Abstract: A call service component is downloaded to a call controller that uses the call service component to support telecommunication traffic to or from a gateway under control of the call controller. Call service components, which may use a half-call model that views a call either as an originating or a terminating segment of the call, can be downloaded from a central repository. Downloading the call service can occur while the call controller is operational and supporting live traffic such that the call service is downloaded without disrupting the live traffic.

Abstract: A multiplexer for multiplexing a plurality of relatively sparsely occupied DTDM bit streams into a single more densely occupied DTDM bit stream at the same bit rate is disclosed. The multiplexer comprises a plurality of line buffers for recognizing and queuing incoming DTDM frames and a central server unit for placing data from the incoming DTDM frames in the more densely occupied outgoing DTDM bit stream.

Abstract: A framer circuit which may be implemented as a single chip is disclosed. The framer circuit performs a number of functions in a DTDM network including generating trains of empty DTDM frames, enabling the writing of data packets into specific DTDM frames and the examination of header data in specific DTDM frames to generate signals for the control of peripheral circuits. The framer circuit comprises an input serial/parallel converter, a frame detection circuit, an output parallel/serial converter and a control unit comprising one or more finite state machines for generating proper control signals such as read and write strobes for data insertion and extraction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bus contention resolution for use in a digital communications system wherein a plurality of communications controllers are connected to a shared bus for transmitting information in frames. A priority field is included in each transmitted frame. The bus is monitored such that any time the bus is conveying a frame, the priority field of that frame is known at each of the communications controllers. A given communications controller makes a determination based on the priority fields of a new frame and a present frame being actively conveyed by the shared bus that the new frame is of higher priority than the present frame. Upon such a determination, the given communications controller transmits the new frame.

Abstract: An integrated packet switching and circuit switching system comprising a number of switching modules each connected to a corresponding plurality of user terminals. Each switching module includes a time-slot interchange unit for providing circuit-switched communication channels and a control unit that controls the operation of the time-slot interchange unit. Each switching module also includes a packet switching unit used both to provide packet-switched communication channels among the user terminals connected to that switching module, and to switch control information between the user terminals and the control unit to establish circuit-switched calls and packet-switched calls. A time-multiplexed switch interconnects the switching modules to provide circuit-switched communication channels and packet-switched communication channels between user terminals of different switching modules.

Abstract: An integrated packet switching and circuit switching system comprising a number of switching modules each connected to a different plurality of user terminals. Each switching module includes a time-slot interchange unit for providing circuit-switched communication channels and a control unit that controls the operation of the time-slot interchange unit. Each switching module also includes a packet switching unit used both to provide packet-switched communication channels among the user terminals connected to that switching module, and to switch control information between the user terminals and the control unit to establish circuit-switched calls and packet-switched calls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for graceful preemption on a digital communications link used for selective communication from a plurality of user devices. Link controllers are used to implement the enforcement of a protocol on the link. When a first user device is actively communicating over the link, a second user device can gracefully preempt the first user device by having a link controller transmit a preempt character. The link controllers at either end of the link each save values of a set of status variables collectively defining the status of the link controller. When the second user device relinquishes link access, the saved values are used to return the link controllers to their status at the time of preemption such that the first user device can resume communication from the point of interruption without requiring data retransmission.