At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

William H Toth

Thomas Peter Tignor

The present invention relates to a technique for interfacing a plurality of remote terminals, as, for example, Craft Access Terminals (CATs), directly to a central database in a system, such as, for example, a Craft Access System, without interfacing with an intermediate center such as, for example, a centralized Repair Service Bureau and its personnel. An Applications Processor Microcomputer (APM) module includes a General Data Transport (GDT) to provide a powerful microprocessing environment and multiple data communication interfaces, and an Applications Interface Module (AIM) to provide the appropriate signal interface with the database system, the GDT, and the remote terminals. The APM is arranged for connection on one side to both (1) the database system via a trunk; and (2) one or more remote terminals via separate lines to process their calls and permit direct interaction with the database system; and on a second side a via the GDT to a standard IEEE 488 General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) for permitting high-speed communication between a plurality K of such APMs. The APM module is designed to provide both high-speed data and control message transmissions over the GPIB between itself and other corresponding APM modules forming part of a network, which other APMs may not be directly connected to a trunk to the central database system. Additionally, the APM module can have the ability to, (1) determine when a high-speed data or control message has been sent over the GPIB to an APM which is not available; (2) restore a disconnected call; and (3) provide appropriate maintenance and other messages to the various network components during the progress of a call.

Applications processor module for interfacing to a database system

An on-board self diagnostic capability is realized in a circuit board with a microprocessor which is located on the circuit board and which interacts for diagnostic purposes with the functional circuitry on the board. The microprocessor interacts with an electrically erasable read-only-memory (EEROM) that is also located on the circuit board. Diagnostic signals occurring during the circuit board's normal operation are automatically detected and stored in the EEROM. Additionally, a control port at the circuit board permits activation in the microprocessor of diagnostic routines that accept input test data, apply test sequences to the functional circuitry and store the diagnostic results in the EEROM. Also, through control of the microprocessor, the EEROM is accessed to retrieve previously stored diagnostic results.

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Madison, NJ, United States of America

William H Toth