Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Through a circuit switch
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-27
2001-03-20
Ton, Dang (Department: 2732)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Through a circuit switch
C370S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205137
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to automatic response systems, and more specifically to a multimedia processing system for storing program data and returning stored program data in response to a subscriber's request.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multimedia processing systems are installed in public telephone exchanges as automatic response systems. In a large-scale multimedia processing system a plurality of multimedia processors and a plurality of mass storage units are provided and they are interconnected by a switching hub. A request from the subscriber contains a control signal and a multimedia program signal such as voice, text and facsimile if write mode is requested and contains a control signal only if read mode is requested. One of the processors is selected to process the request. The processed request is applied to the switching hub. When the request is a write mode, both control and program signals of the request are self-routed by the switching hub to one of the storage units according to the address contained in the request and the program signal is stored in the storage unit. When the request is a read command, the control signal of the request is self-routed to the desired storage unit and a scored program is retrieved. The retrieved program signal is self-routed by the switching hub and transmitted back to the selected processor and thence to the requesting subscriber.
Since the program signal is voluminous, a great number of electronic elements are needed to construct a switching hub. Furthermore, the whole system is organized in a redundant configuration to ensure uninterrupted service. Therefore, the cost performance of the switching hub is low.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Specification Hei-4-92526 discloses a switch for interconnecting a number of user terminals and multiple service units according to a control signal from a system controller. A bus system is provided in the switch and the system controller uses the LAN technology to send the control signal through the bus to establish connections in the switch and reconfigure its routing pattern in the event of a failure. The system controller thus process all the signals which are routed through the established connections. If the signals are voluminous, a heavy burden will be imposed on the system control, and as a result, it must be operated at a significantly high speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cost effective multimedia processing system.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia processing system comprising a switch for establishing a path when it receives, from a switched network, a request containing a control signal and a program signal when write mode is requested or a control signal only when read mode is requested. A number of processors and at least one storage unit are provided. Each processor receives the request when it is connected to the established path and extracts a control signal from the request. A controller is responsive to the request from the switch for selecting one of the processors and controls the switch to establish a path between the network and the selected processor so that the control signal of the request is extracted from the request by the selected processor. The controller determines a request mode from the extracted control signal. Depending on the determined request mode, the controller controls the selected processor and storage unit to write the program signal into the storage unit or transfer a stored program signal from the storage unit to the selected processor.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a multimedia processing system comprising a switch for receiving, from a switched network, a request containing a control signal and a program signal when write mode is requested or a control signal only when read mode is requested, and establishing a path. A working processor and a spare processor are provided, each of the processors receiving the request when the processor is connected to the established path and extracting a control signal from the request. A storage unit is associated with both of the working and spare processors. A controller is responsive to the request from the switch for selecting the working processor when it is properly functioning or selecting the spare processor when the working processor is not properly functioning, and controlling the switch to establish the path between the network and the selected processor so that the control signal of the request is extracted from the request by the selected processor. The controller determines a request mode from the extracted control signal, and depending on the determined request mode, it controls the selected processor and the storage unit to write the program signal into the storage unit or transfer a stored program signal from the storage unit to the selected processor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5896370 (1999-04-01), Eckhoff et al.
patent: 5982745 (1999-11-01), Wolff et al.
patent: 58-170253 (1983-10-01), None
patent: 61-59945 (1986-03-01), None
patent: 64-81548 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 64-85449 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 4-92526 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 5-300261 (1993-11-01), None
patent: 8-223208 (1996-08-01), None
NEC Corporation
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Ton Dang
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