Radio telecommunication system with automatic replacement of defective channels

Claim 2

In a telecommunication system provided with a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a plurality of parallel working channels, the combination therewith of: monitoring means at said receiving station for ascertaining the quality of signal transmission over any of said working channels from said transmitting station to said receiving station, said monitoring means generating a defect signal individual to any working channel upon detecting an impairment in signal transmission thereover; a supervisory logic matrix common to all said working channels connected to said monitoring means, said logic matrix including a plurality of discriminating networks respectively assigned to said working channels and responsive to the corresponding defect signals for sending a request signal to said transmitting station; at least one standby channel connectable between said stations to relieve any defective working channel; first switch means at said transmitting station responsive to said request signal for connecting a transmitting end of said standby channel in parallel with the corresponding end of said defective working channel; answer-back means at said transmitting station for sending an execution signal to said receiving station in response to completion of such connection by said first switch means, the discriminating network assigned to said defective working channel being responsive to said execution signal for generating a seizure signal; and second switch means at said receiving station responsive to said seizure signal for completing the allocation of said standby channel to said defective working channel; said logic matrix further comprising a plurality of control units respectively associated with said discriminating networks for registering said request and seizure signals, and timing means in each control unit for generating a disconnect signal to release the associated discriminating network upon the nonoccurrence of said seizure signal within a predetermined interval from the generation of said request signal.

Claim 3

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said timing means comprises a monostable element, first gate means responsive to the presence of said request signal with concurrent absence of said seizure signal for generating an output signal triggering said monostable element into emission of a delayed pulse, second gate means responsive to coincidence of said output signal and said delayed pulse for generating said disconnect signal, and feedback means for maintaining said disconnect signal beyond the cessation of said pulse.

Claim 4

The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said second gate means includes resetting means for suppressing said disconnect signal, a source of recurrent quenching pulses connected to said resetting means for periodically actuating same, and input means for said resetting means connected to said monitoring means for canceling said disconnect signal upon disappearaNce of said defect signal.

Claim 5

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said discriminating networks are interconnected in a predetermined sequence establishing an order of precedence to prevent concurrent seizure of said standby channel by more than one of said networks, said logic including inter-network connections for the transmission of lockout signals to all other networks upon activation of one of said networks by an incoming defect signal, to prevent the emission of request signals by said other networks.

Claim 6

The combination defined in claim 4 wherein at least one of said discriminating networks includes pre-emptive circuit means operable to provide the associated working channel with privileged access to said standby channel, said circuit means including first circuitry for generating said request signal irrespectively of any lockout signal arriving over said inter-network connections from a previously activated network assigned to a nonprivileged working channel, said circuit means further including second circuitry for generating a priority signal in the presence of such blocking signal concurrently with said request signal, said logic matrix comprising third circuitry responsive to said priority signal for applying to said previously activated network a holding signal to maintain the seizure signal thereof upon continuing presence of an execution signal from said transmitting station, said answer-back means being responsive to the arrival of said request signal for ascertaining the switchability of said standby channel and thereupon interrupting said execution signal preparatorily to a transfer of said standby channel to the privileged working channel with consequent termination of said holding signal whereby said previously activated network is deactivated.

