Abstract: A distributed processing telex switch having different levels of processor control to handle the calls between terminations connected to the exchange is disclosed. A common control processor occupies the highest level of processor control and function as the system-wide manager. Next below common control is a plurality of master control processors which function to switch the command data between common control and the lower levels of processor control, and to handle the conversation data generated by each of the terminations connected to the exchange. Each master control processor controls a predetermined number of termination from among all of the terminations connected to the exchange. Connected to each master control processor is a plurality of group control processors which control the flow of data to and from a second predetermined number of terminations from among the terminations controlled by each master control processor.

Abstract: A circuit for the systematic handling of conversation data from a calling party to a called party for use in a distributed processing telex exchange is disclosed. The customer terminations connected to the exchange are divided into a predetermined number of groups of terminations having a predetermined number of terminations in each group. Associated with each group of terminations is a frame memory which has memory capacity for storing a single bit of conversation data from every termination connected to the exchange. Associated with each frame memory is a vector memory which has a memory location associated with each termination in a group. Each vector memory location contains a frame memory address that addresses the location in frame memory containing the conversation data to be forwarded down to the termination associated with the current vector memory address.

Abstract: In a Telex switching system line terminator unit having means to transmit a character from the terminator to its terminal, in which the character is transmitted in a serial mode and terminated by a stop bit, an improvement in the manner of generating the stop bit is provided. A variable length stop bit is dynamically generated for each character transmitted such that the length of the stop bit is changed as the time required by the calling terminal to transmit the character to its terminator unit decreases over that required by the called terminator unit to transmit the character to the called terminal. Patterns in the rate of transfer of characters from the calling terminator unit to the called terminator unit are monitored to control the length of the stop bit.