Modernization of the Suburban ESS: Adding data links to an existing ESS

As a major modernizing improvement data links for three important functions have been added to the 2B Electronic Switching System (ESS). The data-link system was designed with a layered architecture using an enhanced subset of the X.25 protocol. Levels 1 and 2 of the protocol are implemented in the hardware and software of a new device, the Serial Peripheral Unit Controller/Data Link (SPUC/DL). Within the SPUC/DL itself, check circuitry and software are used for error detection. A second SPUC/DL for each critical application provides redundancy on either a dedicated or dial-up basis. An elaborate diagnostic program within the 2B ESS can be invoked automatically or manually. This paper discusses some of the issues in retrofitting the BX.25 protocol to pre-X.25-speaking machines.