means to apply signals having a step value one step below said maximum value to the next preceding reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith and means to apply the output of the last-mentioned reentry circuit to the final reentry circuit of the succession together with the key currents associated therewith; means to apply signals of next lower step value to the next preceding reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith and means to pass the output thereof in succession through the succeeding reentry circuits and to combine the currents so passed from each reentry circuit to the next with the key currents associated with the respective reentry circuit.

Claim 11

In a signaling system, a source of signals varying in steps, a succession of reentry circuits having reentry points varying by one step from each reentry circuit to the next, a source of stepped key currents associated with each reentry circuit and having a step range one step less than the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, means operating in accordance with the step value of the signal to apply signals only to certain reentry circuits according as the signal has a step value one step below the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, means to apply with such signal the key currents associated with the respective reentry circuit to encipher the applied signal current therein, and means to impress upon each reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith the currents enciphered in the next preceding reentry circuit, if any.

Claim 12

In a signaling system, a source of signals varying in steps, a succession of reentry circuits having reentry points varying by one step from each reentry circuit to the next, a source of stepped key currents associated with each reentry circuit and having a step range one step less than the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, means operating in accordance with the step value of the signal to apply signals only to certain reentry circuits according as the signal has a step value one step below the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, means to apply with such signal the key currents associated with the respective reentry circuit to encipher the applied signal current therein, and means to impress upon each reentry circuit together with the key currents associated therewith the currents enciphered in the next preceding reentry circuit, if any.

Claim 13

The invention claimed in claim 6 in which said means operating in accordance with the step value of the signal comprises a normally disabled connection between said source of signals and a respective reentry circuit and means for enabling said connection under control of signal currents.

Claim 14

The invention claimed in claim 6 in which said means operating in accordance with the step value of the signal comprises normally enabled reentry circuits and key current connections to each reentry circuit, and means for disabling respective reentry circuits and key current connections therefor under control of signal currents.

Claim 15

A deciphering circuit for received enciphered signals comprising a succession of reentry circuits varying in the reentry point value by one step from one circuit to the next, an output terminal for deciphered signals, a source of key currents for each reentry circuit, having a step range one step less than the reentry point value of the respective reentry circuit, means to pass the received signals through different numbers of said reentry circuits in succession depending upon the step value of the output current of a respective reentry circuit, and means controlled by the step value of such output current for transmitting deciphered signals to said output terminals from a given reentry output without further decipherment in succeeding reentry circuits.

Claim 16

A deciphering circuit for received enciphered signals comprising a succession of reentry circuits varying in the reentry point value by one step from one circuit to the next, an output terminal for deciphered signals, a source of key currents for each reentry circuit, having a step range one step less than the reentry point value of the respective reentry circuit, means to pass the received signals through different numbers of said reentry circuits in succession depending upon the step value of the output current of a respective reentry circuit, and means controlled by the step value of such output current for transmitting deciphered signals to said output terminals from a given reentry output without further decipherment in succeeding reentry circuits.

Claim 17

The invention according to claim 9 in which said last means comprises means for converting succeeding reentry circuits into simple repeating paths that merely repeat currents from their input to their output sides without performing any reentry function, and means for disabling the keys associated with such succeeding reentry circuits.

Claim 18

The invention according to claim 9 in which said last means comprises normally disabled paths leading from the output of each such succeeding reentry circuit to said output terminal for transmitting deciphered signals thereto when such paths are enabled, and means operated by deciphered signal current in the output of the preceding reentry circuit for enabling the path leading from the output of a succeeding reentry circuit.

Claim 19

In a secret signaling system for stepped signals, a succession of reentry circuits having reentry points differing by one step from one circuit to the next, a source of key currents for each reentry circuit having a step range one less than the step range included below the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, the number of reentry circuits in tandem being one less than the maximum number of steps including zero comprised in the signal, and means operating in response to the signal strength to cause signals of lowest step value to pass through a greater number of said reentry circuits in succession, and to be combined with said respective key currents, than do signals of greater step value.

Claim 20

In a secret signaling system for stepped signals, a succession of reentry circuits having reentry points differing by one step from one circuit to the next, a source of key currents for each reentry circuit having a step range one less than the step range included below the reentry point of the respective reentry circuit, the number of reentry circuits in tandem being one less than the maximum number of steps including zero comprised in the signal, and means operating in response to the signal strength to cause signals of lowest step value to pass through a greater number of said reentry circuits in succession, and to be combined with said respective key currents, than do signals of greater step value.