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.

Abstract: A novel plug-in card module for use in a rack module having means for supporting a plurality of such modules in an abutting side-by-side relation. The plug-in module comprises a printed circuit board having at least two pairs of card receiving and guiding rails transversely disposed thereon. Each of the guide rail pairs comprise first and second oppositely-disposed elongate rails removably secured to the printed circuit board. The plug-in module preferably includes at least first and second electrical connectors longitudinally disposed on the printed circuit board in back-to-back or side-by-side relation, each of the electrical connectors disposed adjacent an associated pair of elongate guide rails. To provide increased modularity and ease of circuit component replacement, the plug-in module includes a plurality of individually-removable electrical circuit boards.

Abstract: A burst-switching communications system with integrated voice and data services and with processing capacity sufficient to support T1 or higher link transmission rates, such system including a hub switch located at a point of high-traffic concentration in the network and a plurality of link switches. The switches are interconnected by time-division multiplexed communications links. A burst is a variable-length sequence of bytes which represents, for example, a block of data or a spurt of voice energy as sensed by silence/voice detectors located at voice ports. Within a communications link, a burst is transmitted one byte at a time in an assigned channel of sequential frames of the time-division multiplexed link. The hub switch includes a number of switching units connected in a closed hub ring with one or more time-division multiplexed communication link to another communication link as determined by address information in the burst being received.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of assigning a first control processor to the service set of a second control processor in a distributed-control communications system having control processors coupled with ports of the system. The method comprises the step of transmitting through the system a service-set assignment message in a control burst to the first control processor, the assignment message including the port address of the second control processor. The assignment message may be sent by a third control processor or by the second control processor. The assignment message may be sent as a result of the failure of some control processor, the addition of a new control processor, or to make the workloads of the control processors more evenly distributed. There is also provided a method of installing a second control processor into a distributed-control communications system having at least one first control processor.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods for processing and routing bursts in an integrated communications system. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a plurality of switches interconnected by time-divided communications links and a plurality of ports, each port being a component of a switch and each link having processing capacity sufficient to support T1 or higher transmission rates. Each port provides access to the system for a control processor, an end-user, or another communications system. Each switch has switching intelligence for routing a burst toward its destination port. A burst is a plurality of bytes which may represent a block of data or a spurt of voice energy as sensed by silence/voice detectors located at voice ports. In the methods provided by the invention, a burst may be introduced into the system through a port, routed through a switch to an outgoing link, or received from the system at a port. Within links, a burst is transmitted byte-by-byte in assigned channels of sequential frames.

Abstract: A high-speed link switch for a distributed-control burst-switching communications system. The switch provides fully integrated voice and data services and processing capacity sufficient to support T1 or higher transmission rates. A communications systems may include a plurality of switches interconnected by time-division multiplexed links. In a preferred embodiment, a link switch comprises a central memory coupled with a link-input processor, a link-output processor, a port-input processor, a port-output processor, and a memory manager. The link switch includes switching intelligence for routing a burst through the switch toward its destination port in the system. A burst is a plurality of bytes which may represent, for example, a block of data or a spurt of voice energy as sensed by silence/voice detectors located at voice ports. Within an outgoing communications link, a burst is transmitted by a switch one byte at a time in an assigned channel of sequential frames of the time-division multiplexed link.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of setting-up and taking-down connections for voice and data calls in a burst switching communications system having distributed-control means coupled with ports of the system. In preferred embodiments, the distributed-control means include port processors serving one or both parties of the call; port processors and call processors serving one or both parties; and port processors, call processors, and administrative processors serving one or both parties. In a burst-switching communications system, control is implemented through control bursts sent through the system between control processors.

Abstract: A distributed-control burst-switching communications system with fully integrated voice and data services, and with processing capacity sufficient to support T1 or higher transmission rates. The system may include a high-speed hub switch located at a point of high-traffic concentration in the network and a plurality of link switches. The switches are interconnected by time-division multiplexed communications links. Each switch includes one or more ports. Each port provides access to the system for a control processor, an end-user, or another communications system. Within each switch, there is switching intelligence for routing a burst toward its destination port. A burst is a variable-length sequence of bytes which represents, for example, a block of data or a spurt of voice energy as sensed by silence/voice detectors located at voice ports. Within a communications link, a burst is transmitted one byte at a time in an assigned channel of sequential frames of the time-division multiplexed link.