US4922516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone technician's terminals with auto-selection of dial pulse on DTMF signalling
Assignee: Fluke Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1989-06-02
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Granted: 1990-05-01
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Expires: 2009-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An improved craft technician's field terminal of the portable, hand-held type for use in communicating in diverse modes with a central technician access network. The terminal is connected to the telephone line in conventional manner in communication with the telephone access network; however, the terminal includes a SMART DIAL program that determines the type of service of the seized subscriber line thereby to facilitate out-dialing from the terminal. Job data can then be transmitted from the central network and downloaded to the terminal for instantaneous display. Re-transmission can be requested if needed. The terminal is capable of uploading data from the terminal display in either DTMF and/or ASCII to the central network. The craft technician's terminal contains a much greater storage capacity than any similar devices heretofore and it is capable of holding job order and response data for what amounts to greater than a full days technician work. In addition, data displayed at the terminal may readily be transmitted for printer access while still being retained in the terminal storage.
Inventors
- 👤 Myron C. Butler
- 👤 Christopher Madore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04M11/066; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/26; H04M3/28; H04M3/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for determining the type of customer signalling, whether dial pulse or dual tone nulti-frequency, when randomly connecting into a subscriber line of a telephone system, comprising: means for seizing a selected telephone subscriber line and receiving dial tone; means for outpulsing the first digit of a selected telephone number in dual tone multi-frequency signal; means for selectively sensing absence and presence of said dial tone; means responsive to absence of dial tone for outpulsing all remaining digits of the selected telephone number in dual tone multi-frequency signals to complete the call; and means responsive to presence of dial tone for outpulsing the first and all remaining digits of the selected telephone number in dial pulse signals to complete the call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for determining the type of customer signalling, whether dial pulse or dual tone nulti-frequency, when randomly connecting into a subscriber line of a telephone system, comprising: means for seizing a selected telephone subscriber line and receiving dial tone; means for outpulsing the first digit of a selected telephone number in dual tone multi-frequency signal; means for selectively sensing absence and presence of said dial tone; means responsive to absence of dial tone for outpulsing all remaining digits of the selected telephone number in dual tone multi-frequency signals to complete the call; and means responsive to presence of dial tone for outpulsing the first and all remaining digits of the selected telephone number in dial pulse signals to complete the call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include: means for determining if the next successive outpulsing is a predetermined character and, if so, causing a pause before outpulsing the next digit in dual tone multi-frequency signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include: means for determining if the next outpulsing after the first digit in dual pulse signals is a predetermined character and, if so, causing a pause before outpulsing the next digit in dial pulse signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which is further characterized to include: means for determining if the next outpulsing after the first digit in dial pulse signals is a predetermined character and, if so, causing a pause before outpulsing the next digit in dial pulse signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
A portable craftsman's terminal for communicating with a central access network of a telephone operating system, comprising: means for connecting the terminal to a selected telephone subscriber line in the operating system and receiving dial tone; means for outpulsing first and sequential digits representative of a predetermined telephone number for said central access network; means responsive to said first digit outpulsing to determine if the subscriber line is a selected one of dial pulse service and dual tone multi-frequency service; means for completing outpulsing of the telephone number digits in the required mode of service to establish communication with said central access network; means for receiving downloaded ASCII coded data as transmitted from said central access network; display means for displaying said downloaded data; means for composing an alphanumeric data message as read out on said display means; and means for transmitting said data message for upload to said central access network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
A portable craftsman's terminal for communicating with a central access network of a telephone operating system, comprising: means for connecting the terminal to a selected telephone subscriber line in the operating system and receiving dial tone; means for outpulsing first and sequential digits representative of a predetermined telephone number for said central access network; means responsive to said first digit outpulsing to determine if the subscriber line is a selected one of dial pulse service and dual tone multi-frequency service; means for completing outpulsing of the telephone number digits in the required mode of service to establish communication with said central access network; means for receiving downloaded ASCII coded data as transmitted from said central access network; display means for displaying said downloaded data; means for composing an alphanumeric data message as read out on said display means; and means for transmitting said data message for upload to said central access network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A portable terminal as set forth in claim 5 which further includes: means for outputting data shown on said display means to an external print facility.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A portable terminal as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for receiving further comprises: microprocessor means controlled by program to coordinate operative functions of said terminal; random access memory means for receiving in storage serially the downloaded data as well as the alphanumeric data messages for uploading; and erasable, programmable read only memory means for storing said program for selective input to said microprocessor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A portable terminal as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said random access memory means includes at least one telephone number for said central access network; and means for outpulsing is an auto-dial device actuated to dial a selected telephone number from said random access memory means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for conductively engaging a telephone subscriber line and identifying the type of operating service in order to outpulse call number signals and gain access to a receiving entity, comprising: gaining connection to a subscriber line of a telephone operating system; detecting initial dial tone for said operating system; outpulsing the first digit of the call number in dual tone multi-frequency signal; determining that dial tone ceases after outpulsing the first digit signal and outpulsing the remaining digits of the call number in dual tone multi-frequency signal; and determining alternatively that dial tone does not cease after outpulsing said first digit of the call number in dual tone multi-frequency signal, and outpulsing the first and remaining digits of the call number in dial pulse signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for conductively engaging a telephone subscriber line and identifying the type of operating service in order to outpulse call number signals and gain access to a receiving entity, comprising: gaining connection to a subscriber line of a telephone operating system; detecting initial dial tone for said operating system; outpulsing the first digit of the call number in dual tone multi-frequency signal; determining that dial tone ceases after outpulsing the first digit signal and outpulsing the remaining digits of the call number in dual tone multi-frequency signal; and determining alternatively that dial tone does not cease after outpulsing said first digit of the call number in dual tone multi-frequency signal, and outpulsing the first and remaining digits of the call number in dial pulse signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 which is further characterized to include the step, comprising: determining if there is a predetermined character succeeding the first digit of the call number and, if affirmative, causing a two second pause in outpulsing of the call number signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 which is further characterized to include the step of: determining a negative as to the presence of a predetermined character succeeding the first digit and pausing 300 milliseconds before said step of determining whether said dial tone ceases.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3778556A
Cited
US4194098A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-30 | 1993-10-30 | 1994-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-30 | 1997-10-30 | 1998-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-30 | 2001-10-30 | 2002-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |