AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALING APPARATUS

Abstract: There are disclosed automatic telephone dialing method and apparatus that can be commonly used in a plurality of countries for telephone-related devices such as telephone sets. According to the automatic telephone dialing method, control data for controlling various signals to be delivered to a circuit for placing a call are stored in a storage unit, and the signals are issued while their timing is controlled by the control data stored in the storage unit at the time of initiating a call. The automatic telephone dialing apparatus is com­ posed of a storage unit for storing control data for controlling the timing of signals to be delivered to a circuit in initiating a call, an input unit for entering an address, a dialing signal issuing unit for issuing a dialing signal to the circuit, and a control unit for controlling the timing of delivery of the dialing signal according to the control data stored in the storage unit when issuing the dialing signal to the circuit through the dialing signal issuing unit and also for controlling the storage unit, the input unit, and the dialing signal issuing unit.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to an automatic telephone dialing apparatus for devices such as telephone sets in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. 2. Description of the Related Art There have heretofore been well known in the art telephone sets and other telephonic devices such as facsimile transmitters which can initiate a call to a desired party by specifying an abbreviated address to read out the corresponding full address of the party. These devices have different specifications in different countries since the telephone systems vary in standards, criteria, and control systems from country to country. Except for Japan and United States where the telephone systems are identical, it has been necessary for suppliers to design, manufacture, and supply telephonic devices with automatic telephone dialers to meet the specifications of each country concerned. As a consequence, the number of designing and manufacturing steps and the cost of manufacture have been increased, and especially the cost of devices to be exported to those countries which import only a small number of such devices sometimes becomes prohibitively high that they can no longer be supplied. Document EP-A-0 075 120 describes a two-part dialing apparatus, with one part being stationary and the other part being movable and storing a variety of telephone numbers as specified by the user of the apparatus. The user can take the movable part to other places where similar stationary dialing apparatus parts are installed. Then, the user can use this movable part and attach it to the stationary part at the other place whereupon an automatic updating of the necessary local call numbers of local networks and so on takes place in order to store correct telephone numbers adapted to the new place of calling. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic telephone dialing apparatus designed for common use in different countries in enabling a telephonic device such as a telephone set connected to a private branch exchange to initiate a call to a telephonic device connected to a private branch exchange or a telephonic device connected to a PTT circuit, or enabling telephonic devices coupled to a PTT circuit, or enabling telephonic devices coupled to a PTT circuit to call each other. This object is solved by the automatic telephone dialing apparatus according to claim 1. Accordingly, an automatic telephone dialing apparatus of the present invention is composed of an input unit for entering various items of control information used in placing a call, a storage unit for storing data, a control unit for controlling the entire operation of the apparatus, and a unit for issuing a dialing signal. The storage unit stores reference time values for determining the timing at which various signals are to be delivered to a circuit in placing a call, and also stores abbreviated address information, etc. The input unit can enter information to be stored in the storage unit and also a calling command. The dialing signal issuing unit serves to deliver the dialing signal to a telephone circuit. In operation, data items such as reference time values are stored in the storage unit, and when establishing a call, a full call address or an abbreviated address is entered through the input unit. Then, the control unit controls the specified call address according to the reference time values stored in the storage unit, and issues the call address to the circuit through the dialing signal issuing unit. Since the automatic telephone dialing apparatus of the invention controls the delivery timing of the call address according to the data such as reference time values stored in the storage unit, the apparatus can easily be suited to the communication environments and standards of different countries, and can be utilized in various telephone-related devices such as facsimile transmitters. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram explanatory of automatic telephone dialing method and apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process of programming calling command information, employed in the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the timing at which signals are issued when a call is initiated from a private branch exchange to a PTT circuit; FIG. 4 is a table of values prescribed for reference times T1 through T6, tf in various countries; and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing data items stored in a storage unit in a pattern corresponding to the table of FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows in block form an arrangement employed for explaining automatic telephone dialing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. An input unit 1 serves to enter data to be stored and calling information and also to command a call. A control unit 2 controls operation of the overall arrangement. A storage unit 3 serves to store reference time values which determine the delivery timing of various signals to be delivered to a telephone circuit 5 when establishing a call, abbreviated address information, and other data. A dialing signal is issued to the circuit 5 by a dialing signal issuing unit 4. In operation, reference time values indicating the timing of signals to the circuit 5 are entered in advance through the input unit 1 and stored in the storage unit 3. These data items are normally stored in the storage unit 3 at the time of manufacturing the apparatus, but may be entered through the input unit 1 into the storage unit 3 as required. For an abbreviated address calling capability, party call addresses corresponding to abbreviated addresses are stored in respective addresses in the storage unit 3. When the call address of a party to be called is specified through the input unit 1 to place a call, the control unit 2 successively fetches the various reference time values stored in the storage unit 3, controls, according to the reference time values, the timing of delivery of various signals to be delivered, and then issues these signals to the circuit 5 through the dialing signal issuing unit 4. As a result, communication with the called party can now be started. FIG. 2 is illustrative of a process of programming calling command information, employed in the embodiment of the present invention. Designated at R is a symbol indicating that succeeding numbers are delivered to a private branch exchange (PBX), and Xp1 through Xpm are the addresses of parties connected to the PBX. If an address is a special number, then it represents that it will be delivered via the PBX to a PTT circuit. Denoted at Q indicates that succeeding numbers are delivered to the PTT circuit, X1 through Xn are telephone numbers, normally of six or seven figures, of parties on the PTT circuit, and P is a pause (normally ranging from 1 second to 3 seconds) which is inserted as required between items of information. Therefore, FIG. 2(1) shows that a call is placed to another party coupled to the PBX, FIG. 2(2) illustrates a call from the PBX to a party on the PTT circuit, and FIG. 2(3) shows a call from a terminal connected to the PTT circuit to another terminal of the PTT circuit. The call addresses are specified by the input unit 1 (FIG. 1) at the time of establishing calls, or are previously stored in the storage unit 3 and then read out of the storage unit 3 when specified by corresponding abbreviated addresses. FIG. 3 shows the timing of delivery of signals when a call is initiated from the PBX to a party on the PTT, as illustrated in FIG. 2(2). Signals (indicated by the thick lines) on the lefthand side of the vertical dot-and-dash line in FIG. 3 are produced within the PBX, while signals on the righthand side are produced within the PTT circuit. Time periods T1 through T6 vary from country to country, and are stored as a parameter table in the storage unit 3 (FIG. 1). In this embodiment, these data items are stored in a ROM, and can be stored or altered in the factory or as required when the installation is serviced. The time period T1 is a time prescribed in respective countries for detecting a circuit current. If no circuit current is detected within the time T1, then the subsequent sequence must be interrupted. The time period T2 is a pause or idle time, prescribed in each country, prior to the detection of a dial tone. The time period T3 is a dial tone detecting time prescribed in each country; if no dial tone is detected within this time, then subsequent sequence must be interrupted. The time period T4 is a dial tone detecting time-out, prescribed in each country, after the PTT circuit has been connected to the PBX; if no dial tone is detected within this time, then subsequent sequence must be interrupted. The time period T4' is a time, prescribed in each country, requiring that all address or telephone number figures be dialed within this time. The time period T5 is a time, prescribed in each country, which requires that the subsequent sequence be interrupted should no circuit current in each circuit be detected within this time. The time period T6, for which various times are prescribed from country to country, is a time-out after the final address figure has been dialed; a busy tone is detected within this time, and when the busy tone is detected, the subsequent sequence must be interrupted immediately. The time period tf is a transient time, prescribed in each country, inserted before and after the detection of a circuit current in each interval between adjacent address figures. Operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The times T1 through T6 and tf are stored in the storage unit 3. The values of the times T1 through T6 and tf, and whether these times are required or not, vary from country to country. When the user lifts the handset off its hook, an off-hook signal S2 goes high, and at the same time loop detection is effected and a device terminate signal S4 goes high. Then, when the address or telephone number of a party to be called is dialed in the format shown in FIG. 2(2), dial pulses S1 are delivered dependent on the number Xp1 through Xpm of one or more figures which are employed for establishing a call from the PBX to the PTT circuit (the signals in the PBX are indicated by the thick lines in FIG. 3). Then, the telephone number X1 through Xn of the other party in the PTT circuit is issued following the symbol Q. In issuing the dial pulses corresponding to the telephone number X1 through Xn, the control unit 2 reads out the reference times T1 through T6 and tf stored in the storage unit 3, and controls the delivery timing of the signals for issuing the dialing signals from the dialing signal issuing unit 4 to the PTT circuit according to the timing chart of FIG. 3. The pause P is inserted as desired before and after each address or telephone number figure, and the pause time is set where the pause P is inserted. FIG. 4 is a table showing the values prescribed in countries of major concern for the times T1 through T6 and tf illustrated in FIG. 3. Denoted at A, B, C, D, E, ... X are countries, and the values of T1 through T6 (in sec.) and tf (in msec.) are reference times shown in FIG. 2 and prescribed according to the communication standards in the respective countries. For the country A, for example, the time T1 for detecting the circuit current is equal to or shorter than 4 seconds, the pause time T2 prior to the detection of a dial tone is not specified, the sum of the dial tone detecting time T3 and the circuit current detecting time T1 is the dial tone detecting time-out T4, equal to or shorter than 20 seconds, after the PTT circuit has been connected to the PBX, the circuit ;current detecting time T5 is equal to a time obtained by subtracting twice the transient time tf (ranging from 10 to 100 msec.) from a value in the range of from 0.8 to 1.2 seconds, and the time-out after the final telephone number figure has been dialed is equal to or shorter than 60 seconds. For the other countries B, C, ..., X, the values specified in the table are prescribed. (The bar "-" in the table means that no value is prescribed.) The values in the final line of the table indicates the ranges of respective reference times prescribed in the countries given in the table. FIG. 5 represents the values stored in the storage unit 3 for the respective countries. The storage unit 3 may comprise a variety of memories, but comprises a ROM according to the present embodiment. The required data items are written in the ROM at the time of manufacturing the apparatus. Instead of the ROM, the storage unit 3 may comprise a read/write memory so that data can be written as desired into the storage unit 3 through the input unit 1. For the country E in FIG. 5, the time T4' is used in place of the time T4. A DIP switch is mounted on a substrate as a parameter for specifying such data and is employed to vary the meaning of the values. Where there is no reference time prescribed, "0" is stored in the storage unit 3. A desired country can be selected by varying a program patch, operating the DIP switch, or by various other means. The arrangement of the invention has an automatic redialing capability. More specifically, an interval for redelivering dialing signals and the number of repetitions or frequency of such dialing signal redelivery operations are stored in the storage unit 3 as shown in the two rightmost columns in FIG. 5. When a called party cannot be reached because of the circuit condition or because the circuit of the called party is busy, the stored interval and repetitive number are read for automatic redialing operation. While in the above embodiment a call is given from the PBX to the PTT circuit, the calls such as shown in FIG. 2 at (1) and (3) may be established in a similar manner. Various signals in the PBX circuit, rather than the PTT circuit, may also be controlled in their delivery timing by storing reference times in the storage unit. With the present invention, as described above, an automatic telephone dialer and a device having an automatic telephone dialing capability can easily be realized to meet the communication environments and standards of various countries. Therefore, the present invention is advantageous in that telephonic devices designed for use in different countries can economically be manufactured. The present invention can be incorporated in all types of network-controlled devices such as telephone-related devices, key telephone, facsimile, and simultaneous transmissive communication.

Claims: An automatic telephone dialing apparatus for delivering signals to a circuit in placing a call while controlling the timing of delivery of the signals according to a plurality of stored reference time values, said automatic telephone dialing apparatus comprising: (a) a storage unit (3) for storing control data which control the timing of the signals to be delivered to the circuit in establishing a call; (b) an input unit (1) for specifying an address and entering the control data into said storage unit (3); (c) a dialing signal issuing unit (4) for issuing dialing signals to the circuit; and (d) a control unit (2) for controlling the timing of delivery of the dialing signals according to the control data stored in said storage unit (3) and also for controlling said storage unit (3), said input unit (1), and said dialing signal issuing unit (4), characterized in that reference time values for a plurality of countries are stored in the storage unit (3) and in that a selecting means for selecting the reference time values for a desired country is provided, said selected reference time values being used by the control unit (2) for controlling the timing of delivery of the dialing signals. An automatic telephone dialing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the full addresses corresponding to a plurality of abbreviated addresses are stored in said storage unit (3), said control unit (2) being operable to read a corresponding full address out of said storage unit (3) in response to designation of an abbreviated address through said input unit (1) and to deliver the full address while controlling the timing of delivery thereof according to the control data stored in said storage unit (3). An automatic telephone dialing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control data stored in said storage unit (3) include signal reference time values based on the standards of a private branch circuit and a PTT circuit. An automatic telephone dialing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control data stored in said storage unit (3) include the frequency and interval of redialing operations, and when a call is not completed, the address of the called party is redialed based on said stored data. An automatic telephone dialing apparatus according to claim 1, including at least one changeover switch for varying the meaning of the data stored in said storage unit (3) dependent on the condition of said changeover switch.

Inventors: HASE, KAZUO C/O OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD., NAKANO, KAZUO C/O OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Applicants: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1985
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: H04M1