Abstract: This invention is an interface arrangement which interconnects a business communication system with a telephone station set. This interface is implemented in a personal computer which serves to control the operation of the associated telephone station set and also provide business communication services. All signaling from the business communication system is received by the personal computer, interpreted, and appropriate control signals are then forwarded under control of the software resident on the personal computer to activate the digital telephone station set. The signals from the digital telephone station set are intercepted by the personal computer, interpreted, modified and appropriate control messages and signaling are then forwarded by the personal computer to the business communication system.This arrangement enables a user to create software on the personal computer to control the operation of the telephone station set associated with the personal computer.

Abstract: A communication system is connected to a pair of telephone conductors which supply telephone service to a telephone subscriber. An optically coupled switch connects a first winding of a transformer across the telephone conductors. A second winding of the transformer is connected to a modem for communicating over the telephone conductors via the transformer. A voltage sensor circuit senses the voltage across the telephone conductors and detects a reduction in the voltage level across the conductors which indicates an off-hook condition of a telephone unit of the subscriber connected to the conductors. The voltage sensor circuit also detects the presence of a ring signal on the conductors. The switch is periodically opened so as to disconnect the transformer from the telephone conductors, and permit the voltage sensor circuit to check for an off-hook condition.

Abstract: A clerk paging system for retail stores wherein a customer can push a "help" button on a call box, there being a call box in each department of the store, and the system automatically provides a stored, paging message to the store's existing paging system, including public address systems and radio systems, the message asking for help at the department in which the customer pushed the "help" button. The system automatically repeats the message with a preset time interval between messages, but only until a clerk pushes a "reset" switch on the same call box upon which the "help" button was pushed. To assist telephoning customers, clerks are paged using a two-part message. The first part of the message, typically a department name, is determined by a button pushed by the store's telephone operator. The system automatically determines the second part of the message, consisting of the telephone line number, by monitoring phone line status. A typical resulting message would be "Plumbing, Line Two".

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering data into a computer including an abbreviated keyboard wherein each key represents a plurality of characters. Depression of a key of the keyboard causes the generation and transmission of a first electronic signal to a computer. The computer receives the signal and according to a predetermined algorithm, generates a best guess of which one of the plurality of alphanumeric characters represented by the key and signal sent to the computer is desired to be ultimately entered into the computer. A second electronic signal is generated by the computer and transmitted to a display to cause the display to indicate the guess. By subsequent stroke or strokes of the keyboard, the guess is either selected if correct, or if incorrect changed until the correct alphanumeric character is guessed.The computer programmed with the algorithm for making the guesses may be remote to the keyboard or contain within the keyboard such as by the incorporation of an appropriate microchip.

Abstract: A telephone instrument comprising a handset and a base unit in which the base unit is substantially smooth on its upper surface except for a raised area having a spherical surface and a slight recess which respectively cooperate with a correspondingly formed spherically shaped indentation and a small raised semi-cylindrical portion on the handset. In this manner, the base unit provides a substantially smooth upper surface, so as not to provide any area that might retain dirt or grime. In one embodiment, the telephone instrument is formed of thermoplastic rubber and is substantially water-resistant, with all electrical components contained within the handset.

Abstract: In a communication system, a modular expansion subsystem comprised of a plurality of general purpose slots disposed in the system cabinet, for receiving one or more co-operatively shaped interface modules connected to associated peripheral units, such as RS232C computer ports, answering machine interface circuits, local area network interface circuits, modems, etc. Additional slots are disposed in the cabinet for receiving one or more co-operatively shaped line or trunk interface modules connected to associated subscriber sets and outside telephone lines. A further slot is disposed in the cabinet for receiving a co-operatively shaped memory module in which an operating system program is stored. The various modules communicate with a central microprocessor of the communication system, which executes the stored operating system program, for identifying the various types of modules and the particular slots in which they are disposed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for transmitting data by a data pulse train obtained by a combination of "0" or "1" bit pulse signals through a pair of lines connected beween a main unit and a key telephone set. The system includes a counter for sampling the pulse train and counting "0" or "1" bit pulse signals; a comparator for comparing a count of the counter with a reference value; and a correcting section for adding "0" or "1" correction pulses so as to set the count to be the reference value when the count is different from the reference value.

Abstract: A high-speed modem that transmits and receives digital data on an ensemble of carrier frequencies spanning the usable band of a dial-up telephone line. The modem includes a system for variably allocating data and power amount the carriers to compensate for equivalent noise and to maximize the data rate. Additionally, systems for eliminating the need for an equalization network, for adaptively allocating control of a channel, and for tracking variations in line parameters are disclosed.

Abstract: The flashing light, which is used by automatic telephone call distributing equipment to indicate that incoming calls have backed up and are awaiting service, generates voltage signals the frequency of which increases with the increase in the number of calls awaiting service. The voltage signals control several relays energized one at a time and successively as the signal frequency increases, and one such relay causes the emitter-collector circuit of a transistor momentarily to conduct each time the relay is energized and deenergized, respectively. Each time the transistor conducts it energizes another relay which momentarily energizes a bell chime to produce an audible signal.

Abstract: A circuit for surge voltage protection of therefor a telephone station has first and second input terminals for receiving a DC supply voltage via a two-wire subscriber line. Both terminals are shunted via a varistor. In parallel with the varistor is an element for protecting the circuit against polarity reversals. This element has two outputs, one of them carries the positive potential of the DC supply voltage and both of them are connected with respective terminals of the actual station circuit. A V-MOS or bipolar tranistor is arranged between the one output and the associated station circuit terminal. This transistor belongs to a current limiting circuit and serves also as a dialswitch-pulsing contact. The transistor circuit contains two further transistors and a number of dimensioning resistors. The positive output of the protection element is connected to the keyboard-sided input of the transistor circuit via a series network formed by a reverse Zener-diode and a resistor.

Abstract: A software system written in a nonprocedural language for controlling a telecommunication system in which an internal software signal is generated when a state is exited and another internal signal is generated when a state is entered to control common operations for the state transitions. For each state, a group of instructions written in the nonprocedural language is autonomously executed in response to the exit signal to perform common exit operations for that particular state. A second group of instruction is autonomously executed in response to the entrance signal to perform common entrance operations for that particular state. Various services performed by the telecommunication system are written in scripts of groups of instructions called triples. Each triple has an event definition defining the signal that the triple will respond to and a state definition defining the state in which the system must be in before the triple can respond.

Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed which provides the capability of starting up an unattended computer or similar device either from a remote location or at a predetermined date and time. The circuit includes an electrical energy storage device which, when a telephone ring signal is detected, initiates start-up of the computer. Alternatively, an interrupt from a date timer may initiate start-up of the computer using the energy storage device. Once start-up of the computer is initiated, its power supply provides the necessary voltage which, in conjunction with a latching transistor, maintains the electrical circuit providing AC power to the power supply and computer and recharges the electrical energy storage device. Finally, an electrical signal to power-down the computer may be initiated either remotely or through software instruction.

Abstract: A modem for interfacing digital data communications between a data processing terminal and a telephone link contains, in the modem front panel, a control switch configuration for effecting automatic dialling of a previously stored telephone number, thereby enabling the automatic placement of a call for either an asynchronous or synchronous terminal which cannot perform modem command language. As an additional feature the modem of the present invention provides the capability of allowing an asynchronous terminal, using the command language of the modem via a first asynchronous interface, to place a call for either a synchronous terminal or an asynchronous terminal which cannot support the modem command language and, as a result, is connected to a second interface. The first interface is coupled to a modem control processor through which communication commands for the operation of the modem are effected.

Abstract: A multiple telephone jack slide assembly includes a jack support member for supporting a multitude of telephone jacks upon an electronic wire connecting system. The jack support member has a longitudinal channel formed by a slotted opening for slidingly receiving telephone jacks, the side walls of the telephone jacks engaging edge portions of the slotted opening. One or more retaining members are secured to the jack support member to inhibit further sliding movement of the telephone jacks after the same are inserted in the channel through an opening communicating therewith.

Abstract: A test apparatus for testing the operation of data transmission terminals such as videotex or directory terminals. The test apparatus comprises two adaptation plugs to be plugged respectively into a telephone plug and a terminals and peripherals adaptor of a terminal to be tested, a data processing unit, a modem, and means for delivering test instruction sequences to the processing unit to test terminal operation. The delivering means has a read-only memory incorporated in the processing unit of the apparatus, so that the apparatus can be used without having to connect it to a remote server through the telephone network.

Abstract: Aircraft communications apparatus includes a permanent communications system, a temporary communications system and an interface coupler connecting the permanent and temporary communications systems. The coupler consists of a plurality of opto-isolator circuits each of which couples signals between one of the permanent communications and one of the temporary communications circuits thereby reducing the transmission of noise between the circuits. The coupler further includes a plurality of normally-closed bypass relays each connected in parallel with one of the opto-isolator circuits which are controlled by manually-operated switches to bypass the opto-isolator circuits in the event of a malfunction.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of setting-up and taking-down connections for voice and data calls in a burst switching communications system having distributed-control means coupled with ports of the system. In preferred embodiments, the distributed-control means include port processors serving one or both parties of the call; port processors and call processors serving one or both parties; and port processors, call processors, and administrative processors serving one or both parties. In a burst-switching communications system, control is implemented through control bursts sent through the system between control processors.

Abstract: A multi-speed, full duplex modem is disclosed for transmitting and receiving analog signals over a telephone network in communication with a remote modem. The analog signals are converted to digital data for processing by a signal processor and a microcomputer. A bi-directional bus is disposed between the signal processor and the microcomputer for selectively transferring multiple bits of data in either a transmit or receive direction. One or more of the multiple bits of data are restricted to convey bus direction data in one of the transmit and receive directions, and not restricted in the other direction. The full duplex modem allows simultaneous transmission and reception of analog signals over the telephone network, at one of the multispeed data rates selected for compatability between the full duplex, multispeed modem and the remote modem.

Abstract: A user terminal for use in a Videotex system includes an image number memory for storing image number data identifying specific ones of the images. A keyboard is provided for entering at least an image selection command, and the user terminal is responsive thereto to display the image whose image number data is stored in the image number memory. The image number memory automatically stores the image number data of the image currently displayed, or the image number memory may be made to store the image number data of at least one selected image in response to a reserve and register command.

Abstract: In an amplitude-modulated or frequency modulated audio signal transmission system, a system for eliminating breakup of transmissions of photographs, negatives or any rapidly changing audio signal transmitted from one remote location to another over standard telephone lines and networks includes superimposing an audio carrier signal on the signal from the picture or information transmitting unit, in which the superimposed carrier is of a frequency different from that of the operating frequency of the transmitter yet within the telephone network bandwidth.