Line Concentration System

(1) Technical

The present invention relates to a line concentration system, which is in particularly useful in a small size exchange system, e.g., a private branch exchange system.

(2) Description of the Related Art

In a rather large size exchange system, e.g., in an exchange station in a public telephone network, line concentrators are provided between line circuits and speech path exchange circuits for handling a greater number of channels in a subscriber side in an exchange circuit side. Concentration rates for concentrators are respectively selected according to traffic intensities in the subscriber side capacities in the exchange circuit side. Generally, less traffic in the subscriber side requires a greater concentration rate in a concentrator to effectively utilize the total capacity of the exchange system.

However, in conventional concentrators, a concentration rate in a concentrator cannot be easily changed, i.e., the concentration rate is fixed. Further, in a rather small size exchange system, e.g., a private branch exchange system, no concentrator is provided, i.e., the concentration rate is one.

Namely, in the conventional exchange system, to change a concentration rate, a plurality of concentrators for respective concentration rates must be provided. Therefore, ineffective spaces for installing a plurality of concentrators are necessary in the conventional exchange system, and a troublesome operation is necessary to disconnect a group of subscriber channels from one concentrator and connect the group to another concentrator to change the concentration rate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a line concentration system, wherein a concentration rate is easily changed, and ineffective spaces for installing a plurality of concentrators for a group of subscriber channels are unnecessary.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line concentration system comprising: a plurality of data input means; a plurality of first-side transmission lines to each of which one or more data input means can be connected; a second-side transmission line connected with the above plurality of first-side transmission lines, and being capable of transmitting a predetermined number of channels of data; and a data input timing control means. Each of the above data input means inputs data at a controlled timing from the first-side transmission line to which its own data input means is connected. The above data input timing control means controls the timings of the above inputs by the above plurality of data input means so that data input operations in two of the data input means are not simultaneously carried out.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line concentration system comprising: a plurality of data output means; a plurality of first-side transmission lines to each of which one or more data output means can be connected; a second-side transmission line connected with the above plurality of first-side transmission lines, and being capable of transmitting a predetermined number of channels of data; and a data output timing control means. Each of the above data output means outputs data at a controlled timing onto the first-side transmission line to which its own data output means is connected. The data output timing control means controls the timings of the above outputs by the above plurality of data output means so that data output operations in two of the data output means are not simultaneously carried out.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line concentration system comprising: a plurality of data input means; a plurality of first-side transmission lines to each of which one of the above plurality of data input means can be connected; a plurality of second-side transmission lines; a connection switching means, provided between the above plurality of first-side transmission lines and the above plurality of second-side transmission lines, for connecting a controlled number of corresponding first-side transmission lines with a corresponding one of the plurality of second-side transmission lines; and a data input timing control means. Each of the above plurality of second-side transmission lines being capable of transmitting a predetermined number of channels of data. Each of the above data input means inputs data at a controlled timing from the first-side transmission line to which its own data input means is connected. The above data input timing control means controls the timings of the above inputs by the above plurality of data input means so that data input operations in two of the data input means from the corresponding first-side transmission lines which are connected to one of the second-side transmission lines, are not simultaneously carried out. In the above connection switching means, the above controlled number can be selected from among a plurality of predetermined numbers.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line concentration system comprising: a plurality of data output means; a plurality of first-side transmission lines to each of which one of the above plurality of data output means can be connected; a plurality of second-side transmission lines; a connection switching means, provided between the above plurality of first-side transmission lines and the plurality of second-side transmission lines, for connecting a controlled number of first-side transmission lines with a corresponding one of the plurality of second-side transmission lines; and a data output timing control means. Each of the above plurality of second-side transmission lines being capable of transmitting a predetermined number of channels of data. Each of the above data output means outputs data at a controlled timing onto the first-side transmission line to which its own data output means is connected. The above data output timing control means controls the timings of the above outputs by the above plurality of data output means so that data output operations from two of the above data output means onto the corresponding first-side transmission lines which are connected to one of the second-side transmission lines, are not simultaneously carried out. In the above connection switching means, the above controlled number can be selected from among a plurality of predetermined numbers.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a basic principle of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 snow an outline of the construction of a small size exchange system, such as a private branch exchange system;

