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NO. 4A TOLL SWITCHING SYSTEM
The No. 4A Toll Switching System has been designed to serve as a Control Switching Point (CSP) in the switching of intertoll traffic on a nationwide basis. By means of crossbar switches and common control equipment it provides 4-wire paths for establishing connections mechanically between intertoll trunks, tandem and intertoll trunks, and intertoll and toll switching or miscellaneous terminating trunks.
This equipment will be used in major toll centers throughout the United States and Canada. For smaller centers similar Control Switching Point features will be made available more economically through the use of No. 5 Crossbar and crossbar tandem equipment.
Earlier types of No. 4 and No. A4A equipment will, in most cases, need to be modified for No. 4A features before nationwide direct distance dialing can be fully effective.
General Features
The No. 4A System must be able to handle switching between points using either a 3-digit central office code, or 6 digits including both the Numbering Plan Area (NPA) and the local area office codes. It must be able to translate the full 6-digit code for selecting the correct route where more than one route exists to other NPA'S. It must be able to vary the number of digits sent to the distant office and in some cases substitute other code digits when passing all or part of the full six digit code to the distant point. It must be able to alternate route traffic when the first choice high usage group is busy. Under certain circumstances as many as seven different alternate routes from one GSP can be tested in a search for an idle path.
Crossbar switches arranged on incoming and outgoing link frames, together with the necessary trunks and toll terminal equipment, will care for the switching paths. The common control equipment consisting of senders, connectors, decoders, translators, and markers, will set up the switching paths and receive and send, as necessary, the pulsing and signaling information required for completion of the call.
The relationship of the link frames and the common control equipment is shown in Figure 8-1.
Switching Trains
The switching train consists of groups of incoming and outgoing link frames on which are terminated incoming and outgoing trunks, respectively. Paths (links) through these frames are closed to establish trunk-to-trunk connections.
Two arrangements of equipment are provided for the 4A system, one with a single train for smaller offices where the number of incoming or outgoing frames will not exceed forty, and the other with two trains each having this capacity. The single train arrangement. handles both intertoll and toll completing traffic with a maximum of ten markers and ten decoders. Offices using it are called "Combined Train Offices". The two train offices operate with a maximum of ten markers for each train and eighteen common decoders and are called "Separate Train Offices - Combined Operation" to distinguish them from other two train offices used in the earlier toll switching systems. In the 4A two train arrangement each train handles both intertoll and toll completing traffic with multiple appearances of all incoming trunks on the incoming link frames of both trains.
The system described in this chapter as a single train system since the basic operations are similar in the two types:
Trunk Equipment and Link Frames
The following types of trunk circuits are provided:
a. Intertoll - 1 way (in or out) and 2 way dial
- 2 way (Dial In, Automatic Out)
- 1 way out ringdown or automatic
b. Tandem - Incoming from toll or "A" switchboards within the toll centering area.
c. Toll Switching - Outgoing to local offices within the toll centering
area.
d. Miscellaneous - Such as outgoing trunks to TX operator, information desk, rate and route desk, etc.
These trunks handle the following types of traffic:
a. Inward traffic from dial-type intertoll trunks (MF or DP) to toll switching or miscellaneous trunks.
b. Outward traffic from tandem trunks (MF or DP) to outgoing intertoll trunks (MF, DP, automatic or ringdown).
c. Through traffic from incoming intertoll trunks (MF or DP) to outgoing intertoll trunks (MF, DP, Auto. or RD).
The incoming and outgoing link frames are composed of a primary and a secondary bay of
switches, each 10 switches high, with as many extension bays as are required to
accommodate the number of trunks necessary to make efficient use of the call-carrying
capacity of the frame. Incoming trunks appear on the primary and primary extension bays of
the incoming frames, and outgoing trunks appear on secondary and secondary extension bays
of outgoing frames. Each bay has a capacity of 100 trunks with a maximum of 400 trunks and
300 trunks per incoming and outgoing frames respectively. The links connecting the primary
and secondary bays of the incoming frames are called A links, those connecting the
secondary bays of the incoming frames and the primary bays of the outgoing frames are
called B links or junctors, and those connecting the primary and secondary bays of the
outgoing frames are called C links. Each incoming frame has connections to all outgoing
frames, but none to other incoming frames, and the reverse is true of outgoing frames. A
simplified schematic diagram of the arrangement is indicated in Figure 8-2.
