Repertory dialer with efficient data storage

• US 4,503,291 A
• Filed: 06/12/1984
• Issued: 03/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dasa Corp.
• Original Assignee: Dasa Corp.
• Inventors: Moseley, Robin C., von Holten, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US06/619,401
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 179/90 AN, 179/90 B, 179/90 BB, 179/90 BD, 364/900, 340/347 DD
• US Class Current: 379/357.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided for microprocessor controlled storage and dialing of telephone numbers and storage and access of associated data. Each entry includes a telephone number field and an associated data field. The two fields are differently encoded and thus enhance the storage efficiency by avoiding a requirement for field terminating characters. An operator provides particular entries which are matched with stored fields of associated data. Upon determining a match, the stored associated data is displayed and the associated telephone number may be automatically dialed. A three chip microprocessor set scans a keyboard, controls displays, and communicates with program and data storage units. The microprocessor is used in conjunction with integrated circuitry to detect the existence of a dial tone for a predetermined time. Multifrequency or pulse dialing of a number from storage may be effected by the inventive dialer. An interface circuit includes muting circuitry for either multifrequency tones or pulses. A power supply circuit includes a trickle charging circuit for battery backup and circuitry to prevent access to, and alteration of, memory storage in the event of power failure. An audio circuit includes directional coupling to minimize audio feedback in a speakerphone mode of operation.

Claims

1. Repertory dialer comprising:

(a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer;

(b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit;

(c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means;

(d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data;

(e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields;

(f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data; and

(g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to;

(1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and

(2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data.

2. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 1 further comprising encoding means for encoding said telephone number data in a first code for storage in said first storage means and for encoding said associated search data in a second, different code for storage in said first storage means, whereby data from adjacent fields are differentiated by the code used therefor.

3. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 1 wherein said dialing means includes:

relay controlled means for providing dialing signals appropriate to telephone systems responding to a particular form of dialing signal, and

a latch circuit means, for controlling a plurality of relay drivers to provide the appropriate dialing signals, in response to signals provided thereto by said programmable microcomputer control means on said common bus means.

4. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 3 wherein said relay controlled means include first means for providing multifrequency dialing signals, and second means for providing pulse dialing signals.

5. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 4, further comprising a pair of muting means responsive to said relay drivers for appropriately muting said multifrequency or said pulse dialing signals from reproduction on a telephone or speaker associated with said repertory dialer.

6. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 3 further comprising dial tone detection means for detecting presence of a dial tone on said telephone circuit.

7. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 6 wherein said dial tone detecting means includes threshold detecting means for generating an interrupt signal for enabling said programmable microcomputer control means to determine the frequency of a signal on said telephone circuit.

8. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 3 wherein said dialing means further includes off-hook detecting means, including photo-optical signaling means therein, for detecting an off-hook condition of said repertory dialer.

9. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage means comprises a plurality of addressable groups of random access memory units, wherein a multibit code is stored in two adjacent locations in each of the plurality of memory units.

10. Repertory dialer comprising:

(a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer;

(b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit;

(c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means;

(d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data;

(e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields;

(f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data;

(g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to;

(1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and

(2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data; and

(h) common bus means connecting said programmable microcomputer control means, said first and second storage means, and said display means;

(i) said programmable microcomputer control means comprising;

a microprocessor connected to said input means and to said common bus means;

an input/output port connected to said common bus means for expanding the number of control lines connectable to said microprocessor; and

a memory interface connected to said common bus means for interfacing said microprocessor to said first and second storage means.

11. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 10 further comprising decoding means connected to said common bus means for providing selecting and enabling signals to various components and circuits of said repertory dialer.

12. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 10 wherein said input means comprises keyboard means and further comprises means for generating signals perceptable to a user, said means being responsive to detection by said microprocessor of activation of a key on said keyboard.

13. Repertory dialer comprising:

(a) programmable microcomputer control means for controlling operation of said dialer;

(b) dialing means in circuit with said programmable microcomputer control means for providing dialing signals to a telephone circuit;

(c) input means for inputing telephone number data, associated search data, and control signals to said programmable microcomputer control means;

(d) first storage means for storing said telephone number data and said associated search data;

(e) means for enabling storage of alternating, variable length fields of said telephone number data and said associated search data in consecutive, contiguous portions of said first storage means without requiring storage of separating characters for separating said telephone number data fields from said associated search data fields;

(f) display means responsive to said programmable microcomputer control means for displaying various data;

(g) second storage means, storing a control program for causing said programmable microcomputer control means to;

(1) store said telephone number data and said associated search information data in said first storage means responsive to a first input control signal, and

(2) access particular stored data responsive to a second input control signal and particular input search information data,

(h) common bus means connecting said programmable microcomputer control means, said first and second storage means, and said display means;

(i) power supply means for providing operating electrical power to the several components of the repertory dialer including;

first supply means for converting externally supplied voltage to voltages appropriate for operation of various component circuits of said repertory dialer, and

second supply means including charging means for providing trickle charging of a rechargeable battery means and operating means for supplying operating voltage to said first storage means;

(j) said operating means including circuit means for connecting said first supply means to said first storage means when said externally supplied voltage is available, and for connecting said battery means to said first storage means to retain data stored therein when said externally supplied voltage is not available.

14. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 13 further comprising disabling means for disabling alteration of data stored in said first storage means when said externally supplied voltage drops.

15. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 14 further comprising third supply means including voltage regulating means providing regulated operating voltage to said programmable microcomputer control means,

wherein said disabling means includes rapid discharge means for rapidly discharging said voltage regulating means upon a drop in said externally supplied voltage.

16. Repertory dialer as recited in claim 14 wherein said programmable microcomputer control means includes decoding means for accessing said first storage means, and said disabling means includes voltage generating means for disabling said decoding means upon a drop in said externally supplied voltage.

17. A method for repertorial dialing of telephone numbers comprising the steps of:

entering a telephone number and associated information to a microprocessor controlled repertory dialing apparatus;

using a first coding scheme to encode said telephone number;

using a second, different coding scheme to encode said associated information;

storing said respectively distinctly encoded telephone number and associated information at assigned storage locations;

entering at least a segment of associated information;

searching for and finding a storage location having associated information stored thereat, encoded according to said second coding scheme and matching the entered segment of associated information;

searching the found storage location for, and finding a data field encoded according to said first coding scheme; and

generating dialing signals in accordance with data from the found data field.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said storing step comprises the step of

storing said respectively distinctly encoded telephone number and associated information at consecutive, contiguous, storage locations of varying lengths.

19. A method for repertorial dialing of telephone numbers comprising the steps of:

entering a telephone number and associated information to a microprocessor controlled repertory dialing apparatus;

using a first coding scheme to encode said telephone number;

using a second, different coding scheme to encode said associated information;

storing said respectively distinctly encoded telephone number and associated information at assigned storage locations;

entering at least a segment of associated information;

storing said entered segment and a special end of segment character in a temporary location; and

searching for a location in the storage having associated information stored therein identically matching said entered segment of associated information, said searching step comprising the steps of;

reading information in said second code from an entry location in storage,

storing said information in said second code in a first buffer,

reading data in said first code from said entry location,

storing said data in said first code in a second buffer,

comparing corresponding characters from said first buffer and from said temporary location for equality,

detecting the first inequality between a pair of corresponding characters,

determining a cause for the inequality, and

displaying the information from said first buffer if the inequality is due to said special character from said temporary location.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of generating dialing signals in accordance with data in said second buffer when said inequality is due to said special character from said temporary location.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said determining step further comprises the step of testing whether the character from said temporary location forms said special character, the method further including the steps of:

testing whether the character from said first buffer is in said first or second codes if the character from said temporary location is not said special character;

reading information in said second code from the next entry location in storage if the character from said first buffer is in said first code;

testing a hierarchical relationship between said characters from said first buffer and from said temporary location if the character from said first buffer is in said second code;

reading information in said second code from the next entry location in storage if a first hierarchical relationship exists between said characters from said first buffer and said temporary location; and

terminating the searching step as unsuccessful if a second hierarchical relationship exists between said characters from said first buffer and said temporary location.