Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for specifying alternate numbers for use as Incoming Calling Line Identification (ICLID) numbers. On a calling card call, the caller may specify whether the calling card number or the telephone number of the caller telephone station is to be used as the ICLID number. Alternatively or in addition, the caller may provide an identification number comprising a personal identification number and a telephone number and indicate that the telephone number be used as the ICLID number. Advantageously, callers may identify themselves, for the purposes of ICLID, with their home or business telephone number even when they are calling from a different telephone station.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections between first and second telecommunication devices operably associatable with the telecommunication lines of a telecommunication switching network. In general, the method involves storing telecommunication-time data representative of a prepurchased amount of telecommunication-time available for payment of telecommunication connections in the telecommunication switching network. At the initiation of the first telecommunication device, a telecommunication connection is established between the first and second telecommunication devices so that a telecommunication process can be conducted therebetween. The telecommunication connection between the first and second telecommunication devices is terminated in response to termination of the telecommunication process. The time duration of the telecommunication connection is measured.

Abstract: A digitizing stylus for use with a tablet for measuring the angle between a gravity vector and the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the stylus for calculating pitch angle and barrel rotation of the stylus includes a housing having an electrolytic solution. A plurality of electrodes are disposed within the housing and extend into the electrolytic solution. The electrodes generate an output signal based upon the distance the electrodes extend into the electrolytic solution. A sensor is interconnected to the plurality of electrodes for sensing changes in the output signals for computing pitch angle and rotation of the stylus.

Abstract: An electromagnetic-field-responsive (preferably optical), code-based, graphic data-acquisition system for tracking the operational status of a mobile write-effective component (stylus, eraser, etc.) in relation to a defined writing-surface area. The preferred embodiment features an active optical structure which is disposed adjacent the writing-surface area for creating, by scanning, a defined zone of optical radiation, optically reactive, retroreflective code structure which is joined to the mobile component and which is capable of reacting (reflecting the same) to radiation within the zone when the code structure intersects the zone, a reaction monitoring structure for monitoring the reaction behavior of the code structure and for producing a related response, and interpretation structure which acquires that response and determines therefrom the desired operational-status-tracking information. Modification to this preferred structure are also illustrated and discussed.

Abstract: In a cordless digitizing system wherein a cordless stylus having a manually operable button thereon transmits positional pulses to a tablet at a carrier frequency this invention is apparatus for transmitting status information about the button to the tablet. There is first status logic associated with the stylus for sensing the present status of the button and for encoding and transmitting the present status of the button as a binary 1 or 0 employing a first unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles as a binary "1" and a second unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles as a binary "0". Then, there is second status logic included in association with the tablet for recognizing the first unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles to be a binary "1", for recognizing the second unique and recognizable sequence of carrier frequency cycles to be a binary "0", and for determining the present status of the button therefrom.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inbound/outbound call handling system and method in which outbound calls are automatically paced so that as attendants become available a valid call is completed to be handled by the available attendant. As an inbound call is received, the system responds by halting attempts to place an outbound call and queueing the inbound call for handling by the next available attendant. The system takes advantage of an algorithm which statistically monitors average call completion time, average attendant in-use time, average time to answer and probability of a valid answer. Call placing and receiving overlap is controllable in conjunction with the monitored statistical parameters to achieve operation around any desired system operating parameter. The system is controlled by a plurality of precisely defined operational tasks operating in a hierarchical manner.

Abstract: An automated telephone answering system with plug-in tone responsive unit at each of a plurality of extensions, a central answering unit responds to a caller initiated, telephone company generated, ring signal on the telephone line and establishes a connection with the calling phone. Each of the remote units responds to a different predetermined, selectable tone frequency. When the caller pushes a key on a standard Touch Tone phone key pad to select a specific extension, the responding remote unit generates a ringing signal for that extension. If the telephone line has an on-hook status, the system has means that prevents response to further tone signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for digitizer sampled point validation which determines the contact resistance at a point of contact between the upper and lower layers of the digitizer and compares the contact resistance with a valid range of contact resistances to either accept or reject the sampled point. The apparatus includes an analog drive circuit for driving the digitizer with one of a plurality of drive sources, a switch control logic coupled to the drive circuit for determining which drive source is coupled to the digitizer, an analog-to-digital convertor coupled to the digitizer, and a microcontroller coupled between the analog-to-digital convertor and the switch control logic. The method of the present invention determines the contact resistance, compares the contact resistance with the valid range, and determines and stores the location of the point if the contact resistance is within the valid range.

Abstract: There is provided a key telephone system which can use data registered in a memory card. The system comprises: a main apparatus which has a memory and operates in accordance with the data stored in the memory; and an extension telephone having a receiving circuit to receive data from a memory card, wherein the main apparatus stores the data which was received by the extension telephone from the memory card into the memory. With this system, data such as names, denominations, telephone numbers, and the like of the partners can be registered into a portable device such as a memory card by the keyboard of the extension telephone or by the keyboard of the portable device at a remote location at an arbitrary time.

Abstract: The novel notepad of the invention provides a convenient interface into the capabilities of computer technology from paper based information. The notepad has a form factor similar to a clipboard wherein the board portion includes a digitizing tablet and the clip portion includes an optical scanner. A battery-powered embedded processor and associated peripherals provide for capturing and storing information in a variety of forms including at least scanning information, digitized stylus information and audio annotation. An important feature of the invention is the linking of these different forms of information via software so that while the information is readily available for efficient processing, it is also combinable so as to recreate the annotated document through conventional means.

