US5210741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low cost ISDN switch
Assignee: Enterasys Networks Inc
•
Filing: 1990-06-29
•
Granted: 1993-05-11
•
Expires: 2010-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, such as an ISDN line. The switch includes a data line receiver coupled to a data line interrogator and switch controller. The switch further includes a device identifier coupled to both the data line receiver and the data line interrogator and switch controller, and a plurality of buffers which can be enabled by the device identifier, thus coupling a device, connected to one of such buffers, with the data line, also connected to such buffers. Information received by the data line receiver is passed to the data line interrogator and switch controller for evaluation to determine whether such information is device identification information. If such information is device identification information, the device interrogator and switch controller signals the device identifier to examine the data and enable the appropriate buffer associated with the device identified by such information so that the identified device can be operatively coupled to the data line. The switch also provides the required control logic to enable a device to be coupled to the data line for transmission of information thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Grochmal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q11/0471; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/003; H04Q2213/103; H04Q2213/109; H04Q2213/25; H04Q2213/299
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: a data line receiver, for coupling to a data line; a data line interrogator and switch controller, coupled to the data line receiver; a device identifier, coupled to the data line receiver and the data line interrogator and switch controller, the device identifier including a content addressable memory containing device information; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to the device identifier, each buffer being coupled to the data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when information is received by the data line receiver and evaluated by the data line interrogator and switch controller to be device identification information, the data line interrogator and switch controller signals the device identifier to utilize the content addressable memory to identify a device from the device identification information, the device identifier enabling a buffer associated with the identified device to provide for an operative coupling of the data line and the identified device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: a data line receiver, for coupling to a data line; a data line interrogator and switch controller, coupled to the data line receiver; a device identifier, coupled to the data line receiver and the data line interrogator and switch controller, the device identifier including a content addressable memory containing device information; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to the device identifier, each buffer being coupled to the data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when information is received by the data line receiver and evaluated by the data line interrogator and switch controller to be device identification information, the data line interrogator and switch controller signals the device identifier to utilize the content addressable memory to identify a device from the device identification information, the device identifier enabling a buffer associated with the identified device to provide for an operative coupling of the data line and the identified device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the data line interrogator and switch controller comprises a finite state machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupling of the enabling input of each buffer with the device identifier comprises a decoder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A switch as recited in claim 1 further comprising a memory containing initialization parameters for the device identifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
A switch according to claim 4, wherein the memory comprises EEPROM.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch according to claim 4, wherein the memory of said switch is coupled to a microprocessor, to provide initialization parameters to the memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switch according to claim 1 wherein the data line is an ISDN line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said data line receiver is a commercially available chip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said coupling of the device identifier to the data line receiver is via the data line interrogator and switch controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein a device to be coupled to the data line is an ISDN compatible device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a second plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input, and each being coupled to the data line and each for coupling to a device; and a second device identifier, coupled to the data line receiver, the data line interrogator and switch controller, and the second plurality of buffers; such that when information is evaluated by the data line interrogator and switch controller to be device identification information, the data line interrogator and switch controller signals both the device identifier and the second device identifier, one of said device identifiers responding by enabling a buffer associated with a device identified by the device identification information to provide for an operative coupling of the data line and the identified device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A switch as recited in claim 11, wherein the second device identifier comprises a second content addressable memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a second plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input, and each being coupled to the data line and each for coupling to a device; a second device identifier, coupled to the data line interrogator and switch controller, the data line receiver via the data line interrogator and switch controller, and the second plurality of buffers; such that when information is evaluated by the data line interrogator and switch controller to be device identification information, the data line interrogator and switch controller signals both the device identifier and the second device identifier, one of said device identifiers responding by enabling a buffer associated with a device identified by the device identification information to provide for an operative coupling of the data line and the identified device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A switch as recited in claim 13, wherein the second device identifier comprises a second content addressable memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising an eight pin connector for coupling the data line receiver to the data line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of eight-pin connectors for coupling the plurality of buffers to the corresponding plurality of devices.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of selecting, from a plurality of devices, a device for coupling to a data line, comprising the steps of: receiving information from the data line; examining the information to determine the presence of device identifier information; and utilizing a content addressable memory to identify a device from the device identifier information; and enabling a buffer, associated with the identified device, such that said buffer provides an operative coupling of the identified device with the data line.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of selecting, from a plurality of devices, a device for coupling to a data line, comprising the steps of: receiving information from the data line; examining the information to determine the presence of device identifier information; and utilizing a content addressable memory to identify a device from the device identifier information; and enabling a buffer, associated with the identified device, such that said buffer provides an operative coupling of the identified device with the data line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of: generating a code as a function of device identifier information; and said step of enabling a buffer comprising decoding said code to thereby energize an enable line coupled to a buffer associated with said device identifier information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
153 words
A switch for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, said switch comprising: a switch controller, for coupling to each of a plurality of devices; a device selector, coupled to the switch controller, the device selector including a content addressable memory containing device information; and a plurality of buffers, each of said buffers having an enabling input coupled to the device selector, each buffer coupled to the data line and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when a device coupled to the switch controller signals a desire to be coupled to the data line, the switch controller signals to the device selector to utilize the content addressable memory to identify the device, the device selector sending an enable signal to the buffer associated with the identified device to be coupled to the data line, thereby operatively coupling the data line to said identified device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
153 words
A switch for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, said switch comprising: a switch controller, for coupling to each of a plurality of devices; a device selector, coupled to the switch controller, the device selector including a content addressable memory containing device information; and a plurality of buffers, each of said buffers having an enabling input coupled to the device selector, each buffer coupled to the data line and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when a device coupled to the switch controller signals a desire to be coupled to the data line, the switch controller signals to the device selector to utilize the content addressable memory to identify the device, the device selector sending an enable signal to the buffer associated with the identified device to be coupled to the data line, thereby operatively coupling the data line to said identified device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch as recited in claim 19, wherein the switch controller comprises a finite state machine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch as recited in claim 19, wherein the coupling of the switch controller to each of the plurality of devices comprises an encoder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A switch as recited in claim 21, wherein said encoder selects from among two or more devices desiring to be coupled to the data line according to a priority scheme.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch as recited in to claim 19, wherein the data line is an ISDN line.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A switch as recited in claim 19, wherein a device to be coupled to the data line is an ISDN compatible device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A switch as recited in claim 19, wherein said switch controller comprises a queue for storing requests to said switch controller from one or more devices desiring to be coupled to the data line.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, the method comprising the steps of: signaling from a device to a switch controller the device's desire to be coupled to the data line; signaling from the switch controller to a device selector, which includes a content addressable memory, for said device selector to utilize said content addressable memory for identifying said device, and to send an enable signal to a buffer coupled to said identified device; and enabling said buffer to operatively couple said identified device to said data line.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, the method comprising the steps of: signaling from a device to a switch controller the device's desire to be coupled to the data line; signaling from the switch controller to a device selector, which includes a content addressable memory, for said device selector to utilize said content addressable memory for identifying said device, and to send an enable signal to a buffer coupled to said identified device; and enabling said buffer to operatively couple said identified device to said data line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the step of signaling the device's desire to be coupled to a data line comprises encoding said device's signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 27, wherein encoding is performed according to a priority scheme.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the data line is an ISDN line.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 26, wherein a device to be coupled to the data line is an ISDN compatible device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
204 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: a data line receiver, for coupling to a data line; a data line interrogator and switch controller, coupled to the data line receiver; a device identifier, coupled to the data line receiver and the data line interrogator and switch controller; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to the device identifier, each buffer being coupled to the data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when information is received by the data line receiver and evaluated by the data line interrogator and switch controller to be device identification information, the data line interrogator and switch controller signals the device identifier to enable a buffer associated with a device so identified to provide for an operative coupling of the data line and the identified device; wherein the coupling of each buffer to the data line comprises a first additional buffer having an enabling input, said first additional buffer being coupled to the data line receiver, and said enabling input of said first additional buffer being coupled to the data line interrogator and switch controller.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
204 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: a data line receiver, for coupling to a data line; a data line interrogator and switch controller, coupled to the data line receiver; a device identifier, coupled to the data line receiver and the data line interrogator and switch controller; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to the device identifier, each buffer being coupled to the data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when information is received by the data line receiver and evaluated by the data line interrogator and switch controller to be device identification information, the data line interrogator and switch controller signals the device identifier to enable a buffer associated with a device so identified to provide for an operative coupling of the data line and the identified device; wherein the coupling of each buffer to the data line comprises a first additional buffer having an enabling input, said first additional buffer being coupled to the data line receiver, and said enabling input of said first additional buffer being coupled to the data line interrogator and switch controller.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
160 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: means, coupled to said data line, for receiving information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information, for evaluating whether said information comprises device identification information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information and said means for evaluating, and including a content addressable memory containing device information, for utilizing the content addressable memory to identify a device associated with said device identification information and generating an enable signal associated with the identified device; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to said means for utilizing and generating, each buffer being coupled to said data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device, whereby when a buffer receives an enable signal from said means for utilizing and generating, said buffer provides an operative coupling of said data line and an identified device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
