DATA TERMINAL SYSTEM

• US 3,774,164 A
• Filed: 05/22/1972
• Issued: 11/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur J. Murphy, Bruce H. Osterberg, Herbert D. Pace, Walter J. Orzechowski, William W. Caldwell
• Original Assignee: Arthur J. Murphy, Bruce H. Osterberg, Herbert D. Pace, Walter J. Orzechowski, William W. Caldwell
• Inventors: Osterberg, Bruce H., Caldwell, William W., Orzechowski, Walter J., Pace, Herbert D., Murphy, Arthur J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Springborn, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US05/255,469
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5,365R,365S 346/34,74M
• US Class Current: 710/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 13/08 Intermediate storage means

Abstract

Apparatus and method for generating and assembling data in a particular format in a remote data terminal and, thereafter, transmitting the data to a central computer. Data is assembled in fields of predetermined length on a plurality of multiple position switches with integral visual readouts for visually verifying the data before storage in a local memory in the terminal. The data is stored in response to manual initiation of a storage control sequence. When the data is assembled in the predetermined format, the terminal is connected to the computer over a telephone line through manually initiated automatic dialing, or manual dialing, and, when the computer indicates that it is ready to receive data by means of an audible signal, the data is transmitted to the computer by manual initiation of an output control sequence.

Claims

1. A data terminal system for assemblying a complete message to be later transmitted to a computer, comprising:

storage means for storing data;

input means including a plurality of input single pole-multiple position switches, each input switch having a pole terminal and a switch terminal for each switch position, each switch further having an integral visual numerical readout device for indicating by number the switch position to which the switch is set, corresponding switch terminals of each of said input switches being electrically connected together to form a data line, the data lines for all switch positions forming a multiple line data input bus, said switches being selectively and manually set to particular switch positions to form a data field, said data field being verifiable by observation of said integral visual numerical readout devices;

input control means for entering said data field set on said input switches into said storage means said input control means providing a manually initiated storage control sequence which automatically and sequentially applies enabling signals to the pole terminal of each of said input single pole-multiple position switches, the individually set switch position and associated data line then determining the numerical data entered into said storage means for said switch;

output control means for outputing the data stored in said storage means to said computer said output control means providing a manually initiated automatic output control sequence.

2. The data terminal system defined in claim 1 including data field identification means for generating field identification data to be entered into said storage means with each of the data fields, said field identification means having a field single pole-multiple position switch, said field switch having a pole terminal and a switch terminal for each switch position, said field switch terminals being electrically connected to corresponding switch terminals of said input switches thereby connecting said field switch to said data input bus, said pole terminal of said field switch receiving an enabling signal during said storage control sequence, the set switch position of said field switch thereby entering field identification data into said storage means, said field switch being operatively connected to said input control means for advancement from field switch position to field switch position each time said storage control sequence is manually initiated.

3. The data terminal system defined in claim 2 including a visual data catalog and an indicator manually moveable to point to cataloged data descriptions, sAid indicator being operatively connected to a pair of catalog single pole-multiple position switches, each combination of particular switch positions of said catalog switches corresponding to a particular cataloged data description.

4. The data terminal system defined in claim 3 including a field description means for providing a visual display of a data description for each data field, said data description being displayed for each data field as said field single pole-multiple position switch is moved from switch position to switch position.

5. The data terminal system defined in claim 4 and further including controlled power supply means connected to said storage means, said input means, and said output control means, said power supply means continuously applying power to said storage means, said power supply means applying power to said input means only when said storage control sequence is manually initiated and said power supply means applying power to said output means only when said automatic output control sequence is manually initiated.

6. A data terminal system, comprising:

storage means for storing data;

a plurality of input single pole-multiple position switches, each input switch having a pole terminal and a switch terminal for each switch position, each switch further having an integral visual numerical readout device for indicating by number the switch position to which the switch is set, said input switches being arrayed to permit manual setting of data in the form of a series of numeric digits on said switches, said input switches having corresponding switch terminals of each of said input switches electrically connected together to form a data line, the data lines for all switch positions forming a multiple line data input bus;

input control means for entering the data set on said input switches into said storage means in a manually initiated automatic storage control sequence which automatically and sequentially applies enabling signals to the pole terminals of said input switches to sequentially enter the numeric digit of the set switch position of each input switch into said storage means;

transmission code converter means for converting the numeric digits stored in said storage means to a transmission code capable of being transmitted over a selected communications line to a central computer; and

output control means for sequentially taking data from said storage means and applying said data to said transmission code converter means in an automatic output control sequence, said automatic output control sequence being manually initiated.

7. The data terminal system defined in claim 6 and further including data field identification means for generating field identification data for a plurality of fields of data, said field identification means having a field single pole-multiple position switch, said field switch having a pole terminal and a switch terminal for each switch position, said field switch terminals being electrically connected to corresponding switch terminals of said input switches thereby connecting said field switch to said data input bus, said pole terminal of said field switch receiving an enabling signal during said storage control sequence, the set switch position of said field switch thereby entering field identification data into said storage means, said field switch being operatively connected to said input control means for advancement from field switch positioned to field switch position each time said storage control sequence is manually initiated.

8. The data terminal system defined in claim 7 and further including data field description means for carrying visual descriptions of said data fields, said field description means being operatively connected to said field switch to visually display a description of the data to be entered into the input switches for each of the switch positions of said field switch.

9. The data terminal system defined in claim 7 and further including a Visible catalog display of predetermined data descriptions having a pair of catalog switches which generate a predetermined coded switch output in accordance with the physical alignment of a manually operated indicator connected to said catalog switches with the selected displayed data description, each of said catalog switches having a pole terminal and a switch terminal for each switch position, said catalog switch terminals being electrically connected to corresponding input switch terminals of said input switches thereby connecting said catalog switch to said data input bus, said pole terminal of said catalog switch receiving an enabling signal during said storage control sequence, the set combinations of said catalog switch positions thereby entering cataloged data descriptions into said storage means.

10. The data terminal system of claim 9 wherein:

said storage means includes memory code conversion means for converting the numeric digit signals on particular data lines of said multiple line data input bus to a four-bit binary character representing said numeric digit for storage in said storage means; and

said input control means generates said enabling signals for selectively enabling each of said input, catalog, and field identification switches in a control sequence which is predetermined and controlled by the position of said field identification switch, said enabling signals being sequentially applied to the pole terminals of said switches whereby a particular numeric digit signal on a data line associated with a set switch position is converted into said corresponding four-bit binary character through said memory code convertion means.

11. The data terminal system in claim 10 and further including controlled power supply means for continuously supplying power to said storage means, said power supply means applying power to said input control means only when said storage control sequence is manually initiated and said power supply means supplying power to said code converter means and said output control means only when said output control sequence is manually initiated.

12. The data terminal system of claim 10 wherein said transmission code is a two out of eight audio tone-code and said transmission code converter means converts said four-bit binary character to said tone-code.

13. The data terminal system defined in claim 12 wherein alphabetic characters may be represented in said storage means for particular data fields, said alphabetic characters being represented by a combination of an alphabetic identification character and a numeric character;

and said memory code conversion means includes an alphabetic identification character converter means for converting numeric digits set on particular ones of said input switches to said alphabetic identification character under the control of said input control means for said particular data fields.

14. The method of assemblying data in a data terminal for transmission to a central computer, comprising the steps of:

separating said data into data fields of pre-determined length;

manually setting said data fields, one data field at a time, on a plurality of physically alined data input devices by manipulating said data input devices to correspond with the alignment of items in said data field, said data input devices having integral visual displays of the data set on said input devices to permit verification of said set data field by observing said displays;

manually initiating the automatic sequential entering of the entire data field set on said input devices into a memory means;

manually initiating a connection by communication lines with the central computer;

determining by voice message response from the computer that the computer is ready to receive data; and

manually initiating the automatic sequential transmission of the data stored in said memory means to the central computer.

15. The method defined in claim 14 including the step of setting data on said input devices in accordance with a visual field description on a field description means;

and automatically incrementing said field description means for each manual initiation of said entry of data into said memory means.

16. The method defined in claim 15 including the step of continuously applying power to said memory means and selectively applying power to said data entering, connection initiation, and transmission means when said data entry, computer connection and data transmission means are initiated.