FIG. 5 shows, the construction of the subscribers package in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows the assignment of time slots on each data highway 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the construction of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows the connections of the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 with the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, or data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the non-concentrated connection mode in the construction of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 shows the connections of the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 with the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, or data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the concentrated connection mode with a concentration rate of two in the construction of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of the connections of the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 with the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.0, ... 4.sub.7 in the connection unit 26 in the construction of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the construction of the first embodiment of the present invention for allowing the change of the concentration rate; and

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the construction of the second embodiment of the present invention for allowing the change of the concentration rate.

Before describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, first, a basic construction which is used in the present invention is explained below.

FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a basic construction which is used the present invention. FIG. 1 corresponds to the aforementioned first aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 2 corresponds to the aforementioned second aspect of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m denotes a plurality of first-side transmission lines, 69 denotes a second-side transmission line, 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p denotes a plurality of data input circuits, and 16 denotes a data input timing control circuit.

One (or more) of data input circuits 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p is connected to each of the plurality of first-side transmission lines 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m.

The plurality of first-side transmission lines 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m are connected with the second-side transmission line 69, and the second-side transmission line 69 can transmit a predetermined number of channels of data.

Each of the data input circuits 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p inputs data at a controlled timing from the first-side transmission line to which its own data input circuit is connected.

The data input timing control circuit 16 controls the timings of the inputs by the plurality of data input circuits 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p so that data input operations in two of the data input circuit are not simultaneously carried out.

In the construction of FIG. 1, multiplexed data (including a plurality of channels of data), which is transmitted on the second-side transmission line 69, is then transmitted on each of the first-side transmission lines 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m in parallel. Under the control of the data input timing control circuit 16, each of the data input circuits 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p can input data on one or more channels which are determined by the control of the data input timing control circuit 16, from the multiplexed data on a first-side transmission line to which the data input circuit is connected, where data on each channel is not doubly input into two or more data input circuits, although the plurality of data input circuits 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p are respectively connected to different transmission lines 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m in the first side.

Namely, data in the plurality of channels of a multiplexed data on the second-side transmission line 69 can be respectively delivered to a plurality of data input circuits 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p through a plurality of first-side transmission lines 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m, under the control of the data input timing control circuit 18.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m denote a plurality of first-side transmission lines, 59 denote a second-side transmission line, 19.sub.0, 19.sub.1, 19.sub.2, ... 19.sub.p denotes a plurality of data output circuits, and 18 denotes a data output timing control circuit.

One (or more) of data output circuits 19.sub.0, 19.sub.1, 19.sub.2, ... 19.sub.p is connected to each of the plurality of first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m.

The plurality of first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m are connected with the second-side transmission line 59, and the second-side transmission line 59 can transmit a predetermined number of channels of data.

Each of the data output circuits 19.sub.0, 19.sub.1, 19.sub.2, ... 19.sub.p outputs data at a controlled timing onto the first-side transmission line to which its own data output circuit is connected.

The data output timing control circuit 18 controls the timings of the outputs by the plurality of data output circuits 19.sub.0, 19.sub.1, 19.sub.2, ... 19.sub.p so that data output operations in two of the data output circuit are not simultaneously carried out.

In the construction of FIG. 2, data which is transmitted on the plurality of first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m, are logically summed, and the logically summed data is then transmitted on the second-side transmission line 59. Here, under the above control of the data output timing control circuit 18, the data output circuits 19.sub.0, 19.sub.1, 19.sub.2, ... 19.sub.p which are connected to respective first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m, each output their output data at a different timing from each other onto the first-side transmission line to which its own data output circuit is connected. Therefore, no data superposes on the second-side transmission line 59. Namely, data which are output from a plurality of data output circuits 19.sub.0, 19.sub.1, 19.sub.2, ... 19.sub.p which are connected to respective first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m, can be concentrated to a multiplexed data on the second-side transmission line 59 under the control of the output timing control circuit 18.

