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US 4,736,406 AGranted
Expansion subsystem for use in a communication system
AssigneeTrillium Telephone Systems Inc.
InventorGerald Molnar
Life of this patent
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AssigneeTrillium Telephone Systems Inc.
InventorGerald Molnar
Estimating the term…
In a communication system, a modular expansion subsystem comprised of a plurality of general purpose slots disposed in the system cabinet, for receiving one or more co-operatively shaped interface modules connected to associated peripheral units, such as RS232C computer ports, answering machine interface circuits, local area network interface circuits, modems, etc. Additional slots are disposed in the cabinet for receiving one or more co-operatively shaped line or trunk interface modules connected to associated subscriber sets and outside telephone lines. A further slot is disposed in the cabinet for receiving a co-operatively shaped memory module in which an operating system program is stored. The various modules communicate with a central microprocessor of the communication system, which executes the stored operating system program, for identifying the various types of modules and the particular slots in which they are disposed. The modules can be easily installed by the user, without requiring the services of a trained technician, and the subsystem is entirely modular such that expansion is accommodated on a "pay as you go" basis.
In a communication system housed in a cabinet, including a central controller for executing an operating system program for communicating with a predetermined number of local signal ports, a modular expansion subsystem comprised of:
In a communication system having a central controller housed in a cabinet, and including a plurality of slots for receiving cooperatively shaped modules, a method for identifying said modules in response to insertion of said modules into said slots, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.