Importance

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Abstract

A modular, reconfigurable, intelligent signal multiplexer for telecommunications purposes includes a rack or shelf adapted to support a plurality of printed circuit cards. The cards include feature cards and line cards, and at least one central controller card. All of the cards includes backplane connectors to connect to customer premises equipment and to telecommunications lines, and midplane connectors to interconnect all of the circuit cards for data exchange under program control. Each feature card contains an embedded microprocessor with associated embedded operating system, as well as RAM memory and flash RAM. The signal multiplexer processes digital inputs from a wide range of user equipment for transmission over digital facilities, including T1 and T3 lines. The system employs an Advanced Intelligent Multiplexer Network software package to perform network configuration and SNMP to obtain performance reports, statistics collection and alarm monitoring. SNMP is accessed through a software package having an intuitive graphical interface for network planning and design, routing and inventory-management support. The functions of the signal multiplexers are controlled by a mapping scheme. A map change alters the circuit-to-time slot assignments. A large number of maps may be stored by the system, and may be set to start running in response to user-specified times, a predetermined event, an alarm, or a manual keyboard command. The graphical interface also presents screen displays that enable network design, node configuration, and alteration of an existing network.

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First Claim