US4707848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Test set communication/interface system
Assignee: Fluke Corp
•
Filing: 1986-07-25
•
Granted: 1987-11-17
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Expires: 2006-07-25
Abstract
Abstract The telephone line test capability of a craftsperson's test set is supplemented by communication/interface circuitry which carries out data communications with a host central office control processor, and contains memory for storing (task assignment) information downloaded from the central office control processor. This task assignment information stored in the test set-communications unit may be coupled from the unit to an associated printer for providing a hard copy of service assignment information to the field technician. In addition to printing out the downloaded task assignment information, the printer unit contains a charging circuit which charges a rechargeable battery in the handset for powering its internal circuitry. During off-duty hours, the test set may be connected to a home dispatch unit installed in the craftsperson's home and through which the handset is coupled to a telephone link for providing off-duty communications with the central office processor without technician intervention. The home dispatch unit also contains a battery charging circuit through which the test set's internal battery is charged when the test set is coupled to the dispatch unit and communications between the central office and the test set-communication unit are not taking place.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Durston
- 👤 George D. Fleitz
- 👤 Steven R. Coffelt
- 👤 James D. Eckman
- 👤 Wayne K. Wong
- 👤 Theodore E. Chavannes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/26; H04M3/28; H04M3/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for effecting data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising: first means, adapted to be coupled to said telephone line, for accessing said information source and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for selective retrieval by said technician.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for effecting data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising: first means, adapted to be coupled to said telephone line, for accessing said information source and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for selective retrieval by said technician.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, further including third means, adapted to be coupled to said second means, for retrieving information stored thereby and providing a perceptible representation of said information to said technician.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said third means comprises means for providing said information to said technician in visually perceptible form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, further including third means, adapted to be coupled to said second means, for retrieving information stored thereby and providing a printed copy of the retrieved information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said third means includes means for supplying charging energy to said internal battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said arrangement comprises a prescribed interface port through which said arrangement is coupled to said telephone line and wherein said third means is adapted to supply said charging energy to said internal battery through said prescribed interface port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said third means is adapted to be coupled to an external power supply providing a voltage in excess of that required for operation of said service device and includes means for converting said voltage to one or more voltage outputs for operating said arrangement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said third means includes means, adapted to be selectively coupled to said second means, for enabling the retrieval of information stored thereby and the generation of a visually perceptible copy of said retrieved information during a first mode of operation thereof and for supplying said charging energy to said internal battery during a second mode of operation thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said arrangement further includes fourth means, coupled to said prescribed interface port, for detecting whether said arrangement is coupled thereby to a telephone line or to said third means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means includes means for causing said service device to be powered by said internal battery in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to a telephone line and for causing said battery to receive charging energy from said third means in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to said third means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said fourth means includes means for enabling said first means to access said information source, so that information is transmitted therefrom and stored by said second means, in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to a telephone line, and for enabling a communication between said second and third means so that information stored by said second means may be retrieved by said third means and a perceptual representation thereof provided to said technician, in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to said third means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes means for receiving, via said telephone line, audio information signals from said information source and controllably amplifying said audio information signals for presentation to said technician, in response to which said technician may controllably cause said first means to access said information source and cause said data communication signals to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone line to said service device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said first means includes means for coupling said data communication signals to said controllably amplifying means and thereby providing to said service technician an audio indication of the transmission of said data communication signals from said information source to said service device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An arrangement according to claim 12, further including third means, adapted to be coupled to said second means, for retrieving information stored thereby and providing a perceptible representation of said information to said technician.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said third means includes means for supplying charging energy to said internal battery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said arrangement comprises a prescribed interface port through which said arrangement is coupled to said telephone line and wherein said third means is adapted to supply said charging energy to said internal battery through said prescribed interface port.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said third means is adapted to be coupled to an external power supply providing a prescribed voltage and includes means for converting said voltage into one or more voltage outputs for operating said arrangement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said arrangement further includes fourth means, coupled to said prescribed interface port, for detecting whether said arrangement is coupled thereby to a telephone line or to said third means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said detecting means includes means for causing said service device to be powered by said internal battery in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to a telephone line and for causing said battery to receive charging energy from said third means in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to said third means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
101 words
An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said fourth means includes means for enabling said first means to access said information source, so that information is transmitted therefrom and stored by said second means, in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to a telephone line, and for enabling a communication between said second and third means so that information stored by said second means may be retrieved by said third means and a perceptible representation thereof provided to said technician, in response to detecting that said prescribed interface port is effectively coupled to said third means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
174 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for effecting data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising: a communications unit contained within said service device and having a telephone line interface port and including first means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for accessing said information source via a telephone line coupled thereto and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for selective retrieval by said technician; and an information retrieval unit having a signalling interface port and comprising third means, coupled to said signalling interface port and adapted to be coupled to said telephone line interface port thereby, for retrieving information stored by said second means and providing a perceptible representation of said information to said technician.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
174 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for effecting data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising: a communications unit contained within said service device and having a telephone line interface port and including first means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for accessing said information source via a telephone line coupled thereto and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for selective retrieval by said technician; and an information retrieval unit having a signalling interface port and comprising third means, coupled to said signalling interface port and adapted to be coupled to said telephone line interface port thereby, for retrieving information stored by said second means and providing a perceptible representation of said information to said technician.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein said third means comprises means for providing a printed recording of the retrieved information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
66 words
An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said information retrieval unit further includes fourth means, coupled to said signalling interface port, for controllably supplying charging energy to said internal battery when the telephone line interface port of said communications unit is coupled to the signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said communications unit further includes fifth means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for detecting whether said communications unit is coupled thereby to a telephone line or to said signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said communications unit further includes fourth means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for detecting whether said communications unit is coupled thereby to a telephone line or to a device for supplying charging energy to said internal battery.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
90 words
An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said detecting means includes means for causing said communications unit to be powered by said battery in response to detecting that said telephone line interface port is coupled to a port termination effectively representative of a telephone line, and for causing said battery to receive charging energy from said device for supplying charging energy thereto in response to detecting that said telephone line interface port is coupled to a port termination effectively representative of a connection to a device for supplying charging energy.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
An arrangement according to claim 24, wherein said fifth means includes means for causing said communications unit to be powered by said battery in response to detecting that said telephone line interface is coupled to a port termination effectively representative of a telephone line, and for causing said battery to receive charging energy from said fourth means in response to detecting that telephone line interface port is coupled to said signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
An arrangement according to claim 21, wherein said communications unit further includes fourth means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for detecting whether said communications unit is coupled thereby to a telephone line or to said signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
109 words
An arrangement according to claim 28, wherein said fourth means includes means for enabling said first means to access said information source, so that information is transmitted therefrom and stored by said second means, in response to detecting that said telephone line interface port is effectively coupled to a telephone line, and for enabling a communication between said second and third means so that information stored by said second means may be retrieved by said third means and a perceptible representation thereof provided to said technician, in response to detecting that said telephone line interface port is effectively coupled to said signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
66 words
An arrangement according to claim 29, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said information retrieval unit further includes fifth means, coupled to said signalling interface port, for controllably supplying charging energy to said internal battery when the telephone line interface port of said communications unit is coupled to the signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said third means comprises means for providing a printed recording of the retrieved information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
144 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for enabling said technician to effect data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising: a communications unit contained within said service device and having a telephone line interface port for coupling said device to a telephone line, and including first means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for accessing said information source via a telephone line coupled thereto and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for subsequent selective retrieval to provide a perceptible representation of said information to said technician.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
144 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, an arrangement for enabling said technician to effect data communications with an information source coupled to said telephone network comprising: a communications unit contained within said service device and having a telephone line interface port for coupling said device to a telephone line, and including first means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for accessing said information source via a telephone line coupled thereto and causing data communication signals representative of prescribed information to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device; and second means, coupled to said first means, for storing information represented by said data communication signals for subsequent selective retrieval to provide a perceptible representation of said information to said technician.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said communications unit includes means, coupled between said telephone line interface port and said battery, for controllably supplying charging energy to said battery when a source of battery charging energy is coupled to said telephone line interface port.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement according to claim 33, wherein said communications unit further includes third means, coupled to said telephone line interface port, for detecting whether said communications unit is coupled thereby to a telephone line or to a source of battery charging energy.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
88 words
An arrangement according to claim 34, wherein said third means includes means for enabling said first means to access said information source, so that information is transmitted therefrom and stored by said second means, in response to detecting that said telephone line interface port is effectively coupled to a telephone line, and for controllably causing said battery to receive charging energy from said source of battery charging energy in response to detecting that said telephone line interface port is effectively coupled to said source of battery charging energy.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
75 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said first means includes means for receiving, via said telephone link, audio information signals from said information source and controllably amplifying said audio information signals for presentation to said technician, in response to which said technician may controllably cause said first means to access said information source and cause said data communication signals to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone line to said service device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement according to claim 36, wherein said first means includes means for coupling said data communication signals to said controllably amplifying means and thereby providing to said service technician an audio indication of the transmission of said data communication signals from said information source to said service device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said service device comprise a hand-held telephone test set.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
71 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said arrangement further includes an information retrieval unit having a signalling interface port and comprising third means, coupled to said signalling interface port, for controllably retrieving information stored by said second means and providing a perceptible representation of said information to said technician when said telephone interface port of said communications unit is coupled to the signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
An arrangement according to claim 39, wherein said third means comprises means for providing a printed recording of retrieved information.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
71 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said arrangement further includes an information retrieval unit having a signalling interface port and comprising third means, coupled to said signalling interface port, for controllably retrieving information stored by said second means and providing a perceptible representation of said information to said technician when said telephone interface port of said communications unit is coupled to the signalling interface port of said information retrieval unit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement according to claim 41, wherein said information retrieval unit contains said source of battery charging energy.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
75 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said first means includes means for receiving, via said telephone link, audio information signals from said information source and controllably amplifying said audio information signals for presentation to said technician, in response to which said technician may controllably cause said first means to access said information source and cause said data communication signals to be transmitted from said information source via said telephone line to said service device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement according to claim 43, wherein said first means includes means for coupling said data communication signals to said controllably amplifying means and thereby providing to said service technician an audio indication of the transmission of said data communication signals from said information source to said service device.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
85 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, further including a telephone line interface unit having a first port adapted to be coupled to a telephone line and a second port adapted to be coupled to said telephone line interface port of said communications unit for controlling the establishment of a telephone line connection between said telephone line and said communications unit by way of said first and second ports, so that a data communications transmission between said information source and said communications unit may take place.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement according to claim 45, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said communications unit includes means, coupled between said telephone line interface port and said battery, for controllably supplying charging energy to said battery when a source of battery charging energy is coupled to said telephone line interface port.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
50 words
An arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said telephone line interface unit includes third means, coupled to said second port thereof, for controllably coupling a source of battery charging energy to said second port when said telephone line interface port of said communications unit is coupled to said second port.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
67 words
An arrangement according to claim 47, wherein said telephone line interface unit further comprises fourth means, coupled to said third means and said first and second ports, for detecting an incoming call at said first port and, in response thereto, controllably interrupting the coupling of said source of battery charging energy to said second port and providing a signal flow path between said first and second ports.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement according to claim 48, wherein said fourth means includes means for enabling said communications unit to receive and store data communications signals transmitted from said source of information signals.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
71 words
An arrangement according to claim 47, wherein said telephone line interface unit further comprises fourth means, coupled to said third means and said first and second ports, for controllably interrupting the coupling of said source of battery charging energy to said second port and establishing a signal flow path between said first and second ports and thereby between said telephone line interface port of said communications unit and a telephone line.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
72 words
An arrangement according to claim 50, wherein said fourth means includes means for controllably causing said first means to access said information source via said signal flow path that has been established between said telephone line interface port of said communications unit and said telephone line, whereby said data communication signals are transmitted from said information source via said telephone line and said signal flow path and stored by said second means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
140 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, said service device containing a communications unit for accessing a source of information signals via a telephone line coupled to a telephone line interface port of said communications unit and storing data communications signals representative of prescribed information that have been transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device, an arrangement for providing a recording of said prescribed information for use by said service technician comprising: recording means; and control means, coupled to said recording means and having a first port adapted to be coupled to said telephone line interface port, for controllably retrieving information stored in said communications unit and causing said retrieved information to be recorded by said recording means.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
140 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, said service device containing a communications unit for accessing a source of information signals via a telephone line coupled to a telephone line interface port of said communications unit and storing data communications signals representative of prescribed information that have been transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device, an arrangement for providing a recording of said prescribed information for use by said service technician comprising: recording means; and control means, coupled to said recording means and having a first port adapted to be coupled to said telephone line interface port, for controllably retrieving information stored in said communications unit and causing said retrieved information to be recorded by said recording means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement according to claim 52, wherein said recording means includes a printer unit for providing a hard copy of said retrieved information to said service technician.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
53 words
An arrangement according to claim 52, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said arrangement further includes charging means, coupled to said control means, for controllably supplying charging energy to said internal battery when said telephone line interface port is coupled to said first port.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement according to claim 54, wherein said charging means is adapted to be coupled to an external power source and includes means for controllably deriving said charging energy for said internal battery from said external power source.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
73 words
An arrangement according to claim 52, wherein said control means includes means for detecting the coupling of said telephone line interface port of said communications unit to said first port and, in response thereto, enabling the establishment of a data communication transmission between said communication unit and said arrangement whereby said stored information may be retrieved from said communications unit by way of said data communication transmission and recorded by said recording means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
