Walter J Schaefer

US Patent:

42824001, Aug 4, 1981

Filed:

Feb 25, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/124660

Inventors:

John F. Ribera - Jackson NJ
Walter R. Schaefer - Fremont CA
Robert R. Seibel - Barnegat NJ

Assignee:

Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04H 900
H04L 2520
H04J 308

US Classification:

178 73

Abstract:

A subscriber at a remote location is provided the capability of configuring a multipoint private line network composed of multipoint junction units or hubs that provide alternative functions of permitting exclusive data intercommunication between main lines thereof and selected branch lines thereof when certain selection codes are applied to the main lines without the subscriber having knowledge of the selection codes or the network "mapping". The subscriber at the remote location sends a service request defining the function desired and the ultimate downstream terminal to be interconnected or blocked and a control unit in the network consults a network map to identify the upstream and downstream branch lines to be selected, sending a sequence of selection codes to first select the upstream branch and then select the downstream branch or branches. The control unit also monitors responses of the junction units and reports results to the control location.