US4893301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having distributed processing capability
Assignee: eTalk Corp
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Filing: 1988-07-29
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Granted: 1990-01-09
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Expires: 2008-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a plurality of agent/trunk interface circuits for selectively connecting a plurality of telephone trunks to a plurality of agent workstations. The ACD switching system includes at least a first line interface module having a shelf control module for controlling a plurality of carrier card slots. At least one of the carrier card slots includes a carrier card for supporting a plurality of agent/trunk interface circuit "subcards" in closely-aligned parallel relation to the carrier card. Each carrier card and the shelf control module include digital processing circuits and an HDLC transceiver to facilitate the interconnection of first and second agent/trunk interface circuits upon a call processing request for service. In the preferred embodiment, control information used to effect the interconnection of the agent/trunk interface circuits is transmitted throughout the switching system in a dedicated timeslot along a digital voice PCM bus. A second line interface module can be provided at a geographically-remote location from the first line interface module for remote processing. The first and second line interface modules are then interconnected via a T-1 span line.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald W. Andrews
- 👤 William E. Dunnigan
- 👤 E. Fletcher Haselton
- 👤 William J. Redwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/523; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/023; H04Q1/15; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1401; H05K7/1402; H05K7/1409; H05K7/1461; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13072; H04Q2213/13107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
An automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a switch control module for controlling a timeslot interchange switch to selectively connect one of a plurality of telephone trunks to one of a plurality of agent workstations, comprising: a plurality of agent/trunk interface circuits for interfacing the telephone trunks to the agent workstations; a backplane having a timeslot serial bus connected to the timeslot interchange switch, and a non-timeslot serial bus; a first line interface module (LIM) supported on the backplane and having a shelf control module (SCM) and a plurality of carrier cards connected to the timeslot serial bus and the non-timeslot serial bus, the carrier cards having means for supporting one or more of the agent/trunk interface circuits; control means supported on each carrier card an responsive to a call processing request for service at a first agent/trunk interface circuit on the carrier card for generating a data packet and transmitting the data packet over the non-timeslot serial bus to the shelf control module, the call processing request for service requiring the first agent/trunk interface circuit be connected to a second agent/trunk interface circuit; and control means supported on the shelf control module for receiving the data packet from the carrier card and in response thereto transmitting control information to the switch control module to enable the switch control module to direct the timeslot interchange to establish a connection between the first agent/trunk interface circuit and the second agent/trunk interface circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
An automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a switch control module for controlling a timeslot interchange switch to selectively connect one of a plurality of telephone trunks to one of a plurality of agent workstations, comprising: a plurality of agent/trunk interface circuits for interfacing the telephone trunks to the agent workstations; a backplane having a timeslot serial bus connected to the timeslot interchange switch, and a non-timeslot serial bus; a first line interface module (LIM) supported on the backplane and having a shelf control module (SCM) and a plurality of carrier cards connected to the timeslot serial bus and the non-timeslot serial bus, the carrier cards having means for supporting one or more of the agent/trunk interface circuits; control means supported on each carrier card an responsive to a call processing request for service at a first agent/trunk interface circuit on the carrier card for generating a data packet and transmitting the data packet over the non-timeslot serial bus to the shelf control module, the call processing request for service requiring the first agent/trunk interface circuit be connected to a second agent/trunk interface circuit; and control means supported on the shelf control module for receiving the data packet from the carrier card and in response thereto transmitting control information to the switch control module to enable the switch control module to direct the timeslot interchange to establish a connection between the first agent/trunk interface circuit and the second agent/trunk interface circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 1 further including: a system control bus connected between the switch control module and the control means supported on the shelf control module for transmitting the control information therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 2 wherein the control means of the shelf control module comprises: a high level data link control (HDLC) transceiver for receiving the data packet from the carrier card; a bus interface circuit connected to the system control bus; and a digital processor responsive to receipt of the data packet by the HDLC transceiver for controlling the bus interface circuit to generate and transmit the control information directly to the switch control module over the system control bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 3 wherein the control means of the carrier card comprises: a digital processor responsive to the call processing request for service at the first agent/trunk interface circuit for generating the data packet; and a high level data link control (HDLC) transceiver controlled by the digital processor of the carrier card for transmitting the data packet over the non-timeslot serial bus and for assigning a timeslot on the timeslot serial bus to the first agent/trunk interface circuit, the timeslot for transmitting/receiving digital voice and/or data to/from the first agent/trunk interface circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 4 wherein the digital processor of the shelf control module is responsive to connection of the first agent/trunk interface circuit to the second agent/trunk interface circuit for controlling the HDLC transceiver of the shelf control module to transmit/receive digital voice and/or data along the timeslot serial bus in the timeslot associated with the first agent/trunk interface circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 1 wherein the control means of the shelf control module comprises: a high level data link control (HDLC) transceiver for receiving the data packet from the carrier card; a bus interface circuit connected to the timeslot serial bus; and a digital processor responsive to receipt of the data packet by the HDLC transceiver for controlling the bus interface circuit to generate and transmit the control information over the timeslot serial bus through the timeslot interchange switch to the switch control module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 6 wherein the control means of the carrier card comprises: a digital processor responsive to the call processing request for service at the first agent/trunk interface circuit for generating the data packet; and an HDLC transceiver controlled by the digital processor of the carrier card for transmitting the data packet over the non-timeslot serial bus and for assigning a timeslot on the timeslot serial bus to the first agent/trunk interface circuit, the timeslot for transmitting/receiving digital voice and/or data to/from the first agent/trunk interface circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 7 wherein the digital processor of the shelf control module is responsive to connection of the first agent/trunk interface circuit to the second agent/trunk interface circuit for controlling the HDLC transceiver of the shelf control module to transmit/receive digital voice and/or data along the timeslot serial bus in the timeslot associated with the first agent/trunk interface circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 1 wherein a first line interface module includes a T-1 span line interface circuit for interfacing digital voice and/or data in the first line interface module to a T-1 span line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 9 further including a second line interface module located at a geographically-remote location from the backplane of the switching system, the second line interface module including a T-1 span line interface circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 10 wherein the span line interface circuits of the first and second line interface modules are connected via a T-1 span line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 1 further including network management means connected to the switch control module for monitoring and recording operations of the switching system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 6 wherein the transmission of control information over the timeslot serial bus is compatible with an ISDN primary rate "D" channel and the shelf control module and the backplane are compatible with the ISDN basic rate "D" channel to facilitate interconnection of a network of remote line interface modules to the switch control module or interconnection of the ACD switching system to an ISDN public network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
An automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a switch control module for controlling a timeslot interchange switch to selectively connect one of a plurality of telephone trunks to one of a plurality of agent workstations, comprising; a backplane having a voice timeslot serial bus and first, second and third span line interface (SLI) timeslot serial buses connected to the timeslot interchange switch; and a first line interface module (LIM) supported on the backplane and having a plurality of carrier card slots arranged in first, second and third sets, the first set of carrier card slots connected to the first SLI timeslot serial bus, the second set of carrier card slots connected to the second SLI timeslot serial bus, and the third set of carrier card slots connected to the third SLI timeslot serial bus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
135 words
An automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a switch control module for controlling a timeslot interchange switch to selectively connect one of a plurality of telephone trunks to one of a plurality of agent workstations, comprising; a backplane having a voice timeslot serial bus and first, second and third span line interface (SLI) timeslot serial buses connected to the timeslot interchange switch; and a first line interface module (LIM) supported on the backplane and having a plurality of carrier card slots arranged in first, second and third sets, the first set of carrier card slots connected to the first SLI timeslot serial bus, the second set of carrier card slots connected to the second SLI timeslot serial bus, and the third set of carrier card slots connected to the third SLI timeslot serial bus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 14 further including a second line interface module located at a geographically-remote location from the backplane of the switching system and having a plurality of carrier card slots.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 15 wherein each of the first and second line interface modules support a span line interface circuit in one of the carrier card slots.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system as described in claim 15 wherein the span line interface circuits of the first and second line interface modules are interconnected via a T-1 span line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
In an automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a switch control module for performing a plurality of control functions which control a timeslot interchange switch to selectively connect one of a plurality of telephone trunks to one of a plurality of agent workstations, the improvement comprising: at least one line interface module (LIM) having a shelf control module (SCM) and a plurality of carrier cards, each of the carrier cards having means for supporting one or more agent/trunk interface port cards for interfacing the telephone trunks to the agent workstations; control means including a digital processor supported on each carrier card for controlling the agent/trunk interface port cards on the carrier card; and control means including a digital processor supported on the shelf control module for performing one or more of the control functions of the switch control module to thereby control the carrier cards on the line interface module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
151 words
In an automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a switch control module for performing a plurality of control functions which control a timeslot interchange switch to selectively connect one of a plurality of telephone trunks to one of a plurality of agent workstations, the improvement comprising: at least one line interface module (LIM) having a shelf control module (SCM) and a plurality of carrier cards, each of the carrier cards having means for supporting one or more agent/trunk interface port cards for interfacing the telephone trunks to the agent workstations; control means including a digital processor supported on each carrier card for controlling the agent/trunk interface port cards on the carrier card; and control means including a digital processor supported on the shelf control module for performing one or more of the control functions of the switch control module to thereby control the carrier cards on the line interface module.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-08 | 1993-07-10 | 1994-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-08 | 1997-07-10 | 1998-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-08 | 2001-07-10 | 2002-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |