Telephone communications control system having a plurality of remote switching units

Claim 2

A telephone communication lines control system for controllably connecting local subscriber telephone units to long distance lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting local subscriber telephone units to selected long distance telephone lines; a central control means positioned at a location remote from said switching means for controlling the connection of said local subscriber telephone units to said long distance telephone lines at each of said plurality of remote switching means, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines with a predetermined priority for each of a plurality of said subscriber telephone units; and means for interconnecting said central control means to said plurality of remote switching means, said interconnecting means transmitting data signals between said remote switching means and said remotely positioned central control means wherein voice communications signals being transmitted by said local subscriber telephone units are connected to selected long distance lines at said remote switching means without being connected through said remotely positioned control means.

Claim 3

A telephone communications lines control system for controllably connecting local subscriber telephone units to long distance lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting local subscriber telephone units to selected long distance telephone lines; a central control means positioned at a location remote from said switching means for controlling the connection of said local subscriber telephone units to said selected long distance telephone lines at each of said plurality of remote switching means, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines in the order of the least cost line available first; and means for interconnecting said central control means to said plurality of remote switching means, said interconnecting means transmitting data signals between said remote switching means and said remotely positioned central control means wherein voice communications signals being transmitted by said local subscriber telephone units are connected to selected long distance lines at said remote switching means without being connected through said remotely positioned control means.

Claim 4

A telephone communications lines control system for controllably connecting local subscriber telephone units to long distance lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting local subscriber telephone units to selected long distance telephone lines; a central control means positioned at a location remote from said switching means for controlling the connection of said local subscriber telephone units to said selected long distance telephone lines at each of said plurality of remote switching means, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines in the order of the least cost line available first; and means for interconnecting said central control means to said plurality of remote switching means, said interconnecting means transmitting data signals between said remote switching means and said remotely positioned central control means wherein voice communications signals being transmitted by said local subscriber telephone units are connected to selected long distance lines at said remote switching means without being connected through said remotely positioned control means.

Claim 5

A telephone communications control system for controlling the connection of local subscriber telephone units to long distance lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting said local subscriber telephone units to selected long distance telephone lines, said switching means including a switching matrix and means for operating said switching matrix; a central control means positioned at a location remote from said switching means for controlling said operating means at each of said plurality of remote switching means, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines in the priority of least cost lines first; and means responsive to said switching matrix operating means for interconnecting said central control means to said plurality of remote switching means, said interconnecting means transmitting data signals between said remote switching means and said remotely positioned central control means wherein voice communications signals being transmitted by said local subscriber telephone units are connected to selected long distance lines at said remote switching means without being connected through said remotely positioned control means.

Claim 6

A telephone communications control system for controlling the connection of local subscriber telephone units to long distance lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting said local subscriber telephone units to selected long distance telephone lines, said switching means including a switching matrix and means for operating said switching matrix; a central control means positioned at a location remote from said switching means for controlling said operating means at each of said plurality of remote switching means, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines in the priority of least cost lines first; and means responsive to said switching matrix operating means for interconnecting said central control means to said plurality of remote switching means, said interconnecting means transmitting data signals between said remote switching means and said remotely positioned central control means wherein voice communications signals being transmitted by said local subscriber telephone units are connected to selected long distance lines at said remote switching means without being connected through said remotely positioned control means.

Claim 7

The system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of remote switching means each comprises means for detecting the condition of a local subscriber telephone unit, means responsive to said detecting means for accessing said central control means and for informing said central control means of the long distance telephone number being called, and means for indicating the status of the call being placed.

Claim 8

The telephone communications control system of claim 3 wherein said switching matrix operating means at each of said remote switching means includes means for generating central control means access signals when a local subscriber telephone unit goes off-hook, said central control means including means for instructing said switching matrix operating means to operate said switching matrix to selectively connect a long distance line to said local subscriber.

Claim 9

The telephone communications control system of claim 5 further comprising means for determining when a least cost telephone line is not available, means responsive to said determining means for storing the long distance telephone number to be accessed, means for continually determining the status of and when a least cost long distance line is available, and means for placing said call automatically on a long distance telephone line when a least cost telephone line becomes available.

Claim 10

The telephone communications control system of claim 5 further comprising means for determining when a least cost telephone line is not available, means responsive to determining means for storing the long distance telephone number to be accessed, means for continually determining the status of and when a least cost long distance line is available, means for calling back said local subscriber when a least cost telephone line is available, and means for placing said call automatically on a long distance telephone line when a least cost line becomes available.

Claim 11

The telephone communications control system of claim 7 wherein said means for interconnecting said central control means to said plurality of remote switching means comprises means for converting digital information and control signals at said central control means and at said remote switching means to signals transmittable over telephone lines, and at least one dedicated data line interconnecting said central control means and said remote switching means.

Claim 12

A telephone communications lines control system for connecting local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means, a central control means positioned remote from said plurality of remote switching means for controlling said remote switching means to connect said voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units to said selected long distance telephone lines, said central control means including means for selecting the long distance lines connected to said subscriber units with a predetermined long distance line selection priority for each of said remote switching means, and means interconnecting said central control means to each of said remote switching means for receiving data signals from said remote switching means and sending switch control signals back to said remote switching means for connecting voice communication signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means without being coupled through said central control means.

Claim 13

A telephone communications lines control system for connecting local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means, a central control means positioned remote from said plurality of remote switching means for controlling said remote switching means to connect said voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units to said selected long distance telephone lines, said central control means including means for selecting the long distance lines connected to said subscriber units with a predetermined long distance line selection priority for each of said remote switching means, and means interconnecting said central control means to each of said remote switching means for receiving data signals from said remote switching means and sending switch control signals back to said remote switching means for connecting voice communication signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means without being coupled through said central control means.

Claim 14

A telephone communications lines control system for connecting local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means to thereby connect voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to said selected long distance telephone lines, a central control means positioned at a location remote from each of said plurality of switching means for controlling said switching means to connect said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines to be connected to said local subscriber units in the order of the least cost line available first, and means interconnecting said remotely located central control means to each of said switching means for receiving data signals from said switching means and sending switch control signals back to said switching means for connecting voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said switching means without being coupled through said central control means.

Claim 15

A telephone communications lines control system for connecting local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means to thereby connect voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to said selected long distance telephone lines, a central control means positioned at a location remote from each of said plurality of switching means for controlling said switching means to connect said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines to be connected to said local subscriber units in the order of the least cost line available first, and means interconnecting said remotely located central control means to each of said switching means for receiving data signals from said switching means and sending switch control signals back to said switching means for connecting voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said switching means without being coupled through said central control means.

Claim 16

A telephone communications lines control system for connecting local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means to thereby connect voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to said selected long distance telephone lines, a central control means positioned at a location remote from each of said plurality of switching means for controlling said switching means to connect said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines to be connected to said local subscriber units at each of said remote switching means in a predetermined selection priority individual to each of said remote switching means, and means interconnecting said central control means to each of said remote switching means for receiving data signals from said remote switching means and sending switch control signals back to said remote switching means for connecting voice communication signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means without being coupled through said central control means.

Claim 17

A telephone communications lines control system for connecting local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines comprising: a plurality of remote switching means for connecting said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means to thereby connect voice communications signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to said selected long distance telephone lines, a central control means positioned at a location remote from each of said plurality of switching means for controlling said switching means to connect said local subscriber units to selected long distance telephone lines, said central control means including means for selecting said long distance lines to be connected to said local subscriber units at each of said remote switching means in a predetermined selection priority individual to each of said remote switching means, and means interconnecting said central control means to each of said remote switching means for receiving data signals from said remote switching means and sending switch control signals back to said remote switching means for connecting voice communication signals transmitted by said local subscriber units directly to selected long distance telephone lines at said remote switching means without being coupled through said central control means.