The junctor pattern, or arrangement for connecting all incoming and outgoing frames, should be determined at the very start of the engineering effort for a No. 4A project and adhered to for the life of the office. The importance of this choice cannot be overemphasized as engineering, manufacture and installation are each vitally dependent on the pattern chosen and any change in the pattern will result in exceedingly costly rearrangement work.
Common Control Equipment
As mentioned before, crossbar systems employ common control equipment which is called upon only during the establishment of a connection. Figure 8-3 shows in block diagram form the major items of common control equipment, together with the trunks and link frames. The numbers in parentheses indicate the relative sequence of the connection indicated.
Sender Link Frames - The sender link frame associates an incoming or outgoing trunk with an incoming or outgoing sender, respectively. Each sender link frame has 40 primary-secondary links which have access -to 100 trunks on the horizontals of the primary switches and to 40 senders on the horizontals of the secondary switches. Connections between the trunks and senders are set up by controllers which are reached by' the sender link frame through controller connectors. Duplicate connector equipment is furnished for each sender link frame for access to the controller connectors. Senders of a type are connected to the sender link frames in groups of 80 maximum on a "key" frame basis. The "key" frames are the first four sender link frames of a group, and are inter-connected with a slip multiple which is arranged so that when there are 40 or less senders, all senders appear on all link frames. When the number of senders exceeds 40, the additional senders, up to 80, are introduced into the slip multiple in such a way that each sender has appearances on two "key" frames. Thus, each frame has access to 40 senders, but not always to the same combination of 40.
Link Controller and Connector Frame - The link controller and connector frame connects trunks through the sender link frames to the senders. The controller connector is called in to select an idle controller by the link frame on which the trunk appears. Each link frame has a choice of one of two controller connectors which in turn have access to the same group of controllers, thus providing a duplicate channel to any controller in the group from any link frame. The maximum group size is six controllers and six controller connectors. When this limit is exceeded, the sender link frames are subgrouped and each subgroup provided with separate controllers and connectors.
Incoming Sender Frame - Incoming senders are of two types: - dial pulse and multi-frequency pulse. They record numerical digits necessary to complete connections through the No. 4A equipment and to control the selections beyond the No. 4A office over the toll completing, intertoll, and miscellaneous trunks. Outpulsing from these senders may be multi-frequency or dial pulsing directly to outgoing trunks, or d-c key pulsing to outgoing senders. The senders have 11-digit capacity and are arranged for code conversion. Three senders of either type, but not in combination, mount on the incoming sender frame.
Multi-frequency Receiver Frame - The multi-frequency pulsing receiving circuit receives and amplifies MF pulsing signals and converts these signals into d-c pulses to operate various code combinations of relays in the associated sender. The MF pulsing signals consist of an alternating current of six different frequencies which are combined to provide key pulsing and start signals, and digit codes as follows: [WEBMASTER'S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING TABLE IS NOT IN PROPER FORMAT!]
Frequency & Designation 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 KP ST
1700-10 x x
1500-7 x x x x x
1300-4 x x x x
1100-2 x x x x x
900-1 x x x x
700-C x x x x
It will be noted that the code digits are formed on a "2 out of 51' basis and, except for zero, are the sum of the designations arbitrarily assigned to the various frequencies.
Outgoing Sender Frame - Outgoing senders are required to complete calls, to panel offices, crossbar offices not arranged to receive multi-frequency pulsing, and manual offices arranged for panel call indicator. When an outgoing trunk is selected in the 4A office to one of these offices, an outgoing sender is attached, and the trunk passes the necessary class information to the sender. The sender then receives the toll and office code and numerical digits from the incoming sender on a d-c key pulsing basis and establishes the connections to the called offices. Three senders mount on one outgoing sender frame.
Decoder Connector Frame - The decoder connector frame mounts three decoder connectors, which provide facilities for connecting incoming senders to the office decoders and markers. Upon receipt of a signal from the sender a number of leads are cut through to an idle decoder. When the decoder is ready for connection to a marker the sender is also cut through to the selected marker by this decoder connector. Each connector serves five incoming senders and has access to all the decoders and markers in the office.
Decoder Frame - The decoder, in conjunction with the card translator, translates the code received from the sender into the specific information required by the marker and the sender for the completion of a call through a No. 4A toll switching system. A sender connects to a decoder as soon as it has registered three code digits. The decoder selects a three digit card in home translator, and if sufficient information is available on that card to switch the call, the decoder connects to a marker, passes the information for completing the call and then releases. If the card indicates that more than the three code digits are required, (six digit translation), and if they have not been received by the time the decoder determines this fact from the card, the sender is dismissed with a signal to request a decoder when it has six digits registered. After decoder reseizure, selection of the same three digit card is made to determine the- translator box location of the desired six digit card. The decoder then restores the three digit card, selects and reads the six digit card containing the required switching instructions and passes the information to the marker. When these instructions indicate that the decoder will provide no more information for the call it disconnects, leaving the marker attached to the sender through the decoder connector for completing the call.
The above description assumes that adequate information is available on the final card dropped for the decoder to complete its function. For calls switching to points with more trunks than can be included on one card (40) or with alternate routes the decoder has added functions having to do with making the additional trunks and alternate routes available for testing.
Card Translator - The card translator is literally the "seeing eye" of the No. 4A common control equipment. It translates the code digits registered in the incoming sender into information which is used by the common control equipment to switch a call. The card translator gets its name from the fact that metal cards are used in the translation process instead of the relay type translator used in all other common control systems.
Card translators are equipped with metal cards, coded, to provide the switching information for all calls arriving at a No. 4A office. As shown in Figure 8-4 each card has 40 tabs and 118 holes. The tabs are used to code the card to correspond to a called code. This is accomplished by removing some of the tabs so that the remaining tabs are arranged in a definite pattern which is unique for this card. This tab coding is called the input information. The holes in the card are also coded to correspond to the switching information needed for the called code represented by the card. The switching intelligence is applied to the card by enlarging the pertinent holes, and is called the output information.
The basic elements of the translator consists of a light source modulated at 400 cycles, a bank of light sensitive photo-transistors, and a stack of perforated cards. Each translator can hold about 1100 cards. The cards are stacked between the light source and the photo-transistors, of which there is one for each hole in the card. When the cards are in their normal positions the holes in the cards form 118 continuous tunnels or light channels between the light and the transistors. When the translator is operated, that is when a card is dropped about 1/8 inch, all of the light channels are blocked except for those holes which have been enlarged. Figure 8-5 shows a schematic of the translator, and Figure 8-6 indicates the effect of a dropped card on the light channels.
The selection and dropping of a card is accomplished by means of the card tabs and a group of code bars. The tabs correspond in position to, and rest directly on, 40 rectangular bars located at right angles to the cards. As mentioned before, a unique group of tabs are left on the card to agree with the code represented. Figure 8-7 shows a card resting on the code bars when the translator is unoperated. When the decoder connects to the translator, it depresses certain code bars by means of solenoids. The one card, whose tabs correspond to the depressed bars, is thus permitted to drop as shown in Figure 8-8.
The card drops a distance slightly greater than the height of an uncoded (non-elongated) hole. Thus, the dropped card produces a shutter effect on all light channels except those for which the- card holes were enlarged. The open channels energize their photo-transistors and associated detector amplifiers. These circuits read the beams of light and transmit the information to the decoder.
