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CLASS 370, | MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATIONS |
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SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION
A. This is the generic class for multiplexing or duplexing systems, methods, or apparatus.
| (1) Note. Multiplexing includes for example, time division multiplexing (TDM) frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal and quasiorthogonal multiplexing techniques, phantom connections and plural channel adaptive systems. |
| (2) Note. Selective or telemetering systems which may be analogous to multiplexing techniques are not classified here but elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) |
| (3) Note. The distinction between multiplexing and selective or telemetry is: in multiplexing, the information is unrestricted as to content, e.g., a teletype-writer which uses an alphabet to transmit unlimited information, whereas in selective or telemetry devices, the information is restricted as to content, e.g., a transducer measuring a single parameter. B. This class includes elements and circuits forming subcombinations having a utility unique to multiplexing such as rotary distributors used as multiplexers, synchronizers used to control distribution of multiplexed channels, bridge duplex circuits, resonant circuits having a special utility in a frequency division multiplexing system. |
| (1) Note. Multiplex modulators, per se, are not classified in this class. See classification elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.) |
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
A. Electrical circuits which may be used in multiplexing systems but are not unique to multiplex communications are classified in the appropriate class for such circuits. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
B. Significantly claimed multiplex techniques in combination with the subject matter of Class 178, Telegraphy, Class 375, Pulse or Digital Communications, Class 379, Telephonic Communications, or Class 455 Telecommunications are classified in Class 370, Multiplex Communications.
C Significantly claimed apparatus external to this class, claimed in combination with apparatus under the class definition, which perform multiplexing operations, are classified in the class appropriate to the external device. (see paragraph B above). (See References to Other Classes, below for examples.)
D Nominally claimed apparatus external to this class in combination with apparatus under the class definition, is classified in this class unless provided for in the appropriate external class. For example, a nominally recited coupled network which includes significant multiplexing operations is classified herein.
E. Multiplexing systems and related devices found in other classes, for which see below
SECTION III - REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
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| 73, | Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclass for significantly claimed apparatus external to this class (370) which perform multiplexing operations. |
| 246, | Railway Switches and Signals, appropriate subclass for multiplexed railway signalling information. |
| 318, | Electricity: Motive Power Systems, subclass 562 for multiplexed data-transmission links utilized in a servo systems. |
| 324, | Electricity: Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclass for significantly claimed apparatus external to this class (370) which perform multiplexing operations. |
| 327, | Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems, subclasses 407+ and 415+ for converging and diverging signal switched paths, respectively. |
| 329, | Demodulators, subclasses 300+ for frequency shift keying demodulator; subclasses 304+ for phase shift keying demodulator; subclasses 311+ for pulse demodulator; subclasses 315+ for frequency modulation demodulator; subclasses 345+ for phase modulation demodulator; and subclasses 347+ for amplitude modulation demodulator. |
| 332, | Modulators, subclasses 100+ for frequency shift keying modulator; subclasses 103+ for phase shift keying modulator; subclasses 117+ for frequency modulator; and subclasses 149+ for amplitude modulator. |
| 332, | Modulators, subclasses 106+ for multiplex pulse modulation, subclasses 119+ for multiplex frequency modulation, subclasses 144+ for multiplex phase modulation, and subclasses 151+ for multiplex amplitude modulation. |
| 333, | Wave Transmission Lines and Networks, subclass 1 for plural transmission lines or networks; subclass 4 for balanced transmission lines; subclass 117 for hybrid-type networks; and subclasses 165 through 167 for wave filters. |
| 340, | Communications: Electrical, subclass 853.1 for geophysical systems which may include multiplexing means; subclasses 825-825.98 for selective systems analogous to multiplexing systems (including foreign art collection FOR 107 for a selective loop system); and subclasses 870.11-870.15 for telemetering which may include multiplexing means. |
| 341, | Coded Data Generation or Conversion, subclass 141 for multiplex in analog to or from digital conversion. |
| 342, | Communications: Directive Radio Wave System and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation), subclasses 1 through 25for radar systems which may include multiplexing systems. |
| 345, | Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems, appropriate subclasses for display communications which may include multiplexing means. |
| 348, | Television, appropriate subclasses for television signal transmission which may use multiplexing techniques. |
| 358, | Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing, subclass 425 for multiplex facsimile information. |
| 360, | Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval, subclasses 18+ for multiplex magnetic information. |
| 365, | Static Information Storage and Retrieval, subclass 189.011 and 230.01+, for a static memory system with the handling of signal information or the addressing of memory locations respectively analogous to multiplexing techniques particularly subclasses 189.02 and 230.02 for such a system having multiplexed signals in each of the respective systems. |
| 369, | Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval, subclass 102 for plural information signals multiplexed on an optical storage track.. |
| 380, | Cryptography, subclasses 255 through 276for a communication system using cryptography. |
| 381, | Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices, subclasses 1+ for stereo, especially subclasses 2+ for broadcast and multiplex stereo. |
| 385, | Optical Waveguides, subclasses 1+ , 4+, or 16+ for optical waveguides with modulation or switching. |
| 398, | Optical Communications, subclasses 41 through 42for duplex optical communication and subclasses 43-103 for multiplex optical communication. |
| 702, | Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing, Class appropriate subclasses for significantly claimed apparatus external to this class (370) which perform multiplexing operations. |
| 709, | Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating, appropriate subclassesfor general purpose programmable computers which may include multiplexing techniques wherein data is transferred between the computers and processing of the data by the computers occurs before or after the data transfer operation. |
| 710, | Electrical Computers and Digital Data Processing Systems: Input/Output, subclass 316 for data processing intra-system connection which may use a bus switch. |
| 714, | Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery, subclasses 3+ for replacement with spare devices, subclass 4 for reconfiguring transmission facility, and subclasses 712+ for transmission facility testing. |
| 725, | Interactive Video Distribution Systems, appropriate subclasses for video signal transmission which may use multiplexing techniques. |
SECTION IV - GLOSSARY
BANDWIDTH
The width of a communications channel.
LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)
A relatively short distance data communication network linking computers and other devices utilizing some type of standard control.
MULTIPLEXING
The simultaneous transmission of two or more information signals in either or both directions over a common (same) transmission medium in such a manner that the information signals may be discretely recovered.
PROTOCOL
A specific set of rules about data format and data transmission timing between two devices.
SUBCLASSES
200 | PHANTOM: | ||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein an additional channel is derived
from two suitable arranged pairs of wires called side channels,
and each pair of wires is a channel itself and at the same time
acts as one conductor of the phantom channel.
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201 | CROSSTALK SUPPRESSION: | ||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including special arrangements to eliminate
interference among multiplexed channels.
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202 | AMPLITUDE COMPRESSION OR EXPANSION: | ||||||||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein magnitude or a signal is reduced
prior to transmission and a corresponding magnitude restoration
is performed at reception.
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203 | GENERALIZED ORTHOGONAL OR SPECIAL MATHEMATICAL TECHNIQUES: | ||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein (a) a multiplexed channel is uniquely
identified and separated from other multiplexed channels by members of
a pair of mathematical functions having a sum of products or having
an integral that is zero or sometimes one under specified conditions,
or (b) particular mathematical processes are used to achieve multiplexing
techniques.
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204 | Plural diverse modulation techniques: | ||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 203. Subject matter wherein a wave carrier of information is
being modified by more than one modulation technique.
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205 | Pulse width and pulse position modulation: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 204. Subject matter wherein information is contained in the time
duration of a pulse (pulse width) and in the time of occurrence
(pulse position) of one pulse after a reference pulse.
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206 | Quadrature carriers: | ||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 203. Subject matter wherein two carrier frequencies are 90 degrees
in phase (i.e., quadrature or orthogonal in phase), e.g., sin2
wt and cos2 wt.
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207 | Having a signaling constellation: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 206. Subject matter wherein supervisory information is transmitted or received in a symbol pattern different from the symbol pattern carrying the primary information, and wherein the symbol patterns are generated using quadrature modulation technique (e.g., QAM, QPSK, etc.). | |
208 | Particular set of orthogonal functions: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 203. Subject matter wherein a special set of orthogonal functions are used to achieve multiplexed transmission (e.g., Legendre polynomials, Bessel functions). | |
209 | Walsh functions: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 208. Subject matter wherein the set of orthogonal functions consist
of Walsh functions.
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210 | Fourier transform: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 203. Subject matter utilizing a special mathematical relationship
that provides a connection between information in the frequency
domain and the time domain.
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211 | Level multiplex: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 203. Subject matter wherein two or more information signals,
each of the signals having a unique amplitude or level, are combined
to form a combined signal wherein the individual information signals
are separable by amplitude or level.
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212 | PULSE WIDTH (PULSE DURATION) MODULATION: | ||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein information is contained in the time
duration of a pulse.
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213 | PULSE POSITION MODULATION: | ||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein information is contained in the time
of occurrence of a pulse after a reference pulse.
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214 | SIMULTANEOUS TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY: | ||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including concurrent transmission of bidirectional
pulse information signal and audio signal over a single transmission
channel.
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215 | PHASE MODULATION: | ||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein information is contained in a shift
in phase of a carrier frequency with respect to a reference phase.
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216 | FAULT RECOVERY: | ||||||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein a corrective action is taken to return
a faulty device or system to a satisfactory operating condition.
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217 | Bypass an inoperative switch or inoperative element of a switching system: | ||||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 216. Subject matter including a switching system or network which
has a provision for alternate routing when the system is fault.
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218 | Packet switching system or element: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 217. Subject matter wherein information routed in the switching
system is organized by one or more bytes preceded by an address
header.
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219 | Standby switch: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 218. Subject matter wherein the provision for alternate routing of packet switched traffics is a spare or backup switch. | |
220 | Standby switch: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 217. Subject matter wherein the provision for alternated routing in the switching system is a spare or backup switch. | |
221 | Bypass an inoperative station: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 216. Subject matter wherein a faulty node or terminal is excluded
from service.
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222 | In a ring or loop network: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 221. Subject matter wherein the inoperative station is an element in a closed path transmission system. | |
223 | Using a secondary ring or loop: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 222. Subject matter wherein the inoperative station is bypassed by using an auxiliary closed transmission loop. | |
224 | Loopback of signals on the secondary ring or loop: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 223. Subject matter wherein information on the secondary loop is transmitted in reverse direction with the normal transmission loop. | |
225 | Bypass an inoperative channel: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 216. Subject matter wherein another path or channel is selected and substituted for a path or channel that is malfunctioning. | |
226 | In a repeater system: | ||||||||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 225. Subject matter wherein the communication system has at least
one retransmission station wherein an alternate communication channel
is provided to convey information when a primary channel or link
is failed.
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227 | Using a spare channel: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 226. Subject matter wherein the multiplex repeater system has a primary and a backup or protection line, and the backup line is activated to route information data when the primary channel is malfunctioning. | |
228 | Spare channel: | ||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 225. Subject matter wherein the multiplex system has a primary
and a backup line, and the backup is activated to routed information
data when the primary channel is malfunctioning.
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229 | DATA FLOW CONGESTION PREVENTION OR CONTROL: | ||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including provisions for (a) avoiding or
(b) regulating an actual or potential traffic overload condition.
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230 | Control of data admission to the network: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 229. Subject matter having means for regulating the amount of
data entering a multiplex network so as to prevent an overloading
or a further overloading of the network.
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230.1 | Traffic shaping: | ||||
This subclass is indented under subclass 230. Subject matter wherein the data admission control provides
consistent packet/cell flow.
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231 | End-to-end flow control: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 230. Subject matter wherein a signaling between an originating terminal point and a destination terminal point regulates the amount of information transmitted into the network. | |
232 | Based on data flow rate measurement: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 230. Subject matter wherein the control of data flow overload
is based on a measurement of the amount of information transmitted
per unit time.
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233 | Measurement of the peak data flow rate: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 232. Subject matter wherein the control of data flow overload is based on a measurement of a maximum value of data flow rate. | |
234 | Measurement of the average data flow rate: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 232. Subject matter wherein the control of data flow overload is based on a measurement of a medial value of the data flow rate. | |
235 | Flow control of data transmission through a network: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 229. Subject matter having means to regulate the amount of information
transmitted through the network once the data is in the network.
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235.1 | Using leaky bucket technique: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 235. Subject matter wherein network flow control is achieved by a technique which utilizes packet storage having scheduled output therefrom at a uniform rate. | |
236 | Including signaling between network elements: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 235. Subject matter wherein supervisory or control information is transmitted between switches or nodes to control data flow between switches or nodes. | |
236.1 | Using RM (Resource Management) cells: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 236. Subject matter wherein fixed length packets which indicate current network bandwidth (e.g., cell rate) and congestion conditions are fed back to a network source. | |
236.2 | Using OAM (Operation, Administration and Maintenance) cells: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 236. Subject matter wherein performance monitoring cells
related to congestion are distributed to network elements.
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237 | Congestion based rerouting: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 235. Subject matter wherein data is communicated on an alternate channel when a preferred or desired channel is unavailable due to excessive amounts of information already being carried on the preferred or desired channel. | |
238 | Least cost or minimum delay routing: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 235. Subject matter wherein data is communicated on a channel
or channels based upon the determination that the selected channel
or channels will have the lowest (a) toll, expense, or (b) delay.
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238.1 | ATM least cost routing: | ||||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 238. Subject matter wherein data is communicated in a network
utilizing fixed length asynchronous transfer mode packets (i.e.,
ATM cells) based upon a determination that a selected channel or
channels will have the lowest toll or expense.
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239 | Using antijabber circuit: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 229. Subject matter having circuitry for disabling a device which is transmitting more information than allocated or transmitting for a greater period of time than allocated. | |
240 | In a star coupler: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 239. Subject matter wherein the antijabber circuit is in a coupling means that distributes signals from one or more inputs among a larger number of outputs. | |
241 | DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (OTHER THAN SYNCHRONIZATION): | ||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein at least part of a multiplex system
is to be evaluated for its performance.
|