United States Patent [191
`Hird et 21.
`
`[11]
`[451
`
`Patent Number:
`Date of Patent:
`
`4,933,966
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`PERFORMING AN AUTOMATED COLLECT
`CALL
`[75] Inventors: John A. Hird, Dallas; Lindsey D.
`Owen; Michael R. Rice, both of
`Carrollton, all of Tex.
`[73] Assignee: Intellicall, Inc., Carrollton, Tex.
`[21] Appl. No.: 301,357
`[22] Filed:
`Jan. 23, 1989
`
`[51] Int. Cl.5 .......................................... .. H04M 17/02
`
`[52] U.S. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . . . .. 379/132; 379/144
`
`[58] Field of Search ................... .. 379/132, 91, 93, 97,
`379/ 144
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,054,756 10/1977 Comella et a1. .
`4,593,157 6/1986 Usdan .
`4,736,405 4/ 1988 Akiyama ......................... .. 379/ 89
`4,763,350 8/1988 Immendorfer et al.
`.... .. 379/67
`4,766,604 8/ 1988 Axberg ........................ .. 379/67
`
`4,797,910 l/ 1989 Daudelin . . . . .
`. . . . .. 379/67
`4,825,460 4/1989 Carter et al. ........................ .. 379/67
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`OSSGR, vol. 3, “Feature Speci?c Documents”; Tech
`nical Ref. TSY—O00271 FSD 85-01-0100 Calling Card
`Service-Published by Bell Communications Resear
`ch-Revision #3 Dated Mar. 1988.
`OSSGR, vol. 3, “Feature Speci?c Documents”; Tech
`
`nical Ref. TSY-000271 FSD-85-01-0200 Collect Bil
`ling-Published by Bell Communications Resear
`ch-Revision #3 Dated Mar. 1988.
`
`Primary Examiner—-S. D. Schreyer
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Baker, Mills & Glast
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A telephone system and method of operation are dis
`closed which use a microprocessor control system (10),
`a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to
`automatically place collect calls without the need of a
`live operator. The telephone uses the microprocessor
`control system (10) and a speech record/playback gen
`erator (44) to receive a destination number and a re—
`corded name from a user. The telephone uses the speech
`generator (34) to play audio messages to prompt the
`user throughout the process. The phone informs a
`called party of the identity of the user and receives
`responses from the called party through a DTMF re
`ceiver (52). A communication path is established
`through a telephone line interface (38) if the phone
`receives a response indicating the called party accepts
`the charges for the collect call. The microprocessor
`control system (10) generates a billing record or the call
`which is stored in a call record memory (11). The bill
`ing record can later be retrieved to facilitate billing the
`call.
`
`54 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
`
`/38
`“P
`PH -_
`csr?m
`REC/EM AUDIO TELEINEONE R
`38a Tm INTERFACE & OFHCE
`5""
`
`1m
`INCONING
`RM;
`DETECTOR
`/
`37
`
`H\
`CALL
`RECORD
`MEMORY
`
`12\
`REALTIME
`CLOCK
`
`14\ m MICROPROCESSOR
`"Em
`CONTROL
`(Rm)
`5151;“
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`IPR of U.S. Patent 6,636,591
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`Jun. 12,1990
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 12,1990
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`4,933,966
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 12, 1990
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`4,933,966
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 12,1990
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12,1990
`
`Sheet 7 of 22
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`4,933,966
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun.12,1990
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`4,933,966
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`US. Patent Jun. 1'2,1990
`
`Sheet 10 0f 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`70
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`FIG. 7b
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`US. Patent Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 11 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`FIG. 7 0
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`

`
`US. Patent Jun. 12,1990
`
`Sheet 12 0f 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`V500
`
`I;
`
`(
`
`START
`‘
`RECEIVER
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`SUPPLY DIAL
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`Jr
`COL|£CT mans
`OF PHONE No.
`
`/504
`
`506
`
`F I G. 8a
`518
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`com CALL
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`YES
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`PROCESSING
`
`No
`
`_
`
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`._—_@
`
`ROUTE CALL TO
`LIVE OPERATOR
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 13 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`COLLECT THE FIRST A516
`DIGIT OF CARD No.
`
`B THE
`HRST men A
`,Ol
`
`COLLECT ALL OTHER r524»
`mans 0F CARD No.
`
`FIG. 8b
`
`YES
`
`\
`SAY ‘PLEASE WAIT ONE /528
`MOMENT FOR YOUR CALL
`TO BE VERIFIED’ AND
`00 VERIFY PROCESS
`(sEE VERIFY PROCESS)
`
`53s
`/
`SAY ‘PLEASE DIAL
`CARD No. AGAIN’ TO
`EARPIECE
`
`‘
`ROUTE CALL TO
`UVE OPERATOR
`
`REMEMBER CARD No.
`IN usr FOR 3 DAYS k
`____\__
`538
`
`ROUTE CALL TO
`LIVE OPERATOR
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 14 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`FROM
`FIG. 8d
`
`R 539
`
`/
`COLLECT PHONE No.
`DIGITS
`
`FROM
`FIG. 8b
`
`R
`
`FIG. 80
`
`1
`CHANGE 0+ CALL \
`TO 1+ CAU.
`540
`1,
`GO OFF HOOK \542
`L
`DIAL THROUGH
`NETWORK
`
`\544
`
`PATRON GONE
`ON HOOK
`
`BILQNG RECORD
`\
`554
`
`1
`UBR
`
`T0
`FLG 80
`
`T0
`FIG. 8d
`
`TERMINATE CALL
`\
`552
`
`COH
`
`T0
`FIG 80
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 15 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`FROM
`
`F1@c
`
`556
`
`‘
`
`{>58
`
`CLOSE BIUJNG
`E50
`
`TO
`HG. 8a
`
`f
`UPDATE BILLING
`RECORD WITH
`NEW TIME
`
`HAS
`PROGRAMMED
`ELAPSED TIME
`EXPIRED
`
`564
`
`PATRON GONE
`ON HOOK
`
`CLOSE BILUNG f568
`RECORD
`#
`TERMINATE cm A70
`
`@ FIG. 8d
`
`TO
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 16 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`FROM
`FIG. 80,8b
`
`572 § S\AY 'PREss ONE TO
`
`PLACE AN AUTOMATED
`COLLECT CALL. PRESS
`ZERO FOR LIVE
`OPERATOR’ T0
`EARPIECE
`
`f 588
`
`/599
`
`GENERATE TONE
`I,
`RECORD VOICE
`FoR 3 SECONDS
`I
`SAY "YOUR RECORDED
`NAME Is’ AND PLAY— / 592
`BACK RECORCED NAME
`594
`
`596
`/
`SAY 'PLEASE WAIT
`ONE MOMENT FOR
`YOUR CALL TO BE
`VERIFIED’ AND DO
`VERIFY PROCESS
`(SEE VERIFY PROCESS
`598
`
`YES
`
`VERIFIED
`
`600
`
`SAY 'THIS IS NOT A
`BILLABLE NUMBER’
`AND 'PLEASE HANG
`UPI TO EARPIECE
`
`SO4
`I
`\
`CHANGE CALL TO
`DIRECT CALL
`0+ DIRECT
`
`602
`/
`WAIT FOR PATRON
`TO HANG up
`
`606
`I
`\
`TAKE PHONE UNE
`OFF HOOK AND DIAL
`DESTINATION No.
`
`SAY 'PLEASE DIAL
`YOUR DESIRED No.'
`T0 EARPIECE
`I
`COLLECT
`DESTINATION No.
`
`I
`SAY .'YOUR NAME WI
`NOW BE RECORDED.
`PLEASE SAY YOUR
`NAME AFTER THE
`TONE’ TO EARPIECE
`I_____I
`FIG. 82
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 17 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`TERMINATE
`SAY 'HELLO, YOU HAVE
`CAU.
`AN AUTOMATED COLLECT
`J,
`CALL ERoM' PATRON'S
`Wm FOR
`NAME. 'TO ACCEPT THlS
`\ 0N HOOK
`COLLECT CALL DIAL 1
`Now. IF NoT, DIAL o
`<—J AND HANG up‘ To
`EARPIECE AND CALLED
`PATTY
`START Two
`620/ SECOND TTMEouT
`
`/ ‘
`
`618
`
`614
`
`COH
`To
`FIG. 8a
`
`FROM
`FIG. 89
`RJC
`
`HANG UP PHONE
`UNE
`
`/
`634
`
`‘
`SAY "YOUR COLLECT
`CALL wAs NoT
`ACCEPTED BY THIS
`
`NO. T
`
`WAIT FOR PATRON
`To HAM; UP
`\
`$09 638
`T0
`FIG. 80
`
`
`
`TERWNATE CALL L
`
`GENERATE
`BTLgNs RECORD
`\
`640
`
`"A" FOR 0" HOOK
`\
`530
`
`FIG. 80
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jun. 12,1990
`
`Sheet 18 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`FROM
`
`FIG. 8f @
`
`SAY 'YOU HAVE AN
`AUTOMATED COLLECT
`CALL FROM’ PATRON‘S
`NAME. 'TO ACCEPT
`THIS COLLECT CALL
`DIAL 0 NOW. IF NOT,
`DIAL I AND HANG UP'
`TO EARPIECE AND
`CALLED PARTY
`
`START 15
`SECONDS TIMEOUT
`
`RECORD ALL SPEECH
`PHRASES ON TAPE
`
`/662
`
`PLAYBACK TAPE AND
`/-664
`DIGITIZE VOICE ON
`AUDIO DIGITIZER ONE
`PHRASE EACH TIME
`I
`,ses
`MOVE THE PHRASE
`FROM AUDIO DIGITIZER
`TO A PHRASE FILE
`
`ASSIGN EVENT
`NUMBERS TO PHRASES
`IN DEFINITION FILE
`I
`CHAIN ALL PHRASE
`FILES TO A SPEECH
`FILE
`
`f 670
`
`f572
`
`cl?)
`
`FIG. 9
`
`GENERATE
`BILUNG RECORD / 650
`
`@ TO
`
`FIG. 8d
`FIG. 8g
`
`

`
`! US. Patent Jun. 12,1990
`
`Sheet 19 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`USER INVOKES INET A581.
`
`USER SELECTS [582
`PHONE(S) TO CALL
`Jr
`mEr CALLS
`PAYPHONE IN
`THE FIELD
`
`[583
`
`FIG. 10
`
`N0
`
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`PRESENT MENUS [688
`WITH SPEECH
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`
`69:
`
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`couwwus SELECTED
`BY US§_R
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`WITHOUT SPEECH FILE
`SELECT SPEECH
`DOWNLOAD OPHON
`DOWNLOAD
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`COMMANDS 551mm
`BY USER
`_____I
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`Q87
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`PROMPT FOR SPEECH fsgo
`“LE NAME
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`OPEN THE NAMED / 69‘
`
`'
`
`SPEECH FILE
`
`~
`
`TRANSMH' THE NEXT
`BLOCK OF DATA
`
`

`
`‘US. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 20 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`70°
`
`712
`
`No $ No
`
`.
`
`/
`702
`
`YES
`
`ASSUME BILUNG
`NUMBER IS VAUD
`
`715
`
`714
`
`o+
`CREDIT CARD
`cm
`
`YES
`
`
`
`ow. PROGRAMMED
`VERIFY NUMBER
`(ALWAYS BUSY OR
`
`
`
`BoNc TONE
`DETECTED
`
`718
`
`YES
`
`TIMEOUT
`W~Tg*g,§,GF°R
`
`YES
`
`NUMBER
`
`UVE OPERATOR
`
`724
`
`722
`
`704
`
`ow. vscs NUMBER
`
`705
`
`NO
`
`RIFIED
`
`BILUNG
`NUMBER
`IS NoT VAUD
`7”’
`
`YES
`BILLING
`NUMBER
`IS VAIJD
`7“
`
`
`TONE OR
`RINGBACK ToNE
`DETECTED
`
`YES
`
`CARDIS MNJD
`
`728
`
`FIG.
`
`11
`
`730
`
`
`
`UMEOUT
`
`WMHNG FOR
`BUSY TONE OR
`RINGBACK
`TONE
`
`YES
`
`
`
`CARDIS NOT
`VIUD
`
`732
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 21 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`FROM
`FIG. 12a
`
`754
`
`
`
`PATRON ows
`DESTINATION
`NUMBER (tNCLUDES
`
`ALL vsaws ETC.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ENUNCIATE 'IF YOU
`WOUU) UKE TO LEAVE
`A VOICE MESSAGE FOR
`YOUR PARTY PRESS
`ONE NOW AND
`ATTENUANON OF
`RING BACKS
`
`
`HAS
`N_ YES
`ROGRAMMED
`OF RINGBACKS
`QCCURED
`
`
`
`
`
`T0
`. 12!)
`
`754
`
`Fl
`
`G
`
`
`
`
`CONNECT VOICE
`
`NORMAL CALL
`SEQUENCE
`
`FIG. 12a.
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12,1990
`
`Sheet 22 of 22
`
`4,933,966
`
`FROM
`HG. 120
`
`774
`
`YES
`
`N0
`
`ANSWER
`DETECTED
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`778
`
`RECENER
`ON HOOK
`
`78°
`
`YES
`
`TERMINATE CALL
`
`FIG. 12b
`
`782
`
`HANG UP AND CALL
`VOICE CENTER
`
`-
`792
`STOP ANY
`SPEECH
`
`CONNECT
`VOICE PATH
`
`NORMAL CALL
`PROCESSING
`
`794
`
`
`
`TRANSFER cm
`INFORMATION
`VIA omr
`
`735
`
`}'T=6§sLaZLE":
`
`L. MESSAEE .1
`
`790
`
`791
`
`PATRON LEAVES
`NAM MESSAGE
`
`COLLECT PATRON'S
`MONEY-
`
`786
`
`WAIT FOR PATRON
`TO HANG UP
`
`TO
`FIG. 12a
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,933,966
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`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING
`AN AUTOMATED COLLECI‘ CALL
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates in general to the field of tele-
`communications systems. Specifically, the present in-
`vention relates to a method and apparatus for process-
`ing telephone calls which enhances the functionality of
`a telecommunications station in the placing of collect
`calls.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The private ownership of pay ‘telephone technology
`has provided an added source of revenue for a variety
`of businesses for some time. The actual cash collection
`from the coins deposited by users of pay telephone
`stations is an important aspect of such revenues. More
`recently, due to technological advances and changes in
`the business climate, businesses have been able to add
`income from certain long distance telephone calls. With
`the use of an Automated Operator Service (AOS), a
`private owner of a telephone can bill users of the tele-
`phone for both inter-LATA and intra-LATA long dis-
`tance calls.
`
`While AOS systems can generate revenue where
`none existed before, they are very inefficient. An AOS
`usually operates from a central office. Hence, in the case
`of an intra-LATA call, the call may have to travel hun-
`dreds of miles and finally terminate a few miles from its
`origination point.. The unnecessary miles
`traveled
`through the network are expensive and this cost is usu-
`ally borne by the user through higher long distance
`rates, or by the owner of the telephone through lower
`commissions.
`
`In addition, private owners of pay telephones have
`heretofore lost a considerable amount of revenue be-
`cause of their inability to charge for collect calls made
`on their pay telephones. Although such collect calls
`have been made on the privately owned and maintained
`pay telephone, the primary telephone companies have
`reaped the benefit of placing the collect ‘calls.
`Therefore, a need has arisen for a telecommunica-
`tions system which can automate and simplify the pro-
`cesses currently handled by a traditional AOS. Specifi-
`cally, a need has arisen for a pay telephone station
`which can automatically route long distance calls with-
`out the intervention of an outside service, and which
`allows the pay telephone owner to charge revenues for
`the completion of a collect call.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance with the present invention, a telecom-
`munications station is provided which performs similar
`functions as the telephone company or an AOS, but
`does so locally and automatically. More specifically, a
`system is provided which is interactive with the calling
`party and the called party through the use of prompting
`messages. These messages can supply information or
`prompting to the users of the system and can thereby
`automatically complete calls that would otherwise re-
`quire the services of a live operator.
`An important
`technical advantage of the present
`method and system provided is its ability to locally
`generate a record of the individual calls placed. This
`record can then be retrieved locally or from a remote
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`portion of the system and can be used to bill the user of
`the system for the call.
`Specifically, a method and system is provided which
`uses prompting messages which are stored locally in the
`telecommunications station. These messages are played
`for the calling party to prompt him to take the appropri-
`ate steps to place a collect call. The calling party is
`given the option to speak with a live operator if desired.
`Alternatively, the present invention allows the placing
`of a collect call, with charges for the call being calcu-
`lated and stored at the station for later billing to the
`called party.
`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a
`telecommunications station is provided which can re-
`cord a destination number and a calling party’s name.
`The station then informs the called party of the identity
`of the calling party using the recorded name and asks
`the called party if he wishes to accept the call. The
`station contains circuitry which is capable of then act-
`ing on a number of possible responses from the called
`party. The station accordingly either completes or ter-
`minates the call.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A more complete understanding of the present inven-
`tion may be derived by referring to the detailed descrip-
`tion and claims when considered in connection with the
`accompanying drawings, in which like reference num-
`bers indicate like features through the drawings, and
`wherein:
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pay telephone station
`utilizing aspects of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing greater detail of
`portions of the block diagram of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the process of
`downloading speech files encompassed in the present
`invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the validation
`interface computer system utilized in the present inven-
`tion;
`FIGS. 5a—7c are schematic diagrams showing a pay
`telephone station constructed in accordance with the
`present invention in detail;
`FIGS. 8a—8g are flow charts showing the process of
`placing a collect or 0+ call according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the process of speech
`file generation used in the present invention;
`FIG. 10. is a flow chart showing the process for
`downloading speech files used in the present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the process used for
`verification of telephone billing account numbers used
`in the present invention; and
`FIGS. 12a—12b are flow charts demonstrating the
`process for voice mail used in the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`A more complete understanding of the present inven-
`tion may be derived by referring to the following de-
`tailed description when considered in connection with
`the accompanying FIGS. 1 through 12. Like reference
`numbers indicate like features throughout the drawings.
`In addition, reference designations for branch points in
`the flowcharts and for signals contained in the sche-
`matic diagrams indicate connections which could not
`otherwise be adequately demonstrated due to space
`constraints.
`
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`Block Diagram of the System
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`4,933,966
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram which shows the general
`organization of a localized telecommunications device
`such as a pay telephone station constructed according
`to the teachings of the present invention. Throughout
`the description of the present invention, use of the terms
`“pay telephone”, “telephone”, “station” or similar
`terms should be construed in their broadest sense. The
`teachings of the present invention are applicable to all
`publicly accessible telecommunications devices which
`charge for each call made whether or not the particular
`device has actual coin receipt capability. The aforemen-
`tioned terms when used herein are intended to include
`all such telecommunications devices.
`Microprocessor control system 10 comprises a suit-
`able digital processor such as a Hitachi 6309E micro-
`processor. System 10 serves to monitor the input/out-
`put devices in the telephone and makes the control
`decisions on what actions are taken within the tele-
`phone circuitry.
`The microprocessor 10 is included within the local
`pay telephone station so that a Variety of operations can
`occur locally at the telephone. For example, a pay tele-
`phone station constructed according to the present
`invention has the capability to complete long distance
`calls using telephone billing account numbers. The local
`station can verify the billing account number and place
`the calls all using circuitry resident within the station.
`In operation, the local telephone station stores the bill-
`ing account number and places the call as a direct dial
`telephone call. In this manner, the local station is billed
`for the call and the owner of the station may then bill
`the appropriate party for calls placed using the local
`station. The local station can also generate and store a
`record of the call which can later be retrieved to facili-
`tate billing of the call. All these functions are controlled
`locally within the station by microprocessor control
`system 10. This local control eliminates the inefficient
`and time consuming need for external control at a cen-
`tral office or AOS.
`
`A call record memory 11 is connected to system 10
`and is used to store the billing records of completed
`calls These billing records caninclude the type of the
`call that was placed, the price of the call, and the dura-
`tion of the call. Microprocessor control system 10 uses
`a real time clock 12 to determine what time a telephone
`call is originated to determine if any discounts are appli-
`cable and to time the duration of the call. Operational
`software for the system is stored in a program memory
`14. Program memory 14 may comprise, for example,
`two 32KX 8 static RAMS which are battery backed up
`to make the memory non-volatile.
`A rate memory 16 is connected to system 10 and also
`comprises a battery backed up static RAM module.
`This RAM module has the batteries contained within
`the components so that the component can be removed
`from one board to another board without loss of power
`to the memory. In one embodiment of the present in-
`vention, rate memory 16 stores rates for the telephone
`and configuration data for a particular telephone. In this
`embodiment, the rate for a particular call may be stored
`in the billing record for the call. In an alternate embodi-
`ment, the rate for the call may be applied in the station
`and the actual price of the call may be stored in the
`billing record for the call. In still another embodiment,
`the time of the call, the destination phone number and
`the time of day can be stored in the billing record for the
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`call and the rate for the call can be applied at a remote
`location after the billing record has been transferred out
`of the local station to facilitate the billing of the call.
`This configuration data is programmable by the user
`through the use of a PC and a rate table editing pro-
`gram. By using this program, the user can enable or
`disable various features in a specific telephone.
`A kernel memory 18 is coupled to microprocessor
`control
`system 10 and may comprise a
`l6KX 8
`EPROM. Kernel memory 18 is not volatile and stores a
`program which is used to boot up the telephone when
`the telephone is initially turned on. The kernel program
`also contains the program to automatically "call out and
`redownload program or rate files if they are corrupted.
`A coin acceptor 20 is monitored by microprocessor
`control system 10 and comprises a device which inputs
`whether a nickel, dime or quarter has been deposited
`into the system. Microprocessor control system 10 mon-
`itors coin acceptor 20 to determine if thecoin acceptor
`mechanism is jammed. Coin retum/collect system 22 is
`associated with acceptor 20 and is a coin escrow device
`which stores the coin until the decision is made by
`microprocessor control system 10 whether to collect or
`return the coins. When signaled by microprocessor
`control system 10, the coin retum/collect system 22
`mechanically routes the return of the coin or collects
`the coin.
`
`Keypad and hookswitch 24 comprises two separate
`inputs to microprocessor control system 10. The hook-
`switch input of keypad hookswitch 24 indicates to mi-
`croprocessor control system 10 whether the handset of
`the telephone is on or off hook. When the handset is
`signaled to be on the hook, the microprocessor control
`system 10 can terminate the call. When the hookswitch
`input signals microprocessor control system 10 that the
`handset is off the hook, microprocessor control system
`10 starts monitoring the keypad input 24 and the coin
`acceptor 20. Keypad and hookswitch 24 does not di-
`rectly control the connection of the local telephone
`with the telecommunications network. The keypad
`input of keypad and hookswitch 24 is a standard 3X4
`matrix of switches used by the patron to input data into
`the telephone.
