Abstract: A system having calls substantially selected and dialed to customers at such a paced rate that the system will keep a group of agents at full occupancy with calls on which the system has detected voice answer. As the size of the agent group changes, this predictive pacing is adjusted so that answered calls do not have to be delayed while waiting for an available agent or agents do not have to wait for calls to become available.

Abstract: Two identical and interconnected switch matrices are used wherein one is "on-line" and the other is "off-line". If an individual module in the on-line switch fails, an identical module in the standby matrix is switched in to carry traffic. The failed module can then be replaced with an operable unit. The feature of modularity not only greatly enhances the performance of the switch matrix but also provides for quick restoration of the switching apparatus to a preferred configuration of operability.

Abstract: Apparatus for encoding isochronous data into a digital format wherein the output encoded word represents a digital number indicative of the time between a frame pulse and the first transition of incoming data, provides a logic level bit indicative of the data logic level immediately after the first transition and also provides a further logic bit, comprising part of the output word, which is indicative of the logic level at the end of the frame period. The present invention is restricted to isochronous data which has a bit period of no less than half of the framing period.