Multiline switching protection apparatus

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the reading of the specification and appended claims in conjunction with the drawings

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of prior art multiline repeater switches;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a second prior art multiline repeater switch system; 10

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the present inventive concept for a multiline repeater switch;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a more detailed block diagram of the multi- 15 line switch portion of the system as applies to the receive multiline switch; and

FIG. 6 is a more detailed diagram of the transmit portion of the multiline switch.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the prior art diagram of FIG. 1 a baseband transmit switch 10 is shown supplying a plurality of signals to a set of radio transmitters and receivers block 12. Block 12 includes the necessary transmission stations and 25 media to make up a transmitter and receiver network. IF signals are output from the block 12 to an IF receive multiline switch 14 which is part of a repeater station. The signals to be retransmitted to further stations are applied on a set of leads 16 to a further multiline switch 30 18 for use as a transmitter. This switch supplies a plurality of signals to a further radio transmitter system 20 which may be another repeater station or a termination station. The numbers 10 through 20 describe the blocks in one side of a duplex transmission system. On the 35 other side is a similar radio system block 22, an IF receive multiline switch 24, IF lines to be repeated 26, an IF transmit switch 28, a radio system 30 and a baseband receive switch 32 for supplying return signals from the reply station back to the source of original signals being 40 supplied to baseband transmit switch 10. The repeater station includes the IF receive and transmit switches 14, 18,24, and 28, and also includes part of each of the radio transmitter and receiver systems shown as blocks 12,20, 22 and 30. A "drop" line 34 is shown supplying signals 45 to two FM receivers (FMR's) 36 and 38 whose outputs are combined in an alarm sensor logic switch 40 before being submitted as a final baseband drop on line 42. Insert signals on the same side of the repeater are supplied from a baseband insert lead 44 to a pair of fre- 50 quency modulated transmitters (FMT's) 46 and 48 whose outputs are combined in a further alarm sensor logic switch 50 before being supplied on a lead 52 as an insert signal at an IF frequency to the switch 18. A similar configuration is shown on the lower side of FIG. 55 1 with an IF signal being supplied on a lead 54 to a pair of FMR's 56 and 58 whose outputs are combined in block 60 and output on a baseband drop line 62. Likewise, a baseband insert signal is supplied on a lead 64 to a pair of FMT's 66 and 68 whose outputs are combined 60 in an alarm sensor logic switch 70 and whose output is supplied on a lead 72 as an IF input to the switch 28.

In the prior art FIG. 2, a plurality of channel transmission signals are supplied to a baseband transmit switch 100 which supplies signals to a transmit and 65 receive radio system 102 and whose outputs at IF are each converted to baseband through a set of FMR's 104. The outputs of the FMR's supply baseband signals

to a baseband receive switch 106. The signals to be repeated and retransmitted are supplied as a set of baseband leads 108 to a baseband transmit switch 110. The drop signals are supplied on a separate set of leads such as 112 to a baseband drop load. The baseband insert signal is supplied on a lead 114 as a further baseband input to the baseband transmit switch 110. The outputs of the baseband transmit switch 110 are supplied as a set of baseband signals to a set of FMT's 116 whose outputs at the intermediate frequency are supplied to a radio system 118. The outputs of the radio system are again transferred to baseband so as to be switched in a baseband receiving switch 120 before being output as signals to a load and normally use the switches internal thereto for passage to switch 170. On the other half of the duplex system, similar blocks are shown to provide the return path for the signals. In other words, a baseband transmit switch 122 supplies baseband signals to a radio system 126 including the microwave transmission and reception portions and the radio system outputs IF signals which are supplied to FMR's 128 which supply baseband signals to a baseband receive switch 130. The signals to be repeated and retransmitted are supplied on a set of leads 132 to a baseband transmit switch 134. The drop signals are supplied on leads such as 136 to a load. Insert signals are supplied on leads such as 138 as additional inputs to the baseband transmit switch 134 which outputs baseband signals to a set of FMT's 140 whose outputs are supplied at the IF frequency to a radio system designated as 142. At the other end of the radio system, baseband signals are supplied to a baseband receive switch 144 which returns signals to the sources connected to the top half of the transmission system.

In FIG. 3, a plurality of signal sources designated channels 1 to n (generally 150) supply signals to a baseband transmit switch 152. This transmit switch is substantially identical to those shown in previous FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a spare baseband switch. Each of the outputs from transmit switch 152 is at the baseband frequency and is supplied to a radio system 154 including both transmit and receive portions. This radio system may include a plurality of receive and retransmit stations before a repeater is needed or required by reliability determinations. In any event, the output of the radio system 154 is illustrated as a plurality of IF lines such as 156, 158,160 and 162. The line 162 is the spare line while lines 156 through 160 are the n working, regular or normal lines. The line 162 in addition to being designated as a spare line is also designated in the trade as being a protection or standby channel or line. For IF signals which are to be merely repeated and retransmitted, the IF lines are connected directly to a combination multiline receive switch 164. These signals are output on lines such as 166 and 168 to a combination multiline transmit switch 170. If the line is to drop a signal such as shown for 160, it is applied to an FMR such as 172 and converted to baseband before being applied to a baseband switch internal to multiline receive switch 164. This signal is normally output on a line such as 174 to a load. The spare channel 162 is applied directly to a spare IF switch at 176 and is also applied through an FMR 178 to a baseband spare switch 180. A baseband insert line 182 on the topside of FIG. 3 is applied to a baseband switch within combination transmit switch 170. The output of this switch is applied as a baseband signal to an FMT 184 which supplies an IF signal on 186 to a radio system 188. System 188 also receives IF sig