Patent ID: 6839419

Claim:
In a telephone network comprising a plurality of telephone switching systems each having a processor and interconnected by a plurality of telephone links for transporting telecommunications calls and call-associated signaling between the switching systems, the improvement comprising: each switching system having information-receiving-means connected to the processor and to a first one of the telephone links leading to a second switching system and information-transmitting means connected to the processor and to a second one of the telephone links different from the first link and leading to a third switching system different from the second switching system, such that all of the switching systems are connected together in a ring by the links each one of which is connected to a receiving means at one of the switching systems and to a transmitting means at another of the switching systems; each information-transmitting means responsive to receipt of non-call associated information from the processor of its switching system by transmitting the non-call associated information on its connected link accompanied by an identifier of one of the switching systems, and further responsive to receipt of non-call associated information from the information-receiving means of its switching system by transmitting the information on its connected link; and each information-receiving means responsive to receipt on its connected link of non-call associated information accompanied by an identifier of its switching system by transferring the information to the processor of its switching system, and further responsive to receipt on it connected link of non-call-associated information not accompanied by an identifier of its switching system by transferring the information to the information-transmitting means of its switching system.