Distributed switching network

Claim 1

Structure comprising transmission means for carrying signals divided into frames, said frames being divided into a plurality of time slots; and at least three means for interfacing selected equipments to said transmission means whereby each of said at least three means for interfacing is capable of receiving selected signals carried on said transmission means and of delivering intermediate signals derived from said selected signals to a corresponding one of said equipments, and of transmitting second signals to said transmission means; wherein each of said means for interfacing includes means for selecting any one of said plurality of time slots into which said means for interfacing can transmit said second signals; wherein each of said means for interfacing is connected in parallel to said transmission means such that the failure of one or more means for interfacing does not prevent the operation of the remaining means for interfacing, and wherein said transmission means comprises a transmit line capable of carrying said signals divided into frames; a receive line capable of carrying said signals divided into frames; means for transferring signals from said transmit line to said receive line; means for transmitting a first framed timing reference signal in the same direction as that signal on the transmit line which is ultimately transferred to the receive line; means for transmitting a second framed timing reference signal in the same direction as the signal on said receive line; wherein said first framed timing reference signal and said second framed timing reference signal are carried by the same line, and further, wherein each of said means for interfacing includes means for receiving second signals transmitted onto said transmission means by another of said at least three means for interfacing, means for delivering to said transmission means second signals to be received by said another of said at least three means for interfacing, and means for establishing a connection between two of said at least three means for interfacing, wherein at least one of said at least three means for interfacing includes means for interpreting said signals transmitted onto said transmission means by another of said at least three means for interfacing and received by said at least one of said at least three means for interfacing as comprising an address code which is interpreted by said at least one of said at least three means for interfacing to have specific meaning, and further wherein said address code is contained in repetitions of said time slot a multiple of times before it is interpreted by said at least one of said at least three means for interfacing as code.