Claim 7

In a telecommunication system provided with a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a plurality of parallel working channels, the combination therewith of: monitoring means at said receiving station for ascertaining the quality of signal transmission over any of said working channels from said transmitting station to said receiving station, said monitoring means generating a defect signal individual to any working channel upon detecting an impairment in signal transmission thereover, said defect signal being alternatively of a first and a second type respectively indicating a relatively low and a relatively high degree of disability; a supervisory logic matrix common to all said working channels connecting to said monitoring means, said logic matrix including a plurality of discriminating networks respectively assigned to said working channels and responsive to the corresponding defect signals for sending a request signal to said transmitting station; at least one standby channel connectable between said stations to relieve any defective working channel; first switch means at said transmitting station responsive to said request signal for connecting a transmitting end of said standby channel in parallel with the corresponding end of said defective working channel; answer-back means at said transmitting station for sending an execution signal to said receiving station in response to completion of such connection by said first switch means, the discriminating network assigned to said defective working channel being responsive to said execution signal for generating a seizure signal; and second switch means at said receiving station responsive to said seizure signal for completing the allocation of said standby channel to said defective working channel; said logic matrix further including an interlock unit connected to said discriminating networks for receiving respective busy signals therefrom and generating lockout signals respectively applied to said discriminating networks to prevent the emission of a request signal for said standby channel upon prior seizure thereof by another discriminating network; each discriminating network including A first subdivision responsive to the first type of defect signal and a second subdivision responsive to the second type of defect signal, said interlock unit including a first gate circuit connected to receive a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting said low degree of disability and to transmit a first type of lockout signal to the first subdivisions of the remaining discriminating networks, said interlock unit further including a second gate circuit connected to receive a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting either degree of disability and to transmit a second type of lockout signal to the second subdivisions of the remaining discriminating networks, said second subdivisions thus being free to respond to said second type of defect signal in the presence of only said first type of lockout signal.

Claim 8

In a telecommunication system provided with a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a plurality of parallel working channels, the combination therewith of: monitoring means at said receiving station for ascertaining the quality of signal transmission over any of said working channels from said transmitting station to said receiving station, said monitoring means generating a defect signal individual to any working channel upon detecting an impairment in signal transmission thereover, said defect signal being alternatively of a first and a second type respectively indicating a relatively low and a relatively high degree of disability; a supervisory logic matrix common to all said working channels connecting to said monitoring means, said logic matrix including a plurality of discriminating networks respectively assigned to said working channels and responsive to the corresponding defect signals for sending a request signal to said transmitting station; at least one standby channel connectable between said stations to relieve any defective working channel; first switch means at said transmitting station responsive to said request signal for connecting a transmitting end of said standby channel in parallel with the corresponding end of said defective working channel; answer-back means at said transmitting station for sending an execution signal to said receiving station in response to completion of such connection by said first switch means, the discriminating network assigned to said defective working channel being responsive to said execution signal for generating a seizure signal; and second switch means at said receiving station responsive to said seizure signal for completing the allocation of said standby channel to said defective working channel; said logic matrix further including an interlock unit connected to said discriminating networks for receiving respective busy signals therefrom and generating lockout signals respectively applied to said discriminating networks to prevent the emission of a request signal for said standby channel upon prior seizure thereof by another discriminating network; each discriminating network including A first subdivision responsive to the first type of defect signal and a second subdivision responsive to the second type of defect signal, said interlock unit including a first gate circuit connected to receive a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting said low degree of disability and to transmit a first type of lockout signal to the first subdivisions of the remaining discriminating networks, said interlock unit further including a second gate circuit connected to receive a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting either degree of disability and to transmit a second type of lockout signal to the second subdivisions of the remaining discriminating networks, said second subdivisions thus being free to respond to said second type of defect signal in the presence of only said first type of lockout signal.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said logic matric further comprises a plurality of control units respectively associated with said discriminating networks for registering said request and seizure signals, and timing means in each control unit for generating a disconnect signal to release the associated discriminating network upon the nonoccurrence of said seizure signal within a predetermined interval from the generation of said request signal.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said discriminating networks are arranged in a predetermined order of precedence and, except for the highest ranking network, are provided with first and second outputs extending from said first and second subdivisions thereof to corresponding subdivisions of all higher ranking networks for transmitting thereto a blocking signal in the presence of a defect signal and in the absence of a blocking signal from a lower ranking network, to prevent the emission of request signals by said higher ranking networks.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 6 wherein at least one of said discriminating networks includes pre-emptive circuitry in its second subdivision operable to override a lockout signal applied thereto from said interlock unit, thereby giving the assigned working channel privileged access to said standby channel.

Claim 12

The combination defined in claim 6, further comprising test means for ascertaining the transmission effectiveness of said standby channel and for generating an inefficiency signal indicative of a reduced degree of such effectiveness, said logic including inhibiting means responsive to said inefficiency signal for preventing the relief of a defective working channel by said standby channel at least in the presence of said first type of defect signal at the first subdivision of the discriminating network assigned to said defective working channel.

Claim 13

The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said inefficiency signal is alternatively of a first type indicating any substantial reduction in effectiveness and of a second type indicating only a relatively severe reduction in effectiveness, said inhibiting means directing said first type of inefficiency signal to said first subdivision and said second type of inefficiency signal to said second subdivision for respectively preventing a response thereof to said first and said second type of defect signal.

Claim 14

In a telecommunication system provided with a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a plurality of parallel working channels, the combination therewith of: monitoring means at said receiving station for ascertaining the quality of signal transmission over any of said working channels from said transmitting station to said receiving station, said monitoring means generating a defect signal individual to any working channel upon detecting an impairment in signal transmission thereover; a supervisory logic matrix common to all said working channels connected to said monitoring means, said logic matrix including a plurality of discriminating networks respectively assigned to saiD working channels and responsive to the corresponding defect signals for sending a request signal to said transmitting station; at least one standby channel connectable between said stations to relieve any defective working channel; first switch means at said transmitting station responsive to said request signal for connecting a transmitting end of said standby channel in parallel with the corresponding end of said defective working channel; answer-back means at said transmitting station for sending an execution signal to said receiving station in response to completion of such connection by said first switch means, the discriminating network assigned to said defective working channel being responsive to said execution signal for generating a seizure signal; and second switch means at said receiving station responsive to said seizure signal for completing the allocation of said standby channel to said defective working channel; said discriminating networks being interconnected in a predetermined sequence establishing an order of precedence to prevent concurrent seizure of said standby channel by more than one of said networks, said logic including inter-network connections for the transmission of lockout signals to all other networks upon activation of one of said networks by an incoming defect signal, to prevent the emission of request signals by said other networks; at least one of said discriminating networks including pre-emptive circuit means operable to provide the associated working channel with privileged access to said standby channel, said circuit means including first circuitry for generating said request signal irrespectively of any lockout signal arriving over said inter-network connections from a previously activated network assigned to a nonprivileged working channel, said circuit means further including second circuitry for generating a priority signal in the presence of such blocking signal concurrently with said request signal, said logic matrix comprising third circuitry responsive to said priority signal for applying to said previously activated network a holding signal to maintain the seizure signal thereof upon continuing presence of an execution signal from said transmitting station, said answer-back means being responsive to the arrival of said request signal for ascertaining the switchability of said standby channel and thereupon interrupting said execution signal preparatorily to a transfer of said standby channel to the privileged working channel with consequent termination of said holding signal whereby said previously activated network is deactivated.

Claim 15

In a telecommunication system provided with a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a plurality of parallel working channels, the combination therewith of: monitoring means at said receiving station for ascertaining the quality of signal transmission over any of said working channels from said transmitting station to said receiving station, said monitoring means generating a defect signal individual to any working channel upon detecting an impairment in signal transmission thereover; a supervisory logic matrix common to all said working channels connected to said monitoring means, said logic matrix including a plurality of discriminating networks respectively assigned to saiD working channels and responsive to the corresponding defect signals for sending a request signal to said transmitting station; at least one standby channel connectable between said stations to relieve any defective working channel; first switch means at said transmitting station responsive to said request signal for connecting a transmitting end of said standby channel in parallel with the corresponding end of said defective working channel; answer-back means at said transmitting station for sending an execution signal to said receiving station in response to completion of such connection by said first switch means, the discriminating network assigned to said defective working channel being responsive to said execution signal for generating a seizure signal; and second switch means at said receiving station responsive to said seizure signal for completing the allocation of said standby channel to said defective working channel; said discriminating networks being interconnected in a predetermined sequence establishing an order of precedence to prevent concurrent seizure of said standby channel by more than one of said networks, said logic including inter-network connections for the transmission of lockout signals to all other networks upon activation of one of said networks by an incoming defect signal, to prevent the emission of request signals by said other networks; at least one of said discriminating networks including pre-emptive circuit means operable to provide the associated working channel with privileged access to said standby channel, said circuit means including first circuitry for generating said request signal irrespectively of any lockout signal arriving over said inter-network connections from a previously activated network assigned to a nonprivileged working channel, said circuit means further including second circuitry for generating a priority signal in the presence of such blocking signal concurrently with said request signal, said logic matrix comprising third circuitry responsive to said priority signal for applying to said previously activated network a holding signal to maintain the seizure signal thereof upon continuing presence of an execution signal from said transmitting station, said answer-back means being responsive to the arrival of said request signal for ascertaining the switchability of said standby channel and thereupon interrupting said execution signal preparatorily to a transfer of said standby channel to the privileged working channel with consequent termination of said holding signal whereby said previously activated network is deactivated.

