An Automatic Telephone System Employing Magnetic Drum Memory

The use of magnetic drum memory in an automatic telephone switching office is described. A capacitive scanner acts as a time-division connector through which information generated by subscribers' telephone sets is conveyed to storage on magnetic drums. Information thus accumulated is combined with "permanent" information on the magnetic drums, processed in accordance with built-in programs and dispatched to control call switching circuits. Technical feasibility of this system has been demonstrated by the construction and successful operation of a large-scale laboratory model.