Patent GB-695551-A (GB)
Title: National toll dialing system
IPC: H04Q3/00
Filed: 1950-01-30
Abstract: 695,551. Automatic exchange systems. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LABORATORIES, Inc. Jan. 30, 1950 [Jan. 29, 1949], No. 2374/50. Class 40 (iv). An operator at a group centre of toll exchange in a long-distance telephone system can extend a call to any substation without the assistance of a second operator by keying a ten-figure number comprising three area code digits XYZ, three exchange code digits ABC and four numerical digits. A register translator translates either the area code digits or the exchange code digits into routing digits where necessary, but not both. The system comprises a number of toll areas, including one toll exchange, per area, and minor exchanges. Minor exchanges in intermediate toll areas have access to two toll exchanges. The digits are registered and on operation of a toll key to select a free register-translator 1300, the digits are transferred by impulsing to the register-translator which transmits any necessary routing digits before transmitting the whole number XYZABC-1234 as registered. If the wanted substation is in an adjacent toll area, neither the area code XYZ nor a translation thereof is transmitted. If the substation is in a distant area, all ten digits are transferred from register to register in successive toll exchanges until the penultimate exchange which transfers only the exchange code digits and the numerical digits. Alternative routes are available between adjacent toll exchanges. An all-busy relay is operated over a chain of contacts if all the register translators available to the selected national toll circuit are busy. All circuits having access to these translators are then marked busy. Register translator, Figs. 10, 13 and Figs. 11, 12, 14, 15 (not shown). Area code digits received over a conductor 1401 are steered through an in-sequence switch RS and are registered on uniselectors Al, A2, A3 by operation of driving magnets A12, A22, A32. The exchange code digits and the numerical digits are registered on similar uniselectors (not shown). Relays 1310, 1320 co-operate to step the in-sequence switch RS at the end of each digit. The first and third area code digits control the vertical and rotary magnets AC3, AC4 of a translating switch AC and the second code digit grounds one of two wipers over a wiper A24 of switch A2. Switch AC is crossconnected to a second translating switch AR. When the first exchange code digit is registered, conductor L is grounded by off-normal springs in the corresponding uniselector and switch AR is stepped by machine impulses controlling vertical and rotary magnets AR9, AR10 until the contact marked through switch AC is found by test relays 1080, 1085. The switch AR selects five or less routing digits which are later marked successively by ground over wiper SS3 and a cable 1344 which extends to the digit sending switch (not shown). A similar translating arrangement is provided for the exchange codes. Ten conductors on the cable 1344 are multipled to the contacts of each uniselector A1, A2, A3, &c., to the contact of each band of the switch AR and of the corresponding switch in the exchange code translator, and to the contacts of a finder in the digit sending switch. The digit sending switch comprises a finder driven by machine impulses and a test relay which, on finding a marking, stops the foward transmission of impulses, and homes the finder. The transmission of digits starts when the second numerical digit is registered and the digit-sender is signalled by ground over wiper RS2 and wire M. The digits to be transmitted are marked successively by ground over wiper SS3. When the finder in the digit sender gets home after sending a digit, driving magnet SS4 is released and the switch SS takes one step. If, for example, three of the possible five routing digits are not required in a particular setting of the switch BR, the corresponding contacts in the banks engaged by wipers AR4, AR5, AR6 are jumpered to a skip wire 1345 and the switch SS is driven to the fourth contact before transmission starts. Skip relay 1325 meantime stops impulse transmission from the sender by grounding conductor 1327. If the called toll area is near and no area routing digit is required relay 1330 operates and any exchange routing digits required are provided by the exchange code translating switches to which SS is connected over cable 1343. Contacts 6 to 8 of SS1 are then grounded at contact 1331 and the area code digits are not transmitted. If the exchange code digits are not required, relay 1430 (not shown, but corresponding to 1330 in the area code switch) operates and grounds contacts 9 to 11 of SS1. When the routing digits and the called number have been transmitted, ground is connected over the 16th contact of SS3 and wire N to release the register translator from the connection, whereupon the release conductor R is grounded, the register switches are released and SS homes over wiper SS2. If a two-motion selector (Fig. 12, not shown) controlled by the first routing digit does not find a free junction in the selected level, springs are closed at the eleventh step and wire Q is grounded by a busy relay to operate AR10 and to drive the switch AR one step and routing digits are transmitted to select an alternative route. The busy relay grounds the skip wire 1345 to home SS. The cycle is repeated. If three routes are tested and if all are busy, counting relays prevent any further tests. The register translator is released and busy tone is returned from the outgoing selector.