TELEPHONE AUTODIALLERS

Abstract: A telephone autodialler comprises a RAM (34) and an alphanumeric keyboard (15) for entering therein telephone numbers and associated mnemonic short codes, the autodialler being responsive to subsequent entry of any such short code to dial the associated telephone number.

Description: TELEPHONE AUTODIALLER5 This invention relates to telephone autodiallers, that is to say devices for automatically dialling telephone numbers. A number of telephone autodiallers are currently being marketed for use on the public switched telephone network. These autodiallers have a memory for storing telephone numbers and associated short numeric codes. Any selected telephone number may be recalled from memory and dialled by entry of the associated short numeric code. Such autodiallers have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, the use of a one-digit or two-digit short numeric code to recall a telephone number is subject to the disadvantage that solely numeric codes are difficult to remember whereby an index of the short codes generally has to be consulted before a call is made. Secondly, only one number at a time may be selected for dialling. Thirdly, the caller needs to supervise the installation by listening for 'engaged' or 'ringing' tones. According to the present invention there is provided a telephone autodialler that (i) comprises memory means and selector switch means enabling the selective entry into the memory means of a plurality of characters, (ii) is responsive to an entry command to store in the memory means both a short code and an associated telephone number entered by means of the selector switch means, and is also responsive to subsequent entry of the short code to cause dialling of the associated telephone number, and (iii) is capable of recognising 'ringing' and 'called party off-hook 1 conditions and is responsive to such conditions being present in that order after a number has been dialled to indicate to the user (caller) that a connection has been made. Preferably, the selector switch means comprises alphanumeric selector switch means enabling the selective entry into the memory means of a plurality of letters and a plurality of numbers and the autodialler is capable of storing a said short code comprising at least one letter. An advantage of such an arrangement is that letters are in general very much more useful than numbers as memory aids in that, for example, the user will find it easy to remember a short code which is the or a name of the called party, an acronym or abbreviation of the name of the called party or the initials of such party. As indicated above, the autodialler is indicate to the user (caller) that a connection has been made. The indication may for example be audible and/or visible to the user. Any such audible indication is preferably audibly distinguishable from an audible signal (e.g. the conventional bell) indicating receipt of an incoming call. The autodialler may be responsive to said entry command also to store in the memory means a group of characters entered by means of the selector switch means and be operative to display such group of characters. The group may for example prompt the user with the name and/or extension number of the person or department with whom he wishes to speak. The -autodialler is preferably capable of recognising the 'engaged' condition " and/or the 'no answer' condition and responsive thereto to re-dial a called number after waiting for a predetermined period of time. One form of autodialler embodying the invention has the facility of calling a plurality of desired numbers in sequence. This form of autodialler is responsive to the entry of a list of said short codes and/or of telephone numbers to establish a queue of telephone numbers and to dial them in turn, optionally with a predetermined delay between the termination of one call and the dialling of the next. Preferably, this form of autodialler is capable of recognising the 'engaged' condition and/or the 'no answer' condition and responsive thereto to step to dialling the next number (if any) in the queue and to return the current (engaged) number to the queue for dialling later. In order to optimise utilisation of its memory means, the autodialler is preferably operative to store the time of the most recent occasion of use of each stored number and is responsive to the receipt of an entry command when there is no room in the memory means for a new entry to display the short code of that stored number which has not been called for longer than the other stored numbers whereby the user can decide whether to delete such number to make room for the new entry. The autodialler is preferably operative, if the user wishes not to effect such deletion, to display instead the short code of the next number not called for longer than the others so that the user can decide whether to delete that. The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a telephone autodialler embodying this invention and an associated telephone instrument; Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the autodialler shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a flow diagram representing a routine for entering a new telephone number into the autodialler; Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine employed by the autodialler to dial a single telephone number; and Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a routine employed by the autodialler to dial a selected list of successive numbers. Figure 1 illustrates a telephone autodialler 10 having a flat, box-like plastics casing 12. Towards its front, the casing -12 is provided with a multi-character display 14 (e.g. of 20 or 32 characters), preferably an LCD (liquid crystal display), and an alphanumeric keyboard 15 comprising function keys (e.g. six keys Fl to F6 as shown), letter keys 16 and number keys 18. Behind the display 14 there is provided a recess (not shown) accommodating a telephone instrument 20, for instance a form of telephone - instrument known as a 'Keymaster' extension phone. The telephone 20 is connected to a telephone line 22 and the telephone 20 and autodialler 10 are interconnected by a connection cable 24. Housed within the casing 12 is a printed circuit board (not shown) on which are mounted at least some of the electrical components of the autodialler 10. Such components may comprise the display 14, the keyboard 15 and other components of the autodialler shown in Figure 2, namely an 8- bit microprocessor 30, a ROM (read only memory) 32 having a capacity of, for example, 4K, a RAM or read/write memory 34 and a telephone line interface circuit 36. The ROM 32 and RAM 34 are preferably both CMOS devices. As shown in Figure 2, the autodialler further comprises a buzzer 36 which may or may not be mounted on the printed circuit board. The circuitry shown in Figure 2 may be mains-powered, in which case it may include rectification and smoothing circuitry, though the RAM 34 will as shown be backed by a battery 38 if, as is likely, it is volatile. It is in fact desirable that the entire unit be battery-powered, in which case the use of CMOS memories 32 and 34 and an LCD display 14 become very highly desirable, at least at the current state of the art. If the autodialler 10 is mains-powered, a preferred arrangement is for the mains plug to include a transformer and rectification circuitry, whereby d.c. is sent to the autodialler proper via the mains cord or cable, the autodialler proper including d.c. regulation circuitry. O PI | The ROM 32 serves to store various operating routines of the autodialler, in particular those described hereinbelow with reference to Figures 3 to 5. The RAM 34 stores telephone numbers together with associated short codes and 'free format prompts' described below. The capacity of the RAM 34 depends on the number of telephone numbers that it is desired to store. Thus, for example, the capacity of the RAM 34 might be 4 , 8K and 16K to hold 100, 200 and 400 telephone numbers, respectively. The microprocessor 30 is capable, via the telephone line interface circuit 36, of generating a dialling signal (e.g. dialling pulses) for application to the telephone line 22, and recognising (at least for operation with the UK telephone system) the dialling tone, ringing tone, engaged tone, number unobtainable tone and the called party off-hook condition. The routine shown in flow diagram form in Figure 3 is called up when it is wished to enter a new telephone number in the autodialler. The microprocessor 30 detects that a new entry is required by sensing depression by the user of an appropriate one of the functions keys Fl to F6. It then ascertains whether there is space for the new entry in the RAM 34. If there is space, the microprocessor 30 causes display in the display 14 of a prompt to the user to enter a short code thereafter to be used to cause dialling of the selected number. An important advantage of the present system is that, unlike the above-mentioned autodiallers currently on the market, the short code need not solely comprise one or more numbers. In the present case, the short code comprises at least one letter (and, optimally, at least one number or other symbol), and preferably two or more letters, since it has been ascertained that such codes have a much better mnemonic characteristic than a purely numerical code whereby they are much more likely to be remembered by the user so that the user can often avoid consulting an index when he wishes to make a call. Conveniently, to assist in remembering the code and also to assist in looking it up if it is forgotten, the user will select a short code which is the or a name of the called party, an abbreviation or acronym of the name of the associated called party or the initials of the associated called party. Preferably, so that the autodialler 10 can distinguish between an entered short code and an entered full telephone number, at least the first character of the short code ' will be a letter. Once the short code has been entered, the autodialler prompts the user to enter the telephone number proper and, when this has been done, it prompts the user to enter the 'free format prompt' to be associated with the short code and telephone number. The free format prompt is so called because it can be of any desired format which can be called up by the keyboard 15 and displayed by the display 14; and will be used to prompt the user once a call has been established. The free format prompt associated with a particular telephone number may therefore, for example, comprise information identifying the called party and/or further information (for instance a name and/or an extension number) to assist the caller in remembering particulars of the person or department with whom he wishes to speak once the connection has been established. Figure 3 also shows the steps followed if, when a new entry is desired, the microprocessor 30 detects that there is no available space in the RAM 34. Before this procedure is described, however, it should be explained that each stored telephone number has associated therewith an address location in which a 'date stamp 1 is stored each time that the associated number is called. The current 'date stamp' of each stored telephone number identifies when it was last called whereby, if a search is made through the date stamps of all of the stored numbers it can be readily ascertained which has the oldest date stamp, i.e. which number has not been called for longer than the other stored numbers. Reverting then to Figure 3, it will be seen that if the microprocessor determines that there is no space in the RAM 34 for the new entry, it looks up and displays the short code of the stored telephone number with the oldest dialled date-stamp. The user then decides whether or not to delete such entry, to leave room for the new one, by pressing one or the other of the function keys. If the user indicates that deletion should be effected, the old entry (short code, telephone number and free format prompt) is deleted and a prompt for entry of the new short code is displayed, whereupon the new entry is made as described above. If the user indicates that he does not wish