GB1050462A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,050,462. Indicating availability of seating. BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH Ltd. May 15, 1964 [May 16, 1963], No. 19537/63. Heading G4T. A movable transparent screen produces signals to interrogate a central memory to access coded data which is displayed by devices given variable significance in accordance with the location or nature of the screen, which covers them. The particular embodiment relates to discovering availability of seats on aircraft. An operator inserts one of a number of transparent screens carrying coded notches into a slot on a hand set, and presses buttons specifying month, day of month, class of seat, sector and flight, the sector and flight buttons being chosen in accordance with their alignment with information on a flight card inserted in a slot. On pressing an enquiry button, the central memory is interrogated by signals determined by the other buttons and the coded notches. The memory sends back information which is displayed on lamps underneath the transparent screen, the latter having markings thereon, in general, indicating the significance of each lamp. Instead of separate screens, a rotatable disc or polygonal drum, or a flexible band wound on reels could be used or a single screen could be inserted a selected distance. Alternatively, the screen could have punched holes instead of notches, and the display could be by pointer, shutter or eyeball indicator.