US 4,449,246 A · Orderwire communication system

Abstract

An orderwire scheme for a multichannel repeated communication network contains an auxiliary communication link that is coupled to communication sites along the network and is configured of a pair of orderwire links each formed of a conventional interstitial copper wire pair. To carry out supervisory functions with respect to each of the stations along the communication link, messages are conveyed from a control facility coupled to or as part of the network to respective stations along the link in the form of command instructions. These messages may contain a request for information from the addressed site as to equipment conditions at the site or a directive that the equipment at the site perform a particular task. In reply to the command message sent to it the addressed site returns a response message back to the control facility representative of the action taken including any data requested by the instructions. In addition to providing a distributed communication link over which supervisory command and response messages can be transmitted among the stations along the orderwire link, a further facility for conveying voice communications over the same orderwire link is provided. In order to implement the exchange of command and response messages among the various sites of the network, supervisory signals are transmitted using digitally encoded ON/OFF keying of frequency tone signals.

Claims78

Dependent claims

For use in a communication system wherein information signals are to be conveyed among a plurality of stations distributed along a shared communication link, said link having a first portion for carrying messages in a first direction along said link and a second portion for carrying messages in a second direction along said link, a station transceiver for receiving messages transmitted to it and transmitting response messages in reply thereto comprising:

first means, coupled to said link, for receiving a first incoming message transmitted over said first portion of said link at a first prescribed carrier frequency;
and
second means, coupled to said link, for transmitting an outgoing message over said second portion of said link at said first prescribed carrier frequency and over said first portion of said link at a second prescribed carrier frequency different from said first prescribed frequency.

For use in a communication system wherein information signals are to be conveyed among a plurality of stations distributed along a shared communication link, said link having a first portion for carrying messages in a first direction along said link and a second portion for carrying messages in a second direction along said link, a station transceiver for transmitting to another station, and for receiving messages transmitted to it and transmitting response messages in reply thereto comprising:

first means, coupled to said link, for transmitting an outgoing message on a selected one of first and second prescribed carrier frequencies over said first portion of said link;
and
second means, coupled to said link, for receiving an incoming message on either of said first and second prescribed carrier frequencies over said second portion of said link.

A communication system wherein information signals are to be conveyed among a plurality of stations distributed along a shared communications link, said link having a first portion for carrying messages in a first direction along said link and a second portion for carrying messages in a second direction along said link, each of said stations having input/output devices that may be impacted by messages carried over said link, comprising:

a first terminal station coupled to said link and having a transceiver for transmitting outgoing messages over said first portion of said link to one of a plurality of intermediate stations and a second terminal station at a first prescribed carrier frequency and receiving messages, conveyed over said second portion of said link from one of said intermediate and second terminal stations, at either of said first prescribed carrier frequency and a second prescribed carrier frequency;
a second terminal station coupled to said link and having a transceiver for transmitting outgoing messages over said second portion of said link to one of said intermediate and first terminal stations at said second prescribed carrier frequency and receiving messages, conveyed over said first portion of said link from one of said intermediate and first terminal stations, at either of said first and second prescribed carrier frequencies;
and
a plurality of intermediate stations coupled to said link, each having a transceiver for receiving incoming messages from said first terminal station on said first portion of said link at said first prescribed carrier frequency and for receiving incoming messages from said second terminal station on said second portion of said link at said second prescribed carrier frequency, and for transmitting outgoing response messages on said first portion of said link at said second prescribed carrier frequency and on said second portion of said link at said first prescribed carrier frequency.

1 more element

first means, coupled to said link, for receiving a first incoming message transmitted over said first portion of said link at one of first and second prescribed carrier frequencies;
and
second means, coupled to said link, for transmitting an outgoing message over said second portion of said link at one of said first and second prescribed carrier frequencies and over said first portion of said link at the other of said first and second prescribed carrier frequencies.

a first terminal station coupled to said link and having a transceiver for transmitting outgoing messages over said first portion of said link to one of a plurality of intermediate stations and a second terminal station at a first prescribed carrier frequency and receiving messages, conveyed over said second portion of said link from one of said intermediate and second terminal stations, at a second prescribed carrier frequency;
a second terminal station coupled to said link and having a transceiver for transmitting outgoing messages over said second portion of said link to one of said intermediate and first terminal stations at said second prescribed carrier frequency and receiving messages, conveyed over said first portion of said link from one of said intermediate and first terminal stations, at said first prescribed carrier frequency;
and
a plurality of intermediate stations coupled to said link, each having a transceiver for receiving incoming messages from said first terminal station on said first portion of said link at said first prescribed carrier frequency and for receiving incoming messages from said second terminal station on said second portion of said link at said second prescribed carrier frequency, and for transmitting outgoing response messages on said first portion of said link at said first prescribed carrier frequency and on said second portion of said link at said second prescribed carrier frequency.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Orderwire communication system

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Orderwire communication system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims78