US5369400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for hitlessly rearranging connections in a cross-connect communications network
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1992-05-14
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2012-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals forms an immediate and temporary connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch of the communications matrix. The method and system use a predetermined center stage switch other than the dedicated center stage switch to establish a parallel connection configuration from the predetermined input gate to the predetermined output gate. At the input gates, the parallel connection configuration forms a head-end-bridge. At the output gates, the parallel connection configuration forms a receive-end-switch. Once parallel connections exist through the predetermined center stage switch and the dedicated center stage switch, the connections through the dedicated center stage switch are disconnected to free the dedicated center stage switch. The result is that the method and system provide hitless rearrangements of communications matrix connections.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward K. Bowdon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising the steps of: forming a connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a first predetermined center stage switch, said first predetermined center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communication matrix; establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through a second predetermined center stage switch; and disconnecting said connection configuration to free said first predetermined center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said second predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising the steps of: forming a connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a first predetermined center stage switch, said first predetermined center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communication matrix; establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through a second predetermined center stage switch; and disconnecting said connection configuration to free said first predetermined center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said second predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: circuitry for forming a connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a first predetermined center stage switch of the communications matrix, said first predetermined center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communication matrix; a second predetermined center stage switch other than said first predetermined center stage for establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate; and means for disconnecting said connection configuration to free said first predetermined center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said second predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: circuitry for forming a connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a first predetermined center stage switch of the communications matrix, said first predetermined center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communication matrix; a second predetermined center stage switch other than said first predetermined center stage for establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate; and means for disconnecting said connection configuration to free said first predetermined center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said second predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: forming an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition of the communications matrix; establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting said immediate connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch to thereby hitlessly rearrange the rearrangeably blocked matrix while maintaining connections therethrough.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: forming an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition of the communications matrix; establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting said immediate connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch to thereby hitlessly rearrange the rearrangeably blocked matrix while maintaining connections therethrough.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: circuitry for forming an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; means for establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting means for disconnecting said immediate connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch to thereby hitlessly rearrange the rearrangeably blocked matrix while maintaining connections therethrough.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: circuitry for forming an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; means for establishing a parallel connection from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting means for disconnecting said immediate connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch to thereby hitlessly rearrange the rearrangeably blocked matrix while maintaining connections therethrough.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising the steps of: forming connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; forming a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; forming a receive-end-switch to said output gate using said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising the steps of: forming connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; forming a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; forming a receive-end-switch to said output gate using said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: circuitry for forming connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; a receive-end-switch to said predetermined output gate using said connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting means for disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: circuitry for forming connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; a receive-end-switch to said predetermined output gate using said connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting means for disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising the steps of: forming an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; forming a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; forming a receive-end-switch to said predetermined output gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising the steps of: forming an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; forming a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; forming a receive-end-switch to said predetermined output gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; a receive-end-switch to said predetermined output gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting means for disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for hitlessly rearranging a rearrangeably blocked communications matrix and maintaining connections of previously connected signals, comprising: an immediate connection configuration of a predetermined input gate to a predetermined output gate through a dedicated center stage switch, said dedicated center stage switch for forming said immediate connection configuration in response to a rearrangeably blocked condition in the communications matrix; a head-end-bridge from said predetermined input gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and a predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; a receive-end-switch to said predetermined output gate using said immediate connection configuration through said dedicated center stage switch and said predetermined center stage switch other than said dedicated center stage switch; and disconnecting means for disconnecting said connection configuration to free said dedicated center stage switch upon determining signal flow from said predetermined input gate to said predetermined output gate through said predetermined center stage switch.
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) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |