EP0399723A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improvement in switching system reliability
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1990-05-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A switching system is disclosed in which inter-switch unit trunks (100,101,102) interconnect the switch units (200,201,202) of a distributed switching system and when the central switch (10), which normally advances connections between the switch units is unavailable, connections between switch units are advanced by control units of the switch units over the inter-switch unit trunks. The inter-switch unit trunks comprise a connection arrangement which is an alternative to the central switch and, advantageously, trunk services such as scanning, are provided to the inter-switch unit trunks only when the central switch is not available for connections. In one embodiment, the control unit of a first switch unit detects the unavailability of the central switch to advance connections and in response to a request for connection to destination line or trunk at a second switch unit transmits signaling information on a selected inter-switch unit trunk to the second switch unit. The second switch unit responds to the signaling information by completing a connection from the selected inter-switch unit trunk to the destination. In a second embodiment, an alternative path between an origination and destination switch unit is completed, via a first and second inter-switch unit trunk, which are serially connected by a selected path through an intermediate switch unit. In an additional embodiment, alternative paths between switch units are provided by selective connections between trunks connected to a second switching office, such as a toll switching office.
Inventors
- 👤 Menachem Tsur Ardon
- 👤 William Keith Cline
- 👤 Michele Margaret Janowiak
- 👤 Ram Nathan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units, each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances, for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first one of said appearances on a first one of said switch units to a second one of said appearances on a second one of said switch units comprising: means for connecting a predetermined one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to a predetermined one of said trunk appearances on said second switch unit; and control means for advancing a connection between said first and second appearances via said connecting means when said central connection means is unavailable to interconnect said first and second switch units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units, each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances, for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first one of said appearances on a first one of said switch units to a second one of said appearances on a second one of said switch units comprising: means for connecting a predetermined one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to a predetermined one of said trunk appearances on said second switch unit; and control means for advancing a connection between said first and second appearances via said connecting means when said central connection means is unavailable to interconnect said first and second switch units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: means for receiving at said first appearance, call signaling information defining said second appearance; and means, responsive to said call signaling information, for transmitting on said connecting means, trunk signaling information defining said second appearance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said means for connecting comprises an additional telecommunication switching system connected to said predetermined one trunk appearance on said first switch unit by a first trunk and connected to said predetermined one trunk appearance on said second switch unit by a second trunk, said additional telecommunication switching system being responsive to said trunk signaling information for connecting said first and said second trunks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said second switch unit comprises means responsive to said trunk signaling information received on said connecting means for connecting said second appearance to said connecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said first switch unit comprises means responsive to said call signaling information for connecting said first appearance to said connecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 1 comprising; means for detecting the unavailability of said central connection means for advancing connections between said first and said second switch units; and means responsive to said detecting means for providing trunk services at said predetermined one appearance on said first switch unit and at said predetermined one appearance on said second switch unit following detection of said central connection means being unavailable to connect said first and said second switch units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
207 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units, each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances, for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units, and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first appearance on a first one of said switch units to a second appearance on a second one of said switch units comprising: inter-switch unit trunk means connecting one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to one of said trunk appearances on said second switch unit; means for determining that said alternative arrangement is to be used for connections between said first and said second switch units; first connection means in said first switch unit responsive to said determining means and to call signaling information defining said second appearance, received by said first switch unit for connecting said first appearance to said inter-switch unit trunk means; and second connection means in said second switch unit for connecting said inter-switch unit trunk means to said second appearance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
207 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units, each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances, for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units, and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first appearance on a first one of said switch units to a second appearance on a second one of said switch units comprising: inter-switch unit trunk means connecting one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to one of said trunk appearances on said second switch unit; means for determining that said alternative arrangement is to be used for connections between said first and said second switch units; first connection means in said first switch unit responsive to said determining means and to call signaling information defining said second appearance, received by said first switch unit for connecting said first appearance to said inter-switch unit trunk means; and second connection means in said second switch unit for connecting said inter-switch unit trunk means to said second appearance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The switching system of claim 7 comprising: means in said first switch unit for transmitting trunk signaling information defining said second appearance, on said inter-switch unit trunk means; and said second connection means comprises means responsive to said trunk signaling information received on said inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting said inter-switch unit trunk means to said second appearance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said inter-switch unit trunk means comprises an additional telecommunication switching system connected to said one trunk appearance on said first switch unit by a first trunk and connected to said one trunk appearance on said second switch unit by a second trunk, said additional telecommunication switching system being responsive to said trunk signaling information for connecting said first and said second trunks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between a first appearance on a first one of said switch units and a second appearance on a second one of said switch units comprising: first inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to one of said trunk appearances on a third one of said switch units; second inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting another of said trunk appearances on said third switch unit to a trunk appearance on said second switch unit; and means in said third switch unit for connecting said one appearance on said third switch unit to said another appearance on said third switch unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between a first appearance on a first one of said switch units and a second appearance on a second one of said switch units comprising: first inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to one of said trunk appearances on a third one of said switch units; second inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting another of said trunk appearances on said third switch unit to a trunk appearance on said second switch unit; and means in said third switch unit for connecting said one appearance on said third switch unit to said another appearance on said third switch unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 10 comprising means in said first switch unit for connecting said first appearance to said first inter-switch unit trunk means; and means in said second switch unit for connecting said second appearance to said second inter-switch unit trunk means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
311 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; means for receiving first call signaling information at a first appearance on a first one of said switch units, said first call signaling information defining a second appearance on a second of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first appearance on a first one of said switch units with a second appearance on a second one of said switch units comprising: first inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to one of said trunk appearances on a third one of said switch units; second inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting another of said trunk appearances on said third switch unit to a trunk appearance on said second switch unit; and connection means in said first switch unit responsive to said first call signaling information for connecting said first appearance to said first inter-switch unit trunk means; signaling means, in said first switch unit, for transmitting on said first inter-switch unit trunk means second call signaling information defining said second appearance; connection means in said third switch unit responsive to said second call signaling information for connecting said first and said second inter-switch unit trunk means; signaling means in said third switch unit for transmitting on said second inter-switch unit trunk means third call signaling information identifying said second appearance; and means in said second switch unit for connecting said second inter-switch unit trunk to said second appearance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
311 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units each comprising a plurality of line appearances and a plurality of trunk appearances for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; means for receiving first call signaling information at a first appearance on a first one of said switch units, said first call signaling information defining a second appearance on a second of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first appearance on a first one of said switch units with a second appearance on a second one of said switch units comprising: first inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting one of said trunk appearances on said first switch unit to one of said trunk appearances on a third one of said switch units; second inter-switch unit trunk means for connecting another of said trunk appearances on said third switch unit to a trunk appearance on said second switch unit; and connection means in said first switch unit responsive to said first call signaling information for connecting said first appearance to said first inter-switch unit trunk means; signaling means, in said first switch unit, for transmitting on said first inter-switch unit trunk means second call signaling information defining said second appearance; connection means in said third switch unit responsive to said second call signaling information for connecting said first and said second inter-switch unit trunk means; signaling means in said third switch unit for transmitting on said second inter-switch unit trunk means third call signaling information identifying said second appearance; and means in said second switch unit for connecting said second inter-switch unit trunk to said second appearance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
244 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units, each comprising a plurality of line appearances, a plurality of first trunk appearances and a plurlaity of second trunk appearnaces means for providing trunk services to said plurality of first trunk appearances; for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first one of said appearances on a first one of said switch units to a second one of said appearances on a second one of said switch units comprising: means for connecting a predetermined one of said second trunk appearances on said first switch unit to a predetermined one of said second trunk appearances on said second switch unit; means for detecting the unavilability of said central connection means for advancing comments between said fist and said second switch units; means responsive to said detecting means for providing trunk services to said plurlaity of second trunk appearances following detection of said central connection means being unavailable to connect said first and said second switch units; and control means for advancing a connection between said first and second appearances via said connecting means when said central connection means is unavailable to interconnect said first and second switch units.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
244 words
A telecommunications switching system comprising: a plurality of switch units, each comprising a plurality of line appearances, a plurality of first trunk appearances and a plurlaity of second trunk appearnaces means for providing trunk services to said plurality of first trunk appearances; for selectively connecting said appearances to a central connection means; said central connection means connected to said plurality of switch units and cooperative with said switch units for selectively interconnecting said switch units to advance connections between ones of said appearances on different ones of said switch units; and an alternative arrangement for connecting a first one of said appearances on a first one of said switch units to a second one of said appearances on a second one of said switch units comprising: means for connecting a predetermined one of said second trunk appearances on said first switch unit to a predetermined one of said second trunk appearances on said second switch unit; means for detecting the unavilability of said central connection means for advancing comments between said fist and said second switch units; means responsive to said detecting means for providing trunk services to said plurlaity of second trunk appearances following detection of said central connection means being unavailable to connect said first and said second switch units; and control means for advancing a connection between said first and second appearances via said connecting means when said central connection means is unavailable to interconnect said first and second switch units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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