to delete the old displayed entry, the microprocessor 30 searches for and displays the short code of the next oldest dialled date stamp, such procedure being repeated until the user decides that the entry found can be deleted to make room for the new one. Figure 4 shows the routine called up when a single call is to be dialled. The microprocessor 30 determines that a single call is required by detecting depression of an appropriate one of the function keys and reads OMPI the entry that the user thereafter makes. The autodialler 10 is capable of dialling in response to the entry of a short code or the entry of a full telephone number. It distinguishes between them by detecting whether the first character entered is a letter or a number. If the entry is a telephone number, the microprocessor dials it. If the entry is a short code the microprocessor 30 looks up the telephone number associated with the short code and dials it. Also, it updates the associated 'date stamp'. Before applying a loop to the telephone line 22 to commence the dialling process, the autodialler 10 will check for the presence of ringing current on the line and for the presence of an off-hook condition of the telephone 20 or any associated extension telephone. Only if the result of each such test is negative (i.e. there is no incoming call and the telephone is not in use) will a loop be applied. After applying a loop, the autodialler looks for dialling tone on the line before commencing dialling. If the dialling tone is not received within (say) ten seconds, the loop is removed and re-applied (say) ten seconds later. If (say) three attempts fail to result in dialling tone being obtained, the autodialler will discontinue trying to dial and will enter a general fault reporting mode in which a fault code is displayed on the display 14 and the buzzer 36 is continuously sounded until a : cancel button is pressed or 30 seconds have elapsed. If the dialling tone is " received, the wording 'dialling in progress' is displayed on the display 14. If the call was dialled as the result of entry of a short code, the 'free format prompt' will also be displayed. The steps set forth in this paragraph are omitted from Figure 4 to avoid undue complication thereof. If dialling is accomplished but the number unobtainable tone is detected, the autodialler will display 'number unobtainable" on the display 14 and will clear down the call and try again 10 seconds later. If the second attempt is unsuccessful the line will be cleared down at once, and 'number unobtainable 1 will again be displayed on the display 14 and the buzzer 36 will be continuously sounded until the cancel button is pressed or 30 seconds have elapsed. Again, the foregoing steps are omitted from Figure 4 for the sake of clarity. Assuming . the number unobtainable tone is not detected, the microprocessor 30 monitors the telephone line 22 to see if the equipment engaged or line engaged tone is detected. If it is, it clears the line immediately, causes 'number engaged' to be displayed for 30 seconds, and then waits (e.g. for five minutes or so) and then dials the number again. If the engaged tone is not detected, the autodialler looks for ringing tone on the telephone line 22. If ringing tone is detected, the wording 'number ringing' is displayed, and if it is thereafter detected within 30 seconds that the called party is 'off -hook', that is to say that the call has been responded to, the autodialler indicates this to the caller by intermittently activating the buzzer 36 and displaying the wording 'number answered' and the free format prompt (e.g. name of person or department and/or extension number) on the display 14. The user (caller) is thus audibly advised that a connection has been established by activation of the buzzer 36, the sound of the buzzer in fact making it clear that his own call has been established rather than an incoming call received because an incoming call will activate the bell of the telephone 20 which will be audibly distinguishable from the sound of the buzzer 36. The display 14 indicates visually that the connection has been established and also provides the caller with a suitable prompt. If the user does not respond within 20 seconds, the call is cleared down. If the ringing tone is detected and the called party does not answer within 30 seconds, the wording 'no reply' is displayed for 30 seconds and the call is cleared down and re-dialled after 5 minutes. If no reply is obtained after three attempts, the wording 'no reply' is displayed and the buzzer 36 is sounded continuously until the cancel button is pressed or 30 seconds have elapsed. Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine employed by the autodialler for multiple autodialling, that is to say for dialling in turn a list of numbers selected at will by the user from those currently on store. To use this facility, the user indicates that multiple calls are required by pressing an appropriate one of the function keys and then keys in a list of the short codes and/or telephone numbers of the selected calls. The microprocessor 30 then looks up the telephone numbers of the short codes and queues the telephone numbers of all the calls on the list. It attempts to establish a connection with the telephone number at the head of the queue as described above with reference to Figure 4. If the attempt to establish the call is successful, the buzzer 36 and the display 14 are activated as for a single call. Additionally, the current telephone number is deleted from the queue. When the caller has finished his telephone conversation, as indicated by the handset of his telephone 20 being replaced, the autodialler is OMPI operative to dial the next number in the queue, optionally after a delay of a few minutes or so. If an attempt to establish any particular call is unsuccessful by virtue of detection of the engaged or number unobtainable tone or by the called party not answering, then instead of waiting five minutes the current telephone number is put back in the queue, not of course at the head, and the next number is dialled. It was assumed in the foregoing that the user has direct access to a telephone line. In the case of private automatic branch exchange (PABX) working, the autodialler 10 will be arranged to cater for external line access. Thus, any telephone number entered into the autodialler may have a symbol (e.g. the letter 'A' or simply a space) inserted to indicate that the autodialler has to wait at this point in the call for dialling tone, i.e. it has to initiate an access pause. For example, the telephone number 9A02013 81166 would indicate to the autodialler that, after dialling 9 to gain access to an external line, it has to wait for an external dialling tone before dialling the rest of the number. The access pause symbol may be contained at any position in the number, except that it should not be present at the first position, if it is a letter, to avoid confusion with a short code. Once an access pause commences, the autodialler will wait ten seconds for dialling tone. If the dialling tone is not received within ten seconds, the line is cleared down and a fresh attempt is made ten seconds later. Continuous repeat attempts will be made until an external line is successfully seized. The autodialler 10 is preferably designed to recognise an international call by detecting the international access code, which in the UK is '010'. The autodialler 10 will then dial the call as described above, but will not monitor the lines for tones returned from the distant exchange. Instead, as soon as dialling of the call has been completed, the autodialler 10 will display 'number dialled' on the display 14, together with the free format prompt or telephone number, and intermittently sound the buzzer 36 in the same way as if a domestic call had been answered. It is then up to the user to monitor the line for tones returned from the distant exchange.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A telephone autodialler that (i) comprises memory means and selector switch means enabling the selective entry into the memory means of a plurality of characters, (ii) is responsive to an entry command to store in the memory means both a short code and an associated telephone number entered by means of the selector switch means, and is also responsive to subsequent entry of the short code to cause dialling of the associated telephone number, and (iii) is capable of recognising 'ringing' and 'called party off-hook' conditi ons and is responsive to such conditions being present in that order after a number has been dialled to indicate to the user (caller) that a connection has been made. 2. An autodialler according to claim 1, wherein the selector switch means comprises alphanumeric selector switch means enabling the selective entry into the memory means of a plurality of letters and a plurality of numbers and the autodialler is capable of storing a said short code comprising at least one letter. 3. An autodialler according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said indication to the user is audible and is audibly distinguishable from an audible signal indicating receipt of an incoming call. 4. An autodialler according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, which is responsive to said entry command also to store in the memory means a group of characters entered by means of the selector switch means and is operative to display such group of characters. 5. An autodialler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is capable of recognising the 'engaged' condition and/or the 'no answer' condition and responsive thereto to 're-dial a called number after waiting for a predetermined period of time. OMPl_ 6. ' An autodialler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is responsive to the entry of a list of said short codes and/or of telephone numbers to establish a queue of telephone numbers and to dial them in turn. 7. An autodialler according to claim 6, which is operative to dial said numbers with a predetermined delay between the termination of one call and the dialling of the next. 8. An autodialler according to claim 6 or claim 7, which is capable of recognising the 'engaged' condition and/or the 'no answer' condition and responsive thereto to step to dialling the next number (if any) in the queue and to return the current (engaged) number to the queue for dialling later. 9. An autodialler according to any one of the preceding claims,whϊch is operative to store the time of the most recent occasion of use of each stored number and is responsive to the receipt of an entry command when there is no room in the memory means for a new entry to display the short code of that stored number which has not been called for longer than the other stored numbers whereby the user can decide whether to delete such number to make room for the new entry. 10. An autodialler according to claim 9, which is operative, if the user wishes not to effect such deletion, to display instead the short code of the next number not called for longer than the others so that the user can decide whether to delete that. 11. An autodialler according to any one of the preceding claims, which is operative on receipt of an instruction to dial a number to check that no incoming ringing current is being received and the associated telephone is 'on-hook' before proceeding to obey the instruction. 12. An autodialler according to any one of the preceding claims, which is responsive to a telephone number to be dialled containing a predetermined symbol to cause dialling of the number to be interrupted until a dialling signal is received. 13. An autodialler according to any one of the preceding claims, which is responsive to a telephone number to be dialled containing a digit group representing an international call to indicate to the caller when the number has been dialled whereby the caller then becomes responsible for monitoring the line for signals from the distant exchange. ~ ψ ouπ?

Inventors: BERE MICHAEL GEOFFREY, BERE, MICHAEL, GEOFFREY
Applicants: PUSHMAN HUGH ASS, HUGH PUSHMAN ASSOCIATES LIMITED
Application year: 1983
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: H04M1