Process for operating sub-zones of a digital t.d.m. telecommunications network for long distance traffic

Claim 2

In a process for operating a digital time division multiplex telecommunications network for long distance traffic, in which, on wide-band transmission links which connect exchanges, information blocks are transmitted and comprise items of information from subscriber groups which can be identified by a preceding block address or by the sequence of their occurrence, the network comprising a main transmission link with two ends, a first main exchange at one of said ends, a second main exchange at the other of said ends and branch stations connected intermediate said ends and connected to branch exchanges via respective branch links, the improvement therein, comprising the steps of: sequentially transmitting information blocks from said second main exchange and said branch stations, intended for predetermined called exchanges, on said main transmission link toward said first main exchange; receiving said information blocks at said first main exchange; switching through, at said first main exchange, those information blocks intended for others of said called exchanges; and receiving the switched-through information blocks at the branch stations associated with the called exchanges.

Claim 3

The improved process of claim 1, further defined by the steps of: at said first main exchange transmitting the information blocks in sequence of their position along said main transmission link to the exchanges which can be reached via said branch stations and then transmitting an information block to said second main exchange relating to the mutual traffic between all exchanges having direct access to said main transmission link with said second main exchange, and then transmitting an information block to said second main exchange relating to the transit traffic to be conducted through said second main exchange, and further defined by the steps of in respect of each sampling pulse frame transmitting an opening code word prior to each information block to open access to the called exchange including access for the mutual traffic to said second main exchange and to suppress ongoing traffic, during access, on said main transmission link, and transmitting, at the end of each information block, a separating code word which cancels the opening access and the blockage of ongoing traffic caused by the opening code word and, in the case of said second main exchange, to open the access for the following transit traffic; at said second main exchange transmitting information blocks and following separation code words for the transit traffic to be conducted via said first main exchange and the mutual traffic to be carried out via said first main exchange, and then transmitting a closing code word to terminate transmission from said second main exchange and open transmission from the next exchange in sequential position which is accessible to said main transmission link; and at each branch exchange, in sequence of its position along said main transmission link transmitting information blocks relating to the mutual traffic and the long distance traffic to be conducted via said first main exchange, transmitting separating code words between said information blocks, and transmitting a closing word to terminate branch exchange transmission and open transmission at the next positioned exchange.

Claim 4

The improved process of claim 2, wherein said second main exchange is connected to a third main exchange via a second main transmission link with intermediately-connected branch stations and exchanges, and said second and third main exchanges perform the steps attributed to said first and second main exchanges and said intermediately-connected branch stations and exchanges perform the steps of the aforementioned branch stations and exchanges toward said second main exchange.

Claim 5

The improved process of claim 2, in which said first main exchange includes memories assigned to respective exchanges of origin and each memory contains storage components which are assigned to respective other called exchanges, and further defined by the steps of: distributing to the memories and storing therein information blocks incoming to said first main exchange which relate to mutual traffic between the branch exchanges and the second main exchange one with another, including distributing the information blocks to and storing the same in the storage components assigned to the exchange of destination within the relevant memories assigned to the calling exchange; and transmitting the information blocks in the predetermined sequence in the opposite direction on the main transmission link.