173 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, said service device containing a communications unit for communicating with a source of information signals via a telephone line interface port of said communications unit and storing data communication signals representative of prescribed information that have been transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device, an arrangement for controlling the operation of said communications unit comprising: a first port adapted to be coupled to a telephone line; a second port adapted to be coupled to the telephone line interface port of said communications unit; and means, coupled to said first and second ports, for controllably establishing a signal flow path between said first and second ports and thereby between said telephone line interface port of said communications unit and a telephone line, whereby the transmission of data communications signals from said source of information signals to said communications unit for storage thereby may take place.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
173 words
For use with a telephone technician's service device which is adapted to be interfaced with a telephone line for servicing a telephone network, said service device containing a communications unit for communicating with a source of information signals via a telephone line interface port of said communications unit and storing data communication signals representative of prescribed information that have been transmitted from said information source via said telephone network to said service device, an arrangement for controlling the operation of said communications unit comprising: a first port adapted to be coupled to a telephone line; a second port adapted to be coupled to the telephone line interface port of said communications unit; and means, coupled to said first and second ports, for controllably establishing a signal flow path between said first and second ports and thereby between said telephone line interface port of said communications unit and a telephone line, whereby the transmission of data communications signals from said source of information signals to said communications unit for storage thereby may take place.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement according to claim 57, wherein said service device includes an internal battery for supplying electrical power thereto and wherein said communications unit includes means, coupled between said telephone line interface port and said battery, for controllably supplying charging energy to said battery when a source of battery charging energy is coupled to said telephone line interface port.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
44 words
An arrangement according to claim 58, further including second means, coupled to said second port for controllably coupling a source of battery charging energy to said second port when said telephone line interface port of said communications unit is coupled to said second port.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
61 words
An arrangement according to claim 59, further including third means, coupled to said second means and said first and second ports, for detecting an incoming call at said first port and, in response thereto, controllably interrupting the coupling of said source of battery charging energy to said second port and providing a signal flow path between said first and second ports.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arrangement according to claim 60, wherein said third means includes means for enabling said communications unit to receive and store data communications signals transmitted from said source of information signals.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
66 words
An arrangement according to claim 59, further including third means, coupled to said second means and to said first and second ports, for controllably interrupting the coupling of said source of battery charging energy to said second port and establishing a signal flow path between said first and second ports and thereby between said telephone line interface port of said communications unit and a telephone line.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
72 words
An arrangement according to claim 62, wherein said third means includes means for controllably causing said first means to access said information source via said signal flow path that has been established between said telephone line interface port of said communications unit and said telephone line, whereby said data communication signals are transmitted from said information source via said telephone line and said signal flow path and stored by said communications unit.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
94 words
For use with a telephone craftsperson's test set which is adapted to be coupled to a telephone line via a telephone line interface port for testing prescribed characteristics of said telephone line, an arrangement for enabling said craftsperson to receive task assignment information from a task assignment center comprising a communications unit, contained within said test set and coupled to said telephone line interface port, for establishing a communication link with said task assignment center over said telephone line and storing therein task assignment information that is transmitted thereto from said task assignment center.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
94 words
For use with a telephone craftsperson's test set which is adapted to be coupled to a telephone line via a telephone line interface port for testing prescribed characteristics of said telephone line, an arrangement for enabling said craftsperson to receive task assignment information from a task assignment center comprising a communications unit, contained within said test set and coupled to said telephone line interface port, for establishing a communication link with said task assignment center over said telephone line and storing therein task assignment information that is transmitted thereto from said task assignment center.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement according to claim 64, further comprising a printer unit having a printer interface port adapted to be coupled to the telephone line interface port of said communications unit for accessing said stored task assignment information and providing a print out thereof for use by said craftsperson.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
68 words
An arrangement according to claim 65, wherein said test set includes an internal rechargeable battery for supplying electrical power to said test set and said communications unit therein and wherein said printer unit includes a battery charging unit which controllably couples charging energy to the battery contained within said test set when the telephone line interface port thereof is coupled to the printer interface port of said printer.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
77 words
An arrangement according to claim 64, further comprising a telephone line interface unit having a first port adapted to be coupled to a telephone line and a second port adapted to be coupled to the telephone line interface port, said telephone line interface unit establishing a telephone call connection between said test set and said task assignment center so that task assignment information may be downloaded from said task assignment center and stored in said test set.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement according to claim 67, further comprising a printer unit having a printer interface port adapted to be coupled to the telephone line interface port of said communications unit for accessing said stored task assignment information and providing a print out thereof for use by said craftsperson.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
73 words
An arrangement according to claim 67, wherein said test set includes an internal rechargeable battery for supplying electrical power to said test set and said communications unit therein and wherein said telephone line interface unit includes a battery charging unit which controllably couples charging energy to the battery contained within said test set when the telephone line interface port thereof is coupled to the printer interface port of said telephone line interface unit.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
55 words
An arrangement according to claim 67, wherein said telephone line interface unit is capable of either causing a call to be placed to said task assignment center or receiving a call from said task assignment center for downloading task assignment information therefrom for storage in said communications unit, without requiring on-line participation by said craftsperson.
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Cited
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| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-16 | 1999-05-18 | 1999-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |