US3934090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone message timing system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-10-21
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Granted: 1976-01-20
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Expires: 1994-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A timing arrangement for use with a telephone switching system equipped with automatic message accounting equipment to adjust call charging times to compensate for delays in obtaining access to the automatic message accounting equipment. Timing circuitry provided in an automatic message accounting recorder measures the period of time since the recorder was last idle with no call carrying trunks of the switching system waiting to be serviced by the recorder. Apparatus enabled by the timing circuitry generates an allowance time used to adjust a registered trunk call charging time in accordance with the trunk access delay to the automatic message accounting equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Bartlett Curtis
- 👤 Nelson Andrew Riedel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
In a switching system wherein call charging times are recorded for usage of a communication facility and wherein the times recorded are subject to adjustment to allow for delay in accessing recording equipment, the combination comprising means for measuring an interval of time since the recording equipment was last idle with no request for access thereto, and means responsive to said measuring means for generating an allowance time signal to adjust the recording of the charge time in accordance with the access delay to the recording equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a switching system wherein call charging times are recorded for usage of a communication facility and wherein the times recorded are subject to adjustment to allow for delay in accessing recording equipment, the combination comprising means for measuring an interval of time since the recording equipment was last idle with no request for access thereto, and means responsive to said measuring means for generating an allowance time signal to adjust the recording of the charge time in accordance with the access delay to the recording equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a switching system, the combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said measuring means comprises a series of sequentially operated time circuits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a switching system, the combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said generating means comprises a plurality of relays each connected to one of said timer circuits and each defining an accumulated allowance time signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
An automatic message accounting system for use with switching system trunks to record call charging times comprising means for detecting requests to service call carrying ones of the trunks by registering identities thereof at the inception of a call and again at the times of call answer and call disconnect, means for measuring intervals of time that the automatic message accounting system is busy servicing the call carrying trunks, and means enabled by said measuring means for generating and registering an allowance time to adjust the recorded call charging times of trunks delayed in being serviced by the automatic message accounting system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
An automatic message accounting system for use with switching system trunks to record call charging times comprising means for detecting requests to service call carrying ones of the trunks by registering identities thereof at the inception of a call and again at the times of call answer and call disconnect, means for measuring intervals of time that the automatic message accounting system is busy servicing the call carrying trunks, and means enabled by said measuring means for generating and registering an allowance time to adjust the recorded call charging times of trunks delayed in being serviced by the automatic message accounting system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The automatic message accounting system set forth in claim 4 wherein said detecting means comprises means operable for indicating a seizure of the automatic message accounting system by one of the call carrying trunks, and means for maintaining said indicating means in an operate state when other call carrying trunks are waiting to be serviced following release of the one call carrying trunk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automatic message accounting system set forth in claim 5 wherein said measuring means comprises a plurality of timer circuits activated by said indicating means and arranged to generate sequential signals denoting predetermined intervals of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The automatic message accounting system set forth in claim 6 wherein said generating and registering means comprises a plurality of relays each operated by one of said sequential signals and each arranged to close make contacts signifying a discrete increase of said allowance time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
An automatic message accounting system for use with telephone office trunks employing transverters and trunk identifiers to record call charging times comprising first relay means operable by the transverters and the trunk identifiers for indicating a seizure of the automatic message accounting system by a carrying one of the trunks, holding means responsive to the trunk identifiers for maintaining said first relay means in an operate state when other ones of call carrying trunks are waiting to be serviced following release of the one call carrying trunk, timing means activated by operation of said first relay means for generating sequential signals denoting predetermined intervals of time, and second relay means operated by ones of the sequential signals for registering allowance time signals to adjust the recorded call charging times to allow for delay of the call carrying trunks in accessing the automatic message accounting system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
An automatic message accounting system for use with telephone office trunks employing transverters and trunk identifiers to record call charging times comprising first relay means operable by the transverters and the trunk identifiers for indicating a seizure of the automatic message accounting system by a carrying one of the trunks, holding means responsive to the trunk identifiers for maintaining said first relay means in an operate state when other ones of call carrying trunks are waiting to be serviced following release of the one call carrying trunk, timing means activated by operation of said first relay means for generating sequential signals denoting predetermined intervals of time, and second relay means operated by ones of the sequential signals for registering allowance time signals to adjust the recorded call charging times to allow for delay of the call carrying trunks in accessing the automatic message accounting system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
An automatic message accounting system for use with telephone office trunks employing trunk identifiers and arranged to record message call charging times comprising means responsive to the trunk identifiers for recording the message call charging times by registering identities of call carrying ones of the trunks at the inception of a call and again at answer and disconnect times determined at time of access to said recording means by one of the trunk identifiers, means for measuring the period of time since said recording means was last idle with no trunks waiting to be serviced, and means enabled by said measuring means for generating and registering a discrete allowance time to adjust the registered disconnect times in accordance with delay times encountered by ones of said trunk identifiers in obtaining access to said recording means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
An automatic message accounting system for use with telephone office trunks employing trunk identifiers and arranged to record message call charging times comprising means responsive to the trunk identifiers for recording the message call charging times by registering identities of call carrying ones of the trunks at the inception of a call and again at answer and disconnect times determined at time of access to said recording means by one of the trunk identifiers, means for measuring the period of time since said recording means was last idle with no trunks waiting to be serviced, and means enabled by said measuring means for generating and registering a discrete allowance time to adjust the registered disconnect times in accordance with delay times encountered by ones of said trunk identifiers in obtaining access to said recording means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A recorder for use with telephone office trunks to record message charging times subject to adjustment to allow for delay of ones of the trunks in obtaining access to the recorder comprising means for measuring intervals of time since the recorder was last idle with none of the trunks requesting access thereto, and means responsive to said measuring means for generating and registering discrete allowance time signals to adjust the recording of the message charging times in accordance with delay of ones of the trunks in obtaining access to the recorder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A recorder for use with telephone office trunks to record message charging times subject to adjustment to allow for delay of ones of the trunks in obtaining access to the recorder comprising means for measuring intervals of time since the recorder was last idle with none of the trunks requesting access thereto, and means responsive to said measuring means for generating and registering discrete allowance time signals to adjust the recording of the message charging times in accordance with delay of ones of the trunks in obtaining access to the recorder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-19 | 1979-07-21 | 1980-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-19 | 1983-07-21 | 1984-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-19 | 1987-07-21 | 1988-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |