Patent GB-842108-A (GB)
Title: An electrically operated reservation system for maintaining an inventory of accommodation
IPC: G06C29/00
Filed: 1956-12-28
Abstract: 842,108. Seat reservation systems. TELEREGISTER CORPORATION. Dec. 28, 1956, No. 39431/56. Class 106 (3). An electrical reservation system for maintaining an inventory of accommodation, comprises a cyclically scannable storage medium having recording sections for storing signals representing the availability of various classes of seats in a plurality of trains or other conveyances, each section comprising a plurality of channels which contain all the inventory information for the classes of seats in a certain train or other conveyance, transducer apparatus for writing in or reading out desired signals through scanning means, means for generating synchronizing pulses in timed relationship with scanning cycles, selector apparatus responsive to signals from enquiry stations as to the availability of one or more. seats in a particular class in a particular train and controlled by the synchronizing pulses for locating and scanning that set of channels of the storage medium where the desired information is stored and for scanning simultaneously all the channels of the located set, and means at the enquiry station responsive to answer-back signals from the transducer for indicating the results of the search. Seeker switching means is used to ensure that only one enquiry station at a time is connected with the common equipment. General.-The particular seat reservation system described comprises a number of continuously rotating drums on which recordings in the form of magnetized spots, hereinafter referred to as " bits," of positive or negative polarity have been set up by one or more master stations to represent available reservation seats of different classes for each train. Each ticket agent has a keyset coupled to the drums through circuits by which he can make (a) a check to determine what class of seats are available for a particular journey or part thereof on a particular date (within a limited period such as the ensuing thirty days), (b) determine whether a desired number of adjacent seats of a given class are available, (c) reserve up to five adjacent seats for a predetermined time, (d) indicate what seats have been sold, and (e) locate a record of a previous reservation and alter the record to indicate a sale or a cancellation. Master agent's sets, located at supervisory positions, are also coupled to the drums and can be used to perform operations (a), (b), (d) and (e), and also to (f) set up initial records of seating accommodation for different trains and different dates of departure, (g) process cancellations for the benefit of a clerically kept waiting list and (h) cause a diagram to be printed, with ticket numbers for each seat sold, such a diagram being given to the conductor of the train just prior to departure. Arrangement of the information on the magnetic recording drum.-Each seat, treated separately as an inventory item, requires a storage capacity of twelve successive rows of four digits, see rows 31 to 20 reading from top to bottom in Fig. 9, that is, 48 binary digits or bits. The bits are in four parallel tracks which together constitute a channel and each drum accommodates a considerable number of channels. The tracks may be spaced <SP>1</SP>/ 16  inch apart and contain 80 bits per inch of track. The bits are shown as + and - sign and if they represent binary digits then + = 1 and - = 0. Train diagram as initially set up by master agent.-The record begins with an index control signal + + + + (ICS) here called " New Train " and is repeated in the same channel each time the record of a new train begins. This signal in binary numbers is 1111 and according to the system described this is read as 31 since the bits relate to binary digit orders 24, 2<SP>2</SP>, 21, 2<SP>0</SP>, in a scanning point counter 49, Fig. 2. Such a starting point is marked 12/31 in Fig. 9. Rows 30 and 29 have bits denoting the train number, and the bits in rows 28 and 27 are kept up to date by the master agents to denote whether or not seats of any of eight different categories are available in any of the cars of an entire train. The bits in rows 26 and 25 denote a car number, and one class of seats in that particular car is then denoted by the bits in the next row 24. Rows 23 to 13 are for signals originating from the various agents' keysets according to transactions of three types, i.e. reservations, sales and cancellations respecting an individual space unit. Also recorded here is a reservation or sale number, the boarding point, the expiration date or hour for picking up a passenger's ticket after reserving space, instructions to the porter, or a signal covering a seat sale to a second customer for travel beyond the first customer's destination, and finally a code signal " Availability " in row 13 to denote the seat as unreserved, reserved or sold, and whether or not it is available for secondary sale. The " Availability " code is initially inserted by the master agent, but is automatically changed in accordance with transactions by the various selling agents. Since rows 23 to 13 inclusive are always used as a group to cover information items respecting an individual seat of a certain class similar groups then follow, there being one group for each seat of the same class in the same car and each group commences with an index control signal + - - - marked 12/24 " New space " in Fig. 9. When seats of the same class in the same car have been covered by these groups then, if there is a different seating class in that car, a further number of groups for these seats then follow the change in class being denoted by an ICS + - - + marked 12/25 " New Category " in Fig. 9. When all the seats in one car have thus been allowed for, the record commences again with respect to the next car of the train and the change is denoted by an ICS + - + + marked 12/27 " New Car." When the seats in all the cars have thus been allowed for the record for that train ceases and information regarding a different train then commences with the specified signal + + + + marked 12/31 " New Train." The above four different index control signals required for resetting the scanning point counter 49 were chosen as binary numbers 11111, 11011, 11001 and 11000 so as to be invariable with respect to the binary order 23. Co-ordination of the basic components.-Each agent has a number of train plates 21, Fig. 2, notched along their edges as shown. When a customer is interested in a particular train the agent selects an appropriate notched plate 21 and inserts its relevant edge into a slot in his keyset and then moves a shutter on the keyset to obscure one of two trains references on the plate 21 above the notches. The notches and the movement of the shutter actuate switches that set up the code elements of a signal which, when supplemented by signals set up by date keys 14, are used for selecting a record channel for scanning a particular train schedule on the drums 33 and 33a. Other train selections can be made by inserting other edges of the plate 21, or other plates, into the slot of the keyset or by turning the opposite side of the plate to face the operator before insertion. Each plate thereby covers 16 different trains since the shutter must always be actuated to eliminate one of two trains once the plate has been inserted into the key set. The signals are utilized in a relay group 31 to cause a certain one of fifty-eight gang relays 36 to close four circuits for connecting four reading heads on a wanted channel on a particular drum 33, 33a, to a group of four read amplifiers 37, or alternatively, for connecting the same heads, at times when operating as writing heads, to four write amplifiers 38. Two additional scanning heads are also connected to the circuit, the first for scanning synchronizing tracks to furnish a starting pulse (1/R pulse) once per revolution of the drum, and the second to read out a train of counting or gating pulses (sync. pulses) on the drum. The latter are shaped to be used as very brief " spikes " for all gating requirements. Having selected the appropriate channel, the agent has to depress various keys on his keyset to initiate any one of the functions (a) to (e) listed above. These other keys numbered 15, 10-11-12, 16-17-18, 20, 24, 19, 25, 26, 27, in Fig. 2, are connected to some programming equipment 32 comprising numerous relays and electronic gates which are caused to function in various sequences in executing an order, the equipment comprising known parts adapted to the particular needs of the system. The output circuits from the programming equipment 32 are used for the selection and control of certain transient data storage units of the form known as " digit registers " or " shift registers," amongst which are those marked 39 to 48 inclusive in Fig. 2. From the four separate read amplifiers 37 there is a continuous outflow of signals associated with the counter 49 representing information and this information is also distributed selectively to the transient data storage units. Suitable gating means enables a coincidence between certain signals in the data storage units to cause information to be sent back to lamps 24, 28, 29, 30 on the agents keyset and also to a teleprinter 56 near the keyset via a temporary storage unit 51 and an encoding transmitter 55 respectively. If the agent wishes to record information on the drums, the actual timing of the output from the digit registers for write-in purposes is under the control of the counter 49 in co-operating with a matrix 60, Fig. 3, these units serving to locate the proper bit space along selected tracks whereon to apply the register-stored information. Scanning point binary counter 49.-The counter 49 comprises five denominational orders namely 2<SP>4</SP>, 2<SP>3</SP>, 2<SP>2</SP>, 2<SP>1</SP> and 2<SP>0</SP>, Fig. 3, and the tube complement of each order comprises an arrangement of two pentodes and four triodes, the la