Abstract: A telephone test instrument permits voice communications with and monitoring of a telephone circuit to be tested. The instrument includes a microprocessor used in controlling various functions of the instrument. The microprocessor and other circuits of the instrument are energized from a connected telephone circuit and/or an internal energy supply which is automatically recharged from the telephone circuit. The microprocessor continually checks the voltage of the internal energy supply and automatically turns off a loudspeaker of the instrument, or prevents it from being turned on, if the voltage is too low. The instrument includes circuitry which, in combination with the microprocessor, measures loop current or line voltage while the instrument is connected for making voice communications with the telephone circuit. When the loudspeaker within the instrument is energized, the earpiece receiver remains active.

Abstract: A system and method of evaluating the radio coverage of a geographic area serviced by a digital cellular radiotelephone communication system is described which comprises a plurality of base stations each having a transmitter and a receiver and a plurality of mobile units having co-located transmitters and receivers for transmitting and receiving communication message signals between the base stations and a mobile unit. During operation, the position of at least one of the mobile units operating within the geographic area is located when a call is received by a base station. The base station monitors the signal quality of the call and collects information relevant to the actual performance of the communication system.

Abstract: A characteristic and the position of an implement with a tuned circuit having one of plural resonant frequencies are determined. AC energy at the plural different resonant frequencies is supplied to a two-coordinate direction coil arrangement of a position sensing tablet. The tuned circuit changes the current flowing in the coil arrangement at the implement resonant frequency. The current change is used to signal the implement position and characteristic. The implement may be an eraser for supplying a signal to an electronic display and for removing a mark from a surface of a visual display overlaying the tablet of the eraser. A housing includes a surface for erasing the marking and two tuned circuits each having a reactance positioned close to opposite edges of the erasing surface. Two switches, when activated, cause the tuned circuits to have different resonant frequencies. The switches are respectively activated when opposite eraser edges are being pushed against the display surface.

Abstract: A call progress monitor and algorithm for placing a phone call over the phone lines. The algorithm is hierarchically arranged having three major routines or portions: tone detection, signal recognition and situation recognition. Based upon the definitions stored in a memory and the commands, the call progress monitor algorithm is applied to the telephone audio data. The call progress monitor algorithm is controlled by a host computer which sends a Recognize Situation Command and expects to receive some time later, a Recognize Command Termination Report. The tone detection portion of the algorithm measures the power at each of a predetermined number of frequencies of interest. The signal recognition portion of the algorithm detects the presence of a particular signal. A signal is a particular tone or set of tones that are uniquely present (while all other tones are absent).

Abstract: A pin fraud and shock prevention circuit for a pay telephone which has a receiver and transmitter, a tip and ring conductor forming a current loop connecting the pay telephone to a telephone exchange, and which has a current sensor in the ring conductor, a plurality of current switches coupled to the current sensor for connecting the receiver and transmitter to the loop in response to current flowing in the loop.

Abstract: The functionality of the SMSI protocol is extended by adding to the SMSI protocol messages having the same format as the conventional SMSI protocol messages but implementing leave word calling functions for a voice message system adjunct processor and integrating maintenance functions of an adjunct processor and an SMSI protocol-to-non-SMSI protocol converter.

Abstract: A computer input device for positioning a cursor on a computer video screen. With this device information is put into the computer by the penmanship motion of the hand holding a stylus in the fashion of a writing instrument so that only finger motion is required for data input. Device replaces the arm-to-eye coordination of the mouse with hand-to-eye coordination such as that used in ordinary penmanship. Rather than encoders driven by a turning ball or wheels, a resistance array with wiper contacts produces variable resistances which are converted into variable voltages that are a function of position of the stylus.

Abstract: An adjustable height mounting pedestal for public or coin telephones comprises a tubular post having a plurality of knockouts at varying heights ranging from a drive-up curbside height to a standard handicap access height. A backboard mounting enclosure includes an opening therein that conforms to the peripheral configuration of the telephone for which the mounting is adapted. The configuration of the backboard extends about the telephone housing forward of the rear edge of the front housing of the telephone so as to protect the telephone from prying tools. The backboard and post include dividers for dividing the space within the backboard and post into electrically isolated channels for telephone wiring and for power wiring. Adjustable channels fit within selected knocked-out openings in the post when a particular height for the backboard is selected. The mounting channels and backboard are temporarily supported during assembly, to facilitate assembly by a single worker.

Abstract: A tamperproof pay telephone is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided in a coin operated telephone box for inhibiting the stuffing of the coin return chute of the box with foreign materials. Coin operated telephone boxes are provided internally with a coin return chute, coin retrieval cavity below the coin discharge end of the coin return chute, and a coin return door in the front wall of the box. The return door is pivoted at its upper edge portion for swing movement inwardly toward the coin discharge end of the return chute and provides finger access to the coin retrieval cavity for the removal of coins from the box. To inhibit stuffing of the coin return chute there is provided a first gate plate, affixed to and carried by the return door proximate its lower edge portion, which partially spans the open top portion of the coin retrieval cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for the automatic testing of channel units such as found in subscriber loop carrier (SLC.RTM.) systems. The circuit is included as part of the remote terminal of the system and performs type tests, power-up tests and routine verification tests. The circuit also monitors the subscriber channel, and connects the subscriber in the event of a ringing signal or an off-hook during a test. The results of the test are sent to a display unit which can be located at the remote terminal and/or the central office.

Abstract: The invention relates to telephones that have a base and two handsets or one handset and a base acting as a second handset and which are adapted to be connected to two or more telephone lines. Unlike known telephones designed to be connected to a set number of lines and to no other, the telephone according to the invention comprises an adapter that enables it to be connected equally well to a single line as to two lines or more, depending on the maximum number of lines for which it has been designed, and to provide in each case the same scope for communication between parties as a known telephone connected to the same number of lines. The adapter preferably includes change-over switches that can be operated by acting on a control device that is accessible from outside the telephone, but it may also include change-over switches or wire connections located inside the telephone.

Abstract: A signature verification tablet comprises two piezo-electric membranes each having a plurality of line electrodes on one side. The membranes are sandwiched together, with the line electrodes on one membrane at right angles to the line electrodes on the other. The line electrodes on each membrane are connected together in three interleaved sets, so that when a signature is written on the tablet, a series of pulses is produced containing direction and speed of movement information from which the authenticity of the signature can be verified.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely locating the position of a transmitter either along a line, or a surface, or within a three dimensional space. More particularly the apparatus of the invention is adapted for use with a computer and includes a pen sized movable transmitter, or mouse, whose exact position can be determined without the use of any physical connection between the transmitter and the balance of the apparatus.

Abstract: A manual position indicating device comprises a body portion (1) that can be moved by hand across a surface; and a support member (4) movably mounted to the body portion. The support member includes a graticule (13) and associated signal generating or detecting circuitry for interaction in use with position determining apparatus, whereby the relative positions of the graticule (13) and the body portion (1) are selected by suitably moving the support member and body portion relatively to one another. A cooperating ball (11) and notch system (10) is provided for locking the support member (4) relative to the body portion (1) in a number of different positions.

Abstract: A signal input sheet having a flexible upper laminate and a lower laminate. The upper laminate includes either a conductive layer or a resistive layer on its lower surface as a first layer and at least one hand-written input area and at least one binary data input area on its upper surface. The lower laminate includes either a conductive layer or a resistance layer on its upper surface as a second layer, however, at least one of the first and second layer is formed as a resistive layer. Elastic insulative spacers are interposed between the first layer of the upper laminate and the second layer of the lower laminate. The spacers are arranged at desired intervals to allow the first layer to come in contact with the second layer when pressure is applied to the upper laminate from the outside. The spacing between adjacent insulative spacers is larger in the binary input area than the hand-written input area.

Abstract: A form of the disclosed invention employs data validation and screening based on the proximity of sequentially measured data points. Another form of the invention detects noisy conditions manifested in a pilot signal measurement, and discards data taken just after (and/or, if desired, just before) detection of the condition.

Abstract: A billing system for use in a telephone signaling network. The network comprising offices through which telephone calls can be routed, each office being owned by a telephone company that participates in the network. Each office includes a signaling point (SP) that includes means for formulating message signaling units (MSUs). An MSU may comprise a query requesting a call data pertinent to a particular call, for example, for verifying the validity of a credit card number. The network also includes signal transfer points (STPs) for receiving and routing the MSUs, and plurality of service control points (SCPs), each SCP being linked to one of the STPs. Each SCP comprises a database that includes call data provided by one or more of the participating telephone companies. The billing system of the invention includes means for capturing at least a portion of the MSUs received by one or more STPs. The billing system processes the MSUs to produce usage data that indicates service recipients and service providers.

Abstract: A communications system adaptive echo canceller integrally contains a test far-end talker signal generator, an echo signal generator for generating an echo signal with a simulated echo path, a residual echo detector for detecting a residual echo based on the output of a subtracter, and a switching unit for switching an input and output signal of the echo canceller into an echo canceller test mode. Further, it provides a bypassing unit for, in a test mode, separating a call/talk connected to the echo cancellers from the echo cancellers and forming a bypass path between trunk circuits and a transmission circuit. The bypassing unit results in being able to realize a test for the echo canceller while a talk is alive.

Abstract: A touch controller is presented that comprises a touch sensor employing a resistive membrane, and an analog electronic circuit that accurately measures the touch position and the touch pressure on the sensor. Several variations of the electronic circuit are presented based on the principle of providing a constant current through the touch sensor, measuring the position with a differential amplifier, and measuring the touch pressure at the output of the current regulator. The touch sensors that may be used include resistive coatings such are used in overlays for computer displays, and force-sensing resistors. The circuits are simple, accurate and low-cost, yet provide measurements of the touch position that are fully decoupled from the pressure measurement, without approximation. The result is that the useful range of touch sensitivity is extended to include very light touches, without sacrificing position accuracy.