Integrated communications system

A method for connecting an originating port to a receiving port in an integrated communications system having a distributed control switching matrix which includes a plurality of originating group submatrices, a plurality of intermediate group submatrices and a plurality of terminating group submatrices, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting an originating group submatrix in response to a first control signal;
• producing a second control signal;
• selecting a path to a terminating group submatrix via an intermediate group submatrix in response to the combination of said first and second control signals;
• producing a third control signal;
• selecting a path to the receiving port via a terminating group submatrix in response to the combination of said third control signal with said second control signal;
• producing a fourth control signal representing verification that connection from said originating port to said receiving port has been made;
• and
• transmitting said fourth control signal to said originating port.

A high-capacity integrated communications system for establishing data and voice communication among computers connected to data ports, among telephones connected to voice ports, and between said computers and said telephones, said system comprising:

• a switching matrix having a plurality of originating group submatrices, a plurality of intermediate submatrices and a plurality of terminating group submatrices;
• an originating port for transmitting a first control signal for selecting an originating group submatrix;
• a receiving port;
• an originating group submatrix selecting a path to a terminating group submatrix via an intermediate group submatrix in response to the combination of a second control signal produced by said intermediate group submatrix with said first control signal;
• said intermediate group submatrix selecting a path to the receiving port via a terminating group submatrix in response to the combination of a third control signal produced by said terminating group submatrix with said second control signal;
• said terminating group submatrix producing and transmitting a fourth control signal to said originating port, which represents verification that connection from said originating port to said receiving port have been made;
• a telephone call processor, coupled to the switching matrix, for producing voice control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said voice ports;
• and
• a switching matrix controller, coupled to the switching matrix, for producing control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said data ports and voice ports, said switching matrix being responsive to said control signals for establishing connections among computers.

A high-capacity integrated communications system for establishing data and voice communication among computers connected to data ports, among telephones connected to voice ports, and between said computers and said telephones, said system comprising:

• a distributed control switching matrix;
• a telephone call processor, coupled to the distributed control switching matrix, for producing voice control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said voice ports;
• and
• a distributed control switching controller, coupled to said distributed control switching matrix, for producing control signals in response to signals representing interconnection requests received from said data ports and voice ports;
• said distributed control switching controller including a port signalling concentrator for establishing connection between data ports and said distributed control switching controller independent of said distributed control switching matrix;
• and
• said distributed control switching matrix being responsive to said control signals for establishing connections among computers.