AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR DIALING A CENTRAL TAXICAB DISPATCHING STATION

• US 3,867,577 A
• Filed: 06/11/1973
• Issued: 02/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Herrington
• Original Assignee: Donald Herrington
• Inventors: Herrington, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooper, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Application Number:
  US05/368,880
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 179/6D,5P,1.2S,5.5,2R,6R
• US Class Current: 379/79
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/00 Taximeters measuring distance travelled G01C; measuring time G04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems

Abstract

A system for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station including a switch for energizing a tapedeck to automatically dial the central dispatching station or a telephone line and provide an audio message, preferably indicating location of a caller, and a transducer connected with the telephone line and operable to permit a caller to identify himself and his destination to the central dispatching station.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station on a telephone line comprising:

recorder means including tape means for storing a line seizing signal for seizing the telephone line, a dial signal corresponding to pulses for dialing the central taxicab dispatching station, a line holding signal and an audio message in parallel with said line holding signal, and pick-up means for supplying electrical signals corresponding to said line seizing and dial signals and said audio message;

relay circuit means coupled with said pick-up means for supplying said line seizing and dial signals to the telephone line;

transformer means coupled with said pick-up means for supplying said audio message to the telephone line and to permit audio communication between a caller and the central taxicab dispatching station;

switch means for operating said recorder means when actuated by a caller to supply said line seizing and dial signals to said relay circuit means to establish communication with the central taxicab dispatching station and to supply said audio message to said transformer means for communication to the central taxicab dispatching station; and

transducer means coupled with said transformer means to permit the caller to hear audio messages from the central taxicab dispatching station and to supply audio messages to the central taxicab dispatching station whereby actuating said switch means, the central taxicab dispatching station is automatically dialed, said audio messaGe is automatically communicated to the central taxicab dispatching station and two-way communication between the caller and the central taxicab dispatching station is automatically established.

2. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 1 wherein said transformer means is connected with said transducer means by circuit means such that said audio message from said recorder means can be heard by the caller.

3. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 1 wherein said tape means is a continuous loop of magnetic tape carrying an electrically conductive strip, and said switch means includes a pair of contacts spaced to be bridged by said conductive strip to stop operation of said recorder means.

4. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 3 wherein said switch means includes a DC battery, a controlled rectifier and a stop switch connected in series between said battery and said recorder means, and a call switch for triggering said controlled rectifier to supply electricity from said battery to operate said recorder means, said stop switch being opened in response to bridging of said spaced contacts by said conductive strip to interrupt the supply of electricity to said recorder means.

5. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 4 wherein said stop switch includes a pair of normally closed contacts and a relay winding energized by bridging of said spaced contacts to open said normally closed contacts.

6. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 5 wherein said switch means includes a lamp connected with said controlled rectifier to be lit when electricity is supplied to said recorder means.

7. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 6 wherein said relay circuit means includes a pair of reed contacts adapted to be connected in series in the telephone line, a reed relay winding controlling said reed contacts and energized by said line seizing and dial signals, and a lamp connected with said reed relay winding to be lit when said reed relay winding is energized.

8. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 7 wherein said magnetic tape has a first channel storing said line seizing and dial signals and a second channel storing said audio message, said line seizing signal being formed by a constant frequency signal extending along the entire length of said magnetic tape with the exception of interruptions forming said dial signal, said pick-up means includes a first pick-up head operable with said first channel and a second pick-up head operable with said second channel, said relay circuit means includes a step-up transformer and a rectifier connected between said first pick-up head and said reed relay winding, and said transformer means includes an audio transformer having a first winding adapted to be connected in the telephone line and a second winding connected with said second pick-up head and said transducer means.

9. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 1 wherein said relay circuit means includes a lamp connected to be lit by said line seizing and dial signals.

10. Apparatus for automatically dialing a central taxicab dispatching station as recited in claim 9 wherein said switch means includes a lamp connected to be lit while said recorder means is operated.