US1299558A - Call-distributing system. - Google Patents

Description

G. DEAKIN & L. POLINKOWSKY.

CALL DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICAIION FILED MAR. 24. I917.

1,299,558; Q I Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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by MW G. DEAKIN & L. POLINKOWSKY.

CALL DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24,1917- Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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G. DEAKIN -& L. POLINKOWSKY.

CALL DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1917.

1,299,558; Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTGE.

GERALD DEAKIN AND LIPA. POLINKOWSKY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK,'N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

CALL-DISTRIBUTING, SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed March 24, 1917. Serial No. 157,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GERALD DEAKIN, a citizen of the United States, and LIPA Po- LINKOWSKY, a subject of the Emperor of Russia, both residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Call-Distributing Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, con 'cise, and exact description. a

This invention relates to call distributing systems for telephone exchanges, and more particularly to systems in which calls may be extended to an operators position depending upon the busy or idle condition of such operator as electrically indicated by apparatus associated with such'position.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the circuits and apparatus in such a manner that when a call has been extended to an operator, such operators position will be maintained busy and therefore unconnectible to all subsequent calls during a predetermined period of time, such busy condition or guard being then removed so that another call may be extended to her position even though she has not as yet completed her duties in connection with the first mentioned call. In practice, the time interval will be of such extent that it is slightly less than the time in which the operator under normal conditions attends to her duties with regard to a call extended to her position, the time interval being such that after the busy condition or guard has been removed from the operators position the usual automatic apparatus, by which the call is extended to such operators position, will have sufficient time to operate to extend the call to the position before the operator has completed'her duties with regard to the .call first extended to her position, thereby expediting the connection and eliminating the usual waiting time occupied by the operation of the automatic apparatus between the instant when the opo erator is no longer busy with the previous call and the instant when the subsequent call is actually connected to her position.

Further features of the invention will sufiiciently appear from a description of one embodiment thereof hereinafter given.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 1*, when placed side by side, represent diagrammatically so much of a telephone exchange system as is re quired to illustrate the invention; and

Fig. "2 illustrates schematically one arrangement, for distributing calls to different operators, in which the busy condition or guard is maintained upon'an operators position and removed at the desired time.

Referring to Fig. 1, 3 represents a telephone line terminating in a group of first line-finders, oneof which is indicated at 4:, and having associated therewith the usual line relay 5, energized upon the initiation of a call to "place selectable potential in the usual manner upon the test terminal 6 of such line where it. appears in the first line finder 4, and energizing the pilot or starting relay 7 common to the group of lines in which such line appears. The energization of the relay-7 closes a circuit for the power magnets 8 of all of the first line finders of the group indicated which are idle, that is, of which the relays 9 and 10 are deenergized. All of such idle first line finders thereupon start in motion to select and seize the call ing line in the usual manner. Immediately that thebrush 11 of one of such line finders makes contact with the terminal 6, the relay 12 is energized, placing a busy guard upon such terminal 6'by the closure of the circuit to ground through the low resistance right-hand winding of such relay 12. and when the interrupter 13 of such line finder is opened, as the brushes of' such" line finder are centered upon the terminals of the calling line, the shunt through such interrupter around the relay 9 is removed and such relay energizing, the circuit of the power magnet.8 is opened, and the circuit of the holding magnet 1 L of such line finder is closed and the line finder brought positively to a stop with its brushes in contact with the terminals of the calling line. The energization of the relay 9 has closed a circuit in series with the circuit for the holding magnet li'for starting a pilot relay 15 common to the group of trunk lines terminating in a given set of second line finders 16.

Assuming that the operator to whose position the connecting circuit 17 is individual is idle, a circuit will be established by the energization of such relay 15 over the sequence switch contact 72-, sequence switch contact 62 to the relays 18 of all such as are idle of said connecting circuits.

Before proceeding farther it will be noted that all of the sequence switch contacts of and are operated by such sequence switchi Similarly, those sequence switch cont-acts shown within the area delimited by the dotted line in which the sequence switch 80 is'shown form a part of and are operated by such sequence switch, and those shown within the area in which the sequence switch 80 is shown form a part of and are operated by such sequence switch. These switches are of well-known construction and their mode of operation being known will not be described in detail herein. Upon the energization of'the relay'18 a circuit is closed over its armature and front contact, armature and back contact of the relay 19, sequence switch contact 63, to the powermag'net 20 of the second line finder 16 to which the'connecting circuit 17 is connected. Such second line finder thereupon starts in motion searching for the selectable potential which has been placed upon the test terminal 21' of the trunk 22, extending from the first line finder 4 by the energization of the relay 9 in theusualmanner. As soon as the'test brush 23 reaches thetermina'l 21, a circuit is completed overthe sequence switch contact 65, right-hand winding of the relay 24, sequence switch contact 82 to energize such'relay 24, which thereupon places the usual busy guard upon the terminal 21 by the closure of the low resistance circuit through its left-hand winding. As soon as the brushes of the line finder 16 are centered upon the terminals of the trunk 22 the shunt circuit around the relay 19 is opened by the interrupter 25, and such relay 19 is energized, opening the circuit of the power magnet 20 and closing in the usual manner the circuit of the holding magnet 20 of the line finder 16 to stop such line finder in the usual manner with its brushes properly centered upon' the terminals of the trunk 22.

The energization of the relay 19 also closed circuits to energize the relay 26 and the power magnet of' the sequence switch 60. Sequence switch 'is driven from its first 'or normal position and under the in-" 'fiuence of the local sequence switch contact 61 moves into its fourth position. The energ ization of the relay 26, which is maintained until the sequence switch 60 has moved out of its second position,closes :a circuit 'over its armature and front contact and the semquence switch contact 83 to. energize the 17 appears.

Those sequenc switch contacts and 90, are common to the position of the operator on which the connecting circuit The power magnet of the sequence switch 80 being energized in its first or normal position, such 7 sequence switch moves under the control of its local contact 81into its fourth position. The movement of the sequence switch 80 out of. its first position opens the sequence switch contact 82 and the sequence switch contact 83 top. On coming into its second position the circuit was closed over the sequence. switch contact 84 and the sequence switch contact 7 3 to drive the sequence switch'70 out of its first and, under the control of its local contact 71, into its twelfth position. When the r sequence switch 80 comes into its fourth switch contact 85, over sequence switch con-.

tact 92 bottom, to drive the sequence switch 80 into its tenth position. V

When the sequence switch :60 is moved into its fourth position circuits were established over the sequence switch contacts 66, i

67 and 68 for selecting and seizing an idle registering andcontrolling equipment of such operator, such selection taking. place over the switch 29 diagrammatically indicated, such selection takingplace in substantially the same manner as disclosed in Patent No. 1,167 ,646 to F. R. 'McBerty.

Since it has been assumed that this operator is idle such registering and controlling equipment will have been found and seized before the sequence switch 80 reached its fifth position after a complete revolution of the sequence switch 90, since the switch 29.

which hunts and seizes such controlling equipment, operates at substantially 'the same speed as the switch 90, and the se-,

quence switch 60 has, therefore, been driven out of its fifth position in the-known manner opening the sequenceswitch contact 66 included in the circuit .of the "switch 29. On' coming into its tenth position,the se quence switch 80 closes thesequenceswit'ch contact-85 which-again starts the sequence 7 switch 90 to'make a complete revolution. As sequence. switch 90 is again passing its eighteenth position, a circuit is closed over sequence switch contacts 85' and 92 bottom to drive the sequence switch "80' into its eleventh position. The sequence switch 90,

therefore, when itreaches its first or normal position,jfinds the circuit connection closed over the'sequence switch contacts 85 and 92 1 top and starts on a third complete revolution. Near the completion of the third. revolution of the sequence switch 90 the closure of the sequence switch contact 92 bottom again causes the energization of the power magnet of the sequence switch 80 which drives this sequence switch out of its eleventh position and passing through its twelfth, thirteenth, etc., positions, such sequence switch returns to its first or normal position.

It will be observed that immediately upon the seizure of the trunk 22 whereby a call is extended to the operators position, the apparatus of which is shown, and the consequent energization of-the relays 19 and 26, the sequence switch 80 started in motion and immediately drove the sequence switch 7 0 out of its first or normal position. This caused the opening of the sequence switch contacts 72, 72 and 72 which will be maintained open until the sequence switch returns to its first or normal position. These sequence switch contacts as has been before noted are included in the common starting circuits of several groups of the connecting circuits located upon the position of the operator in question. So long, therefore, as such sequence switch contacts remain open, no calls may be extended to such operators position and none of the second line finders individual to the connecting circuits appearing upon such operators position may be set in motion. When, however, the Jime interval necessary for the operation of the sequence switch 80 into its thirteenth position, which time interval includes definitely the time required for the sequence switch 90 to make three complete revolutions, has elapsed, the sequence switch 70 will be driven out of its twelfth position by the closure of the sequence switch contact 84: bottom and such sequence switch 70 will leave its twelfth position and then, without stopping, move into its first or normal position in which the sequence switch contacts 72, 72' and 72* are closed. At this time, further incoming calls which have been extended to trunks such as 22 accessible to the set of second line finders connected to connecting circuits such as 17 which appear upon this operators position, will cause the operation of such second line finders 16 in the manner hereinbefore described to extend such incoming call to a connecting circuit upon such opera-tors position. It will, therefore, be seen that when one call has been extended to the operators position such operators position is maintained busy to all further incoming calls until after the passage of a definite interval of time as predetermined by the adjustment, arrangement and construction 10f the sequence switches 70, 80 and 90. After such interval of time has passed the busy guard is removed from such operators position and a second call may be extended thereto. When the second call has been extended to a connecting circuit of such operators position, as has been described, and in consequence thereof energized the relays 19 and 26 individual to the connecting circuit and second line finder to which such call has been extended, the timing apparatus is again started in motion, opening the sequence switchcontacts 72, 72 and 72* and placing a busy guard upon the position and maintaining such busy guard for the predetermined interval of time, after which they are again closed and a still further call may be extended to such operators position.

In rsum it will be seen. that under normal conditions upon the receipt of a call the operators position will be maintained busy for a period say of four. seconds, after which time another call may be extended to her position. If, however, a call has been extended to her position which has not as yet been connected to her equipment, the test guard will be maintained upon the position an increased interval which may even be as much as seven seconds, and if two calls have been connected tosuch operators position, neither of which have as yet been extended to her equipment, the interval may be'further extended to so much, for example, as eleven seconds.

It will, of course, be understood that the time intervals referred to are given for example only and that by the rearrangement of the circuits in an obvious manner the period oftime elapsing in the normal operationof the timing apparatus or in either of the abnormal oases mentioned may be so modified as the traifc conditions of the particular exchange in which the apparatus is used may require. Generally, it will probably be found that if the time occupied by the timing apparatus in its normal operation is about seventy-five percent; of the time normally required by anoperator tocomplete her duties with regard to the average call, a considerable saving will be accomplished with a minimum delay to incoming calls.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, to the left are indicated a plurality of groups of first line finder switches such as the group i, 4:. The trunks connected to these line finder switches are multipled to stationary contacts in the second line finder switches such as those indicated at 16, 16, the trunks from a plurality of groups of first line finder switches appearing on each of such sets or groups of second line finder switches. As shown, the first three groups of line finder switches from the top of the figu're'terminate inthe second line finder switches 16, 16, 16. The next three groups of line finder switches terminate'in the second line finder switches 50, 50, 50, and a third set of groups of line finder switches terminate in the second line finder- switches 51, 51, 51. Associated with and controlled by the trunks terminating in the second line. finder switches 16 is the common starting or pilot relay 15. As has been described in connection with' Fig; 1, this relay is energized Whenever a 'call has been extended to a trunk of-the first V group and closes a circuit over-the sequence switch contact 72 of the sequence switch 7 0. to start in motion all of the second line finder switches 16. connected to connecting circuits in the several operators posltions of. which three. are indicated. If the sequence switch 70 on any of these operators is out of its normal position, lndicating that the operator is busy, the sequence switch contact 72, individual to such operators position, will be opened and none of the second line finders l6connected to connecting circuits of such operatorsposition will be started in motion. correspondingly, if the call had been extended by a first line finder to a trunk of the second group the pilot or starting relay 15, common to such group, would have been energized and the starting circuit closed to the second line finders 50 connected to connectingcircuits appearing upon operators positions of such operators as are idle, over the sequence switch contact 72. Similarly, if the call is extended by a first line finder switch to a trunk of the third group, the relay l5 will be energized and the starting circuit es 'tablished will include the sequence switch contact 72 on various operators positions ofsuch operators as are idle. On this figure of the drawings the common, control of the several relays 15, 15 and 15 is indicated by a loop associated with the respective groups of trunks. Only the relays 18 and the sequence switch contact 62 associated with the several connecting circuits indicated are shown on this figure, as by ref erence to Fig. 1 the complete operation with regard to any particular connecting'circuit may be readily understood.

Referring to Fig. 2 therefore,and'assuming all three operators are idle, a call extended to the trunk 22 by one of the first line finders 4 will start in motion the second line finders 16 upon all of such operators positions. 'When one of these second line finders16 has selected and seized the trunk 22, the remaining secondline finders 16 will be stopped in the usual manner, which need not be herein described, and the sequence switchcontacts 72, 72 and72 of the same operators position as thesecond line finder 16 which has selected and seized the trunk will be opened for a predetermined interval f of time, as hereinbefore described. 'Meanwhile, to calls extended by any other or the first line findersto any of the trunksshown, except the trunk in use, {will still beac cessible 'to the corresponding second line finders appearing on the remaining oper ators positions, If a'call has been extended to all of the operators positions shown and such operators are stillrbusy in connection with-such calls, the first of such operators;

whose timing apparatus has run through its r cyclewill have the'sequence switch contacts 72, .72 and/72 of her position again closed and the appropriate idle second line finders of such operators position will be started in motion for a subsequent call in the 'manner hereinbefore described. j g V l/Vhile each operators position contains connecting circuits to which are connected second line finders of the different sets or groups having access to the different groups,

of trunks leading from the first line find-j ers, only such second line finders as have access to the groups of trunks to which a call has been. extended will start in operation,

' but immediately one of such second line finders has seized thetrunk to which the call has been extended, the entire position 7 of such operator will be rendered busy until the timing apparatus individual to such operators position has run through its cycle, when another callmay be extended to such operators position from any of the groups of trunks to which the second line finders] of such operators position have access over such second-line finders as may be idle of. the appropriate set or group individual to such operators position.

In systems utilizing line findersdof the type having no normal position, such as those diagran'nnatically illustrated in Fig.1,

the position to which the sequence switch'86 is individual. i

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an operato sitlon of meansforselecting thesame and extending a call thereto and apparatus actue. ated when a call has been extended. to a trunk at said position to prevent the extension of another call to the position for adefinite time interval substantially commensu-V rate withthetime employed by an operator. establishing an average connection.

2. The combination with an operators p9 sition of trunks extending thereto, means ,7

for extending call to one of said trunks,

and apparatus responsive to the extension of a call to a trunk for rendering subsequent calls unconnectib-le thereto for a definite time interval after the first call has been extended to the position.

3. The combination with an operators position of means for selecting the same an subsequently extending a call to a trunk at said position, and apparatus rendered active when a call has been extended to said trunk to prevent for a definite time interval the selection of such position by subsequent calls.

t. In a call distributing system, means for selecting an operators position and extending a call to a trunk at said position, means at such a position for establishing connections between calling and called lines, and

, means independent oi such connecting means for rendering the position busy to subsequent calls for a predetermined interval after the distribution of a call to said trunk.

5. In a call distributing system, means for distributing calls to trunks at an operators position in combination with timing means at said position responsive to the selection of a trunk for automatically determining the rate at which such calls may be distributed to such position independent of the condition of the connecting apparatus at such position.

6. In a call distributing system, automatic switches for distributing calls to an operators position, automatic switches at such position for associating calls distributed thereto with connecting circuits, controlling devices at said position, automatic switches for associating controlling devices with con necting circuits with which calls have been associated, and an automatic timing switch started in operation when a connecting circuit at the position has been taken for use for the purpose of preventing the association of another call with a connecting circuit at such a position until such timing switch has completed its cycle of operations.

7. In a call distributing system, means for distributing calls to connecting circuits at an operators position, controlling apparatus adapted to be associated with such connecting circuits, a timing device at such position responsive to the extension of a call to a connecting circuit adapted to introduce a time interval between the distribution of successive calls to the connecting circuits at such position.

8. In a call distributing system, calling lines, means for selecting an operators position and extending such calling lines thereto, a position sequence switch actuated when a calling line has been extended to the position to render such position non-selectable to subsequent calls, and a timing device to again actuate said position sequence switch after a predetermined time interval to again render such position selectable.

9. In a call distributing system, calling lines, means for selecting an operators position and extending such calling lines thereto, a position sequence switch adapted to be driven from normal position when a calling line has been extended to the position to render such position nonselectable, a timing sequence switch adapted to be driven through a cycle of operations in response to the operation of such position sequence switch, and means controlled by such timing sequence switch at the termination of its cycle of operations to drive such position sequence switch back to normal and render such position again selectable.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 2nd day of March A. D., 1917.

GERALD DEAKIN.

LIPA POLINKOWSKY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Patents, Washington, D. G.

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