`
`
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`CANO OUARA A
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`(10) International Publication Number
`
`
`
` 14 December 2000 (14.12.2000) PCT WO 00/76238 Al
`
`(51) International Patent Classification’:
`HO4M 1/66, HO4Q 3/00
`
`H04Q 7/32,
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/GBO00/01956
`
`Stephen, John [GB/GB]; Levisham, Long Road East,
`Dedham, Colchester, Essex CO7 6BW (GB). TOWNEND,
`Jonathan, Richard [GB/GB]; Flat 4, 125 London Road,
`Ipswich, Suffolk IP] 2HH (GB).
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`22 May 2000 (22.05.2000)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`English
`
`(74) Agent: LIDBETTER, Timothy, Guy, Edwin; BT Group
`Legal Services, Intellectual Property Department, 8th floor,
`Holborn Centre, 120 Holborn, London ECIN 2TE (GB).
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`(81) Designated States (national): CN, IN, JP, KR, SG, US.
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`99304504.6
`
`9 June 1999 (09.06.1999)
`
`EP
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): European patent (AT, BE,
`CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FL FR, GB, GR,IE, IT, LU, MC,
`NL,PT, SE).
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): BRITISH.
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`PUBLIC
`LIMITED Published:
`COMPANY[GB/GB]; 81 Newgate Street, London EC1A -~ With international search report.
`TAI (GB).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants
`
`(for US only):
`
`BUTTERY,
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid-
`ance Notes on Codes andAbbreviations” appearing at the begin-
`xing ofeach regularissue ofthe PCT Gazette.
`
`(54) Title: WIRELESS/WIRELINE TELEPHONE INTERFACING EQUIPMENT
`
`
`
`4QAS
`
`3
`
`
`
`CARLACARATAa
`
`O00/76238Al
`
`(57) Abstract: An interface device (10) allows communication betweena first telephone terminal (14), a second, wireless, telephone
`terminal (13), and a telephone network. The device comprises a transceiver (3) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to
`and from the wireless terminal (13), the wireless signals including authentication data identifying the terminal (13), such as the
`data carried by a SIM card (33). Data processing means (4) process the authentication data. The processed authentication data
`can be transmitted to the fixed network (44, 45). The first telephone terminal is connected to the interface means (10) such that
`
`wireless telephone terminal. The wireless signals may be carried over an "ad hoc piconet” system.
`
`= communication between the first terminal (14) and the network (44, 45) can be enabled by the authentication data received from the
`
`1
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Apple, et al. v. Uniloc
`IPR2019-00251
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Apple, et al. v. Uniloc
`IPR2019-00251
`
`1
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GBO00/01956
`
`WIRELESS/WIRELINE TELEPHONE INTERFACING EQUIPMENT
`
`This invention relates to telephone equipment, and more particularly to user
`
`terminals that communicate with a telephone network by way of a wireless interface,
`
`using radio or other means.
`
`As is well known, such systems allow the user to take the terminal from one
`
`place to another and remain in contact with the network, a facility generally referred
`
`to as “mobility”. However, mobility facilities can also be provided on a fixed, or
`
`“wired” network by arranging the system such that the user may access the network
`
`10
`
`using any one of its wired network termination points.
`
`To perform mobility services in any network, the network must be aware of
`
`the identity of the user when contact is first made.
`
`In mobile networks according to
`
`standards such as GSM, the identity of the user is stored on a smart card (SIM Card)
`
`in the terminal, and this communicates with the network via the terminal. The user is
`
`15
`
`thus
`
`identified as
`
`currently using a
`
`specified mobile
`
`terminal, which is
`
`in
`
`communication with the network through a specified fixed radio base station.
`
`In a
`
`fixed-wire network, the user identification is either done by keypad entry (protected
`
`by PIN numbers), or by a voice-controlled system that the user dials into, or by
`
`physically inserting a card or other identification means into the wired terminal.
`
`20
`
`For a number of reasons, users wish to have the choice of whether to use a
`
`wireless user terminal or a fixed-wire terminal. Wireless terminals can be used in
`
`situations where no fixed terminal is available, for example in a moving vehicle, but
`
`many users prefer to use fixed terminals when they are available. Mobile terminals
`
`generally have higher call
`
`tariffs, are dependent on battery power, and have
`
`25
`
`ergonomic constraints caused by their limited size, such as the number and size of
`
`keys on the keypad.
`
`Indeed, some terminal types,
`
`in particular facsimile machines,
`
`are too bulky to be suitable for use as mobile terminals, and others, such as high
`
`bandwidth devices like video systems, are unsuitable for the relatively low bandwidth
`
`available over a cellular radio connection. Many users therefore have both a fixed
`
`30
`
`line identity (which may allow mobility between fixed line terminals) and a cellular
`
`identity.
`
`It is desirable to have a uniform means by which a user can be identified to
`
`the network through any type of terminal.
`
`It would be possible to devise fixed-wire
`
`2
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`2
`
`terminals which accept GSM smart cards (SIMs). However, these cards have to be
`
`very small to allow their use in portable mobile terminals. The frequent transfer of
`
`such cards from one terminal to another is inconvenient, and there is a serious risk of
`
`lasing or damaging the cards in such transfers.
`
`The proposed short-range radio interface system developed under the Trade
`
`Mark “Bluetooth” is designed for interconnecting such items as mobile telephones
`
`and laptop computers, or printers and PCs, and is described in Ericsson Review No 3,
`
`1998, Jaap Haartsen,
`
`“BLUETOOTH — The universal radio interface for ad hoc,
`
`wireless connectivity”.
`
`|It
`
`is a radio interface using the 2.45GHz frequency band
`
`10
`
`designed to allow suitably equipped portable electronic devices to connect and
`
`communicate wirelessly via short-range ad hoc networks. Such networks are known,
`
`in
`
`that
`
`article
`
`and also in
`
`this
`
`specification as
`
`“piconets”. Each unit
`
`can
`
`simultaneously communicate with several other units. The system allows wireless
`
`communication between mobile telephones, computers, headsets and any other
`
`15
`
`device suitably equipped. However, most existing telephone terminal equipment
`
`is
`
`not so equipped.
`
`Existing piconet connections for mobile telephones are provided to allow
`
`interaction between a remote user interface and the user-controlled parts of
`
`the
`
`mobile interface, for example to allow hands-free operation or downloading of data to
`
`20
`
`the telephone for onward transmission.
`
`According to the invention there is provided an interface device for allowing
`
`communication between a first telephone terminal, a second, wireless,
`
`telephone
`
`terminal, and a fixed telephone network,
`
`the device comprising a transceiver for
`
`transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal,
`
`the
`
`25
`
`wireless signals including authentication data identifying the wireless terminal, data
`
`processing means for processing the authentication data, telephone network interface
`
`means for transmitting the processed authentication data to the fixed network, and
`
`terminal connection means for connecting the first telephone terminal to the interface
`
`means, communication between the first
`
`terminal and the fixed network being
`
`30
`
`enabled by the authentication data received from the wireless telephone terminal.
`
`According to a second aspect there is provided a wireless telephone terminal
`
`device having terminal
`
`identification means, the terminal
`
`identification means being
`
`capable of generating authentication data,
`
`the wireless telephone device having
`
`3
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`3
`
`means for transmission of said authentication data to an associated communications
`
`device to enable operation of said associated communications device.
`
`The terminal maybe a cellular telephone, arranged to enable operation of an
`
`associated interface device of the kind defined above. Alternatively,
`
`it may be a
`
`separate unit which can enable operation both of an associated cellular telephone and
`
`of other associated devices such as the interface device defined abobve.
`
`The wireless signals may use any suitable wireless system such as IrDA
`
`(Infra Red Data Acquisition), wireless local area network (WLAN) or the proposed
`
`“Bluetooth” piconet radio system already discussed.
