US 5,311,576 AGranted

Adjunct processor embedded in a switching system

AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories

InventorsGordon R. Brunson, Robert D. Reeder

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Abstract

An adjunct processor (100) is embedded in a telecommunications switching system (10) wherein port circuits (106-108) are interconnected with each other and with a control processor (101) by a TDM bus (105). The adjunct processor is physically incorporated into the switching system, is connected directly to the TDM bus, and communicates with the control processor exclusively via the TDM bus. The adjunct processor is made up of a telecommunications feature module such as a conventional voice-mail system (200), an arrangement (210, 220, 240) for interfacing the feature module to the TDM bus whereby the adjunct processor emulates a port circuit in its connection to the TDM bus, and an arrangement (203) for interfacing the feature module to the control processor whereby the adjunct processor emulates a telephone in its interactions with the control processor.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A telecommunications switching system comprising:

control processing means for controlling operation of the switching system;
a communications medium connected to the control processing means;
a plurality of port circuits connected to the medium, each for interfacing a telephone to the medium and enabling the telephone to communicate with the control processing means via the medium, the port circuits including a digital port circuit for interfacing a digital display telephone to the medium and enabling the digital display telephone to communicate with the control processing means;
and
an adjunct processor connected to the medium directly without intermediacy of a separate port circuit, for providing a telecommunications feature by communicating with the control processing means both exclusively via the medium and in an identical manner as the digital display telephone, the adjunct processor emulating at least one said digital port circuit in its every connection to the medium and emulating the digital display telephone in its communications through each of the emulated digital port circuits with the control processing means to provide the telecommunications feature for each of the emulated digital port circuits.

2 more elements

An adjunct processor for use as an integral part of a telecommunications switching system having a control processor for controlling operations of the switching system, a communications medium connected to the control processor, and a plurality of port circuits connected to the medium and each for interfacing a telephone to the medium and enabling the telephone to communicate with the control processor via the medium, the port circuits including a digital port circuit for interfacing a digital display telephone to the medium and enabling the digital display telephone to communicate with the control processing means, the adjunct processor comprising:

feature means for providing a telecommunications feature by exchanging control communications with the control processor;
first emulating means coupled to the feature means for connecting the feature means to the medium directly without intermediacy of a separate port circuit, by emulating at least one said digital port circuit in every connection of the feature means to the medium;
and
second emulating means coupled to the feature means for communicating with the control processor on behalf of the feature means through the first emulating means exclusively via the medium and in an identical manner as the digital display telephone, by emulating the digital display telephone in its communications through each of the emulated digital port circuits with the control processor to provide the telecommunications feature for each of the emulated digital port circuits.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.