160 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: means, coupled to said data line, for receiving information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information, for evaluating whether said information comprises device identification information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information and said means for evaluating, and including a content addressable memory containing device information, for utilizing the content addressable memory to identify a device associated with said device identification information and generating an enable signal associated with the identified device; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to said means for utilizing and generating, each buffer being coupled to said data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device, whereby when a buffer receives an enable signal from said means for utilizing and generating, said buffer provides an operative coupling of said data line and an identified device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
A switch as recited in claim 32, further comprising a means, connected to said means for utilizing and generating, for storing initialization parameters for said means for utilizing and generating.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
114 words
A switch for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, said switch comprising: means, for coupling to each of a plurality of devices, for receiving from a device a request to be coupled to the data line; means, coupled to said means for receiving, for generating an enable signal associated with said device, said means for generating including a content addressable memory containing device information; and means, said means coupled to the data line and for coupling to a device, and having an enabling input coupled to said means for generating, for receiving said enable signal and, in response thereto, operatively coupling the data line with said device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
114 words
A switch for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, said switch comprising: means, for coupling to each of a plurality of devices, for receiving from a device a request to be coupled to the data line; means, coupled to said means for receiving, for generating an enable signal associated with said device, said means for generating including a content addressable memory containing device information; and means, said means coupled to the data line and for coupling to a device, and having an enabling input coupled to said means for generating, for receiving said enable signal and, in response thereto, operatively coupling the data line with said device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein the means for receiving comprises a finite state machine.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein the coupling of said means for receiving to each of a plurality of devices comprises a means for encoding.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
A switch as recited in claim 36, wherein said means for encoding selects from among two or more devices desiring to be coupled to the data line according a priority scheme.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein the data line is an ISDN line.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein a device for coupling to the data line is an ISDN compatible device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein said means for receiving comprises means for storing requests from one or more devices desiring to be coupled to the data line.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
151 words
A switch for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, said switch comprising: a switch controller, for coupling to each of a plurality of devices; a device selector, coupled to the switch controller; and a plurality of buffers, each of said buffers having an enabling input coupled to the device selector, each buffer coupled to the data line and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when a device coupled to the switch controller signals a desire to be coupled to the data line, the switch controller signals the device selector to send an enable signal to the buffer associated with the device to be coupled to the data line, thereby operatively coupling the data line to said device; wherein the coupling of each buffer to the data line includes a first additional buffer having an enabling input coupled to the switch controller.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
151 words
A switch for selecting one of a plurality of devices for coupling to a data line, said switch comprising: a switch controller, for coupling to each of a plurality of devices; a device selector, coupled to the switch controller; and a plurality of buffers, each of said buffers having an enabling input coupled to the device selector, each buffer coupled to the data line and each buffer for coupling to a device; such that when a device coupled to the switch controller signals a desire to be coupled to the data line, the switch controller signals the device selector to send an enable signal to the buffer associated with the device to be coupled to the data line, thereby operatively coupling the data line to said device; wherein the coupling of each buffer to the data line includes a first additional buffer having an enabling input coupled to the switch controller.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
193 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: means, coupled to said data line, for receiving information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information, for evaluating whether said information comprises device identification information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information and said means for evaluating, for identifying a device associated with said device identification information and generating an enable signal associated with the identified device; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to said means for identifying and generating, each buffer being coupled to said data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device, whereby when a buffer receives an enable signal from said means for identifying and generating, said buffer provides an operative coupling of said data line and an identified device, wherein the coupling of each buffer to the data line includes a first additional buffer having an enabling input, said first additional buffer being coupled to said means for receiving, and said enabling input of said first additional buffer being coupled to said means for identifying and generating.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
193 words
A switch for selecting, from among a plurality of devices, a device to be coupled to a data line, said switch comprising: means, coupled to said data line, for receiving information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information, for evaluating whether said information comprises device identification information; means, coupled to said means for receiving information and said means for evaluating, for identifying a device associated with said device identification information and generating an enable signal associated with the identified device; and a plurality of buffers, each buffer having an enabling input coupled to said means for identifying and generating, each buffer being coupled to said data line, and each buffer for coupling to a device, whereby when a buffer receives an enable signal from said means for identifying and generating, said buffer provides an operative coupling of said data line and an identified device, wherein the coupling of each buffer to the data line includes a first additional buffer having an enabling input, said first additional buffer being coupled to said means for receiving, and said enabling input of said first additional buffer being coupled to said means for identifying and generating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4726017A
Cited
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| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |