Intelligent switching system for voice and data

A system for teleconferencing among a plurality of user sites over a plurality of communication paths, each user site including a user digital computer connectable to a user modem for transmitting and receiving data signals, the user sites having access to a host digital computer connectable to a plurality of host modems for transmitting and receiving data signals to and from the user sites, the teleconferencing system comprising:

• a plurality of user stations, each user station located at a respective user site and including a data port connectable to a respective user modem, a user modem loopback impedance, a telephony circuit capable of transmitting and receiving voice communications signals, and a mode selector for alternately connecting the data port and the telephony circuit to a respective communication path;
• user station controller means at each user site for controlling a respective user station, wherein the mode selector has a data mode position connecting the data port to the communication path and a voice mode position connecting the telephony circuit to the communication path and connecting the data port to the user modem loopback impedance, the mode selector being responsive to a user control signal from the user digital computer to switch from data mode to voice mode, such that in data mode, data signals sass between the data port and the communication path, and in voice mode, voice communications signals pass between the telephony circuit and the communication path and data signals loopback to the user modem;
• and
• a central station comprising:
• a plurality of line ports, each line port connectable to a respective communication path associated with a respective user station;
• a switching matrix responsive to matrix control signals for controlling connections among multiple line ports;
• a plurality of computer ports, each computer port connectable to a respective host modem;
• central selector means for connecting a respective line port to a respective computer port;
• and
• central station controller means for providing switch control signals and matrix control signals.

A communication system for performing voice and data conferencing among a plurality of users located at a plurality of user sites, comprising:

• user equipment at each user site, each user equipment including:
• a user digital computer;
• a user modem connectable to the user digital computer for transmitting and receiving data signals;
• a communication path;
• a user station having a data port connectable to the user modem, a user modem loopback impedance, a telephony circuit capable of transmitting and receiving voice communications signals, and a mode selector for alternately connecting the data port and the telephony circuit to the communication path;
• and
• user station controller means for controlling the user station, wherein the mode selector has a data mode position connecting the data port to the communication path and a voice mode position connecting the telephony circuit to the communication path and connecting the data port to the user modem loopback impedance, the mode selector being responsive to a user control signal to switch from data mode to voice mode, such that in data mode, data signals pass between the data port and the communication path, and in voice mode, voice communications signals pass between the telephony circuit and the communication path and data signals loopback to the modem;
• central equipment comprising:
• a host digital computer;
• a plurality of host modems connectable to the host digital computer for transmitting and receiving data signals to and from respective user sites;
• and
• a central station including:
• a plurality of line ports, each line port connectable to a respective communication path associated with a respective user station;
• a switching matrix responsive to matrix control signals for controlling connections among multiple line ports;
• a plurality of computer ports, each computer port connectable to a respective host modem;
• central selector means for connecting a respective line port to a respective computer port;
• and
• central station controller means for providing switch control signals and matrix control signals.