Abstract: A system for automated, attendant-free customer interface for services such as laundry and dry cleaning processing or rental of items such as videotapes enables customers to order services and pick up processed orders using a general purpose, undedicated credit card. A retrieval device upon appropriate command retrieves a customer's processed order and brings it to a customer interface panel door, which opens to enable the customer to pick up his processed order. Included in the customer interface panel are a card reader for reading the customer's credit card, a display for presenting information and instructions to the customer, a menu of services for selection by the customer and a keyboard or other input device to select desired services. A printer is included for printing a receipt and/or a transaction record.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a radio telephone system of the type wherein a connection between a wired telephone channel and a plurality of radio telephone handsets is controlled by a single base station connected to the wired telephone channel, a ring signal through the wired telephone channel is detected, a paging signal is sent to the radio telephone handsets from the base station when the ring signal is detected and a paging response signal is sent to the base station from the radio telephone handset in response to the paging signal.

Abstract: Where a carrier wave is received from a called radio telephone set and where the identification signal of the radio telephone set coincides with a preassigned identification signal, transmission of a paging signal from a base unit is stopped. Even when the identification signals do not coincide with each other, the paging signal is sent continuously over a definite interval. Communication is established only when the signal from a handset to the base station has a predetermined strength and a proper I.D.

Abstract: A cellular digital radio transmission system which increases the number of available communication channels between base stations and mobile stations in such system. Message transmission from a base station to its assigned mobile stations is effected by a combination of time-division, code-division and frequency-division multiplexing. Message transmission from the mobile stations assigned to a particular base station is effected by at least one of such multiplexing modes.

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 (102) 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 mobile radio communications system for wide area mobile radio communications allows any two remote mobile stations to hold communications by way of a public switching network. A fixed station governing an area in which a calling mobile station is located sends to a switching network its own identification (ID) data and ID data associated with a mobile station which is connected to the fixed station by radio. Based on the two kinds of ID data, a called mobile station sees a telephone number assigned to the calling mobile station and a telephone number assigned to the fixed station which is associated with the calling mobile station.

Abstract: A credit card authorization network which, among other advantages, allows telephone charges to be reduced. A credit card company, operating as an Interexchange Customer, provides trunk-protocol executing modems at a Feature Group B access facility. The modems are interfaced to the trunks, on a T1 digital link, by adapting FXS channel bank cards with a ground start option to translate between E&M signaling and ground start loop signaling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for code matching the base and mobile unit of a cordless telephone set. A new matching code is established by a microprocessor in the base unit each time the mobile unit is replaced thereon, and is stored in respective memories therein. Replacement of the mobile unit on the base unit is detected from the charging current which is then drawn by a rechargeable battery in the mobile unit from a power source connected to the base unit.

Abstract: An improved two-way radio communication system having a limited number of channels is disclosed which assigns calls in a max-minimum method, in a first embodiment according to the type of call and sector to be served. This disclosed first embodiment includes a method that ascertains the type of call, handoff or first assignment, and assigns a server with a given central controller to a channel frequency within the requestor sector that minimizes interference to present users. The method of the second embodiment controls requests for assignment to a limited number of channels to reduce adjacent channel interference to and from the requestor with respect to present users operating on a system by utilizing one or more thresholds to arrange channel assignments based upon progressively larger or smaller values of received signal strength.

Abstract: For use with a public communication facility C incorporating terminals T1-TN, e.g. a telephone system, a statistical analysis system D interfaces with individual stations where a caller is prompted by voice instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with the caller and is stored for processing. Caller data is confirmed by a look-up table and by a signal-commanded voice generator. Files are created in the analysis system wherein callers are assigned designations which are stored along with statistical and identification data. In one embodiment, callers are identified by calling sequence and assigned designations are provided in the form of an acknowledgment. A break-off circuit enables a caller to terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of communication between two locations along a cable where the only metallic conductor available is grounded at numerous points along its length, which methods utilize a "distributed earth referenced carrier system" and wherein a first transceiver is electrically coupled to the metallic conductor at a first location and a second transceiver is electrically coupled to the metallic conductor at a second location.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to communicate between a portable radio telephone set through an existing public cellular radio telephone system and a private radio telephone system disposed inside the cells of the public cellular radio telephone system, an antenna and a transceiver for connecting the antenna to the private radio telephone system are disposed in each cell, and the transmitting power from the antenna and the transmitting power from the portable telephone set are set so that they do not impart interference waves to the public cellular radio telephone system.

Abstract: In a howler indicator of a cordless telephone system, a howler signal is detected by a howler signal detecting means provided in the master device, the mobile device is informed of the detection of the howler signal by a predetermined command signal transmitted from the master device through a radio line, and in response to this an indicating means provided in the mobile device is activated to prompt the operator to replace or hang up the mobile device correctly for the purpose of putting the mobile device in the ON-HOOK state.

Abstract: A self-contained cellular emergency roadside call box is disclosed without the use of external telephone lines. The call box is solar powered with battery storage and comprises a controller coupled to a cellular transceiver. The controller is also coupled to a solar array and battery which is recharged through the controller. The call box communicates through a radio-telephone link established by the cellular transceiver to a cellular telecommunication system. The cellular telecommunication system includes a call site controller and mobile telephone switching terminal. Each call box comprises a plurality of status subcircuits for monitoring conditions such as battery condition and transmitter status. The call box communication and the status are processed by a micro processor which generates appropriate commands required by the cellular transceiver. Information can be transmitted bidirectionally between each of the call boxes and the communication applications processor.

Abstract: A bar code reading system with novel features of a centralized station having remote reading satellite stations. Each centralized station has a computer, bar code decoder for decoding bar code information from the satellite stations, and a voice synthesizer unit for transmitting prompts, English language instructions and messages to the satellite stations. Each satellite station has a bar code reading device and at least one loudspeaker, but neither a keyboard nor a character display.

Abstract: Cellular mobile telephone stations which are intended for installation and use in public transportation facilities, e.g., taxicabs, limousines, rental cars, etc. are equipped to support credit card billing of transient customers for use of the station services. The cellular pay stations, from the viewpoint of serving cellular carrier facilities, are indistinguishable from standard cellular mobile stations. The activities of the credit card stations are supported by an administrative processor which is connected to a standard telephone line of the public switched telephone network. The cellular stations and the administrative processor exchange data messages over a standard telephone connection.

Abstract: An interface (10) is disclosed for coupling a conventional pay station telephone (12) to a telephone switching system (16). The interface (10) provides supervision signal detection functions normally provided by a switching system, and thus can be connected thereto by a less costly business line (28). The interface includes processor controlled tone generators (72, 76) and detectors (73, 74, 81, 106, 108) for detecting tones and voltages transmitted by either the telephone (12) or the switching system (16). The interface (10) further includes a detector (106) and a procedure (FIG. 8) for providing an answer call indication. Coin collection or return is controlled by the interface (10) depending on the status of the call which is also determined by the interface (10).

Abstract: Adjacent cellular systems (101-103) are interconnected to form a network providing telephone coverage to mobiles located throughout their combined coverage areas (111-113). Each networked cellular system (101-103) includes base sites (412, 414, 416) located in cells (402, 404, 406) and a control terminal (420) coupled by data and voice lines to the base sites, a telephone central office (422) and the other cellular systems. Each base site (412, 414, 416) includes a base site controller 950, a scanning receiver 910, signalling transceiver 912 and up to eight voice channel transceivers (901-908). As mobiles move about the networked coverage area (111-113), intrasystem handoffs are provided between cells of the same cellular system, and intersystem handoffs are provided between border cells of adjacent cellular systems. Mobiles are paged throughout the networked coverage area (111-113) in the paging area (121-136) in which the mobile last registered.

Abstract: A wireless telephony system comprising a base station and at least one portable device. The base station employs a ratio frequency (RF) receiver and an optical transmitter. The portable device employs an optical receiver and an RF transmitter.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for controlling a radio telephone system comprising a single master apparatus connected to a subscriber line and a plurality of radio telephone sets connected to the master apparatus by way of radio channel. When a call origination operation is made by one of the radio telephone sets, a call originating signal is sent to the master apparatus from the call originating radio telephone set. In response to the call originating signal, the master apparatus switches its radio channel to an idle speech channel, and sends a channel designating signal representing the idle speech channel to the plurality of radio telephone sets including the call originating radio telephone set so as to switch the radio channels of the radio telephone sets which have received the channel designating signal to the idle speech channel.