The above constructions of FIGS. 1 and 2, are applicable to a construction of a line concentrator, i.e., a line concentrator which can receive data from a plurality of data output circuits 19.sub.0, 19.sub.1, 19.sub.2, ... 19.sub.p, respectively through different first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m, and which can supply data to a plurality of data input circuits 17.sub.0, 17.sub.1, 17.sub.2, ... 17.sub.p, respectively through different first-side transmission lines 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m, where the number of the first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m, or 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m which are connected to one second-side transmission line 59 or 69, correspond to a concentration rate. e.g., the number of the first-side transmission lines 39.sub.0, 39.sub.1, 39.sub.2, ... 39.sub.m, or 49.sub.0, 49.sub.1, 49.sub.2, ... 49.sub.m which are connected to one second-side transmission line 59 or 69, is equal to a concentration rate when data transmission rates in both the first and second sides are equal.

The above basic constructions of FIGS. 1 and 2 are utilized to construct a line concentrator wherein a concentration rate is easily changed, and ineffective use of space for installing a plurality of concentrators for a group of subscriber channels is unnecessary, as explained below in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an outline of the construction of a small size exchange system, such as a private branch exchange system.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 7 denotes a multiplexer, 8 denotes a speech path memory, 9 denotes a demultiplexer, 10 denotes a supervisory memory, 11 denotes a speech path control memory, 12 denotes a bus, and 13 denotes a call processor.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 ;,each denote a data highway in the subscriber side, 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, ... 5.sub.7, 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7, each denote a data highway in the subscriber side, 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 each denote a subscribers package, 2 denotes an interface circuit and 26 denotes a connection unit.

FIG. 5 shows the construction of each subscribers package in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes a multiplexer, 22 denotes a demultiplexer, 23 denotes a line processor, 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14 each denote a line circuit, 24.sub.0, 24.sub.1, 24.sub.2, ... 24.sub.14 each denotes a subscriber line, and 25.sub.0, 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, ... 25.sub.14 each denote a subscriber's terminal (telephone).

Each of the line circuits 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14 is connected with a corresponding one of the subscribers' terminals 25.sub.0, 25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, ... 25.sub.14 through the corresponding subscriber lines 24.sub.0, 24.sub.1, 24.sub.2, ... 24.sub.14, respectively. Each line circuit carries out operations of transformation between a two-line system (on the side of the subscribers, terminals) and a four-line system (on the side of the exchange system), analog/digital transformation, loop supervision, including detection of calling, receiving of a dialing pulse, a ringing, a battery feeding to the corresponding subscriber, and the like.

The data received from the subscribers in all the line circuits 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14, and transformed as above are multiplexed with control data from the line processor 23, in the multiplexer 21 in each subscribers package. The output terminal of the multiplexer 21 is connected to one of the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7 in the subscriber side, and the multiplexed data is output on the data highway 3.sub.j.

The data on the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7 are transmitted through the interface circuit 2 and the data highways 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, ... 5.sub.7 to the multiplexer 7 (shown in FIG. 3).

The multiplexer 7 further multiplexes the data on the data highways 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, ... 5.sub.7 together with control data from the supervisory memory 10, and the time slots in the multiplexed data are exchanged through reading and writing operations in the speech path memory 8.

The reading address or writing address of data of each time slot in the speech path memory 8 is given from the speech path control memory 11, where the content of the speech path control memory 11 is written by the call processor 13.

The call processor 13 collects the information on requests and statuses regarding communication through the exchange system of all the subscribers, which is necessary to carry out exchange operations, from all the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15.

This information is collected by the line processor 23 from all the line circuits 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14 in each subscribers package 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15, and is then transferred from the line processor 23 in each subscribers package 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15, to the supervisory memory 10, by using a channel provided between the supervisory memory 10 and the line processors for transferring control data therebetween. The call processor 13 reads the information transferred from all the line processors 23, in the supervisory memory 10. Thus, based on the dialing information obtained as above, the call processor 13 writes speech path control address for exchanging time slots of the input of the speech path memory 8, on the speech path control memory 11.

The output of the speech path memory 8 is demultiplexed in the demultiplexer 8. The demultiplexed data except the control data which is transferred from the line processors 23, are transmitted through the data highways 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7, the interface circuit 2, and the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7, to each subscribers package 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15, while the control data which is transferred from the line processors 23 is written in the supervisory memory 10.

The demultiplexer 22 in each subscribers package 1.sub.j receives the data transmitted on the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7, and the demultiplexes it, and delivers the demultiplexed data except the control data from the supervisory memory 10, to each line circuit 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14, while the control data transmitted from the supervisory memory 10 is delivered to the line processor 23.

The call processor 13 writes control data which should be transmitted to the line processors 23, in the supervisory memory 10. The control data written in the supervisory memory 10 are then output to the multiplexer 7 to be multiplexed with the data from the data highways 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, ... 5.sub.7, the time slots of the control data are respectively exchanged to the time slots which are to be received by the objective subscribers packages, in the speech path memory 8. The data wherein their time slots have been exchanged, are demultiplexed in the demultiplexer 9, and are then delivered to respective data highways 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7 to which the respective objective subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 are connected through the interface circuit 2 and the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7.

The demultiplexer 22 in each subscribers package 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 receives the time slots assigned to its own subscribers package from a corresponding data highways 4.sub.j, and thus, the control data transmitted from the supervisory memory 10 is delivered to the objective line processor 23 as mentioned above.

The line processor 23 controls all the line circuits 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14, the multiplexer 21, and the demultiplexer 22, based on the control data received from the supervisory memory 10 as above.

FIG. 6 shows the assignment of the time slots on each data highway 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7, 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, ... 5.sub.7, and 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7 in the construction of FIG. 4 in the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, each data highway transmits 32 time slots TS.sub.0, TS.sub.1, TS.sub.2, ... TS.sub.31, with a period of 125 .mu.s.

FIG. 7 shows the connections of the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 with the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, or data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in a non-concentrated connection mode in the embodiment of the present invention having the construction of FIG. 4, wherein "P0", "P1", ... "P15", each denote an identification number of the subscribers packages, and each corresponds to one of the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15, and "A" and "B" each denote a connecting position of each data highway with a subscribers package.

Each of the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7 is connected with the output terminals of the multiplexers 21 in two of the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15. As explained before with reference to FIG. 5, each subscribers package contains fifteen line circuits 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14, and one time slot is assigned for sending data from each line circuit 20.sub.1, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14 toward the speech path memory 8, and one time slot is assigned for sending control data from the line processor 23 toward the speech path memory 8.

Similarly, each of the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 is connected with the input terminals of the demultiplexers 22 in two of the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15. One time slot is assigned for receiving data from the speech path memory 8 to each line circuit 20.sub.0, 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, ... 20.sub.14, and one time slot is assigned for sending control data from the speech path memory 8 to the line processor 23.

As explained above, in the non-concentrated state, the number of time slots in the subscriber side and the number of time slots in the speech path memory side are the same. In the conventional small size exchange system, such as a private branch exchange system, no line concentration system is provided.

The above non-concentrated system is suitable for the situation wherein the traffic of the subscribers is large. However, when the traffic of the subscribers is small, the above non-concentrated exchange system is not effective, i.e., the speech path memory side of the exchange system is not effectively used when the traffic of the subscribers is small in the non-concentrated system.

Therefore, to effectively utilize exchange system, a line concentration system is required to be introduced between the subscriber side and the speech path memory side.

FIG. 8 shows the connections of the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 with the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, or data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the concentrated connection mode with a concentration rate of two in the embodiment of the present invention having the construction of FIG. 4, wherein "P0", "P1", ... "P15", each denote an identification number of the subscribers packages, and each corresponds to one of the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15, as FIG. 7.

Each of the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7 is connected with the output terminals of the multiplexers 21 in four of the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 and each of the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 is connected with the input terminals of the demultiplexers 22 in four of the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15.

Since the concentration rates in conventional line concentrators cannot be easily changed as explained before, a plurality of connection units respectively realizing the connections between the subscribers packages and the data highways with respective concentration rates, must be provided, and when changing the concentration rate, disconnecting operation from one connection unit, and connecting operation to the other connection unit must be carried out in the conventional exchange system.

In practice, the above connections of the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 with the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, or data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 are realized in the connection unit 26 in a private branch exchange system. The connection unit 26 provides a plurality of slots which enable the above connection.

FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of the connections of the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 with the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the connection unit 26 in the construction of FIG. 4, wherein "P0", "P1", ... "P15" each denote an identification number of the subscribers packages, and each corresponds to one of the subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15, as FIG. 7, and "HW0", "HW1", ... "HW7" respectively correspond to the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, and "HW0'", "HW1'", ... "HW7'" respectively correspond to the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a construction wherein a switching of the concentration rate between a non-concentrated mode and the concentrated mode, maintaining the connection (without the disconnection and the reconnection as in the conventional system) between the plurality of subscribers packages 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15 and the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7, 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the connection unit 26 in the construction of FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 9.

The above construction according to the present invention is provided in the interface circuit 2 in the following embodiments.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the construction of the first embodiment of the present invention for allowing the change of the concentration rate, where FIG. 10 shows the construction provided between the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7 in the subscriber side and the data highways 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, ... 5.sub.7 in the speech path memory side and FIG. 11 shows the construction provided between the data highways 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7 in the speech path memory side and the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the subscriber side, in the interface circuit 2 in the arrangement of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 30.sub.0, 30.sub.1, 30.sub.2, and 30.sub.3 each denote a switching circuit, 31.sub.0, 31.sub.1, 31.sub.2, 31.sub.3, 32.sub.0, 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2, and 32.sub.3 each denote a switch, d1, d2, and d3 each denote a driver circuit, "a", "b", and "c" each denote a contact of each switch, and "A" and "B" each denote a connecting position of each data highway with a subscribers package.

The "b" contact of each of the switches 31.sub.0, 31.sub.1, 31.sub.2, 31.sub.3, 32.sub.0, 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2, and 32.sub.3 can be connected with either of the corresponding "a" contact or "c" contact. When the "b" contact of each of the switches 31.sub.0, 31.sub.1, 31.sub.2, 31.sub.3, 32.sub.0, 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2, and 32.sub.3 is connected with the corresponding "a" contact, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 7 is realized in the construction of FIG. 10, or when the "b" contact of each of the switches 31.sub.0, 31.sub.1, 31.sub.2, 31.sub.3, 32.sub.0, 32.sub.1, 32.sub.2, and 32.sub.3 is connected with the corresponding "c" contact, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 8 is realized in the construction of FIG. 10.

Similarly, in FIG. 11, reference numeral 33.sub.0, 33.sub.1, 33.sub.2, and 33.sub.3 each denote a switching circuit, 34.sub.0, 34.sub.1, 34.sub.2, 34.sub.3, 35.sub.0, 35.sub.1, 35.sub.2, and 35.sub.3 each denote a switch, d1, d2, and d3 each denote a driver circuit, "a'", "b'", and "c'" each denote a contact of each switch, and "A'" and "B'" each denote a connecting position of each data highway with a subscribers package.

The "b'" contact of each of the switches 34.sub.0, 34.sub.1, 34.sub.2, 34.sub.3, 35.sub.0, 35.sub.1, 35.sub.2, and 35.sub.3 can be connected with either of the corresponding "a'" contact or "c'" contact. When the "b'" contact of each of the switches 34.sub.0, 34.sub.1, 34.sub.2, 34.sub.3, 35.sub.0, 35.sub.1, 35.sub.2, and 35.sub.3 is connected with the corresponding "a'" contact, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 7 is realized in the construction of FIG. 11, or when the "b'" contact of each of the switches 34.sub.0, 34.sub.1, 34.sub.2, 34.sub.3, 35.sub.0, 35.sub.1, 35.sub.2, and 35.sub.3 is connected with the corresponding "c'" contact, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 8 is realized in the construction of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the construction of the second embodiment of the present invention for allowing the change of the concentration rate, where FIG. 12 shows the construction provided between the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, ... 3.sub.7 in the subscriber side and the data highways 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, ... 5.sub.7 in the speech path memory side, and FIG. 13 shows the construction provided between the data highways 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7 in the speech path memory side and the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7 in the subscriber side in the interface circuit 2 in the arrangement of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 40.sub.0, 40.sub.1, 40.sub.2, and 40.sub.3 each denote an OR gate, 41.sub.0, 41.sub.1, 41.sub.2, and 41.sub.3 each denote a selector, 42.sub.0, 42.sub.1, 42.sub.2, ... 42.sub.7, each denote a driver circuit, and "A" and "B" each denote a connecting position of each data highway with a subscribers package.

One terminal of each of the data highways 3.sub.0 and 3.sub.1 are connected to the input terminals of the OR gate 40.sub.0, one terminal of each of the data highways 3.sub.2 and 3.sub.3 are connected to the input terminals of the OR gate 40.sub.1, one terminal of each of the data highways 3.sub.4 and 3.sub.5 are connected to the input terminals of the OR gate 40.sub.2, and one terminal of each of the data highways 3.sub.6 and 3.sub.7 are connected to the input terminals of the OR gate 40.sub.3. The above terminal of the data highway 3.sub.0 and the output of the OR gate 40.sub.0 are applied to the selector 41.sub.0, the above terminal of the data highway 3.sub.1 and the output of the OR gate 40.sub.1 are applied to the selector 41.sub.1, the above terminal of the data highway 3.sub.2 and the output of the OR gate 40.sub.2 are applied to the selector 41.sub.2, and the above terminal of the data highway 3.sub.3 and the output of the OR gate 40.sub.3 are applied to the selector 41.sub.3. The output terminals of the selectors 41.sub.0, 41.sub.1, 41.sub.2, and 41.sub.3 are each connected to the data highways 5.sub.0, 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, and 5.sub.3, through the driver circuits 42.sub.0, 42.sub.1, 42.sub.2, and 42.sub.3, respectively. The above terminals of the data highways 3.sub.4, 3.sub.5, 3.sub.6, and 3.sub.7 are each connected through the driver circuits 42.sub.4, 42.sub.5, 42.sub.6, and 42.sub.7 to the data highways 5.sub.4, 5.sub.5, 5.sub.6, and 5.sub.7, respectively.

A control signal C is applied to the control input of all the selectors 41.sub.0, 41.sub.1, 41.sub.2, and 41.sub.3. When the control signal C is "1", the selectors 41.sub.0, 41.sub.1, 41.sub.2, and 41.sub.3 each select the inputs from the data highways 3.sub.0, 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2, and 3.sub.3, respectively, and thus, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 7 is realized in the construction of FIG. 12. Or when the control signal C is "0", the selectors 41.sub.0, 41.sub.1, 41.sub.2, and 41.sub.3 each select the inputs from the OR gates 40.sub.0, 40.sub.1, 40.sub.2, and 40.sub.3, respectively, and thus, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 8 is realized in the construction of FIG. 13.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 43.sub.0, 43.sub.1, 43.sub.2, ... 43.sub.7, 47.sub.0, 47.sub.1, 47.sub.2, 47.sub.3, 48.sub.0, 48.sub.1, 48.sub.2, and 48.sub.3 each denote a tristate buffer circuit, and "A'" and "B'" each denote a connecting position of each data highway with a subscribers package..

One terminal of each of the data highways 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7, is connected with a corresponding one of the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, ... 4.sub.7, through the corresponding one of the tristate buffer circuits 43.sub.0, 43.sub.1, 43.sub.2, ... 43.sub.7, respectively. The above terminal of the data highway 6.sub.0 is further connected with the input terminals of both the tristate buffer circuits 47.sub.0 and 48.sub.0, the above terminal of the data highway 6.sub.1 is further connected with the input terminals of both the tristate buffer circuits 47.sub.1 and 48.sub.1, the above terminal of the data highway 6.sub.2 is further connected with the input terminals of both the tristate buffer circuits 47.sub.2 and 48.sub.2, and the above terminal of the data highway 6.sub.3 is further connected with the input terminals of both the tristate buffer circuits 47.sub.3 and 48.sub.3. The output terminals of the tristate buffer circuits 47.sub.0, 47.sub.1, 47.sub.2, 47.sub.3 are each connected to the data highways 4.sub.0, 4.sub.2, 4.sub.4, and 4.sub.6, respectively. The output terminals of the tristate buffer circuits 48.sub.0, 48.sub.1, 48.sub.2, 48.sub.3 are each connected to the data highways 4.sub.1, 4.sub.3, 4.sub.5, and 4.sub.7, respectively.

The above-mentioned control signal C is applied to the control terminals of the tristate buffer circuits 43.sub.0, 43.sub.1, 43.sub.2, ... 43.sub.7, and the inverted signal C of the control signal C is applied to the control terminals of the tristate buffer circuits 47.sub.0, 47.sub.1, 47.sub.2, 47.sub.3, 48.sub.0, 48.sub.1, 48.sub.2, and 48.sub.3.

When the control signal C is "1", the data highways 6.sub.0, 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, ... 6.sub.7, is connected with a corresponding one of the data highways 4.sub.0,4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, .. 4.sub.7, respectively, and thus, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 7 is realized in the construction of FIG. 12. Or when the control signal C is "0", the data highway 6.sub.0 is connected with both the data highways 4.sub.0 and 4.sub.1, the data highway 6.sub.1 is connected with both the data highways 4.sub.2 and 4.sub.3, the data highway 6.sub.2 is connected with both the data highways 4.sub.4 and 4.sub.5, and the data highway 6.sub.3 is connected with both the data highways 4.sub.6 and 4.sub.7. Thus, a connection equivalent to the connection shown in FIG. 8 is realized in the construction of FIG. 13.

The above control signal C can be generated, for example, by providing a manual switch (not shown) which is connected with the interface circuit, or by control from the call processor 13.

In the construction explained above, the timings of sending and receiving of data from and at each subscribers package 1.sub.0, 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, ... 1.sub.15, are controlled by the call processor 13 through the line processor 23 in each subscribers package so that data from two subscribers packages are not doubly input onto the same time slot on a data highway, and data from one time slot on a data highway is not doubly received at two subscribers packages.

Although the constructions realizing a switching of connections between the non-concentrated mode and the concentrated mode with the concentration rate of two, it is easily understood that a connection switching circuit, which is provided between a plurality of subscriber side transmission lines and a plurality of speech path memory side transmission lines, for connecting a controlled number (one or two in the above embodiment) of corresponding subscriber side transmission lines with a corresponding one of the plurality of speech path memory side transmission lines, can be constructed by providing: a plurality of modes of connection paths, where each mode of the connection paths realize the connections between a predetermined number of the subscriber side transmission lines and a corresponding one of the plurality of speech path memory side transmission lines, and the predetermined number is predetermined for each mode; and a plurality of gates which are located in all the connection paths, and are each controlled to pass or not to pass an applied signal so that only one mode of the connection paths, where the predetermined number in the mode is equal to the above controlled number, is realized at one time. This is shown in FIG. 13, and it is known that the selectors in the construction of FIG. 12 can be constructed by the gate circuits as above-mentioned.

Therefore, a line concentration system wherein a switching between any concentration rates among a plurality of predetermined concentration rates can be easily carried out by a control signal for controlling gates as above, can be realized according to the present invention.