REMOTE REWIND CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,843,842 A
• Filed: 07/10/1972
• Issued: 10/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Willy Muller
• Original Assignee: Willy Muller
• Inventors: Muller, Willy
• Primary Examiner(s): Konick, Bernard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faber, Alan
• Application Number:
  US05/270,326
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 179/6E
• US Class Current: 379/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/652 Means for playing back the recorded messages by remote control over a telephone line H04M1/658 takes precedence

Abstract

The specification describes a method for remote reverse control in the remote interrogation of information recorded in memory means via a transmission channel, more particularly in the remote reproduction of voice recordings in an automatic telephone answering device via a telephone line. The information transmission and the control of the playback and possibly the reverse operation occur via the same transmission channel. The playback operation is stopped at certain intervals for a preset short time and these points in time a check signal, preferably a check signal lying in the audio range, is transmitted to the interrogating station and simultaneously a detector device which responds to a reverse command signal which may be brought about by this, of the interrogating station, more particularly a previously agreed to speech sound of the interrogator, the detector circuit being more particularly a speech switch responding to the speech sound agreed to as a reverse command signal, is activated for the predetermined short stopping time, which on transmission of a reverse command signal produces an operating signal for reverse drive, while if no such reverse command signal is received the playback operation is continued after the short stop.

Claims

1. In a method for remote rewind control from an interrogating station in the remote interrogation of information recorded in memory means via a transmission channel, more particularly in the remote reproduction of voice recordings in an automatic telephone answering Device via a telephone line, the information transmission and the control of the playback and the rewind operation occurring via the same transmission channel the improvement that the playback operation is stopped at regular intervals for a preset time which is short in relation to said intervals between successive stoppages and that at these points in time a check signal, preferably a check signal lying in the audio range, is transmitted to interrogating station, as an invitation for the transmission of a rewinding command if a rewind movement is desired, and that a detector device which responds to a rewind command signal from the interrogating station, more particularly a previously agreed to speech sound of the interrogator, which may be received from the interrogating station following the transmission of the check signal to the interrogating station, the detector circuit being more particularly a speech switch responding to the speech sound agreed to as a rewind command signal, is being gated sensitive simultaneously with and during the preset stoppage on transmission of a rewind command signal produces an operating signal for rewind drive, while if no such rewind command signal is received the playback operation is continued after the short stop.

2. A circuit for the operation of information storage means adapted to be interrogated from an interrogating station via a communication channel, according to the method of claim 1, comprising a pulse generator, which during a playback operation produces actuating pulses at preset regular intervals with a preset duration which is short in relation to said intervals between successive stoppages;

a bistable circuit having a first and second stable condition with a preparation input connected with the output of the pulse generator, with a set input connected with a detector circuit, more particularly a speech switch, for switching over into the said second stable condition, and with a reset input connected with a delay circuit;

a check signal generator, more particularly an audio frequency oscillator which can be triggered by the actuating signal of the pulse generator for the production of a check sound lying in the audio range for transmission to the interrogating station as an invitation for the transmission of a rewinding command if a rewind movement is desired;

a detector device, more particularly a speech switch, which can be gated from a substantially insensitive condition to assume a responsive sensitized condition, the detective device in the sensitized condition thereof being responsive to a rewind command signal transmitted from the interrogation station, more particularly in the form of a preset speech vowel, and being adapted to produce in dependance thereon, an output signal passed to the setting input of the bistable circuit for switching it over into the second stable condition;

a blocking circuit responsive to the actuating pulse of the pulse generator and adapted to ensure, via a conditioning input of the speech switch, that the speech switch, which is insensitive during normal playback operation, is gated sensitive only during the duration of the actuating pulse produced by the pulse generator for the rewind command signal;

a control unit connected with the output of the bistable circuit, which on transition of the bistable circuit into its second stable condition produces a control signal for the operation of the rewind drive; and

a delay circuit connected with the pulse generator and adapted in dependence on the actuating pulse of the pulse generator to introduce the resetting input of the bistable circuit an adjustable time delay after a preceding switching over into the second stable condition whereby the bistable circuit is reset into the first one of the stable conditions by the next pulse, following the resetting preparation, of the pulse generator so that the rewind operation is terminated and the playback operation is repeated.

3. A circuit in accordance with claim 2, in which the pulse generatoR comprises a motor-driven contact which during the playback operation closes at preset intervals during a pre-established short period of time and thus produces a positive output signal.

4. A circuit in accordance with claim 2, in which the bistable circuit comprises a polarized relay with two exciting windings with the conductivity paths of control transistors being arranged in the feed current circuits of the exciting windings, and with the conductivity paths of two such control transistors being arranged in series of the feeding current circuit of the one exciting winding bringing about switching over into the second stable condition, one of the two control transistors being connected with the preparation input and the other being connected with the set input.

5. A circuit in accordance with claim 2, in which the control unit comprises a working relay with a control switching transistor, which can be triggered by the actuating pulse of the pulse generator, in the exciting current circuit of the relay, and on excitation of the relay an opening relay contact interrupts the forward operation of the information storage means and thus stops the playback operation.

6. A circuit in accordance with claim 5, in which the control unit has a transistor stage which can be controlled by a contact of the polarised relay, the transistor stage being adapted to produce an actuating signal for rapid rewind of the information storage means on the transistion of the bistable circuit into its second stable condition, and the transistor stage being further adapted to close a holding current circuit for the working relay.

7. A circuit in accordance with claim 5, in which the blocking circuit comprises a transistor stage which in accordance with the opening of the relay contact interrupting the playback operation provides an output signal to the conditioning input of the speech switch in order to place the latter in its sensitized condition for an incoming reverse command signal, more particularly a speech vowel.

8. A circuit in accordance with claim 2, in which the check signal generator comprises a transistor oscillator stage which can be triggered by the actuating pulse of the pulse generator for the production of a check signal, preferably an audio frequency sound signal lying in the audible range.

9. A circuit in accordance with claim 2, in which the delay circuit comprises a working relay with a control switching transistor stage which on transition of the bistable circuit into its second stable condition is excited via a time delay member and on response of the working relay of the delay circuit a switching-over contact of the relay connects the resetting input with the output of the pulse generator in a preparatory manner so that the bistable circuit is reset into its first stable condition on the following pulse of the pulse generator.

10. A circuit in accordance with claim 2, in which the resetting input of the bistable circuit is connected with the output of a circuit responsive to the initial setting of the information storage means, more particularly the beginning of the tape of a tape information storage means.