Apparatus for instruction in use of telephone
First Claim
1. A self-contained portable apparatus for demonstrating the use of a telephone by simulating the operation of an active telephone line, comprising:
- (a) tone generator means for generating a dial tone, busy tone, and ring tone in a telephone;
(b) control processor means for operatively controlling said tone generator means and selectively generating a respective one of said tones;
(c) keypad means for accessing said control processor means, said keypad means including a plurality of keys;
(d) said control processor means including mode select means for operating in a manual mode, an automatic mode, and a program mode, said manual mode configured for operatively controlling said tone generator means in response to activation of at least one of said keys in said keypad means, said automatic mode configured for simulating operation of an active telephone line, said program mode configured for storing at least one telephone number in said control processor means;
(e) power ringer means for activating a ringer circuit in said telephone, said power ringer means operatively responsive to said tone generator means;
(f) interface means for operationally interfacing said tone generator means, said control processor means, said keypad means, said power ringer means, and said telephone; and
off-hook detector means for detecting off-hook status of said telephone, saidoff-hook detector means electrically coupled to said interface means, said off-hook detector means electrically coupled to said control processor means, said busy tone being generated in response to detection of said off-hook status.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable apparatus for demonstrating the operation of one or more telephones by simulating an active telephone line in which a ring tone generator (74), busy tone generator (72), dial tone generator (70), confirmation tone generator (146) and power ringer (52) are operationally controlled by a microprocessor (62) responsive to the on-hook and off-hook status of a telephone connected to the apparatus as well as control signals established by keypad entry or programmed operation. A decoder (64) responsive to DTMF or pulse dial signals provides for universal operation without regard to the type of telephones connected to the apparatus. Communications over the telephones can be monitored with an external speaker (38) or headphones, or recorded for later review. The apparatus also provides for simulated operation of coin-operated and calling card operated telephones.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A self-contained portable apparatus for demonstrating the use of a telephone by simulating the operation of an active telephone line, comprising:
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(a) tone generator means for generating a dial tone, busy tone, and ring tone in a telephone; (b) control processor means for operatively controlling said tone generator means and selectively generating a respective one of said tones; (c) keypad means for accessing said control processor means, said keypad means including a plurality of keys; (d) said control processor means including mode select means for operating in a manual mode, an automatic mode, and a program mode, said manual mode configured for operatively controlling said tone generator means in response to activation of at least one of said keys in said keypad means, said automatic mode configured for simulating operation of an active telephone line, said program mode configured for storing at least one telephone number in said control processor means; (e) power ringer means for activating a ringer circuit in said telephone, said power ringer means operatively responsive to said tone generator means; (f) interface means for operationally interfacing said tone generator means, said control processor means, said keypad means, said power ringer means, and said telephone; and off-hook detector means for detecting off-hook status of said telephone, said off-hook detector means electrically coupled to said interface means, said off-hook detector means electrically coupled to said control processor means, said busy tone being generated in response to detection of said off-hook status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A telephone operation instructional device, comprising:
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(a) a control processor, said control processor including memory means for storing at least one telephone number, said control processor configured and structured for operation in a plurality of user selected modes; (b) keypad means for accessing said control processor; (c) said plurality of modes includes a manual mode, said manual mode configured for operatively controlling a respective one of said tone generator means in response to activation of at least one of said keys in said keypad means, an automatic mode, said automatic mode configured for simulating operation of an active telephone line, and a program mode, said program mode configured for storing at least one telephone number in said control processor means; (d) dial tone generator means for generating a dial tone in a telephone, said dial tone generator means operatively responsive to said control processor; (e) busy tone generator means for generating a busy tone in said telephone, said busy tone generator means operatively responsive to said control processor; (f) ring tone generator means for generating a ring tone in said telephone, said ring tone generator means operatively responsive to said control processor; (g) power ringer means for activating a ringer circuit in said telephone, said power ringer means operatively responsive to said ring tone generator means; (h) interface means for electrically coupling said dial tone generator means, said busy tone generator means, said ring tone generator means, said power ringer means, and said control processor to said telephone; and (i) off-hook detector means for detecting off-hook status of said telephone, said off-hook detector means electrically coupled to said interface means, said off-hook detector means electrically coupled to said control processor means, said busy tone generator operatively responsive to said off-hook status. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for simulating operation of a telephone system for teaching the use thereof, comprising:
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(a) a control processor, said control processor including an information storage device, said control processor coupled to a keypad having a plurality of keys, said control processor configured and structured for operation in a selected one of a plurality of modes, said modes including a manual mode configured for operatively controlling said tone generator means in response to activation of at least one of said keys in said keypad, an automatic mode configured for simulating operation of an active telephone line, and a program mode configured for entering storing at least one telephone number in said information storage device; (b) a telephone jack structured and configured for connection to a telephone; (c) a dial tone generator operatively responsive to said control processor; (d) a busy tone generator; (e) a ring tone generator operatively responsive to said control processor; (f) a power ringer operatively responsive to said ring tone generator; (g) an interface module, said interface module electrically coupled to said control processor, said keypad, said dial tone generator, said busy tone generator, said ring tone generator, said power ringer, and said telephone jack; and (h) an off-hook detector, said off-hook detector electrically connected to said interface module, said off-hook detector electrically coupled to said telephone jack, said busy tone generator operatively responsive to said off-hook detector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification