Abstract: A photographic device typically employing a CCD element as a shutter is arranged to have an improved display system. The display system displays the picture number per unit time and the image information storage time by using different display conditions so as to avoid confusion as to what is being displayed. The device enables the photographing picture number per unit time to be taken as a multiple series of 2, such as 60, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2 1 . . . , pictures/second in order to make the numerical series of the photographing picture number common with that for the storage time of the image information so that the image information storage time and the photographing picture number per unit time can be displayed with a common display means.

Abstract: A battery-powered portable radio telephone for use in a mobile telephone network receives signals from the network and judges from the received signal whether the radio telephone is inside or outside of the service area of the network. A battery saver is provided to periodically interrupt the battery power of the telephone when the latter is judged as being outside of the service area.

Abstract: A technique for enabling a peregrinating Cellular Mobile Radiotelephone (CMR) subscriber to automatically receive, in a foreign service area (that is, an area outside his home service area), calls placed to his MID at his home service area. A roaming processor is coupled through a cable or LAN to a switch associated with a foreign MTSO and is coupled, preferably through a private data network, to a switch associated with the subscriber's home MTSO. Within the roaming processor resides a program that detects the reception at the foreign switch of a predetermined code indicating that calls placed to the roamer's home MID are to be forwarded to the foreign MTSO. Subsequent to the "validation" of the roamer and to the performance of certain software housekeeping tasks, the roamer is assigned a Temporary Directory Number (TDN) for use in the remote service area. The FMR processor then commands the subscriber's home MTSO switch to forward calls, placed to the subscriber's MID at the home MTSO, to the TDN.

Abstract: A telephone data terminal and data collection network for communicating data over a telephone system using DTMF tone dialing. A telephone data terminal (10) includes an optical bar code reader wand (16) and a slot (22) in which a magnetic field sensor is disposed for reading variations in magnetic field intensity on a magnetic strip (24) applied to a card (24). Data encoded as a bar code, or stored in the magnetic strip, are converted to ASCII data by a CPU (50), and are transmitted either as a DTMF signal to a remote location over the telephone system, or as a data link signal that is incompatible with the telephone system, to a data processor (252). The telephone data terminal can be operated in either a voice prompted data collection mode or a display prompted data collection mode. It includes a two-by-twenty character alphanumeric LCD display (14) in which a prompt message is displayed to a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a radio telephone system wherein a speech channel is established between one radio telephone handset out of a plurality of radio telephone handsets and a base unit. An interphone switch for selecting intercom communication is provided for respective radio telephone handsets. The transmitters of the radio telephone handsets are turned OFF when the intercom switch is OFF, and transmitters of the radio telephone handsets are turned ON when the intercom switch is ON. Consequently the connection between a wired telephone channel and the plurality of radio telephone handsets can be controlled with a single base unit connected to the wired telephone channel.

Abstract: A pay telephone system which does not require the use of dedicated facilities in a telephone company and central office and which provides more efficient means for utilizing existing facilities to place public telephone calls. For only selected user telephone numbers, the telephone system places a set-up call to a call processor to request billing and other information needed to process the call at the local processor. The set-up call is then terminated and the user's call is automatically re-dialed into the switched telephone network from the telephone central office which serves the telephone presently being used. Numbers other than the selected numbers are called directly.

Abstract: A paystation circuit that monitors coin battery signals, hookswitch detect signals and initial rate conditions to provide proper reset signals to the totalizer circuit enabling and/or disabling the dial keypad in order to prevent fraudulent paystation usage.

Abstract: A cordless telephone set is comprised of a base unit and a handset unit connected by an radio frequency (RF) link. The base unit collects channel information indicating that a channel is busy or idle. The channel information is continuously renewed during a stand-by mode, and the last channel information is stored in a channel RAM of the base unit. The same uptodate information is also given to a channel RAM in the handset unit during the same mode. Thus, when the stand-by mode is released, both units can quickly search and kind an idle channel common to the two, with reference to the uptodate channel information stored in the respective channel RAM's.

Abstract: An existing cellular system (X-system 102) is interconnected with another cellular system (M-system (101) via inter-office trunks (150) to add additional switching capacity for providing telephone coverage to mobiles located throughout their common coverage area. X-system (102) includes a control terminal (120) coupled by data and voice lines to base sites (121-124) and by out trunks to a telephone central office (110). M-system (101) includes a control terminal (420) coupled by data and voice lines to base sites (411-415) and by in trunks and out trunks to the telephone central office (110). M-system base sites (411-414) are colocated with corresponding existing X-system base sites (121-124). Paging/access channels are assigned to M-system base sites (411-414) for processing all incoming originations from mobiles and paging mobiles for all outgoing originations.

Abstract: A system for coupling a plurality of telephones or local units to a remote land line telephone system includes a line interface associated with each of the telephones or local units. Each of the line interfaces is in turn coupled to an audio switch matrix. Outputs and inputs to and from the audio switch matrix are coupled to a 4 to 2 wire hybrid, a tone interface hybrid and a computer based control unit. The control unit includes a programmed microcomputer with interface circuits enabling it to communicate with and to control the line interfaces and the audio switch matrix. The computer also includes interface circuits enabling it to communicate with and control a radio transceiver. The radio transceiver is in radio frequency communication with a corresponding radio transceiver remotely located and coupled to the remote land line telephone system. Communications with the remote land line telephone system can be initiated by any of the local units.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus has abbreviated number input means for inputting an abbreviated number in a predetermined form, password input means for inputting a password in a predetermined form, a telephone number memory section for storing terminating subscribers' telephone numbers in correspondence with combinations of abbreviated numbers and passwords, and a control section for selecting and outputting a terminating subscriber's telephone number from the telephone number memory section in response to a dialing start signal and on the basis of a combination of an abbreviated number and a password included in the dialing start signal. Thus, since the telephone number memory section is accessed on the basis of a combination of an abbreviated number and a password, even if an abbreviated number is known, the corresponding terminating subscriber's telephone number is not read out unless an appropriate password is input.

Abstract: A cordless telephone system has a master unit connected to a telephone line and having a radio transceiver and a plurality of sub-units having radio transceivers and transmittable to and receivable from the telephone line through the master unit. Speech from the telephone line can be transferred between any sub-units, and speech by press-to-talk system is enabled between any sub-units through the master unit. A multi-purpose controller is provided in the master unit to enable control of an equipment by dialing from a sub-unit. For example, a tape recorder is operated, an automatic response/record function is operated, an interphone function is operated, a call from the telephone line can be directed to any sub-unit by a signal from the sub-unit, and all sub-units can be simultaneously or sequentially called from the telephone line.

Abstract: Cordless headset telephone system including at least one headset having at least one earpiece, a swingout microphone and a headset transmitter and receiver connected to a common antenna, at least one base having a base transmitter and receiver having a common antenna, respectively tuned to the headset transmitter and receiver, and apparatus included in the base circuit for seizing at least one telephone line.

Abstract: An automatic paging system which can handle a calling for both subscribers of conventional (old) beepers without a message display function and new type beepers wherein a message, such as his telephone number, from a calling party can be displayed, when the paging number of a subscriber is automatically performed at a voice mail center through a paging center. A discriminator determines, according to an outgoing message from the paging center, whether the old or new type beeper is to be called. In case of the old type beeper, the line is disengaged after about 10 seconds, and in case of the new type beeper with message display capability, the line is disengaged after the calling party sends out the message to be displayed on the beeper.

Abstract: For use in conjunction with vehicular, hand-held, pay telephone, a telephone holder and latching mechanism for securing the telephone in the holder and, in response to actuation by a telephone user, releasing the telephone from the holder. The holder includes an elongated holder channel of stepwise construction. The holder channel is enclosed at one end by a butt plate that provides access holes for the telephone line cord and a hook switch. The holder channel is enclosed at an opposite end by a credit-card-actuated latching mechanism. The latching mechanism includes a matching plate that provides a slot aligned with a slot in the holder face plate. A credit card, once inserted into the slots, is guided by a holder box so that the credit card is caused to abut a latch-release plate that is pivotably mounted to the holder channel.

Abstract: A cordless telephone and an answering machine of the remote-pickup type are provided as an integrated unit having the answering machine and telephone base unit integrated into a common housing. The remote handset contains circuitry for generating a command signal condition at the user's option which will operate the base unit to a "screening mode" wherein the activity on the telephone lines during the playback and record period is transmitted to the remote unit, but wherein audio pass-through from the base unit radio receiver is disabled. In the preferred form of the invention the command signal condition is in the form of a pilot tone of a given frequency, receipt of which by the base unit receiver disables audio pass-through. To enter two-way "talk" mode, a pilot tone of different frequency is also sent by the remote unit, loss of this tone being being to cause the base unit to cease transmitting to the remote unit.

Abstract: A telephone of the type that employs a magnetic card having a certain value or worth recorded thereon, and which permits a user to cummunicate by the telephone within the limits of the remaining value of the card, records a dialed number on the card when the card is used a first time, and automatically dials the recorded number when the card is subsequently used.

Abstract: A wide area cordless telephone system covers a service area which is divided into a plurality of local areas to each of which belong a plurality of home position cordless telephones having multi-channel access capability. A plurality of access units are provided in each local area to define a plurality of access zones. A pre-dialing switching stage is provided for each local area to establish a connection between the access units and line terminals of a telephone switching system. Signals sent from any cordless telephone are received by a nearby access unit and applied to the pre-dialing switching stage. Each telephone transmits a registration request upon a manual command and, on receiving a response identifying a local area, returns an acknowlegement to identify the same local area as identified by the received response.

Abstract: A shoulder cradle for supporting a cellular car phone on the shoulder of a vehicle operator is provided. The shoulder cradle is fitted onto the cellular car phone to permit access to the cellular car phone dial keyboard when the shoulder cradle is not being utilized to support the car phone on the shoulder of the phone user. When the shoulder cradle is being utilized to support the car phone on the shoulder of the phone user, the shoulder cradle covers a substantial portion of the area occupied by the dial keyboard on the car phone. The shoulder cradle is formed from lightweight materials and has design features to reduce the weight. The shoulder cradle may be adhesively attached to the car phone so that the casing of the car phone is not marred or damaged by installation of the shoulder cradle.

Abstract: A cordless telephone network comprises a base unit (12) that is interconnected into a normal telephone network (19) and a plurality of hand-held cordless telephones (20). Each of the hand-held cordless telephones has a distinctive identification code and the base unit temporarily stores the identification code of the hand-held unit with which it is communicating during a call and will not communicate with other hand-held units having different identification codes during that call. Each of the hand-held units has the ability to scan a plurality of cordless telephone channels for either receiving a call on a channel on which its identification code is transmitted or placing a call on a channel on which a base unit transmits a "free channel" signal. The hand-held units each have a voice activation/deactivation circuit which allows the hand-held unit to send and receive audio signals only when it has been given permission to do so by a base unit.