Claim 16

The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said logic matrix further includes an interlock unit connected to said discriminating networks for receiving respective busy signals therefrom and generating lockout signals respectively applied to said discriminating networks to prevent the emission of a request signal for said standby channel upon prior seizure thereof by another discriminating network.

Claim 17

The combination defined in claim 13 wherein said defect signal is alternatively of a first and a second type respectively indicating a relatively low and a relatively high degree of disability, each discriminating network including a first subdivision responsive to the first type of defect signal and a second subdivision responsive to the second type of defect signal, said interlock unit including a first gate circuit connected to receive a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting said low degree of disability and to transmit a first type of lockout signal to the first subdivisions of the remaining discriminating networks, said interlock unit further including a second gate circuit connected to receive a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting either degree of disability and to transmit a second type of lockout signal to the second subdivisions of the remaining discriminating netWorks, said second subdivisions thus being free to respond to said second type of defect signal in the presence of only said first type of lockout signal.

Claim 18

In a telecommunication system provided with a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a plurality of parallel working channels, the combination therewith of: monitoring means at said receiving station for ascertaining the quality of signal transmission over any of said working channels from said transmitting station to said receiving station, said monitoring means generating a defect signal individual to any working channel upon detecting an impairment in signal transmission thereover; a pair of standby channels alternatively connectable between said stations to relieve any defective working channel; a supervisory logic matrix common to all said working channels connected to said monitoring means, said logic matrix including a plurality of pairs of discriminating networks respectively assigned to said working channels, the networks of each pair including signal-generating means individually responsive to the corresponding defect signals for sending to said transmitting station two distinctive types of request signals respectively identifying said standby channels; first switch means at said transmitting station responsive to either type of request signal for connecting a transmitting end of a selected standby channel in parallel with the corresponding end of said defective working channel; answer-back means at said transmitting station for sending an execution signal to said receiving station in response to completion of such connection by said first switch means, the discriminating network assigned to said defective working and to the selected standby channel being responsive to said execution signal for generating a seizure signal; second switch means at said receiving station responsive to said seizure signal for completing the allocation of the selected standby channel to said defective working channel, said standby channels being a primary channel selectable by request signals from the networks of said one set and a secondary signal selected by request signals from the networks of said other set, said preferential circuitry including circuit means for generating an availibility signal relating to said primary channel and conductor means for delivering said availability signal to the networks of said other set to inhibit activation thereof upon accessibility of said primary channel to the networks of said one set; preferential circuitry interconnecting the networks of each pair for giving one set of networks precedence over the other set of networks, respectively paired therewith, in generating said request signal; and test means for ascertaining the transmission effectiveness of each standby channel and for generating an inefficiency signal alternatively of a first type, indicating any substantial reduction in effectiveness, and of a second type, indicating only a relatively severe reduction in effectiveness; said defect signal being alternatively of a first and a second type respectively indicating a relatively low and a relatively high degree of disability; each discriminating network including a first subdivision responsive to the first type of defect signal and a second subdivision responsive to the second type of defect signal; said logic matrix further including interlocking means for transmitting, upon receiving a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting said low degree of disability, a first type of lockout signal to the first subdivisions of the remaining discriminating networks to prevent the emission of a request signal therefrom and for transmitting, upon receiving a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting either degree of disability, a second type of lockout signal to the second subdivisions of the remaining discriminating network to prevent the emiSsion of a request signal therefrom while leaving said second subdivisions free to respond to said second type of defect signal in the presence of only said first type of lockout signal; said availability signal being alternatively of a first type, indicating substantially perfect transmission effectiveness of said primary channel, and of a second type, indicating at worst a reduced transmission effectiveness of said primary channel insufficient to generate said second type of inefficiency signal; said logic matrix including inhibiting means directing said first type of inefficiency signal to said first subdivision and said second type of inefficiency signal to said second subdivision of any network of the corresponding set for respectively preventing a response thereof to said first and said second type of defect signal; said first subdivision of each network of said other set being connected to receive said first type of availability signal for inhibition thereby upon both unrestricted and partly restricted accessibility of said primary channel to the networks of said one set.

Claim 19

In a telecommunication system provided with a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a plurality of parallel working channels, the combination therewith of: monitoring means at said receiving station for ascertaining the quality of signal transmission over any of said working channels from said transmitting station to said receiving station, said monitoring means generating a defect signal individual to any working channel upon detecting an impairment in signal transmission thereover; a pair of standby channels alternatively connectable between said stations to relieve any defective working channel; a supervisory logic matrix common to all said working channels connected to said monitoring means, said logic matrix including a plurality of pairs of discriminating networks respectively assigned to said working channels, the networks of each pair including signal-generating means individually responsive to the corresponding defect signals for sending to said transmitting station two distinctive types of request signals respectively identifying said standby channels; first switch means at said transmitting station responsive to either type of request signal for connecting a transmitting end of a selected standby channel in parallel with the corresponding end of said defective working channel; answer-back means at said transmitting station for sending an execution signal to said receiving station in response to completion of such connection by said first switch means, the discriminating network assigned to said defective working and to the selected standby channel being responsive to said execution signal for generating a seizure signal; second switch means at said receiving station responsive to said seizure signal for completing the allocation of the selected standby channel to said defective working channel, said standby channels being a primary channel selectable by request signals from the networks of said one set and a secondary signal selected by request signals from the networks of said other set, said preferential circuitry including circuit means for generating an availibility signal relating to said primary channel and conductor means for delivering said availability signal to the networks of said other set to inhibit activation thereof upon accessibility of said primary channel to the networks of said one set; preferential circuitry interconnecting the networks of each pair for giving one set of networks precedence over the other set of networks, respectively paired therewith, in generating said request signal; and test means for ascertaining the transmission effectiveness of each standby channel and for generating an inefficiency signal alternatively of a first type, indicating any substantial reduction in effectiveness, and of a second type, indicating only a relatively severe reduction in effectiveness; said defect signal being alternatively of a first and a second type respectively indicating a relatively low and a relatively high degree of disability; each discriminating network including a first subdivision responsive to the first type of defect signal and a second subdivision responsive to the second type of defect signal; said logic matrix further including interlocking means for transmitting, upon receiving a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting said low degree of disability, a first type of lockout signal to the first subdivisions of the remaining discriminating networks to prevent the emission of a request signal therefrom and for transmitting, upon receiving a busy signal from any discriminating network assigned to a working channel exhibiting either degree of disability, a second type of lockout signal to the second subdivisions of the remaining discriminating network to prevent the emiSsion of a request signal therefrom while leaving said second subdivisions free to respond to said second type of defect signal in the presence of only said first type of lockout signal; said availability signal being alternatively of a first type, indicating substantially perfect transmission effectiveness of said primary channel, and of a second type, indicating at worst a reduced transmission effectiveness of said primary channel insufficient to generate said second type of inefficiency signal; said logic matrix including inhibiting means directing said first type of inefficiency signal to said first subdivision and said second type of inefficiency signal to said second subdivision of any network of the corresponding set for respectively preventing a response thereof to said first and said second type of defect signal; said first subdivision of each network of said other set being connected to receive said first type of availability signal for inhibition thereby upon both unrestricted and partly restricted accessibility of said primary channel to the networks of said one set.

Claim 20

The combination defined in claim 15 wherein each discriminating network is provided with an actuating unit common to said first and second subdivisions thereof, said network being physically subdivided into two separable portions, one of said portions bearing said first subdivision, the other of said portions bearing said second subdivision and said actuating unit.