`
`10
`
`This arrangement achieves all of the benefits of using the SIM card from the
`
`mobile
`
`network
`
`(commonality of
`
`services, one number,
`
`good authentication
`
`possibilities etc), but without the handling problems of having to remove a very small
`
`device from the mobile unit, and placing it in the fixed terminal. It also allows the use
`
`of standard fixed terminals, not equipped to receive authentication cards or wireless
`
`15
`
`signals. Note that,
`
`in this context,
`
`the fixed terminal can be any network device,
`
`ranging from a simple telephone all the way up to a network-connected PC. The fixed
`
`network may be a conventional wired system, a Local Area Network (LAN), or a fixed
`
`wireless system, such as a microwavelink or a wireless LAN,
`
`An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,
`
`20
`
`with reference to the Figures in which
`
`Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of one embodiment of the interface
`
`device, together with devices between which it provides an interface
`
`Figure 2 shows the general arrangement of another embodiment of
`
`the
`
`interface device, together with devices between which it provides an interface
`
`25
`
`Figures 3 and 4 illustrate suitable interface protocol
`
`systems for
`
`the
`
`embodiments of Figures 1 and 2
`
`Figure 5 illustrates a variation on the embodiment of Figure 1
`
`The embodiments are based on the “Bluetooth” piconet system already
`
`mentioned, although the invention is not limited to such a system. Various features
`
`30
`
`of the Bluetaoth system, such as local authentication and security, might need to be
`
`incorporated separately if other systems are used.
`
`Figure 1
`
`shows an interface device 10, which comprises a plug 1
`
`for
`
`connection to a telephone socket 11 connected to a telephone network 100, a
`
`4
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`4
`
`socket 2 for connection to a standard telephone plug connection 12, and a piconet
`
`transceiver 3 for wireless communication with other piconet
`
`transceivers 33,
`
`provided in devices such as a cellular telephone 13. The three connection points 1, 2,
`
`3 in the interface device 10 are interconnected by control
`
`logic 4, to be described
`
`later, to allow signals received over the piconet connection 3, 33 to be translated into
`
`signals transmittable over the telephone network 100, and vice versa, and to allow
`
`connection between the network 100 and the device 14 (for example a facsimile
`
`machine) to which the plug 12 is fitted. The plug 1 and socket 2 may each be of any
`
`suitable type,
`
`for connection to a standard PSTN (Public Switched Telephone
`
`10
`
`Network),
`
`ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), ADSL (Asymmetric Digital
`
`Subscriber Line), HDSL (High rate Digital Subscriber Line), VDSL (Very high rate
`
`Digital Subscriber
`
`line), SDSL (Single Digital Subscriber Line}
`
`(these last
`
`four
`
`collectively known as xDSL), or any other suitable connection, for connection with
`
`suitable sockets 11 and plug connections 12.
`
`The plug 1
`
`is not necessarily of the
`
`15
`
`same type as those compatible with the socket 2. For example, the plug 1 may be of
`
`ISDN type and the socket 2 of PSTN type, to allow the interface device to act as an
`
`adapter
`
`to connect a PSTN-compatible terminal 14,
`
`through suitable interface
`
`systemsin the interface device 10, to an ISDN connection 11, 100.
`
`The cellular telephone 13 has an associated user identity carried on a chip
`
`20
`
`17.
`
`In the arrangementillustrated in Figure 2, the transceiver 3 and control logic
`
`4 may be integrated into a device 24, for example a computer, which is fitted with a
`
`means for access to the fixed network 100, such as a modem connection 20. This
`
`allows the device 24, and any peripherals connected to it, to have access to the
`
`25
`
`network 100 using the identity of the SIM in the cellular telephone 13.
