COMPUTER SYSTEM UTILIZING A TELEPHONE AS AN INPUT DEVICE

• US 3,647,973 A
• Filed: 12/04/1967
• Issued: 03/07/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telephone Computer Company R & D Partnership
• Original Assignee: Ben E. Kappes, Martin J. Brennan, Peter James
• Inventors: James, Peter, Brennan, Martin J., Kappes, Ben E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'Amico, Tom
• Application Number:
  US04/687,802
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 340/347DD,172.5 179/2DP,16.09,84VF 234/121
• US Class Current: 379/93.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/08 from or to individual record carriers, e.g. punched card , memory card, integrated circuit [IC] card or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

A system effecting automatic remote control of a computer or computer device through existing telephones. A telephone technique is disclosed providing a selective generation of a plurality of output signals. These output signals are decoded and then encoded by a programmed translator device in a manner so as to effect operation of any desired computer mechanism.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a tone-generating telephone set having a number of actuatable members thereon, said telephone set producing tone signals having different frequency characteristics in dependence upon the actuation of said actuatable members either singly or simultaneously in groups;

logic circuit means coupled with said telephone set, said logic circuit means being responsive to the actuation of said actuatable members on said telephone set either singly or simultaneously in groups for producing a number of discrete signals, said logic circuit means including tone-to-digital converter means for converting said tone signals produced by said telephone set into digital information, translator means responsive to said digital information for producing said number of discrete signals;

said tone-to-digital converter means comprising means effecting selective connection of a plurality of output circuits, selected pairs of said plurality of output circuits being connected upon single actuation of various ones of said actuatable members on said telephone set, selected single ones of said plurality of output circuits being connected upon simultaneous actuation of various groups of said actuatable members on said telephone set;

said translator means being responsive to said selective circuit connections to produce said number of discrete signals;

said translator means including decoder means comprising a plurality of input conductors connected with said plurality of output circuits of said tone-to-digital converter means, a plurality of discrete decoder output lines; and

selective logic circuit means coupled to said plurality of discrete input conductors for selecting various ones of said plurality of discrete decoder output lines in response to said selective connection of said plurality of output circuits of said toneto-digital converter means, and inhibit means for inhibiting the response to said discrete signals until a depressed single actuable member on said telephone set is released.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 further including means for delivering tone signals to said telephone set indicative of the operation of said computer device means in response to release of a depressed actuable member on said telephone set.

3. A method of feeding data and command information so a computer mechanism adapted to process data information in accordance with command information, by means of a tone-generating telephone handset having a plurality of keys thereon operative when actuated individually to produce single signals having different frequency characteristics corresponding to the particular key depressed and operative when actuated simultaneously in groups to produce single signals having still different frequency characteristics corresponding to the particular group of keys simultaneously actuated, said method comprising the steps of:

a. actuating the keys individually to develop single signals representing one form of said information;

b. actuating the keys simultaneously in groups to develop single signals representing the other form of said information;

c. translating said single signals into computer command and date control signals;

d. feeding said computer command and data control signals to the computer mechanism in sequence to cause said computer mechanism to process said data information in accordance with said command information;

e. monitoring the computer mechanism by sending audio tones to said telephone handset indicative of the operation of said computer mechanism in response to said computer command and data control signals; and

f. inhibiting the response to said developed signals until a depressed single key on said telephone set is rEleased.

4. A system for controlling the operation of a computer device means in response to the actuation of keys on a tone-generating telephone set having a plurality of keys thereon, said computer device means being responsive to signals having at least first and second different signal or frequency characteristics, said system comprising:

signal-producing means responsive to the actuation of keys on said telephone set to selectively produce said signals having said at least first and second different characteristics, said signal-producing means selectively producing signals having said first different characteristics when in a first condition, said signal-producing means selectively producing signals having said second different characteristics when in a second condition;

shifting means responsive to the simultaneous actuation of selected groups of keys on said telephone set to selectively shift said signal-producing means into at least said first and second condition; and

inhibit means for inhibiting the response of said computer device means to said signals having at least first and second different signal or frequency characteristics until a depressed single key on said telephone set is released.

5. A system as defined in claim 4, further including time delay means for respectively delaying said response of both said signal producing means and said shifting means for a predetermined time interval after said depression of single keys on said telephone set and after said simultaneous depression of selected groups of keys on said telephone set.

6. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein said shifting means includes holding means for maintaining said signal-producing means in a selected condition following said simultaneous actuation of said selected groups of keys on said telephone set.

7. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein said computer device means comprises card punch means responsive to said signals having said at least first and second different characteristics to respectively punch numeric and alpha data;

said signal-producing means selectively producing signals having said first different signal or frequency characteristics when in said first condition whereby said card punch means punches numeric data in response thereto;

said signal-producing means selectively producing signals having said second different signal or frequency characteristics when in said second condition whereby said card punch means punches alpha data in response thereto.

8. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein said telephone set includes a microphone portion and circuit responsive to external sound signals, said system further comprising noise exclusion means to selectively preclude response of said microphone portion and circuit.

9. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein said noise exclusion means comprises a circuit breaker means for selectively disconnecting said microphone circuit.

10. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein said noise exclusion means comprises a sound shield cap means adapted to fit over said microphone portion.

11. A system as defined in claim 1 for connection between (a) a telephone data set selectively effecting internal circuit closures therein in response to actuation of keys on said telephone set, and (b) a card punch machine having a plurality of punches therein, and comprising a translator device for effecting control of said card punch machine and said plurality of punches therein by said tone-generating telephone set;

a first group of relay coil means connected between a source of supply and said data set, respective coils of said first group of relay coil means being energized in response to said selective interval circuit closures within said data set;

a plurality of output line means adapted to be coupled with said plurality of punches of said card punch machine;

said logic circuit means including a plurality of relay contact means actuable by said first group of relay coil means for selectively eNergizing various ones of said plurality of output line means;

whereby selective punches of said plurality of twelve punches are actuated in response to actuation of keys on said tone-generating telephone set.

12. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of said plurality of discrete signals is greater than the number of actuable members on said telephone set.

13. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said selective logic circuit means of said decoder means comprises relay coil means coupled to said plurality of input conductors and selectively energizable singly and in pairs in dependence upon said selective connections of said plurality of output circuits of said tone-to-digital converter means;

and relay contact means actuatable by said relay coil means to selectively provide said number of discrete signals on respective ones of said plurality of discrete decoder output lines.

14. A system as defined in claim 1, further including a controlled computer device;

and wherein said translator means further comprises encoder means connected to said plurality of discrete decoder output lines for providing control signals for said computer device in response to said selection of various ones of said discrete decoder output lines.

15. A system as defined in claim 13, further including a controlled computer device;

and wherein said translator means further comprises encoder means connected to said plurality of discrete decoder output lines for providing control signals for said computer device in response to said selective provision of said number of discrete signals on respective ones of said plurality of discrete decoder output lines.

16. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of said plurality of discrete decoder output lines is greater than the number of actuatable members on said telephone set.

17. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein said controlled computer device comprises a card punch machine.

18. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein said controlled computer device comprises a card punch machine.

19. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein said signal-producing means is responsive to the actuation of single keys on said telephone set to selectively produce said signals having said at least first and second different signal or frequency characteristics.

20. A system as defined in claim 19, wherein said shifting means includes holding means for maintaining said signal-producing means in a selected condition following said simultaneous actuation of said selected groups of keys on said telephone set.

21. A system as defined in claim 20, wherein said computer device means comprises card punch means responsive to said signals having said at least first and second different signal or frequency characteristics to respectively punch numeric and alpha data;

said signal-producing means selectively producing signals having said first different signal or frequency characteristics when in said first condition whereby said card punch means punches numeric data in response thereto;

said signal-producing means selectively producing signals having said second different signal or frequency characteristics when in said second condition whereby said card punch means punches alpha data in response thereto.

22. A system as defined in claim 21 wherein said telephone set includes a microphone portion and circuit responsive to external sound signals, said system further comprising noise exclusion means to selectively preclude response of said microphone portion and circuit.

23. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein said noise exclusion means comprises a circuit breaker means for selectively disconnecting said microphone circuit.

24. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein said noise exclusion means comprises a sound shield cap means adapted to fit over said microphone portion.

25. A system as defined in claim 21 wherein said signal-producing means is responsive to the depression of single keys on said telephone set to selectively produce said signals having said at least first and second different signal or frequency characteristics.

26. A system as defined in claim 4, further including means for delivering tone signals to said telephone set indicative of the operation of said card punch means in response to release of a key on said telephone set.

27. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said shifting means is responsive to the simultaneous depression of selected groups of keys on said telephone set to selectively shift said signal-producing means into at least said first and second condition.

28. A system as defined in claim 27, further including time delay means for respectively delaying said response of both said signal-producing means and said shifting means for a predetermined time interval after said depression of single keys on said telephone set and after said simultaneous depression of selected groups of keys on said telephone set.

29. A translator device as defined in claim 11, wherein said logic circuit means comprise a plurality of relay coil means;

connecting means coupled between said plurality of input conductors and said relay coil means for energizing said plurality of relay coil means singly and in pairs in response to said circuit closures between various ones of said plurality of data output lines of said first and second data output channels of said data set; and

relay contact means actuatable by said relay coil means for selectively energizing said plurality of discrete output terminals.

30. A translator device as defined in claim 11, further comprising first shift means actuated by predetermined ones of said plurality of relay contact means, said first shift means comprising a second group of relay coil means;

and means coupling said first shift means to said logic circuit means for effecting selective energization of predetermined pairs of said plurality of output line means.

31. A translator device as defined in claim 30, further including second shift means actuated by predetermined ones of said plurality of relay contact means, said second shift means comprising a third group of relay coil means;

and means coupling said second shift means to said logic circuit means for effecting selective energization of predetermined single ones of said plurality of output line means.

32. A translator device as defined in claim 31 further comprising time delay means for delaying energization of said various ones of said plurality of output line means for a predetermined time interval after said energization of said respective coils of said first group of relay coil means.

33. A translator device as defined in claim 31, further comprising switch means for selectively disconnecting said first shift means.

34. A translator device as defined in claim 31, further including means for delivering tone signals to said telephone set indicative of the operation of said card punch machine.