Abstract: An acoustic touch position sensor is shown in which a transducer coupled to a side of a substrate imparts a shear wave into the substrate for propagation along a first axis. A reflective array is disposed along the first axis to reflect portions of the shear wave along a plurality of parallel paths extending across a touch surface of the substrate to a second reflective array the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the first reflective array. The second reflective array reflects the shear waves incident thereto to a transducer mounted on the side of the substrate and responsive to shear waves propagated thereto for providing a signal representative of these shear waves. A touch on the substrate results in a partial absorption of the energy in the shear wave so as to produce a perturbation therein which is sensed to determine the axial position of the touch on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a position of a member contacting a touch screen includes determining initial coordinates of the member at a first time, determining subsequent coordinates of the member at a subsequent time, and defining possible coordinates of the member to be between the initial coordinates and subsequent coordinates, then redetermining subsequent coordinates of the member at a further subsequent time, and redefining possible coordinates of the member to be between redetermined subsequent coordinates and previously defined possible coordinates. Redetermining subsequent coordinates and redefining possible coordinates may be repeated until subsequent coordinates and redefined coordinates are within a predetermined distance for a predetermined number of repetitions. The method and apparatus may be reinitialized if subsequent coordinates are beyond a specified distance of previously determined possible coordinates.

Abstract: Maintenance terminal of a validation and identification unit defined as a tool designed to accomplish two functions allowing the local initialization of the validation and identification unit or of the adaptation unit of public modular telephones, so being not necessary for the operation system of modular telephones to call these, allowing extensive diagnosis and failure identification, also in a local mode, whenever the central processing unit be operative through the use of an interactive man-machine language.

Abstract: A status management method of this invention comprises: a first step of receiving a status alteration information of speech path device, analyzing each alteration status, and altering a count for each status; a second step of calculating a service reference value of each signalling service device as based on the number of subscriber lines for normal service in case that a status alteration device is subscriber line, and reporting a fault segregating limitation value of each signalling service device in case that said service reference value is altered; and a third step of analyzing a service status of each signalling service device according to said service reference value, and ending the status management on outputting a software alarm according to an analysis result of said service status.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus determines the coordinates of contact of a vibration pen with a vibration transmission plate by detecting vibrations from the pen through a vibration sensor. Constants required for measurement are generated in a constant determination circuit on the basis of vibration cycle measurements and a circuit measures the cycle of the detected vibrations from the vibration sensor using the determined constants. Automatic determination of constants eliminates inaccuracies due to component variations and reduces production costs and maintenance.

Abstract: A pattern input apparatus designed to improve the operational easiness comprises a plurality of contact detecting device, arranged on a detection surface, each for generating a detection signal upon contact with an object. A pattern drawn by the object moving in contact with the detection surface is discriminated, using the locus or the amount of displacement vector of a point located approximately at the center between at least two adjoining ones of the plurality of contact detecting devices on the detection surface, when the detection signals are output from the at least two adjoining ones of the plurality of contact detecting devices.

Abstract: An ultrasonic digitizer pen includes an ultrasonic transmitter to transmit ultrasonic waves through the air, to illuminate a writing surface. An ultrasonic receiver receives the waves reflected off the illuminated writing surface. The writing surface is a mouse pad, a wooden tabletop or other surface having a natural amount of roughness to reflect ultrasonic waves in all directions.The transmitter and receiver are located in the pen near its tip and have radiation patterns pointing generally in the same direction, and parallel to the writing surface. At least one of the radiation patterns is narrow in a horizontal plane and wide in a vertical plane, to illuminate a narrow area of the writing surface.phase measuring circuit measures the phase difference between the transmitted and the received ultrasonic signals. This phase is indicative of the displacement of the digitizer pen.

Abstract: Coupling device for the connection of a Data Circuit Terminating Equipment DCE to a given Public Switched Telephone Network PSTN and to a local telephone set. The coupler includes means for providing said local telephone set with DC current whereby the microphone and the headphone of the telephone can be used respectively for transmitting and receiving vocal messages from the a DTE which is connected to said DCE. The invention also provides a DCE for the connection of a DTE to a a PSTN and to a local telephone set including a coupler circuit having the electronic components matching the electric requirements of a given PSTN. The coupler further includes means for providing the telephone set with DC current whereby vocal messages can be transmitted and received from the DTE to the telephone set.

Abstract: The equipment includes a front panel with LED indicators, key pad and a number of special function keys as well as an LCD message printout and volt/ohm meter. A hand set is readily available at the front panel as the line check unit functions with a commercially available craft terminal, a CMC Type 7910D terminal known as DATASTAR.TM., which includes the master central processing unit and random access memory for interactive function with the line check system. The DATASTAR.TM. unit communicates directly with a controller section that includes speaker power amp, LCD circuitry and 128K random access memory as well as a digital bus interface. The controller board is then connected through both a digital bus and an analog signal bus to an analog circuitry that includes relay control and various signal routing and test signal functions. The analog circuitry is then in communication with the volt/ohm meter and analyzer circuitry.

Abstract: This invention allows unmodified CCITT Group 3 and 4 facsimile transceivers to interactively select and retrieve facsimile pages from a shared facsimile data base FAX serve system ("FAX server"). The remote facsimile transceiver user marks a paper selector sheet forms using a pencil or pen. The selector sheet is transmitted via the remote facsimile transmitter, preferably in a turn-around polling mode, to the FAX server unit. The FAX server unit processes the facsimile signal rapidly, interpreting the selector sheet and selecting the pages desired to be retrieved prior to the normal CCITT Recommendation T.30 timeout, which would otherwise abort the line connection. The invention allows the requested information to be returned during the same telephone call. If turn-around polling is not available, then the FAX server initiates alternative strategies culminating in an automatic callback with the information desired.