`Controlled earpiece 26 is comprised of the hearing
`aid compatible audio transducer contained in pay tele-
`phone handsets, as well as series of analog enabling
`switches and buffering amplifiers which are discussed
`later with reference to the schematic diagrams. A call
`status detector 28 monitors the received audio signals
`from the telephone line and is used to monitor the status
`of the telephone line. Call status detector 28 determines
`whether the line is busy, ringing or whether the call has
`been intercepted by detecting a special information tone
`(SIT). The functionality of call status detector 28 is
`fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,833 issued to Cave
`et al.
`Modem 30 is a 1200 BAUD modem which can trans-
`fer phase shift key data from the microprocessor control
`system and receive phase shift key information from the
`telephone line. Modern 30 is a full duplex modem which
`is used for communicating accounting data and status
`data from the telephone. Modern 30 is also used for
`loading program memory or commands from a host
`computer or transmitting to a host computer data from
`the telephone._Such data from the telephone could in-
`clude coin totals, billing records or error conditions.
`Mouthpiece 32 comprises a standard microphone
`contained in the telephone handset also including con-
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`trolled earpiece 26, as well as a system of enabling
`switches and amplification circuitry. Microphone status
`detector 33 is used to monitor voice activity at the
`microphone. The microprocessor control system 10 can
`monitor this detector 33 in part to determine the status
`* of the call. Speech synthesizer 34 comprises memory
`and control circuits which contain custom recorded
`speech phrases. Microprocessor control system 10 can
`select which of these phrases to use and play these
`phrases over the telephone line or into earpiece 26.
`Speech synthesizer 34 may comprise a General Instru-
`ment SP0264. The messages generated by speech syn-
`thesizer 34 may be used to prompt a user of the terminal
`or a called party. In an alternate embodiment of the
`' present invention, a telephone terminal with video ca-
`pabilities may generate simultaneous video prompts in
`conjunction with the speech messages. A further em-
`bodiment of the present
`invention uses exclusively
`video messages to prompt the user of the local station.
`A DTMF generator 36 is coupled to microprocessor
`control system 10 to generate the dual tone multifre-
`quency signals which enable the telephone to place a
`call. DTMF generator 36 may comprise, for example, ‘a
`Sharp 4089 DTMF generator. Incoming ring detector
`37 is a component which samples the incoming tele-
`phone line and detects the ring signals on that line. A
`telephone line interface 38 is coupled to microprocessor
`control system 10 and interfaces between the telephone
`central office and the remainder of the circuitry of FIG.
`1. Telephone line interface 38 comprises multiple com-
`ponents which are used to interface with the standard
`network telephone line. Telephone line interface 38
`converts the TIP and RING inputs into a four wire
`audio output, and also contains circuitry necessary to
`take the telephone on or off hook.
`Intellistar transmit module 40 is coupled between
`controlled mouthpiece 32 and telephone line interface
`38 and comprises an additional speech synthesizer and a
`DTMF generator which injects additional audio signals
`into the transmit path. Intellistar receive module 42
`comprises an attenuated audio path for use in voice mail
`applications, an additional DTMF receiver to detect
`DTMF tones transmitted through the telephone line
`and an additional call status detector. Intellistar system
`controller 48 may comprise,
`for example, a GTE
`65SCl5l microcomputer and peripheral support com-
`ponents. Intellistar system controller 48 controls the
`functions of Intellistar transmit module 40 and Intelli-
`star receive module 42.
`
`FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram showing greater
`detail of the transmit module 40 and receive module 42
`of FIG. 1. The dotted connection lines between ele-
`ments in FIG. 2 represent control signal paths and the
`solid lines represent audio signal paths. Controlled ear-
`piece 26 and mouthpiece 32 on FIG. 2 are contained
`within the handset of the telephone as previously de-
`scribed. Mouthpiece 32 is coupled to a speech record
`playback generator 44 which may comprise a Toshiba
`TC-8830 adaptive delta PCM speech generator which
`can record audio tones or voices and store them in a
`speech memory RAM 46. Speech memory RAM 46 is a
`battery backed static RAM nonvolatile memory. Intelli-
`star transmit module 40 further comprises a call status
`tone generator 56 which generates dial tones, ring back
`signals, or busy signals and presents them to the tele-
`phone line interface 38 and to the controlled earpiece
`26.