`
`in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 the cellular telephone 13 effectively
`
`acts simply as a “SIM holder”, avoiding the need to transfer the SIM to the terminal
`
`14, 24 which the user wishes to use. The piconet transceiver 33 in the cellular
`
`telephone 13 is arranged to allow transfer of data from the SIM over the piconet,
`
`30
`
`Piconet connections to cellular telephones are already known for operation of hands-
`
`free handsets, and the like. The terminal identification means 17 may be connected
`
`through the same piconet connection, or a separate one 33 may beprovided.
`
`5
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`5
`
`As shown in Figure 5, the SIM 17 may instead be located in some device 13
`
`other than a cellular telephone 16, for example an object carried on the person such
`
`as a wristwatch or an item of jewellery. The wearable item 13 is equipped with a
`
`piconet transceiver 33.
`
`In this case the SIM hoider 13 may be connected using the
`
`piconet either to the cellular telephone 16, itself equipped with a piconet transceiver
`
`23, or, by means of the interface unit 10, to a fixed terminal 14, depending on the
`
`current location of the user. This avoids the user having to find the cellular telephone
`
`16 in order to use the fixed terminal 14, and also assists in security of the cellular
`
`telephone since without the wearable device 13 the cellular telephone 16 is unusable.
`
`10
`
`The piconet transceiver 3 is used to allow the SIM card to communicate with
`
`the network, allowing the user access to the network 100. The terminal 14, 24 can
`
`then be used to communicate with the network 100, using the subscription identity
`
`associated with the SIM contained within the cellular telephone 13.
`
`It
`
`is envisaged
`
`that the use of a SIM identity on a fixed line would attract a lower tariff than
`
`15
`
`conventional cellular connection over a radio interface.
`
`Figure 3 shows protocol stacks implemented in the control
`
`logic 4 of the
`
`interface unit 10, the cellular telephone 13 and the network 100. The system may be
`
`used with any type of
`
`fixed connection, but
`
`is illustratively shown for a PSTN
`
`system. The cellular
`
`telephone 13 formats SIM data into a piconet-compatible
`
`20
`
`protocol (for example, the “Bluetooth” protoco!) in which form it is transmitted over
`
`the piconet interface 33, 3 to the interface element 1. This extracts the SIM identity
`
`from the piconet transmission (41), and converts this identity into a user code (42)
`
`recognisable by a PSTN switch as giving authority to use the system. This code is
`
`translated for transmission over the voice band of the telephone network 100. For a
`
`25
`
`conventional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) connection the interface
`
`could incorporate a DTMF dialler (43), which converts the user ID received from the
`
`SIM 17 to DTMF tones for transmission to an authentication system (44, 45) in the
`
`network, which converts the PSTN codes 43 back to the user code 42. The interface
`
`1 also provides the necessary facilities to transmit signals back to the SIM.
`
`30
`
`In an alternative arrangement, shown in Figures 2 and 4, the interface unit
`
`can be incorporated in a terminal device 24 such as a computer, the interface to the
`
`fixed network using a piconet-fitted modem 20, the signalling taking place directly
`
`6
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`6
`
`between the SIM 17 and the network 100 using the modem 20 to translate the
`
`piconet protocols to modem format.
`
`For data systerns such as ISDN (Integrated Services Data Network), an
`
`Access Point with an ISDN connection could use direct digital communications via
`
`the B or D channel.
`
`An Access Point with an xDSL connection could use any appropriate protocol
`
`(e.g. IP or X.25).
`
`The intelligent entity 44, 45 to which the devices are communicating could
`
`reside within the network 100, within another network, or at another network
`
`10
`
`termination.
`
`The user’s telephone connection to the network 100 is used both for
`
`signalling (with the SIM in the mobile unit 13 via the Interface unit 10) and for traffic
`
`(from the wired phone 14, or a computer 24 via a modem 22).
`
`The user can use the mobile terminal 13 in the usual way, but the wired
`
`15
`
`terminal 14 can be used when one is available. At such times the mobile terminal 13
`
`is only used for holding the SIM,
`
`The protocols supported by the SIM are already standardised in GSM in order
`
`to connect the terminal/network to the SIM.
`
`The proposed Bluetooth piconet
`
`interface includes a certain amount of
`
`20
`
`security. However, a further encryption layer could be added between the network
`
`and the Interface unit 10.
`
`7
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`7
`
`CLAIMS
`
`1,
`
`An interface device (10)
`
`for allowing communication between a
`
`first
`
`telephone terminal
`
`(11), a second, wireless,
`
`telephone termina!
`
`(13), and a fixed
`
`telephone network (100), the device (10) comprising a transceiver (3) for transmitting
`
`and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal (13), the wireless
`
`signals including authentication data identifying the wireless terminal
`
`(13), data
`
`processing means (4)
`
`for processing the authentication data,
`
`telephone network
`
`interface means (1) for transmitting the processed authentication data to the fixed
`
`network (100), and terminal connection means (2) for connecting the first telephone
`
`terminal (14) to the interface means, communication between the first terminal (14)
`
`and the fixed network (100) being enabled by the authentication data received from
`
`the wireless telephone terminal (14).
`
`15
`
`2.
`
`An interface device according to claim 1,
`
`the telephone network interface
`
`means (1) comprising means for connection to a standard PSTN (public switched
`
`telephone network).
`
`3.
`
`An interface device according to claim 1,
`
`the telephone network interface
`
`20
`
`means (1) comprising means for connection to an ISDN (integrated services digital
`
`network).
`
`4,
`
`An interface device according to any of claims 1,
`
`the telephone network
`
`interface means (1) comprising means for connection to an xDSL digital subscriber
`
`25
`
`line system.
`
`5.
`
`An interface device according to any of claims 1 to 4, being incorporated in a
`
`first terminal (24), the terminal connection means (20) comprising means for access
`
`to a telephone network (100) through the telephone network interface means (1).
`
`30
`
`6.
`
`An interface device according to any of claims 1
`
`to 4, the terminal connection
`
`means (2) being arranged to connect to a terminal
`
`(14) fitted for connection to a
`
`standard PSTN (public switched telephone network).
`
`8
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`7.
`
`An interface device according to any of claims 1 to 4, the terminal connection
`
`means (2) being arranged to connect to a terminal (14) fitted for connection to an
`
`ISDN (integrated services digital network).
`
`8.
`
`An interface device according to any of claims 1 to 4, the terminal connection
`
`means (2) being arranged to connect to a terminal (14) fitted for connection to an
`
`xDSL digital subscriber line system.
`
`9,
`
`A wireless telephone terminal device (13) having terminal identification means
`
`(17),
`
`the
`
`terminal
`
`identification means
`
`(17)
`
`being
`
`capable
`
`of
`
`generating
`
`authentication data,
`
`the wireless telephone device (13) having means (33)
`
`for
`
`transmission of said authentication data to an associated communications device (10,
`
`16) to enable operation of said associated communications device (10,16).
`
`10.
`
`A wireless telephone terminal device (13) according to claim 9, being a cellular
`
`telephone.
`
`11.
`
`A wireless telephone terminal device (13) according to claim 9, in association
`
`20
`
`with a cellular telephone (16), the cellular telephone (16) being arranged to receive
`
`wireless signals from the wireless telephone terminal (13), the cellular telephone (16)
`
`having means operable in response to said cordless signals to enable its operation.
`
`12.
`
`In combination, an interface device according to any of claims 1
`
`to 8 and a
`
`25
`
`wireless telephone terminal device according to any of claims 9, 10 or 11, arranged
`
`to communicate with each other by wireless signals according to any one of claims
`
`12,13 or 14,
`
`13.
`
`A device or combination according to any of claims 71
`
`to 12, wherein the
`
`30
`
`wireless signals are IrDA (Infra Red Data Acquisition) signals.
