Abstract: A telephone system is disclosed including hotel and motel private branch exchanges (PBXs), a local step-by-step exchange serving the PBXs, and a remote message accounting center. A call data accumulator at the local exchange monitors line finders and cooperates with automatic number identification circuits to transmit to the accounting center call information such as calling and called subscriber numbers and answer and disconnect times. The accounting center computes usage-sensitive billing data for local calls based on the distance between calling and called subscribers and call duration. The accounting center further transmits usage-sensitive hotel/motel message register pulsing information to pulsing circuitry, including a microprocessor, at the local exchange. The pulsing circuitry, in turn, operates identified hotel/motel message registers in accordance with the information received from the accounting center.

Abstract: A common control circuit is disclosed for controlling bypassing relays to disconnect telephone line auxiliary circuits from their respective lines preparatory to line testing or for other desired purposes. The control circuit responds to a bypass request signal applied to a line by operating an associated bypassing relay and by activating a timing circuit. The timing circuit and other circuitry cooperate to hold the bypassing relay operated for a time interval sufficient for fulfilling the purpose of the bypass. For serving a bypass request received while another request is being served, the appropriate bypassing relay is operated when the subsequent request is received and the timing circuit is reactivated to insure a sufficient test time for the subsequent request. All operated bypassing relays are held operated until the expiration of a time interval during which no new bypass requests are received.

Abstract: Redundant but independently operable data processors called encoders are arranged so that control of a particular recorder gathering billing data in a telephone switching system can be transferred while maintaining billing continuity for calls being handled by that recorder. More specifically, each encoder checks the validity of billing information received from each recorder. However, each encoder only transmits billing data pertaining to a designated group of recorders to a remote processor. When an encoder detects that it is not receiving valid data from one of its designated recorders, the control of only that designated recorder is transferred to the other encoder if the other encoder indicates that it is receiving valid data from that recorder.

Abstract: A telephone communication system is disclosed in which toll calls of a first class are routed from an originating exchange to a remote exchange for completion and storage of billing information and toll calls of a second class are processed proximate to the originating exchange and independently of the remote exchange to avoid overburdening the trunking and other facilities between and at the originating and remote exchanges. For billing purposes, station identification information is transmitted from automatic identification equipment at the originating exchange to automatic message accounting facilities at the remote exchange or to locally situated recording equipment in accordance with the class of call in progress. The identification equipment has the capability to generate alternate identification codes for prescribed ones of calling stations and the equipment is controlled to generate the desired one of the codes for billing purposes also in accordance with the class of call.

Abstract: A receiver is disclosed which operates for synchronously receiving pulses of a serial stream without synchronizing the receiver clock to the clock at a transmitting site. Circuitry is provided for generating multiple delayed pulse signals in response to each incoming pulse and for sampling and maintaining a sequence of the most recent samples of the pulse signals. Decoding logic detects state transitions within the sequence, the location therein being indicative of the phase of the pulses relative to the clock signals. The decoding logic operates other circuitry for tracking the phase of the pulses as it drifts. The phase tracking circuitry enables the selection of ones of the samples which are synchronized, or in pulse durational phase, with the receiver clock for reconstructing the incoming pulse stream.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed for providing itemized telephone subscriber billing of special assistance calls. A local office not equipped with automatic message accounting facilities is interconnected via a trunk circuit to another exchange having such facilities and thence to a special assistance bureau. The trunk circuit is accessible by the local office for both message rate billed and special assistance classes of traffic. On each call therethrough, the trunk circuit translates subscriber dialed digits for selecting the automatic accounting facilities or message rate billing apparatus in the local office in accordance with whether the call is of a special assistance or local toll call class as defined by the digits.

Abstract: An automatic message billing arrangement for use with a telephone system is disclosed. The billing arrangement monitors the trunks to ascertain when a trunk is seized for service. In response to a trunk being seized, the common control markers, which establish connections between the lines and trunks, are interrogated to determine which marker has seized the detected trunk. When the marker is found, the identity of the calling line to be connected to the trunk is ascertained from the marker. The calling line identity and trunk identity are used in recording the initial billing entry.