Abstract: A device for screening unwanted telephone calls is connectable at a station etween a telephone set and a wall outlet plug. In response to ringing current received at the station and signaling an incoming call, the device delays audible ringing at the station for a 2.5 second period. During such period, the call's sender transmits to the station a # dial signal only if the call is in a special category as, say one undertaken to try to make a sale. If such # signal is received during such period, the device transmits back to the sender a return signal acknowledging that the call has been received and rejected at the station, and the device then hangs up call at the station without any audible ringing taking place there. If no such # signal is so received, audible ringing occurs at the line upon expiration of such period, and the call continues in its normal sequence.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for delivering DC power (battery), voice, and ta signals from a telephone controller to a telephone station over first and second wire-pairs. Minimum interference between these signals is achieved when the first wire-pair is used as the voice signal path and the second wire-pair is used as the data signal path. DC power is fed out of the controller and into the center tap of an audio transformer interconnected with the first wire-pair. Ground current is returned to the controller through a balanced resistive circuit interconnected with the second wire-pair.

Abstract: A power transfer circuit includes first and second windings (L1, L2) sharing a common magnetic core (101). Each winding has associated with it a parallel capacitor to thus form a pair of "tank" circuits. The first winding (L1) is connected at one end to a voltage supply and, at the other end, to ground through an FET switch (100,200). The switch (100,200) is turned on and off at a predetermined frequency and at a 50% duty cycle. The second winding (L2) and associated capacitor (C2) achieves parallel resonance at the predetermined frequency. Similarly the combined first and second windings (L1,L2) and associated capacitors (C1,C2) achieve parallel resonance at said predetermined frequency. The second winding (L2) need not be electrically connected to the first winding (L1) which transfers energy to it through the magnetic core (101). The transfer circuit efficiently couples power across a dielectric interface to a pickup coil (L3).

Abstract: The communication facilities access control arrangement of the telephone munication system detects the dialing of an unauthorized or invalid long distance transmission facility access code and identifies the calling station. A record is maintained of all invalid attempts to access the long distance facilities. When the number of invalid attempts by a calling station exceeds a predetermined limit, the telephone communication system restricts the calling station from all further long distance transmission facility access and generates an alarm indication to identify a possible facility access problem.

Abstract: A power transfer arrangement provides regulated power transfer from a station to a contactless portable data card without the need for regulation circuitry on the card itself. The station includes a primary coil for magnetically coupling power to a secondary coil, located on the card, when the data card is brought into close association with the station. The arrangment includes a microprocessor, a power amplifier including the primary coil, a variable voltage source and apparatus for measuring current flow in the primary coil. When the portable data card is not in close association with the station, the microprocessor causes the variable voltage source to provide a sequence of stepped voltages. Quiescent current flow is measured at each step and stored in memory. When the portable data card is brought into close association with the station, the microprocessor causes the variable voltage source to provide a sequence of stepped voltages. Active current flow is measured at each step and stored in memory.

Abstract: This feature provides the telephone communication system with the capability to automatically select one of a plurality of inter-exchange carriers to serve an inter-exchange call originated by a telephone communication system user. In response to an inter-exchange call origination, the telephone communication system selects the appropriate and most economical inter-exchange carrier and then outpulses the inter-exchange carrier access code, the user's personal identification code and the called party number dialed by the user to complete the call.

Abstract: This invention relates to business communication systems and, in particular, to a message service system network that interconnects a plurality of message service systems and provides a voice mail message transfer capability between voice mail message service systems. The voice mail message transfer is performed as a computer-to-computer data file transfer operation over high speed data lines. The data file consists of the digitally encoded and compressed voice mail message to which is appended the message sender's name and telephone number as well as the message recipient's telephone number.

Abstract: The subject implied principal busy status indicator provides all covering users with an indication of the busy/idle status of the principal's line on a covered call. This is accomplished by equipping each covering user's telephone station set with a principal busy status indicator for every line appearance on the covering user's telephone station set. When a covered call is diverted from a principal's line to the covering user's telephone station set, the line appearance on which the covered call appears is lighted and the principal busy status indicator associated with the covering user's line appearance indicates the busy/idle status of the principal's line. The business communication system updates the state of the principal busy status indicator so the covering user knows when the called principal's line is idle.

Abstract: A printing gap adjustment mechanism compensates for the change in the pring gap variation caused by the relative motion between two side walls of the printer frame supporting a platen and two guide rods slidably supporting a print head. The mechanism includes a compensator rod and a pair of eccentric members rotatably mounted in a compensator plate which is pivotally mounted on one side wall of the printer frame. One end of the compensator rod is frictionally secured to the opposite side wall while the other end is rotatably supported in an opening in the other side wall and is secured to an eccentric mounted to the compensator plate. One of the guide rods supporting the print head is located near the platen and is secured between two eccentric members, one of which is rotatably mounted in the compensator plate and the other is rotatably mounted in the opposite side wall. The other guide rod is secured between the two side walls.

Abstract: Apparatus for terminating conductors on circuit boards. The apparatus comses an insulator member having electrical conducting contacts embedded therein each with a bifurcate portion extending from the insulator member. The bifurcate portion consists of a pair of prongs arranged for engaging a conductor and a complaint section having an end formed both for piercing insulation of the conductor and insertion into a circuit board plated-through hole to establish an electrical connection between the engaged conductor and circuit board.

Abstract: A dial tone detection arrangement for a PBX which provides a dial tone detection notification feature to a calling party is disclosed. The disclosed arrangement relieves the calling party from the burden of aurally monitoring the receiver of a station while waiting for receipt of central office (C.O.) dial tone. The dial tone detection notification feature is advantageous under conditions where the calling party places a call to a called station served by the C.O. and experiences extensive delays, e.g. 30 minutes, in the receipt of C.O. dial tone. The dial tone detection arrangement utilizes an algorithm to establish a connection between a dial tone detection circuit of the PBX and a trunk port connected to a C.O. via a switching network. The dial tone detection circuit monitors the C.O. via the trunk port for the presence of dial tone indicative of C.O. availability. The calling party may now go "on-hook" and await a notification at the calling station indicative of the detection of dial tone.

Abstract: This invention pertains to database management systems and, in particular, to a database management system which has an active data dictionary that the user can both access and modify. The user makes use of simple commands to control, order and query not only the underlying data controlled by the database management system but also the contents of the data dictionary. This capability enables the user to write generic application programs which are logically independent of the data since the subject database management system enables the user/application program to access all data in the database independent of each application program's data model.

Abstract: This Inter-Exchange Carrier Access arrangement uses the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) capability of the central switching office to eliminate the need for the customer to dial an authorization code when accessing an inter-exchange carrier via a facilities reseller telephone communication system. The central switching office transmits the calling party identification (ANI) digits to the facilities reseller telephone communication system when the customer dials the remote access code for the facilities reseller telephone communication system. These received ANI digits are compared by the facilities reseller telephone communication system with a list of authorized customers stored in memory. If a match occurs, the identity of the inter-exchange carrier preselected by the customer is retrieved from memory and the telephone communication system automatically outpulses the inter-exchange carrier access code to the central switching office.

Abstract: In a multiprocessor system, processors are connected to an interconnecting bus by means of bus interface circuits which comprise an address buffer in addition to data buffers. The interconnecting bus, in addition to a destination address and data also carries an originating address identifying the processor transmitting the data. In the event of a receive buffer overload condition in the receiving bus interface circuit, a negative acknowledge signal is transmitted on the bus and the originating address is queued in the address buffer. When the buffer overflow condition has been relieved, a retransmission request is sent to the first processor identified in the address buffer and its message is received. This procedure will be repeated for each processor identified in the address buffer.

Abstract: The integrated calling directory of the present invention eliminates the disadvantages of prior call directory arrangements by providing a software system which runs on a personal computer to automate the call directory and call origination function. The personal computer is interposed between an individual's telephone station set and the business communication system port circuit associated with the individual's telephone station set. The calling directory software both contains the individual's personal directory entries and has access to directory entries in the centralized business communication system data base which resides on an adjunct processor. These directory entries all contain called party identification data which includes information such as an individual's name, room number, electronic mail address, telephone number, type of terminal equipment associated with the called party, job title, etc.

Abstract: This invention provides an audible indication to a held party indicating when a call is removed from the hold state. Heretofore, when two parties on a call are in a talk state and a first party puts a second party on hold, the held party must aurally monitor the receiver on the station set for the first party's voice to detect when the talk state is resumed. The voice of the first party provides the only indication that the hold condition has been removed. This requires the held party to monitor the receiver for the duration of the hold state and prevents the held party from easily pursuing any other activities. The subject arrangement overcomes this problem by providing a "ring-ping" signal to the held party when the hold condition is removed. In particular, following the activation of the hold condition by the first party, the held party leaves the receiver off-hook and can then pursue other activities.