`
`14,
`
`A device or combination according to any of claims 1
`
`to 12, wherein the
`
`wireless signals are carried over a wireless local area network (WLAN).
`
`9
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`15.
`
`A device or combination according to any of claims 1
`
`to 12, wherein the
`
`wireless signals use a piconet radio system.
`
`10
`
`10
`
`
`
`WO00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`1/3
`
`11
`
`11
`
`
`
`Figure 3
`
`SIM-CN
`
`Piconet
`
`SS
`
`41
`
`42
`
`
`SIM-CN
`
`
`Piconet
`
`
`
`3
`
`8E79L/00OM
`
`P2
`
`DTMEF
`
`SIM-CN
`
`e/é
`
`20
`LL
`33
`SIM-CN
`/
`|promatfate=|—-— Modem
`‘is
`Figure 4
`
`Piconet
`
`9S610/008D/LId
`
`12
`
`
`
`WO 00/76238
`
`PCT/GB00/01956
`
`3/3
`
`s
`
`©v
`
`N
`
`13
`
`13
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`tional Application No
`
`Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practical. search tarms used)
`
`
`int
`
`
`PCT/GB 00/01956
` CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
`
`tee y
`NOSQ7/32,
`HO4M1/66
`H0403/00
`
`
`
`
`
`According to International Patent Classification (1PC) or ta both national classification and (PC
`B. FIELDS SEARCHED
`
`
`Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
`
`TPC 7
`HO4Q
`HO04M
`
`
`Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in thefields searched
`
`
`
`EPO-Internal
`
`
`C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
` Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate. of the relavant passages
`Catagory °
`Relevant to claim No.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WO 98 59508 A (BELLSOUTH CORP)
`2 yk0
`30 December 1998 (1998-12-30)
`A
`page 9,
`line 37
`1-3,6,7,
`line 18 -page 20,
`
`
`11,12
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[J Further documents arelisted in the continuation of box C.
`° Special categories of cited documents-
`
`/
`,
`
`
`later document published after the internationalfiling date
`or priority date and not in conflict with the application but
`
`
`"A" document defining the general state of the art which is not
`cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the
`invention
`considered to be of particular relevance
`
`
`"X"" document of particular relevance: the claimed invention
`“E" aarlier document but published onor after the international
`
`
`cannotbe considered novel or cannot be considered to
`filing date
`
`
`involve an inventive step when the documentis taken alone
`‘L" document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or
`
`
`“Y" documentof particular relevance: the claimed invention
`whichis cited to establish the publication date of another
`
`
`cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the
`citation or other special reason (as specified)
`documentig combined with one or more other such docu~
`“O" documentreferring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or
`
`
`ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled
`other means
`°"P" document published prior to the international filing date but
`in the art.
`
`
`later than the priority date claimed "&" docurnent member of the same patent family
`
`
`Date of mailing of the international search report
` Date of the actuai completion of the international search
`
`
` 19 July 2000
` 25/07/2000
`Authorized officer
`
`Name and mailing address of the ISA
`European Patent Office, P.B. 5818 Patentiaan 2
`NL - 2280 HV Rijswijk
`
`Tel. (431-70) 340-2040, Tx. 31 651 epo ai.
`
`
`
`Maalismaa,
`J
`Fax: (+31-70) 340-3016
`
`
`
`Form PCT/SA/210 (second sheet) (duly 1992)
`
`Patent farnily membersare listed in annex.
`
`“T"
`
`14
`
`14
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`
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`In
`itional Application No
`Information on patent
`family members
`
`mariononparenetamuymeme PCT/GB 00/01956
`Patent document
`Publication
`Patent family
`Publication
`cited in search report
`date
`member(s)
`date
`
`
`WO 9859508
`
`A
`
`30-12-1998
`
`AU
`EP
`
`7963398 A
`0990358 A
`
`04-01-1999
`05-04-2000
`
`
`
`Form PCT/SA/210 (patent famity arinex) (July 1992)
`
`15
`
`15
`
`