Abstract: An arrangement providing a monitor-on-hold feature for telephone station apparatus. The exemplary apparatus includes a handset transmitter and receiver, a speaker, and four user control buttons. A user is given the capability to move a connection for a first call from the handset to the speaker by simply actuating one of the buttons, the PRIVACY button. A connection is thereafter completed to the handset to answer a second call in privacy by actuating a second button, the NEWCALL button, while continuing to monitor the first call via the speaker. The capability to move connections is provided by a microprocessor-controlled switch included within the apparatus to selectively interconnect the two communications channels used for the two calls, with the handset and the speaker. Alternatively, the moving of connections is effected within the switching system serving the telephone station.

Abstract: A method for use in a multimedia conferencing arrangement to control multiple concurrent calls where each call comprises one or more channels. A first call among a first set of user stations and a second call among a second set of user stations are merged into a single call comprising a plurality of channels among at least three user stations from the first and second sets. The plurality of channels of the single, merged call corresponds to a combination of channels of the first and second calls and may include a signalling channel, a voice channel, and one data channel for each data channel of the first and second calls. The method is also applicable to calls including image or video channels.

Abstract: A harmonic coding arrangement where the magnitude spectrum of the input speech is modeled at the analyzer by a relatively small set of parameters and, significantly, as a continuous rather than only a line magnitude spectrum. The synthesizer, rather than the analyzer, determines the magnitude, frequency, and phase of a large number of sinusoids which are summed to generate synthetic speech. Rather than receiving information explicitly defining the sinusoids from the analyzer, the synthesizer receives the small set of parameters and uses those parameters to determine a spectrum, which, in turn, is used by the synthesizer to determine the sinusoids for synthesis.

Abstract: A network comprising a plurality of successively interconnected node stages where each node has an associated data connection state and includes a control element, significantly implemented as part of the node itself, for controlling the data connection state of at least one node of the following stage. The network is well suited for optical implementation and is controlled by shifting bits into the network for storage by the control elements rather than relying on spatial light modulators.

Abstract: A network arrangement and control method where, before any transmission of data occurs for a particular communication, a network controller determines an unused path to provide a connection, advantageously all the way through the network from a given inlet to a given outlet. Once the identity of the unused path is known, the controller determines control information for use in activating that path and transmits that control information into the network, significantly via the network inlets. The network responds by activating the determined path and communication is enabled via the activated path, but only for the single connection and no buffering of information is required within the network. The network is particularly well suited for optical implementation and control is effected without the use of spatial light modulators but rather by means of control elements embedded within the network itself.

Abstract: A transformation method for network conference connections where the network operations are determined based on stored information defining the original connection and stored information defining the target connection thus affording the opportunity to advantageously reuse existing paths. The paths to be deleted and the paths to be added to effect the transformation are determined such that no path is both deleted from and added to any switch. The connection information may be stored either in a central control entity or an intra-switch path information in the individual switches of the network. In the latter case, the individual switches determine their own intra-switch path additions and deletions in a distributed fashion.

Abstract: An arrangement for switching broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) packets is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a broadband packet switch connected to B-ISDN customers and to a narrowband switch via an interface unit. B-ISDN control packets are connected by the broadband packet switch to the narrowband switch which transmits them to a control unit. The control unit responds to control messages by controlling the broadband packet switch to selectively interconnect B-ISDN customers and by controlling the broadband packet switch, the interface means and the narrowband switch to selectively interconnect B-ISDN and narrowband customers.

Abstract: A call processing embodiment where customers are offered, in addition to the conventional office dialing plan, a special dialing plan where received numbers are processed such that a query of a database is defined when a prespecified access code, e.g., *66, is received, for example followed by a destination number, but where call blocking is defined for a predefined plurality of destination numbers, e.g., all destination numbers beginning with 976 or 1-900 or all destination numbers beginning with 1, when such numbers are received without the prespecified access code. Illustratively, the database query may result in the customer being prompted for a personal identification number (PIN) and accordingly 976 or 1-900 access is thereby limited to those knowing the PIN. The database may perform other call screening and call management operations such as time of day or day of week screening or limiting the number or cost of 976 calls in a given time period.

Abstract: A conference connection method for use in a multicast packet switching network. Once the packet switches and inter-switch links to comprise a multicast connection among three or more endpoints are determined, a check is performed to determine whether that multicast connection would to usable to effect communication in accordance with a specified transmission matrix and meeting a packet sequencing condition. The multicast connection is established only when the check indicates that the connection would meet both requirements.

Abstract: Broadband terminals, such as video terminals and a video conferencing system, are directly connected to broadband digital access crossconnect systems and connections between the terminals are established via the crossconnects and DS1 or DS3 interconnecting links under control of telephone exchanges associated with the different crossconnects. A broadband terminal is connected to an associated exchange, as well as, a crossconnect and a connection from one terminal to another may be requested by transmitting a special code to the exchange together with a directory number assigned to the desired broadband terminal. The central office, on the basis of the directory number, area code and exchange code, selects a broadband interconnecting link from the crossconnect to which the originating terminal is connected to the crossconnect to which the terminating terminal is connected.

Abstract: An initialization arrangement is disclosed that allows call services defined in service profiles stored in a switching system to be enabled for individual terminals in a multipoint configuration without requiring assignment of terminal endpoint identifiers or virtual channel identifiers at subscription time. The call services are enabled for a terminal when the terminal transmits two identifiers to the switching system, one identifier defining the terminal and the other identifier defining a service profile. The switching system includes the identifier of the service profile in broadcast messages to address terminals with features defined by that service profile. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed, one applicable in a narrowband integrated service digital network (ISDN) and the other applicable in a broadband ISDN (BISDN).

Abstract: An improved call waiting feature implementation for use with conventional analog station sets. When a called station is busy, a call waiting signal is transmitted to the called station. If the called station flashes, a communication path betwaeen the previous caller and the called station is disconnected and the calling party name is spoken, using text-to-speech, to the called station. If the called party chooses to take the new call after learning the calling party name, the called station transmits a DTMF digit or allows the expiration of a predetermined time period without signaling. In response a communication path is completed between the second caller and the called station. If the called party chooses to instead return to the previous call, the called staion flashes. In response a communication path is completed between the previous caller and the called station.

Abstract: A switch matrix for telecommunication including change-over switches which can be used for both analog and digital signal transmission. Each change-over switch includes a selector circuit, an input and an output stage. The output stage generally includes two transistors coupled in a push-pull arrangement which are connected directly to the supply voltage allowing the capacitive load of the switch to be charged or discharged rapidly. Also, the Miller effect of the internal base-collector capacitance is absent. Consequently, a large frequency range (to approximately 3 GHz) is realized for analog use, and a switch rate of approximately 2 Gb/s is attainable for digital use.

Abstract: A packet switching arrangement for receiving packets including broadcast addresses and connecting representations of the received packets to any combination of output ports specified in the address is disclosed. The packet routing units of the network both generate packet representations and selectively connect the representations to downstream routing units or network outputs. Packets for use with the network comprise an address portion encoded in a broadcast format or in a shorter point-to-point format and an address type character identifying the type of address in the address portion. The nodes of the network respond to the address type character of a received packet by selecting the appropriate decoding format for the packet address portion. A packet select unit decodes the address portion in accordance with the selected decoding format and selectively connects the packet to the network outputs.

Abstract: A network control arrangement where two or more path hunt operations are performed in parallel using one or both of two techniques: (1) reading a memory for a second path hunt operation during the time that information read from the memory for a first path hunt operation is being processed to select a path, and (2) maintaining duplicate memories and reading from them both to perform two path hunt operations before either memory is updated. A disjoint path check unit rapidly determines whether all of the network paths from a first inlet to a first outlet are disjoint from all of the network paths from a second inlet to a second outlet. Plural path hunts are performed only when all network paths from the first inlet to the first outlet are determined to be disjoint from all network paths from the second inlet to the second outlet.

Abstract: A network control arrangement where stage-specific busy/idle information is stored using individual memories for each stage, and path hunting is effected by combining the busy/idle information for all stages concurrently rather than sequentially. A single binary number, comprising a concatenation of an inlet number, a path number and an outlet number, uniquely identifies a particular network path between a given inlet and outlet. The stage busy/idle information for the path components, e.g., network nodes or links, for all network path between the given inlet and outlet is stored at a single address of a stage memory. The memory address for a particular stage is a specified subset of the bits of the inlet and outlet numbers. The memories for all stages are read concurrently to simultaneously determine all idle paths and, after a path is selected, all stage memories are concurrently updated.

Abstract: A switching network where a large class of combinatorial designs which are well known in the mathematical literature are for the first time applied to advantageously define the pattern of permanent connections effected between network input channels and initial network crosspoints, illustratively by a connection arrangement of a two-stage, rearrangeable network. The class of combinatorial designs comprises designs of three types: (1) block designs, (2) orthogonal arrays, and (3) difference sets. Each of these is used in a unique manner to derive an advantageous pattern of permanent connections.

Abstract: A switching network where a large class of combinatorial designs which are well known in the mathematical literature are for the first time applied to advantageously define the pattern of permanent connections effected between network input channels and initial network corsspoints, illustratively by a connection arrangement of a two-stage, rearrangeable network. The class of combinatorial designs comprises designs of three types: (1) block designs, (2) orthogonal arrays, and (3) difference sets. Each of these is used in a unique manner to derive an advantageous pattern of permanent connections.

Abstract: A computer connected to an ISDN switch via an ISDN digital subscriber line, provides management information regarding activities of a plurality of telephone agents. The computer has shared call appearances with a number of telephone agent stations and receives shared call appearance associated messages from the switch reflecting call handling messages exchanged between the ISDN switch and each of the agent stations. The messages are interpreted by the computer which generates station status information and management information such as the number of calls handled, average holding time per call, etc. The computer may be connected simultaneously to several central offices via ISDN subscriber lines and generate management information for a group of geographically separated agents, such as home telemarketing agents operating out of their individual homes and connected to different central offices.

Abstract: The switch units of a distributed switching system are connected by a central switch for advancing connections between the switch units and also by inter-switch unit trunks. To save switch unit resources, trunk services such as scanning and signaling are not provided to the inter-switch unit trunks while the central switch is available for advancing connections. When the central switch becomes unavailable for advancing connections, as detected by control units in the switch units, the inter-switch unit trunks are connected to the trunk serving circuitry of the switch units and connections are advanced between switch units over the inter-switch unit trunks. Serving the inter-switch units trunks while the central switch is unavailable requires additional switch unit resources but provides for continuity of service which would to otherwise be lost due to the unavailability of the central switch.