Marker Connector Frame - The marker connector cuts through approximately 120 leads between the decoder and an idle marker, upon receiving a signal from the decoder. Each connector serves one decoder and has access to all markers.
Marker Frame - Markers obtain their name from the fact that they locate the calling trunk, select an idle trunk in the group to the called destination, and mark an idle path between the two before setting up the connection from the incoming to the outgoing frame. As soon as the marker is connected to a decoder by means of a marker connector it receives routing instructions from the decoder and translator regarding the called trunk group. It also receives a multi-frequency signal from the incoming trunk from which the marker identifies the particular frame on which the trunk appears. The information received from the decoder concerns the location of the called trunk group and routing information required to complete the call. This information directs the marker to the block relay having the test leads of the called trunk group or subgroup. The marker selects the first idle trunk and receives another multifrequency signal to identify the outgoing frame on which it appears. The marker then associates itself with the incoming and outgoing frames by means of frame connectors, selects the first idle combination of available paths consisting of incoming link, junctor, and outgoing link, and sets up the connection. In the meantime the marker has sent back to the sender whatever routing information is needed in the further progress of the call.
Trunk Block Connector Frame - A group of outgoing trunks to a particular destination is spread evenly over outgoing frames. To enable the marker to conveniently test the desired group and select an idle trunk, however, it is necessary to assemble the test leads for all trunks at a central location. The sleeve and select-magnet leads of outgoing trunks are brought to the trunk-block connector for this purpose.
A single connector accommodates 400 trunks, in ten "blocks" of 40 each, with duplicate appearances, and gives all markers access to them. A block consisting of 40 trunks may be a complete trunk group so far as destination is concerned, only part of a group, or several groups.
The select magnet lead which is brought through the trunk-block connector carries information to the marker identifying the location of the trunk on the outgoing frame. Since it is frequently necessary to make temporary reassignments of toll lines the trunk-block connector is supplemented by Assignment Patching Bays through which the sleeve and select magnet leads of many toll lines are carried and where, with patch cords and plugs, trunk groups may be conveniently enlarged or reduced.
A trunk-block connector frame accommodates two connectors.
Summary of Overall Features
The No. 4A System, because of its features, has the ability to complete calls on a destination basis using the called telephone number, and to perform the translation and routing functions necessary. It has the ability to handle calls in a variety of ways, which include the following:
a. Three digit translation for calls to points within the same area as the CSP receiving the call.
b. Three digit translation for calls to foreign areas where it is desirable to handle all calls to that area over one trunk group.
c. Six digit translation for calls to foreign areas where there are more than one entry to that area, and the GSP in the calling area must look at the full telephone number.
d. Variable spilling with no-skip, skip-3, or skip-6 for calls where the office selected as the next switching point may not require the complete code.
e. Prefixing for calls where the next office requires more code information than that registered in the sender handling the call.
f. Code conversion for calls that require a change in the numerals for the first, second, or third digit to be outpulsed.
g. Code matching, which is a means whereby the decoder matches the first three registered digits with the first three required at the next GSP in order to determine the need for Prefixing. This is used when alternate route trunk groups have been selected.
h. Alternate routing over a succession of trunk groups to various CSP'S. This routing follows a predetermined pattern in accordance with the Toll Switching Plan, and always progresses toward the "home" group for the calling GSP.
i. Principal city routing, which is utilized on calls to foreign areas where more than one entry exists, but where calls to certain points may be completed via the principal city.
j. Route advance, which is the ability to scan successively the 40 trunk supgroups of large outgoing trunk groups up to 160 trunks.
Typical Calls
All calls described are theoretical and the information should not be used for anything but school purposes.
Call Through a No. 4A System (Figure 8-3) - The following call is a single one requiring 3 digit translation and is switched to a system requiring MF pulsing.
The call arrives at the No. 4A office over an incoming trunk and leaves over an outgoing I.T. trunk. The incoming trunk may be selected by an outward operator or it may be seized at a distant automatic toll office. (The procedure in this No. 4A office is the same in either case.
As shown in Figure 8-3, each incoming trunk has two major appearances in a No. 4A office, one on the incoming frame, used for the talking connection, and one on the sender link frame, used for passing information to the common control equipment.
As soon as the incoming trunk is seized it signals a sender link. (conn. 1) to connect it to an incoming sender for registering the incoming pulses. In order to make this connection the sender link frame through its connector signals a controller connector to seize an idle link controller (conn. 2). The link controller then tests for and seizes an idle incoming sender and closes the crosspoints between this sender and the incoming trunk at the sender link frame (conn. 3). This completes the function of the link controller and controller connector and they release from the connection to serve other calls.
As soon as the incoming sender is attached it signals either for the outward operator to begin pulsing or, if the call is from a distant automatic toll office using senders, for the sender in that office to begin pulsing. When the incoming sender in this office has received and registered three digits it signals the decoder connector to seize and idle decoder (conn. 4). This decoder immediately connects to its home translator (conn. 5). Now the three code digits in the sender are transmitted through the decoder to the home translator and a card coded to correspond to these digits drops. This card contains information for switching the call with 3 digit translation.
The decoder reads the card and signals a marker connector to seize an idle marker (conn. 6). When a marker is seized the marker connector signals the decoder connector to connect the incoming sender to this marker (conn. 7 and 7a). This connection is necessary because the marker has to give certain information to the sender later after the decoder may have been released.
The marker obtains the locations of the outgoing trunks suitable for this call from the decoder and the dropped card. Guided by this information the marker selects an appropriate outgoing trunk through a trunk block connector (conn. 8). This trunk then registers its outgoing frame appearance in the marker.
The decoder and the card also tell the marker that the incoming sender should outpulse on a multi-frequency basis for this call, and whether the digits should be outpulsed as received, skipped, or converted. When the marker has received all this information it signals the decoder to release.
Now the marker proceeds to set up the talking path from the incoming trunk to the selected outgoing trunk. Through the outgoing frame connector, the marker gains access to the outgoing links and to the junctors (conn. 9). At the same time, the marker gains access to the incoming links through the incoming frame connector (conn. 9a). (The incoming trunk has already registered its incoming frame appearance to the marker over conn. 1, 3, 4 and 7-a). The marker then tests the incoming and outgoing links and the junctors to find an idle channel between the incoming trunk and the outgoing trunk. It then closes the crosspoints to establish this channel (conn. 10).
Now the marker passes the outpulsing information to the sender and releases from the connection. The sender outpulses the digits through the sender link frame over the transmission path to the outgoing trunk and through to the called office; then the incoming sender and sender link frame release.
The connections in the transmission path remain until a disconnect signal is received. Then all the connections are released and the equipment returns to normal.
The time it takes the common control equipment to switch a call through a No. 4A office is so short that the operating time of each piece of apparatus is measured in milli-seconds, and the Bell Telephone Laboratories work constantly trying to reduce the operating time of each type of apparatus.
Three and Six Digit Translation - Figure 8-9 shows 2 calls from an Oakland, California customer to customers in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio. For the call to customer "B" the Oakland customer or operator must dial 216-6221234. 216 for the area in which Cleveland is located, 622 for the central office code (MA-2) serving the called customer and 1234 in order to complete the called customer's telephone number.
Dialing for the call to customer "GI' is like that for the call to "B" except that the central office code 623 for MA-3.
These calls illustrate 3-digit translation in the Oakland, Cleveland and Canton offices. In all three offices the calls are switched from information provided by the first 3 digits received. The Chicago office, because it has 2 groups of trunks to the 216 area, must look at 6 digits, the 1st group of three to determine the area where the call will terminate and the second group of three to determine the central office code in order to know whether to send the call to Cleveland or Canton, both of which are in the 216 area.
Automatic Alternate Routing - Figure 8-10 illustrates automatic alternate routing. The preferred route from Oakland to Cleveland is via Chicago.
On this particular call Oakland finds the Chicago trunks busy so it automatically moves over to the St. Louis trunks and completes the call through St. Louis.
Code Conversion and Variable Spill (Figure 8-11) - In this illustration the Sacramento office knows from the card used on this call that San Jose has no need of the 415 area code because the call will complete in that area, therefore, the Sacramento office omits the 415 when spilling forward to San Jose. This illustrates the variable spill feature. At San Jose the card used indicates that Palo Alto requires only 2-1234 for switching this call so the card indicates that the 962 or the central office code Y0-2 should be ''Code Converted" to a 2.
Power
4A circuits require the following regulated power supplies:
a. -48V Signal Battery
b. -24V Signal Battery
c. -24V Filament Battery
d. +130V Signal Battery
e. +130V Plate Battery
f. 20 Cycle, 105 Volt AC Continuous Ringing
To minimize the reaction of a power failure the office loads are divided as equally as possible into 2 fused supplies designated "All and "B". Generally, even numbered circuits and frames are fused on the "A" supply and odd circuits and frames on the "B" supply. Most frames are equipped with fuse panels tapped into power leads which feed a full line of frames from a fuse box located on the first frame in a line up. Power leads for the "A" supply are run over different cable racks from those used for the "B" supply. An arrangement similar to this is followed for switchboard cable where even circuit cabling is placed on different cable racks from those used for odd circuit cabling thereby providing a measure of safety through dispersion.
Toll Terminal Equipment
The toll terminal equipment is an important part of the overall layout of a No. 4A system. In fact, it is somewhat difficult to separate the two as distributing frames are provided as part of the No. 4A installation to which a large amount of the toll terminal equipment is cabled for direct cross-connection to No. 4A circuits. Major items of toll terminal equipment cabled in this manner include the 17C Test Desk, Circuit Patch Bays and Assignment Patch Bays. Figure 8-12 provides a diagram showing the inter-connections of these units with the switching equipment.
Maintenance Features
With its relatively small quantity of vital common control equipment the No. 4A system requires accurate and speedy locating and clearing of troubles. In order to facilitate these functions the following frames are located in a portion of the switch room called the maintenance center.
a. Trouble Recorder Frame - This frame indicates by a perforated card where, in the course of handling a call, the switch equipment runs into trouble. This frame also provides means for testing Decoders, Markers, Translators and Link Controllers and makes it possible to manually operate the Card Translator for maintenance purposes.
b. Sender Test Frame - This apparatus is used for making routine and trouble location tests on senders both automatically and manually.
c. Sender Make Busy Frame - This frame provides a ready means for removing senders from service.
d. Automatic Outgoing Toll Connecting Trunk Test Frame - This frame makes it possible to test toll connecting trunks on an automatic or manual basis.
e. Manual Outgoing Toll Connecting Trunk Test and Test and Make Busy Frame - This frame makes it possible to test circuits, including cable pairs, into local offices. Connections are made to these circuits in a manner which by-passes the No. 4A trunk circuits. It also provides a convenient means for busying toll connecting trunk circuits.
The chief switchman's desk, card files and other items vital to efficient maintenance are also located in the maintenance center.
In addition to the frames mentioned above a number of smaller units and portable test sets such as the 35F Relay Test Set, 2B Signaling Test Set, 40B Transmission Test Set, etc. are provided to aid the maintenance force in their duties.
Under Toll Terminal Equipment mention was made of the close connection between the switching equipment and the toll terminal equipment. This arrangement necessitates close coordination between the switching equipment maintenance force and those people maintaining the toll terminal equipment who make extensive use of the 17C test board and the Automatic Outgoing Intertoll Trunk Test Frame in conjunction with No. 4A maintenance. Adequate intercommunicating facilities must be provided to meet the frequent need for communication between the two groups.