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`Intellistar transmit module 40 further comprises a
`summer 58 which takes playback audio signals from
`speech record playback generator 44, audio signals
`from mouthpiece 32, audio signals from call status tone
`generator 56 and transmitted signals from modem 30
`and sums them together and outputs them to transmit
`line 102. A second summer device 60 sums the signal on
`transmit line 102, signals from DTMF generator 36
`(FIG. 1) mouthpiece 32 and speech synthesizer 34
`(FIG. 1) and outputs the combined signals to telephone
`line interface 38.
`
`System controller 48 is controlled by the main micro-
`processor control system 10. System controller 48 inter-
`faces with modem 30 as shown on FIG. 2 and with call
`status detector 50, DTMF receiver 52, and switch array
`54, which are portions of Intellistar receive module 42.
`Call status detector 50 is used for busy signal detection
`and may comprise a Silicon Systems 75T982 detector
`DTMF receiver 52 may comprise a Silicon Systems
`75T202 receiver. Switch array 54 comprises a group of
`discrete analog audio switches coupled to outputs from
`transmit module 40 and from an attenuator 62, in order
`to control the audio path to controlled earpiece 26.
`Switch array 54 comprises four discrete audio switches
`and the four paths are joined together using op amps so
`that the paths may be summed together or turned on or
`off independently.
`Attenuator 62 provides an attenuated path for the
`received audio through switch array 54 into controlled
`earpiece 26. Attenuator 62 lowers the magnitude of the
`audio signal approximately 20 dB in order to reduce the
`volume of a busy signal from the telephone system, for
`example, to allow a prerecorded speech message to be
`transmitted over the attenuated busy signal. By having
`theoutput of summer 58 into switch array 54 and the
`path from telephone line interface 38 through attenua-
`tor 62 into switch array 54, it is possible to have two
`audio sources transmitted to controlled earpiece 26 at
`the same time with one of the audio signals being attenu-
`ated approximately 20 dB.
`The operation of the present invention depicted in the
`block diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2 is best understood
`when examined in the context of interactive use of the
`invention with a patron. A basic introduction to the
`interaction of the various components of the invention
`can be achieved through a step by step analysis of the
`making of a basic coin call by using a telephone con-
`structed in accordance to the teachings of the present
`invention.
`
`When a patron desires to place a coin call using the
`local telecommunications station, the patron removes
`the handset from the hookswitch 24. Microprocessor
`control system 10, at this time, would be running a
`constant control program testing the hookswitch input
`24. When microprocessor control system 10 determines
`that the handset has been removed from hookswitch 24,
`it clears an audio path from telephone line interface 38
`to controlled earpiece 26. Typically, the patron would
`then dial a telephone number using keypad 24. Software
`running in microprocessor control system 10 then deter-
`mines when all of the digits of the number have been
`collected. The software then looks to rate memory 16 to
`determine a rate for that call using the digits that the
`patron dialed. Alternatively, if the rating of the call is to
`be accomplished outside the phone, microprocessor
`control system 10 would record the destination number
`and the time of the day for the call.
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`Microprocessor control system 10 then activates
`speech synthesizer 34 and audio switches 54 in order to
`play a speech message to the patron through controlled
`earpiece 26 to inform the patron of how much money he
`needs to input in order to place the call. As discussed
`previously, in the alternative, the prompting messages
`could also be in video form or in a combination of both
`audio and video messages. Through the remainder of
`the description of the invention, the functioning of the
`various, aspects of the invention will be described in
`conjunction with the embodiment using solely audio
`prompts. It should be understood that all alternate em-
`bodiments described are intended to be included within
`the scope of the teachings of the present invention.
`As the patron puts money into coin acceptor 20, coin
`acceptor 20 gives a signal to microprocessor control
`system 10 as to how much money has been received. At
`any point, if the patron replaces the handset back on
`hook switch 24, microproce