Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4920558?dq=6,957,233
Timestamp: 2016-07-01 01:17:05
Document Index: 96181456

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 10', 'ART 10', 'ART 10', 'ART 10', 'ART 10', 'ART 10']

Patent US4920558 - Method and apparatus for downloading speech files - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA telecommunications system and method of operation are provided which allows for the recording and downloading of message prompts to a telephone (80) from a remote location. A message is recorded by a recorder (70) and the recorded message is digitized by an audio digitizer (72). The messages are organized...http://www.google.com/patents/US4920558?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4920558 - Method and apparatus for downloading speech filesAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4920558 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/300,835Publication dateApr 24, 1990Filing dateJan 23, 1989Priority dateJan 23, 1989Fee statusPaidPublication number07300835, 300835, US 4920558 A, US 4920558A, US-A-4920558, US4920558 A, US4920558AInventorsJohn A. Hird, Lindsey D. Owen, Michael R. RiceOriginal AssigneeIntellicall, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (2), Non-Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (18), Classifications (16), Legal Events (25) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and apparatus for downloading speech files
US 4920558 AAbstract
A telecommunications system and method of operation are provided which allows for the recording and downloading of message prompts to a telephone (80) from a remote location. A message is recorded by a recorder (70) and the recorded message is digitized by an audio digitizer (72). The messages are organized into formatted message files and stored in a storage medium (74). A host computer (76) transmits the message files through a standard telephone connection to a particular telephone station (80). The messages are used by the telephone station (80) to prompt users of the telephone during the processing of telephone calls.
1. A system for programming a local telecommunications device for use with a telecommunications network comprising:prompts to be used by the telecommunications device to inform a user of the telecommunications device and a called party; a formatting device for organizing said prompts into a formatted file; a transmitter for transmitting said formatted file to the telecommunications device over the telecommunications network; and a message memory resident in the telecommunications device for storing said formatted file such that said prompts may be selectively converted into messages and used to inform the user of the telecommunications device and the called party during the completion of telephone calls from telecommunications device. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said formatting device further comprises a digitizer for digitizing said prompts prior to organizing said prompts into said formatted file.
3. An apparatus for processing telephone calls from a localized telecommunications device, comprising:a recorder for recording prompts to be used by the telecommunications device to inform a user of the telecommunications device and a called party; a formatting device for organizing said prompts into a formatted file; a transmitter for transmitting said formatted file to the telecommunications device through a telecommunications network; a message memory resident in the telecommunications device for storing said formatted file such that said prompts may be selectively converted into messages and used to inform the user of the telecommunications device and the called party during the completion of telephone calls from the telecommunications device; circuitry at the telecommunications device for receiving destination determining information input by a user desiring to place a collect call; transmitter circuitry at the telecommunications device for transmitting access format information from the telecommunications device to a telecommunications network to establish contact with the called party; circuitry at the telecommunications device for selecting one of said prompts from said message memory; transmission circuitry at the telecommunications device for transmitting said one of said prompts to the called party to inform the called party of the desired collect call; detector circuitry at the telecommunications device for detecting a response from the called party; and circuitry associated with the telecommunications device for establishing a communication path between the user and the called party in response to the detection of a predetermined response from the called party. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the telecommunications device comprises a pay telephone station.
5. An apparatus for processing a telephone call from a localized telecommunications device, comprising:a recorder for recording prompts to be used by the telecommunications device to inform a user of the telecommunications device and a called party; a formatting device for organizing said prompts into a formatted file; a transmitter for transmitting said formatted file to the telecommunications device through a telecommunications network; a message memory resident in the telecommunications device for storing said formatted file such that said prompts may be selectively converted into messages and used to inform the user of the telecommunications device and the called party during the completion of telephone calls from the telecommunications device; circuitry at the telecommunications device for creating and storing a billing record associated with the call containing information relating to the identity of an appropriate party to be billed for the call and information relating to the billing of the call; and circuitry for transferring the billing record from the telecommunications device to a storage unit to enable the subsequent billing of charges associated with the call to said appropriate party. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the telecommunications device comprises a pay telephone station.
7. An apparatus for processing a telephone call placed by a user of a localized telecommunications device through a telecommunications network, comprising:a recorder for recording prompts to be used by the telecommunications device to inform a user of the telecommunications device and a called party; a formatting device for organizing said prompts into a formatted file; a transmitter for transmitting said formatted file to the telecommunications device through a telecommunications network; a message memory resident in the telecommunications device for storing said formatted file such that said prompts may be selectively converted into messages and used to inform the user of the telecommunications device and the called party during the completion of telephone calls from the telecommunications device; circuitry at the telecommunications device for receiving a destination telephone number and billing format information for the call from the user, said billing format information indicating an account to be billed for the call which does not correspond to an account associated with the telecommunications device; conversion circuitry at the telecommunications device for changing said billing format information to an access format recognizable by the telecommunications network as indicating a call to be billed to said account associated with the telecommunications device; and circuitry at the telecommunications device for placing the call using said access format and said destination telephone number. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the telecommunications device comprises a pay telephone station.
9. A programmable local telecommunications device to be utilized with a telecommunications network by a user to communicate with a called party, comprising:a message generator contained within the device for imparting audio information to the user and the called party; input circuitry for the user to input digital information into the device; an electroacoustic transducer for the user to input audio information into the device; circuitry responsive to said digital information input by the user for causing a connection path to be established from the user to the called party through the telecommunication network; a detector for detecting line status information received from the telecommunications network; a message memory for storing said information to be imparted to the user and the called party; a message recorder for recording said audio information received from the user; a message controller responsive to said digital information input by the user and said line status information for selecting one message from a plurality of messages containing said information, said messages including prerecorded messages and messages recorded from the user; a message player responsive to said message controller for converting said one message into audible signals to be heard by the user and the called party; and a recorder controller responsive to said digital information input by the user and said line status information for activating said message recorder. 10. The programmable localized telecommunications device of claim 9, and further comprising:a programmable controller responsive to information input by a programmer for activating a message loader, said message loader operable to record said plurality of messages and to store said plurality of messages in said message memory; and a message receiver responsive to said programming controller for receiving said plurality of messages 11. The programmable localized telecommunications device of claim 10, wherein said information input by the programmer is input through the telecommunications network and said message receiver receives said plurality of messages through the telecommunications network.
12. The programmable localized telecommunications device of claim 11, wherein the device comprises a pay telephone station.
13. A method for programming a programmable local telecommunications device comprising the steps of:recording prompts to be used by the device to inform a user of the device and a called party; organizing the prompts into a formatted file; transmitting the formatted file to the device over a telecommunications network; and storing the formatted file in memory resident in the device such that the prompts in the formatted file may be selectively converted into messages and utilized to inform and prompt the user of the device and the called party during the completion of telephone calls from the device. 14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising the step of digitizing the prompts prior to said step of organizing the prompts into a formatted file.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the device comprises a pay telephone station.
16. A method for processing a telephone call placed by a user of a local telecommunications device through a telecommunications network comprising the steps of:recording prompts to be used by the device to inform the user of the device and a called party; organizing the prompts into a formatted file; transmitting the formatted file to the device through the telecommunications network; storing the formatted file in the device such that the prompts may be selectively converted into messages and used to inform the user of the device and the called party during the completion of the call from the device; receiving destination determining information input by the user in order to place a collect call; transmitting access format information from the device to the telecommunications network to establish contact with the called party; selecting one of the prompts stored in the device; transmitting the one of the prompts selected to the called party to inform the called party to the desired collect call; detecting at the device a response from the called party; and establishing a communication path between the user and the called party in response to the detection of a predetermined response from the called party. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a pay telephone station.
18. A method for processing a telephone call placed by a user of a local telecommunications device through a telecommunications network comprising the steps of:recording prompts to be used by the device to inform the user of the device and a called party; organizing the prompts into a formatted file; transmitting the formatted file to the device through the telecommunications network; storing the formatted file in the device such that the prompts may be selectively converted into messages and used to inform the user of the device and the called party during the completion of the call from the device; creating and storing a billing record associated with the call containing information relating to the identity of an appropriate party to be billed for the call and information relating to the billing of the call; and transferring the billing record from the device to a storage medium to enable the subsequent billing of charges associated with the call to the appropriate party. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the device comprises a pay telephone station.
20. A method for processing a telephone call placed by a user of a local telecommunications device through a telecommunications network comprising the steps of:recording prompts to be used by the device to inform the user of the device and a called party; organizing the prompts into a formatted file; transmitting the formatted file to the device through the telecommunications network; storing the formatted file in the device such that the prompts may be selectively converted into messages and used to inform the user of the device and the called party during the completion of the call from the device; receiving at the device a destination telephone number and billing format information for the call from the user, the billing format information indicating an account to be billed for the call which does not correspond to an account associated with the local telecommunications device; changing at the device the billing format information to an access format recognizable by the telecommunications network as indicating a call to be billed to the account associated with the local telecommunications device; and connecting the call through the telecommunications network u sing the access format and the destination telephone number. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the device comprises a pay telephone station.
This invention relates in general to the field of telecommunications systems. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus which enhances the functionality of a local telecommunications station through the remote generation and downloading of speech files used by the station in processing telephone calls.
The private ownership of pay telephone technology has been an added source of revenue for a variety of businesses for some time. The actual cash collection from the coins deposited by users of pay telephone stations is the most obvious source of such revenues. More recently, due to technological advances and changes in the business climate, businesses have been able to add income from long distance telephone calls. With the use of an automated operator service (AOS), a private owner of a telephone can bill users of the telephone for both inter-LATA and intra-LATA long distance calls.
While an AOS can generate revenue where none existed before, they are very inefficient. An AOS usually operates from a central office. Hence, in the case of an intra-LATA call, the call may have to travel hundreds of miles and finally terminate a few miles from its origination point. The unnecessary miles traveled through the network are expensive and this cost is usually borne by the user, through higher long distance rates, or by the owner of the telephone through lower commissions.
In addition, private owners of pay telephones have heretofore lost a considerable amount of revenue because of their inability to charge for collect, credit card calls, and calls placed using a variety of other forms of billing access formats made on their pay telephones, Although these types of long distance calls have been made on the privately owned and maintained pay telephone, the primary telephone companies have reaped the benefit of placing these calls.
A telephone which could actively interact with a patron through the use of message prompts could accomplish this desired automation. If a particular telephone station could be programmed remotely as to the functionality of the particular station and the content of the messages, the flexibility and convenience of a telecommunications system encompassing the station could be greatly enhanced.
Therefore a need has arisen for a telecommunications systems which can program a particular telephone station from a remote location.
In accordance with the present invention, a telecommunications station and method of operation are provided which perform similar functions as the telephone company or as an AOS, but do so locally and automatically. More specifically, a system is provided which is interactive with the calling party and the called party through the use of prompting messages. These messages can supply information or prompting to the users of the system and can thereby automatically complete calls that would otherwise require the services of a live operator.
Specifically, a method and system are provided which use prompting messages which are stored locally in the telecommunications station. These messages are played for the calling party to prompt him to take the appropriate steps to place a collect call, a credit card call or a call using a variety of other billing access formats. The local station records the duration of the call and the call and other pertinent information in a billing record stored in the station. This billing record may later be retrieved for use in billing, for example the calling party in the case of a call placed using a billing account number or the called party in the case of a collect call.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a telecommunications system is provided which enables the programming of a particular telephone station from a remote location. Specifically, a method and system are provided which can record and format the desired message prompts to be used by the telephone station. The formatted prompts are then downloaded into the particular telephone station through the standard telecommunications network.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram which shows the general organization of a localized telecommunications device such as a pay telephone station constructed according to the teaching of the present invention. Throughout the description of the present invention, use of the terms "pay telephone", "telephone", "station" or similar terms should be construed in their broadest sense. The teachings of the present invention are applicable to all publicly accessible telecommunications device which charge for each call made whether or not the particular device has actual coin receipt capability. The aforementioned terms when used herein are intended to include all such telecommunications devices.
A call record memory 11 is connected to system10 and is used to store the billing records of completed calls. These billing records can include the type of the call that was placed, the price of the call, and the duration of the call. Microprocessor control system 10 uses a real time clock 12 to determine what time a telephone call is originated to determine if any discounts are applicable and to time the duration of the call. Operational software for the system is stored in a program memory 14. Program memory 14 may comprise, for example, two 32K�8 static RAMS which are battery backed up to make the memory non-volatile.
Keypad and hookswitch 24 comprises two separateinputs to microprocessor control system 10. The hookswitch input of keypad hookswitch 24 indicates to microprocessor control system 10 whether the handset of the telephone is on or off hook. When the handset is signaled to be on the hook, the microprocessor control system 10 can terminate the call. When the hookswitch input signals microprocessor control system 10 that the handset is off the hook, microprocessor control system 10 starts monitoring the keypad input 24 and the coin acceptor 20. Keypad and hookswitch 24 does not directly control the connection of the local telephone with the telecommunications network. The keypad input of keypad and hookswitch 24 is a standard 3�4 matrix of switches used by the patron to input data into the telephone.
Mouthpiece 32 comprises a standard microphone contained in the telephone handset also including controlled earpiece 26, as well as a system of enabling switches and amplification circuitry. Microphone status detector 33 is used to monitor voice activity at the microphone. The microprocessor control system 10 can monitor this detector 33 in part to determine the status of the call. Speech synthesizer 34 comprises memory and control circuits which contain custom recorded speech phrases. Microprocessor control system 10 can select which of these phrases to use and play these phrases over the telephone line or into earpiece 26. Speech synthesizer 34 may comprise a General Instrument SP0264. The messages generated by speech synthesizer 34 may be used to prompt a user of the terminal or a called party. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, atelephone terminal with video capabilities may generate simultaneous video prompts in conjunction with the speech messages. A further embodiment of the present invention uses exclusively video messages to prompt the user of the local station.
Intellistar transmit module 40 further comprises a summer 58 which takes playback audio signals from speech record playback generator 44, audio signals from mouthpiece 32, audio signals from call status tone generator 56 and transmitted signals from modem 30 and sums them together and outputs them to transmit line 102.A second summer device 60 sums the signal on transmit line 102, signals from DTMF generator 36 (FIG. 1) mouthpiece 32 and speech synthesizer 34 (FIG. 1) and outputs the combined signals to telephone line interface 38.
Once the patron has entered enough coins, microprocessor control system 10 activates speech synthesizer 34 and audio switches 54 to play a speech message which thanks the patron. The microprocessor control system 10 then uses the telephone line interface 38 to take the telephone line off the hook and causes DTMF generator 36 to dial the number. Microprocessor control system 10 then activates call status detector 28 to determine when the call destination has answered the call. When call status detector 28 determines that the call has been answered, microprocessor control system 10 activates audio switches 54 to establish an audio path though telephone line interface 38 to controlled earpiece 26. Microprocessor control system 10 also then activates mouthpiece 32 and establishes a transmission path through telephone line interface 38. When the patron replaces the handset on hookswitch 24, microprocessor control system 10 then terminates the call by taking the telephone line interface 38 back on hook. The system of FIGS. 1 and 2 also can be used to complete a variety of other type telephone calls, such as credit card or collect calls, as will be subsequently described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the capability of the system constructed according to the teaching of the present invention to download speech files to be used bythe telephone to prompt or give information to the patron during ordinary use of the telephone. FIG. 3 shows the recording process, the digitization process and the downloading process of the speech files into the telephone. It further shows how the telephone uses the downloaded speech files.
As shown on FIG. 3, the speech process starts by recording a human voice on magnetic tape via a tape recorder 70. Tape recorder 70 plays the recorded audio signals into a audio digitizer 72. Audio digitizer 72 takes the analog audio signals recorded and digitizes those signals and further organizes the digitized signals into speech files. The audio digitizer 72 may use a Toshiba 8830 digitizer to digitize the data and organize the speech files in an adaptive delta PCM format. The speech files are then transferred to a disk file 74 which may be physically transferred to a host computer 76. Host computer 76 may be an IBM PC style computer which is connected through telephone lines to a central office 78. Host computer 76, by running a special program called INET, can then download the speech file data through the telephone lines. INET is a commercially available software package from INTELLICALL INC. which allows the speech files to be downloaded to a particular pay telephone through central office 78. Although FIG. 3 shows host computer 76 being connected to an individual telephone 80 through central office 78, central office 78 not a necessary part of the data flow. Host computer 76 can be directly connected to any individual telephone 80.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the validation interface computer system. This aspect of the invention is used by a telephone in the field to call in and connect to a high speed data link in order to validate a telephone billing account number that has been input by a patron. Individual telephone 80, shown in FIG. 4, calls in to a number which is stored in rate memory 16 (FIG. 1) through the central office 78 to connect to a validation interface computer system 84. Individual telephone 80 then uses modem 30 to communicate with a similar modem contained within the validation interface computer system 84. Validation interface computer system 84 then requests the telephone to transmit the information about the call. This information includes the destination number, thetelephone billing account number and the identification number of the telephone. The validation interface computer system 84 has the capability to handle up to 32 incoming telephones.
Microprocessor 10a has its inverse HALT signal connected to a +5 volt power supply. Microprocessor 10a is also connected to an inverse RESET signal. The inverse RESET signal is generated by the power supply and is used to hold all the logic systems in a reset state until the power supply has stabilized. The TSC signal is connectedthrough a resistor 100 to ground. An inverse NMI signal is connected to +5 volt power supply through resistor 102. An inverse FIRQ signal is also connected from microprocessor 10a to a +5 volt supply through a resistor 104. An inverse IRQ signal is also connected to a +5 volt supply through a resistor 106. The inverse FIRQ and inverse IRQ signals are also used in other places in the telephone and will be represented by the same symbols throughout the schematic diagrams shown in FIGS. 5a through 7b. The inverse R/W signal, the E signal, and the Q signal serve to couple microprocessor 10a with a custom gate array 10d. Microprocessor control 10a also drives address lines A0-A15 and data lines D0-D7.
Address lines A0-A12 and data lines D0-D7 couple microprocessor 10a to rate memory 16 as shown in FIG. 5a. Rate memory 16 may comprise a Dallas Semiconductor DS1225 battery backed static RAM. This non-volatile memory device is capable of being reprogrammed remotely and stores rate information and location specific operating parameters. Rate memory 16 uses inverse WE signal which is connected to the inverse WE pin on the chip. Rate memory 16 also uses OE signal which is connected to the inverse OE pin on the rate memory 16 chip. Inverse EEROM signal is connected to the inverse CS pin on rate memory chip 16. These signals all serve toenable rate memory 16 and are all generated by gate array 10d.
BA14 is a control signal which is transmitted by gate array 10d to a static RAM 11/14a which is shown on FIG. 5b. Inverse EPROM is a chip select signal generated by gate array 10d and transmitted to kernel memory 18. Inverse EEROM and inverse RAM are similar chip select signals transmitted to rate memory 16 and scratch pad memory chip 10f, respectively. The inverse OE signal is generated by gate array 10d to select these three elements as well as other input/output elements of the system. The 68XO signal is a chip select signal generated by gate array 10d and transmitted to a counter timer 10b and a universal asynchronous receipt transmit device 10c (UART). The CK306 signal is a clock signal also generated by gate array 10d and transmitted to counter timer 10b. The inverse EXPBUS signal is a control signal transmitted to an expansion bus 10g. The inverse BRAM1 and inverse BRAM2 signals are control signals used to enable RAM chips 11/14a and 11/14b. The inverse RDST and inverse CMDL, signals are control signals generated by the gate array 10d and transmitted to the call status detector 28. The inverse WE signal is transmitted throughout the system and is used to write data into any memory or I/0 device. Inverse 8255 is a chip select signal for a programmable I/0 10h. The WDOG signal is generated by the gate array 10d and transmitted to the power supply. The WDOG signal is a supervisory signal which is used to inform the power supply that something is wrong with the system and it needs to be shut off and then powered up again. The inverse OLl signal is a chip select signal transmitted to programmable I/0 10k. The SPARE signal is a control signal transmitted by gate array 10d to real time clock 12. The OL2 signal is a control signal which is used to latch an address into the real time clock 12. The inverse ALD signal is a control signal used to latch an address into the speech synthesizer 34.
The interface between microprocessor control system 10 and keypad and hookswitch 24 is accomplished by an additional gate array 10j, also shown on FIG. 5a Gate array 10j also comprises control logic which is resident on the same chip as gate array 10d. It is also shown as a discrete element because it generates control signals for a conceptually distinct portion of the system. Gate array 10j generates signals COL3, COL2 and COL1 through resistors 122, 124 and 126, respectively. An RCVEN signal is generated by gate array 10j and is transmitted through inverter 128 to the controlled earpiece 26 to disconnect the telephone line from the earpiece 26 to let other audio information into the controlled earpiece 26. Gate array 10j also generates an VCLK signal which is an additional interface signaltransmitted to the Intellistar system controller 48. A SPEN signal is generated by the gate array 10j to control the connection from the speech synthesizer 34 through the telephone line interface 38.
Microprocessor control system 10 further comprises a programmable I/0 chip 10k also shown on FIG. 5a. Programmable I/0 chip 10k comprises a Signetics 5090 addressable 8 bit latch with high current outputs suitable for driving relays. Programmable I/0 chip 10k uses signals D0, A0, A1 and A2 to communicate with microprocessor 10a. Programmable I/0 chip 10k is set to a known state by inverse RESET signal and is selected by the inverse OLl signal generated by gate array 10d. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5a, programmable I/0 chip 10k generates COLLECT and RETURN signals which when connected with pull up resistors 130 and 132 to a +5 volt supply, drive the mechanisms in the coin return/collect 22. The COLLECT and RETURN signals are input into a SGSL298 Relay Driver which powers a solenoid which electromechanically enables the return or the collection of coins placed in the coin acceptor 20. Programmable I/0 chip 10k also communicates with the call status detector 28 using the SETCMD signal and and the CLEAR signal. Programmable I/0 chip 10k also generates an inverse ONHOOK signal which drives relay resident in telephone line interface 38b.
An output 01 of counter/timer 10b is coupled to an RXCLK and a TXCLK pin on UART 10c. UART 10c may comprise, for example, a Hitachi 6350 universal asynchronous receipt transmit device. The RS pin of UART 10c is coupled to the A0 address line signal. The CS0 and CS1 pins are coupled to the A4 address line signal. The E pin is coupled to the E signal and the R/inverse W pin is connected to the R/inverse W signal. The inverse CS2 pair is connected to the inverse 68XO control signal generated by gate array 10d. UART 10c is also coupled to datalines D0-D7. The inverse IRQ pin is connected to the inverse IRQ interrupt signal. UART 10c generates the RXD signal and the TXD signal from its RXD pin and TXD pin, respectively. These signals couple UART 10c to a gate array 10e.
Microprocessor control system 10 further comprises an expansion bus buffer 10g. Expansion bus buffer 10g may comprise, for example, an HC646 bus driver chip. Expansion bus buffer 10g buffers the data bus to prevent excessive loading on the bus because of so many components being attached to it. Expansion bus buffer 10g is connected through its A set of pins to data lines D0-D7. Expansion bus buffer then transmits data signals D0'-D7' through its B set of pins. The D0'-D7' signals are used to couple chip 10g with call status detector 28 and programmable I/0 10h which is shown on FIG. 6a. Expansion bus buffer 10g has its DIR pin connected to the inverse EXPBUSP signal which enables the chip to transmit data. It further has its CAB pin connected to the E signal which is used for timing purposes.
The call record memory 11 and program memory 14are resident on chips 11/14a and 11/14b shown in FIG. 5b. Chip 11/14a and chip 11/14b may comprise, for example, Hitachi 62256 CMOS static RAMs. They consist of 32K�8 memory location. The operating software for the system and the call records are both stored on these chips.
Both chips 11/14a and 11/14b are connected to a VRAM power supply signal. By using the VRAM signal, RAM 11/14a and RAM 11/14b both become battery backed random access memory chips which allows for nonvolatility of the memory and greater system reliability in the event of an external power failure. RAM 11/14a is write enabled by the inverse WE signal connected to its inverse WE pin. The RAM 11/14a is selected by the inverse BRAM2 signal coupled to its CS pin. The OE pin is connected to the inverse OE signal. RAM 11/14a is coupled to address lines A0-A13. Its A14 pin is connected to the BA14 signal. The BA14 signal is used to divide the memory space on chip 11/14a into two 16K�8 blocks. This allows microprocessor 10a to address more than 64K memory locations by banking in these two 16K blocks. Chip 11/14a is controlled by the BA14 signal, the inverse BRAM2 signal, the inverse WE signal and the inverse OE signal all of which are generated by gate array 10d. Chip 11/14a is coupled to microprocessor 10a through datalines D0-D7.
The second RAM 11/14b is write enabled by the inverse WE signal which is coupled to its inverse WE pin. The inverse CS pin is connected to the inverse BRAM1 signal which is used to select RAM 11/14b. Inverse BRAM1 and inverse WE are both signals generated by gate array 10d. The inverse OE pin is connected to the inverse 0E signal which is an additional control signal also generated by gate array 10d. RAM 11/14b is also coupled to microprocessor 10a through address lines A0-A14 and data lines D0-D7.
Referring to FIG. 6a, further components of the block diagram of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 are shown in schematic form. A further component of microprocessor control system 10 is represented on FIG. 6a by programmable I/0 10h. Programmable I/0 10h may comprise, for example, a Toshiba 82C55 programmable input output device. Programmable I/0 10h is used to read data from peripheral devices and to communicate that data and other status information to the microprocessor 10a.
Programmable I/0 10h has its data pins D0-D7 connected to dataline signals D0'-D7' respectively, which are transmitted by expansion bus driver 10g shown on FIG. 5a. Programmable I/0 10h has its RESET pin coupled to the RESET signal which is used to hold the device in a known state during a system reset sequence. The inverseRD pin is coupled to the inverse OE signal, the inverse WR pin is coupled to the inverse WE signal and the inverse CS signal is coupled to the inverse 82SS signal. These three control signals are generated by gate array 10d. Programmable I/0 10h further has its A0 pin connected to the A0 address line signal and its A1 pin connected to the A1 address line signal. These address line signals couple programmable I/0 10h to microprocessor 10a shown on FIG. 5a.
Programmable I/0 10h has its PCO pin coupled to the inverse HNDSETOK signal which couples programmable I/0 10h to the mouthpiece 32 shown in FIG. 6b. The inverse HNDSETOK signal is used to communicate the operational status of the handset of the phone. The PB1 pin is coupled to the inverse TONEDET signal and the PB2 pin is coupled to the CMDFLG signal. The PB3 pin is coupled to the STATFLG signal. These three signals are control signals generated by call status detector 28.
The PB4 pin of programmable I/0 10h is coupled to the inverse RING signal. The inverse RING signal is a status signal generated by incoming ring detector 37 to communicate the fact that an incoming ring has been detected The PB5 pin is coupled to the SBY signal. The SBY signal is generated by the speech synthesizer 34 to inform the microprocessor that the speech synthesizer is speaking. The PB6 pin is coupled to the REVERT+ signal which is a status signal generated by telephone line interface 38 to indicate there is positive loop current in the telephone line.
The PA1 and PA0 pins of programmable I/0 10h are connected through resistors 152 and 154 to components which function as coin acceptor 20 shown on FIG. 1 Coin acceptor 20 comprises decoder chip 156 and diodes 158 and 160 coupled as shown in FIG. 6a.
The PA3 pin is coupled through a resistor 164 to the HANDSET signal and keypad hookswitch 24. The HANDS(T signal is generated by the keypad hookswitch 24 shown on FIG. 1 and informs the system that a patron has removed the handset from its hook or that the patron has returned the handset to the hook. The PA4, PA5, PA6 and PA7 pins are coupled to the ROW1, ROW2, ROW3 and ROW4 signals used by keypad hook switch 24 to decode which key a patron has pressed. These signals, along with the HANDSET signal, are coupled to a connector 166 which comprises a portion of keypad hookswitch 24.
The TONE pin of chip 170 is coupled to summer 60 and to ground through resistor 174 contained in summer 60. Summer 60 is an analog summing device which combines tone and speech signals which are being transmitted from the phone. DTMF generator chip 170 is connected to a gain stage 96 through capacitor 176. Gain stage 96 comprises resistors 178 and 180 and an op amp 182 connected as shown in FIG. 6a. The SPOUT signal enters summer 60 through a resistor 184. The SPOUT signal carries speech signals transmitted to summer 60 from the speech synthesizer 34 shown in FIG. 1. The SPOUT signal is transmitted through a low pass filter 94 which comprises capacitor 186, resistor 188, capacitor 190 and op amp 192 coupled as shown in FIG. 6a. Low pass filter 94 takes the SPOUT signal transmitted by the speech synthesizer 34 and filters out the high frequency components. The signal then travels through capacitor 194 where the SPEECH signal is transmitted to controlled earpiece 26 shown in FIG. 6b from a node 196. Node 196 is coupled to an analog; switch 98 through resistor 198. Analog switch 98 is controlled by the SPEN signal, which when active, allows the filtered SPOUT signal to be transmitted to node 200. At node 200, the amplified signal from the TONE pin of chip 170 is coupled to the SPOUT signal after passing through capacitors 202 and resistor 204. In addition, the signal transmitted by transmitting 102 from the Intellistar transmit module 40 (FIG. 2) is also coupled to node 200. The combined signals travel from node 200 through a gain stage 100 which comprises an op amp 206 and resistors 208 and 210 coupled as shown in FIG. 6a. The summed signal from summer 60 is then transmitted to the phone line through the telephone line interface 38 shown on FIG. 6b.
The mouth piece assembly 32 comprises a transducer 242 which is attached to handset connector 218. The signal from the hand set is used to generate the inverse HNDSETOK signal which is transmitted by way of resistors 244 and 246 to programmable I/0 10h shown in FIG. 6a. A resistor 248 connected to a +12 volt supply completes a voltage divider used to bias the inverse HNDSETOK signal as shown in FIG. 6b. The audio signal is transmitted through an amplifier stage 250 comprising capacitor 252, resistor 254, resistor 256 and resistor 258 and op amp 260. After passing through an analog switch 262 and capacitor 264, the MIC signal is transmitted to the summer 60 shown in FIG. 6a where it enters the audio path at node 200. Analog switch 262 is controlled by the MICEN control signal generated by gate array 10i in order to enable or disable the microphone 32.
As shown in FIG. 6b, the output of amplification stage 250 is transmitted prior to the analog switch 262 to the microphone status detector 33. The output of amplification stage 250 is also used in the MICIN signal for a speech synthesizer 400 which will be described in conjunction with FIG. 7a. The microphone status detector 33 utilizes an op amp 33d which has its first input coupled to the signal coming directly from the mouthpiece 32. The second input to op amp 33d is a signal which is processed through circuit 33b, amplifier 33a and circuit 33c to give an average level of the signal level at the microphone. Circuit 33b is a filter which comprises diode 268, resistor 270, capacitor 272 and resistor 274 coupled as shown in FIG. 6b. The filtered signal is then passed through amplifier 33a to circuit 33c which comprises a variable threshold voltage generator. The variable threshold voltage generator circuit 33c comprises diodes 276 and 278, resistor 280 and variable resistor 282. Variable threshold voltage generator circuit 33c transmits a signal to comparator op amp 33d which serves as a reference level to compare with the unfiltered signal coming out of the microphone. The output of comparator op amp 33d is transmitted through resistor 284 into latch 33e, which is coupled as shown in FIG. 6b to a +5 voltage source. Latch 33e has its CLR pin connected to the inverse SPRESET signal generated by gate array 10i. The output of latch 33e is transmitted from the Q pin and through resistor 286 to create signal MICDET which is transmitted to programmable I/0 10h shown on FIG. 6a.
A resistor 302 and a capacitor 304 are connected in series between the ring input and the tip input from the telephone line. This RC coupling is also required by FCC regulations. Resistor 302 and capacitor 304 allow the telephone company to detect that a device is connected tothe telephone line at the particular location. A gas discharge tube 305 is coupled between the TIP and RING inputs and ground and is used to protect the circuitry from lightening discharges on the phone line. Telephone line interface 38 further comprises a hook relay 38b. Hook relay 38b comprises individual relays 306 and 308 connected to the RING and TIP inputs respectively. Individual relays 306 and 308 are controlled by the microprocessor control system 10.
Also shown on FIG. 6c is the incoming ring detector 37. Incoming ring detector 37 comprises a comparator 310 which has a first input coupled to the RING input of the telephone through a resistor 316, a capacitor 316 and a capacitor 318. The first input of comparator 310is connected to a +5 volt supply through a resistor 320 and is coupled to ground through a resistor 324. A second input of comparator 310 is coupled to the TIP input through a resistor 314 and a capacitor 312. The second input of comparator 310 is coupled to ground through a resistor 322. The output of the comparator 310 passes through a diode 332 and is coupled to a +5 volt supply through the parallel connection of a diode 328 and a resistor 326. The output of diode 332 generates the inverse RING signal which is coupled to ground through a capacitor 330. The inverse RING signal is transmitted to programmable I/0 10h to inform microprocessor control system 10 that a ringing signal has been detected on the telephone line.
The XIN and XOUT pins of speech synthesizer 400 are coupled to a crystal 403 and to ground throughcapacitors 405 and 407. The crystal 403 is used to generate a clock signal for speech synthesizer 400 and generate a signal through an inverter 409 to clock a latch 408. The latch 408 is coupled to a +5 volt power supply as shown in FIG. 7a, and is used to synchronize the inverse WRS signal from microcomputer 414 to the inverse WRSP signal transmitted to speech synthesizer 400. Speech synthesizer 400 also generates a SPOUT signal which is transmitted to a summer 58a shown on FIG. 7c.
Microcomputer 414 also generates the inverse VWRB signal and the inverse VRDB signal from its PB0 and PB1 pins respectively. The PB2 pin is coupled to the EXCLK pin of modem 30 shown on FIG. 7c. The PB3 through PB5 pins are coupled to a DTMF receiver 52 shown on FIG. 7c. The PB6 pin is used to enable a call status detector 50 shown on FIG. 7c. The PB7 pin generates the inverse WRS signal which is transmitted to the latch 408 shown on FIG. 7a. The PCO through PC3 pins generate the P0 through P3 control bus which controls speech synthesizer 400 and call status detector 50. The PC4 pin transmits the inverse MINT signal to the programmable I/0 10h. The LA1 signal is received from gate array 10i on pin PC5 of microcomputer 414. The PC6 pin is used to generate theVDATA signal which is connected to the programmable I10 10h and gate array 10i. VDATA is a bidirectional data line for communication between the system processor and the Intellistar system processor. The CLK pin transmits a clock signal to the call status detector 50 and the DTMF receiver 52 shown on FIG. 7c. The PC7 pin is coupled to the DATA pin of modem 30 shown on FIG. 7c. The inverse of NMI is connected to the VCLK signals which is generated by the gate array 10j. Call status tone generator 56 is resident on microcomputer 414 and generates a signal from the CALL STATUS pin which is transmitted to summer 58a shown on FIG. 7c.
The output of op amp 448 is transmitted to switch 54c which forms a part of switch array 54. Switch 54c comprises an analog switch 426 which is controlled by the SH control signal generated by microcomputer 414. When switch 426 is closed, the summed audio signal from 58a is transmitted directly to the controlled ear piece 26 as the RXAUDIOD signal. The output of summer 58a is also transmitted to a switch 58c which comprises an analog switch 424 controlled by the ST control signal generated by microcomputer 414. When analog switch 424 is closed,the audio signal from summer 58a is transmitted to a second stage of summer 58 labeled 58b. Summer 58b operates to sum the audio signal from summer 58a and the transmitted signal from modem 30. The output of summer 58b is transmitted as TXAUDIOA signal to summer 60 shown on FIG. 6a. Summer 58b comprises an op amp 434 coupled to a +2.5 volt supply. Op amp 434 is coupled in parallel to a resistor 436. The signal from switch 58c is input into op amp 434 through a capacitor 440 and a resistor 438. The signal from modem 30 is input into op amp 434 through a capacitor 430 and a resistor 432.
In the case of a collect call or a credit card phone call, the local telephone station receives the destination number and billing information and places the call in a 1+ format. In another aspect of the present invention, the telephone could place a call placed using a 950 exchange and also convert the call to a 1+ format. This type of access format is known as a feature group B access format. A telephone constructed according to the teachings of the present invention can similarly convert a call placed using a feature group D access format using a 10XXX prefix. The telephone of the present invention can also be programmed to convert calls placed using all formsof charge accounts from bank cards to gas cards. The telephone of the present invention can recognize and convert any similar call placement access formats and all such formats are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The actions of the telephone station described in conjunction with the EZ collect and credit card phone calls would be substantially identical for any call placement access format. Due to the great number of these possible access formats, only the exemplary EZ collect and credit card phone calls will be described in detail.
At step 512, if the patron does not enter a telephone credit card number, program flow proceeds to step 514 where another decision is made where microprocessor control system 10 checks to see if the 0+EZ collect call feature has been enabled in this particular telephone. This is done by microprocessor control system 10 testing an enable bit which is stored in rate memory 16. If the telephone is not enabled to place 0+ or EZ collect calls, program flow would route the call to a live operator. At step 514, if the telephone was enabled to accept 0+ EZ collect calls, program flow proceeds to EZC which is shown on FIG. 8e.
Once the patron depresses a key in keypad 24, program flow proceeds to block 578 wherein microprocessor control system 10 determines if the key pressed was a zero. If the key depressed was a zero, program flow proceeds to once again route the call to a live operator. If the key depressed was something other than zero, program flow proceeds to decision block 580 which determines if the original call that was placed and stored in memory in microprocessor control system 10 was a 0-call, meaning that no additional digits after the zero were dialed. If the call was a 0- call, then program flow proceeds to block 582 wherein microprocessor control system 10 again using speech synthesizer 44 and switch array 54 enunciates a message stored in speech memory 46 into earpiece 26 which requests the patron to dial his desired number.
Block 596 also includes the verification process illustrated in flow chart form in FIG. 11. Program flow then proceeds to decision block 598 where microprocessor control system 10 tests to see if the verification was good or bad. If the verification was not good, program flow proceeds to block 600 where the microprocessor control system 10 using the speech generator 34 enunciates a message into the earpiece 26 such as "this is not a billable number" and instructs the patron to "please hang up." Program flow then proceeds to block 602 wherein the microprocessor control system 10 waits for the patron to hang up. Once the patron has hung up, the program flow proceeds to branch point CH which reenters the program flow on FIG. 8a. If at decision block 594 the verification process was not enabled, or if at decision block 598 the verification process was determined by the microprocessor control system 10 to have been successful, program flow proceeds to block 604 wherein microprocessor control system 10 uses algorithms contained in program RAM to change the 0+ or 0- call into a direct dial call.
In decision block 622, if the microprocessor control system utilizing the DTMF receiver 52 detects a DTMF 0, program flow proceeds to block 634 wherein microprocessor control system 10 utilizes telephone line interface 38 to disconnect the telephone line. Program flow then proceeds to block 636 where microprocessor control system 10 utilizes speech synthesizer 44 and speech RAM 46 to enunciate a message to the patron informing him that his collect call was not accepted. Program flow then proceeds to block 638 wherein microprocessor control system 10 pulls hookswitch 24 and waits until the patron hangs up Program flow then proceeds to branch point COH and reenters the flow chart on FIG. 8a.
Program flow then proceeds to block 644 wherein microprocessor control system 10 initiates a fifteen second waiting period. Program flow then proceeds to decision block 646 wherein microprocessor control system 10 utlizes DTMF receiver 52 to determine if a DTMF 0 has been detected. If a DTMF 0 is detected, program flow proceeds to branch point RJC which reenters the program on FIG. 8f at block 634. If at decision block 646 no DTMF 0 is detected, program flow proceeds to decision block 648 wherein microprocessor control system 10 once again utilizes DTMF receiver 52 to determine if a DTMF 1 has been detected. If no DTMF 1 tone has been detected at decision block 648, program flow proceeds to decision block 652 wherein microprocessor control system 10 determines if the fifteen second waiting period has expired. If the fifteen second waiting period has not expired, program flow proceeds to decision block 653 where microprocessor control system 10 again checks to see if either party has hung up the phone. If neither party has hung up the phone, program flow returns to decision block 646 where microprocessor control system 10 once again determines if either a DTMF 0 has been detected or a DTMF 1 has been detected. If at decision block 648 a DTMF 1 was detected, or if at decision block 652, the fifteen second waiting period expires, program flow proceeds to block 650 wherein microprocessor control system 10 generates a billing record in call record memory 11. Program flow then proceeds to branch point UBR which reenters the flow chart on FIG. 8d.
In summary, the present invention provides for a telecommunications station which can perform locally a variety of functions which required prior systems to use a central office or centralized AOS. A telephone system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention can locally verify telephone billing account numbers and place a call using the verified number. In addition the system can locally generate a billing record of the call which can later be retrieved to facilitate the billing of the patron.
A telephone system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention enjoys the technical advantage of comprising a microprocessor control system. This system enables the local station to use locally stored prompting messages to interact with the patron and the called party during the use of the local station.
A system constructed according to the present invention also enjoys the capability of remote programming of a particular local telephone station. The prompting messages for a particular telephone can be recorded at a remote location and downloaded into the telephone through standard telephone communication paths. The messages for each telephone location can be tailored to the particular location and efficiently managed from a central location.
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