Repertory dialer with efficient data storage

Claim 2

Repertory dialer comprising: (a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer; (b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit; (c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means; (d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data: (e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields; (f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data; and (g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to: (1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and (2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data.

Claim 3

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 1 further comprising encoding means for encoding said telephone number data in a first code for storage in said first storage means and for encoding said associated search data in a second, different code for storage in said first storage means, whereby data from adjacent fields are differentiated by the code used therefor.

Claim 4

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 1 wherein said dialing means includes: relay controlled means for providing dialing signals appropriate to telephone systems responding to a particular form of dialing signal, and a latch circuit means, for controlling a plurality of relay drivers to provide the appropriate dialing signals, in response to signals provided thereto by said programmable microcomputer control means on said common bus means.

Claim 5

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 3 wherein said relay controlled means include first means for providing multifrequency dialing signals, and second means for providing pulse dialing signals.

Claim 6

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 4, further comprising a pair of muting means responsive to said relay drivers for appropriately muting said multifrequency or said pulse dialing signals from reproduction on a telephone or speaker associated with said repertory dialer.

Claim 7

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 3 further comprising dial tone detection means for detecting presence of a dial tone on said telephone circuit.

Claim 8

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 6 wherein said dial tone detecting means includes threshold detecting means for generating an interrupt signal for enabling said programmable microcomputer control means to determine the frequency of a signal on said telephone circuit.

Claim 9

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 3 wherein said dialing means further includes off-hook detecting means, including photo-optical signaling means therein, for detecting an off-hook condition of said repertory dialer.

Claim 10

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage means comprises a plurality of addressable groups of random access memory units, wherein a multibit code is stored in two adjacent locations in each of the plurality of memory units.

Claim 11

Repertory dialer comprising: (a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer; (b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit; (c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means; (d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data; (e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields; (f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data; (g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to: (1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and (2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data; and (h) common bus means connecting said programmable microcomputer control means, said first and second storage means, and said display means; (i) said programmable microcomputer control means comprising: a microprocessor connected to said input means and to said common bus means; an input/output port connected to said common bus means for expanding the number of control lines connectable to said microprocessor; and a memory interface connected to said common bus means for interfacing said microprocessor to said first and second storage means.

Claim 12

Repertory dialer comprising: (a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer; (b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit; (c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means; (d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data; (e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields; (f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data; (g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to: (1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and (2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data; and (h) common bus means connecting said programmable microcomputer control means, said first and second storage means, and said display means; (i) said programmable microcomputer control means comprising: a microprocessor connected to said input means and to said common bus means; an input/output port connected to said common bus means for expanding the number of control lines connectable to said microprocessor; and a memory interface connected to said common bus means for interfacing said microprocessor to said first and second storage means.

Claim 13

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 10 further comprising decoding means connected to said common bus means for providing selecting and enabling signals to various components and circuits of said repertory dialer.

Claim 14

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 10 wherein said input means comprises keyboard means and further comprises means for generating signals perceptable to a user, said means being responsive to detection by said microprocessor of activation of a key on said keyboard.

Claim 15

Repertory dialer comprising: (a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer; (b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit; (c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means; (d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data; (e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields; (f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data; (g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to: (1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and (2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data, (h) common bus means connecting said programmable microcomputer control means, said first and second storage means, and said display means; (i) power supply means for providing operating electrical power to the several components of the repertory dialer including: first supply means for converting externally supplied voltage to voltages appropriate for operation of various component circuits of said repertory dialer, and second supply means including charging means for providing trickle charging of a rechargeable battery means and operating means for supplying operating voltage to said first storage means; (j) said operating means including circuit means for connecting said first supply means to said first storage means when said externally supplied voltage is available, and for connecting said battery means to said first storage means to retain data stored therein when said externally supplied voltage is not available.

Claim 16

Repertory dialer comprising: (a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer; (b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit; (c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means; (d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data; (e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields; (f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data; (g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to: (1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and (2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data, (h) common bus means connecting said programmable microcomputer control means, said first and second storage means, and said display means; (i) power supply means for providing operating electrical power to the several components of the repertory dialer including: first supply means for converting externally supplied voltage to voltages appropriate for operation of various component circuits of said repertory dialer, and second supply means including charging means for providing trickle charging of a rechargeable battery means and operating means for supplying operating voltage to said first storage means; (j) said operating means including circuit means for connecting said first supply means to said first storage means when said externally supplied voltage is available, and for connecting said battery means to said first storage means to retain data stored therein when said externally supplied voltage is not available.

Claim 17

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 13 further comprising disabling means for disabling alteration of data stored in said first storage means when said externally supplied voltage drops.

Claim 18

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 14 further comprising third supply means including voltage regulating means providing regulated operating voltage to said programmable microcomputer control means, wherein said disabling means includes rapid discharge means for rapidly discharging said voltage regulating means upon a drop in said externally supplied voltage.

Claim 19

Repertory dialer as recited in claim 14 wherein said programmable microcomputer control means includes decoding means for accessing said first storage means, and said disabling means includes voltage generating means for disabling said decoding means upon a drop in said externally supplied voltage.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 wherein said storing step comprises the step of storing said respectively distinctly encoded telephone number and associated information at consecutive, contiguous, storage locations of varying lengths.

Claim 25

The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of generating dialing signals in accordance with data in said second buffer when said inequality is due to said special character from said temporary location.

Claim 26

The method of claim 19 wherein said determining step further comprises the step of testing whether the character from said temporary location forms said special character, the method further including the steps of: testing whether the character from said first buffer is in said first or second codes if the character from said temporary location is not said special character; reading information in said second code from the next entry location in storage if the character from said first buffer is in said first code; testing a hierarchical relationship between said characters from said first buffer and from said temporary location if the character from said first buffer is in said second code; reading information in said second code from the next entry location in storage if a first hierarchical relationship exists between said characters from said first buffer and said temporary location; and terminating the searching step as unsuccessful if a second hierarchical relationship exists between said characters from said first buffer and said temporary location.