Abstract: A passive, non-intrusive pay telephone monitoring system is disclosed for maintaining a talley of the amount of money present in a money box. A signal is sent over the line, interconnecting the pay telephone with its central office equipment when money in the box is collected by a collection agent, and the collected amount of money and the time of collection are then stored for verification of the collected amount.

Abstract: A nonblocking switching system for communications systems is characterized by two identical blocking networks, each for being connected in series between sources and destinations to be selectively interconnected. One network actively establishes paths between the sources and destinations while the other, although conditioned to be able to provide such paths, remains inactive in a standby mode for establishing the paths should the active network fail. If a blocking state occurs in the active network before its maximum realizable capacity is reached, a nonblocking condition of the system is established by eliminating all of the paths in the inactive network, and then reestablishing the paths in accordance with a relatively simple algorithm that loads the network without a blocking state being reached before the network is completely full.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for recording information on the accumulated usage of a group of trunks interconnecting two networks. The apparatus includes two usage records that are alternately designated primary and secondary usage records during successive ones of consecutive time periods. In response to a call on a trunk, the primary usage record is decremented by an amount representing the time interval between the start of a given period and the commencement of trunk use. During the period, each trunk connected to a network office is examined for use once during the period. When a selected trunk is found in use, the secondary usage record is incremented by an amount representing the interval of time in the previously occurring time period.

Abstract: Real estate lockbox and key designs are disclosed which provide a variety of operational features. Also disclosed is a comprehensive system that allows real estate boards and agencies to efficiently manage their lockbox operations. Features provided by the system include the ability to record all accesses to all lockboxes; transfer all or part of such records from the lockboxes to the real estate agency or board; organize and review such records at the agency or board offices; disable operation of various lockboxes during certain hours of the day; facilitate operation of lockboxes that are mounted in awkward or poorly lit locations; limit lockbox accesses to preselected agents, agencies or boards; and record diagnostic information with each operation of a lockbox or key.

Abstract: A line circuit for driving a ringer and a service indicating lamp in a telephone set, including a high frequency transformer (T.sub.2), a switching circuit (22) for intermittently disconnecting a D.C. voltage applied to the primary winding of the transformer (T.sub.2), and a control signal generating circuit (23). The control signal generating circuit generates a first control signal having high frequency and having a first duty ratio when the ringer is to be rung; and generates a second control signal having the same frequency but having a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio when the service indicating lamp is to be lit. The first or the second control signal is applied to the switching circuit so that the high frequency transformer generates a ringing signal or a D.C. voltage to light the lamp. Since the high-frequency transformer is commonly used for generating the ringing signal and the D.C. voltage for the lamp, the line circuit can be made small and light.

Abstract: In each exchange (12) of a communication network, a template data memory (31) keeps "exchange" template data according to which traffic data should be monitored at the exchange. In a center (11) of the network, a template data file (33) keeps copies of the template data of the respective exchanges of the network as "center" template data. When a change in the exchange template data is transmitted from a "change" originating exchange to the center, a central processor (13) updates the center template data accordingly for the originating exchange. Traffic data are transmitted from the respective exchanges to the center without the exchange template data. When such a traffic datum is transmitted from a "data" originating exchange to the center, the central processor stores the traffic datum in a traffic data log file (17) according to the template data kept in the template data file for the data originating exchange.

Abstract: A voice circuit of a telephone is provided with a differential amplifier and an impedance setting circuit. An output of an amplifier to amplify an output signal of a transmitter is supplied to the inverting input terminal of the differential amplifier. An output of the impedance setting circuit is supplied to the noninverting input terminal of the differential amplifier. An output signal of the differential amplifier is supplied to a line driver. A positive feedback loop is constituted by the differential amplifier, line driver, telephone line, and impedance setting circuit. By controlling a feedback amount in this positive feedback loop, an AC impedance is controlled.

Abstract: The mouthpiece and the earpiece (3, 4) of the automobile telephone apparatus are held at the base (1) by means of respectively one locking means (30, 41). The locking means securing the earpiece (4) is constituted by a spring catch (41); the locking means for the mouthpiece (3) is constituted by a lug (30) formed at an elevation (15) of the base (1) or likewise by a spring catch. Upon cradling of the handset (2), both locking means (30, 41) engage into indentations (32, 51) of the mouthpiece and earpiece (3, 4). The handset (2) can be lifted off only by pressing a push button, arranged between the supporting surfaces of the base (1) for the earpiece and mouthpiece (3, 4), of a release means acting on the spring catch (41). The locking means (30, 41) reliably prevent detachment of the handset (2) from the base (1) during a collision and injury thereby to the occupants of the automobile.

Abstract: A telephone paystation coin refund and collect circuit for operating a coin relay with power obtained from a two-wire business telephone line. The circuit employed utilizes charge storage capacitors and MOS-FET transistors for current pulsing of the relay coil with current flow in either direction as determined by a signal from an associated microprocessor controller.

Abstract: A microprocessor-controlled interface for a cellular radio telephone system enables the user to communicate with such system by means of conventional telephony devices. A standard telephone outlet communicates with the transceiver logic bus through a microprocessor. Switches are provided for controlling the audio path between the handset and the transceiver of the mobile, vehicular-mounted unit in response to the status of the interface outlet. The microprocessor interprets both the transceiver bus and various signals generated by the operation of a device that is plugged into the interface so that the operation of the device is rendered fully compatible with the cellular system. The microprocessor is programmed to decode known manufacturer protocols whereby the interface is able to render itself compatible with various equipment types.

Abstract: A telephone set structure includes a handset unit and a base unit. The base unit includes a casing, a mounting member provided with a manually controlled section made up of a power switch and a volume control switch on one of its opposite side faces. A non-manually controlled section, having a speaker grill, is on the other side face. The mounting member is inserted into the casing with the opposite side faces invertibly positioned, to accommodate either left-hand or right-hand drives. A handset coupling section fixes the handset in position and covers the casing in which the mounting member is received.

Abstract: A speech control is provided for a telephone station and provides, dependent upon speech direction, the transmitting channel or the receiving channel being attenuated or the receiving channel being attenuated or the receiving channel or the transmitting channel being de-attenuated with a structure which is as simple as possible to manufacture with, inexpensive, non-critical components. A potentiometer is provided in each channel for setting the volume and the potentiometers are simultaneously and symmetrically operated with a single operating element. The potentiometers, dependent on speech direction, determined by a speech analyzer, are simultaneously shorted or simultaneously activated. The shorting in the transmission channel has a de-attenuating effect and has an attenuating effect in the receiving channel. When the potentiometers are in the activated condition, they cause the opposite effect.

Abstract: A compact cellular telephone for motor vehicles whose outer case is a vehicle sun visor. Operating controls for placing, receiving and processing incoming and outgoing calls are large and within the driver's normal field of vision so that the invention may be operated without distracting a driver's attention from the road. Controls for placing outgoing calls are positioned in a linear arrangement across the front surface of the lower case. Controls for selecting functions, also in a linear arrangement, are positioned on the lower surface of the case in parallel relationship to the outgoing call controls. All electronic components and circuitry of the telephone are mounted on a single printed circuit board in the interior of the case. An input jack is provided on the lower surface of the case for the optional use of a driver's headset in lieu of a microphone and speaker which are mounted in the interior of the case.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for suppressing interference signals on the receiving arm of a subscriber line circuit is constructed from electronic components and thus comprises no speech transformers. The receiving arm of the subscriber line circuit (SLIC) is connected to a two-pole filter circuit (ZF) which consists of the parallel arrangement of a parallel--and a series--resonance circuit (LP,CP and LS,CS), the resonance frequency of which corresponds to the frequency of the signals which are fed-in for the transmission of charge pulses and which charge pulses can manifest themselves as interference signals when reflected without the provision of the described measures.

Abstract: A mobile telephone location system is provided wherein a plurality of mobile telephone exchanges, each of which controls an area and is in a position to monitor the presence of mobile telephone units within its own area, are connected with a national center. The national center is capable of receiving requests for the location of mobile telephone units from each of the mobile telephone exchanges and transmit location information via satellite to all of the mobile telephone exchanges within the system. The mobile telephone exchange in whose area the paged mobile telephone unit is located sends location information to the national center or directly to the originating mobile telephone exchange. This location information contains information pertaining to the identity of the mobile telephone exchange and the mobile telephone. This data is transmitted by the national center to the mobile telephone exchange which issued the request enabling the exchange to make the connection.

Abstract: A self-contained, pre-pay coin operated telephone wherein when the user removes a handset from a switchhook, a local dial tone is generated, prompting the user to enter a telephone number of a called party. Once the first digit of that telephone number has been entered, the locally generated dial tone is removed and the user completes the entry of the telephone number. Once the proper coin has been deposited, the internal computer causes the telephone to couple itself to a central office. The telephone number entered by the user is then sent to the central office under control of the internal computer. During this time, the microphone in the handset is muted to disable communication. Once the user hears the called party answering, then the user must actuate a push-to-talk switch to indicate to the computer that the party has answered. The user is then allowed to speak to the called party and deposited coins are retained at the termination of the call.

Abstract: A telephone call routing system for routing incoming telephone calls assigns each such incoming call to a selected one or more of a plurality of agent display modules. The agent display module has a visual output indicating which of a plurality of telephone lines carries the incoming call assigned to it. Any one of a plurality of agents' telephones associated with corresponding agents' modules may be connected to the line carrying the incoming call. Each telephone has a device for generating and transmitting a coded signal along the telephone line which is answered by that particular telephone. The signal is uniquely coded to identify the agent's module which is associated with the telephone which answers the incoming call. A signal detection device detects the transmitted coded signal and decodes the signal to determine which telephone associated with an agent's module answered the incoming call.

Abstract: A telephone pay station wherein a disconnect circuit is provided for disconnecting the pay station from the central office in response to the coin collect signal generated at the central office.

Abstract: Signal transmission apparatus is provided for a communications system having a plurality of transmitters for transmitting information signals over any one of several transmission channels, and further having a plurality of receivers for receiving the information signals over any one of the transmission channels. In order to establish a selected transmission channel between a particular transmitter and a particular receiver, the transmitter selects an unoccupied transmission channel and transmits thereon a code identifying the receiver using a wide band signal for high speed bit transmission. When the receiver detects the presence of the identifying code over a particular channel, it first determines that the transmitter is the particular transmitter and, if so, establishes the transmission channel therebetween.

Abstract: A cordless telephone having a base unit with automatic telephone answering function and a portable unit has an engaging means for forming an engaging circuit upon an incoming call from a calling party, when the portable unit is kept in the off-hook state over a preset period of time during sending of outgoing message from the base unit, and an outgoing message inhibiting circuit which activated by output of preset timer means and inhibit outgoing message then both parties' conversation can be recorded in recording means on base unit which is set in stand-by mode.