GB2169475A - Telephone equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Telephone number information is presented in the form of a bar code 5 and telephone equipment is provided incorporating a bar code reader 7 connected to a micro-processor or decoder 11 for converting the bar code information into conventional telephonic pulse code signals. The telephone equipment may comprise a handset with a barcode reader at one end connected to digital shaping circuitry 8 within the handset, such circuitry being, in turn, connected to the micro-processor or decoder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone equipment This invention relates to telephone equipment and to a dialling technique.

Existing dialling techniques generally require the userto specify each digit of the number required individually by eitherthe conventional rotary method or byte push button method which is coming increasingly into use.

Various methods of shortening this dialling process are in use. For example, with some telephone equipment it is possible to code into the dialling mechanism a specified number of commonly used telephone numbers but even with this process it is necessaryforthe user to operate a dialling code.

Thus with conventional dialling techniques and even with code dialling techniques the user must correctly select and operate individual digits on the telephone dialling equipment.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate such selection and operation.

According to this invention the telephone number information is presented in the form of a bar code and the telephone equipment incorporates a bar code reader connected to a micro-processor or decoderfor converting the bar code information into conventional telephonic pulse code signals.

The telephone equipment may comprise a handset with a bar code reader at one end connected to digital shaping circuitry within the handset, such circuitry being, in turn, connected to the micro-processor or decoder.

The micro-processor or decoder may be located within the handset holder.

The bar code reader may, alternatively, be mounted in a separate wand connected to the handset holder so thatthe handset can be used solely for listening and speaking.

With the present invention no dialling facility is required on the telephone equipment.

Thus user error in dialling is obviated or mitigated, faster and more efficient telephone calling is achieved (most important where a substantial number of calls are made per day, e.g. telephone sales operations), and staff(telephone operators) fatigue is reduced.

An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates diagramma ticallytelephone equipment and a directory item of this invention.

The essential requirement of the present invention is that telephone number information is presented in bar code form so a pre-requisite of the present invention is that telephone directions whether international, national, local or in-house must be re-written in barcodeform (see 5 in the drawing,forexample, which represents a telephone number).

The telephone equipment comprises a handset 6 having at one end a bar code reader 7 connected to digital shaping circuitry 8 within the handset 6.

The digital shaping circuitry 8 is connected to a micro-processor or decoder 11 within the holder 12 for the handset 6. The mouthpiece and earpiece of the handset 5 are respectively designated by the refer ences 9 and 10.

The micro-processoror decoder 11 isconnected into the telephone transmission system (not shown) in the usual way.

The connection of the micro-processorordecoder 11 to the telephone transmission circuit is by way of the usual circuitry within the holder 10, namely a ringerl3, a polarity and suppression circuit 14, a dial circuit 15 and a speech circuit 16.

The micro-processor or decoder 11 serves to convert the bar code information 5 into telephonic pulse code signals.

It can pre-load the telephone with its own area code on initial operation which means thatthe telephone will ignore the area code included in the barcode telephone number if it is a local call which is being summoned.

The micro-processor or decoder 11 can automatically cost each call and display the charge rate and final cost.

Also, the micro-processor or decoder 11 preferably has a re-dial of last numberfunction.

It is envisaged that a printer may be providedto permit individuals or companies to produce their bar code telephone number on business cards or other business or commercial stationery.

Private telephone networks may, as a resultof this invention, have their own security code in-built into the system.

itwould be possible to have a combination of conventional dialling and bar code dialling and/or D.T.M.F. signals.

1. Telephone equipment incorporating a bar code reader connected to a micro-processor or decoder for converting a telephone number presented in bar code form in a directory or other data presentation into conventional telephonic pulse code circuits.

2. Telephone equipment as claimed in claim 1, comprising a handset with a bar code reader at one end connected to digital shaping circuitry within the handset, such circuitry being, in turn, connected to the micro-processor or decoder.

3. Telephone equipment as claimed in claim 2, in which the micro-processor or decoder is located within a holderforthe handset.

4. Telephone equipment as claimed in claim 1,in which the bar code reader is mounted in a separate wand connected to a holder for a telephone handset, the latter being used simply for listening and speaking.

5. Telephone equipment, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. For use with telephone equipment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, a telephone directory or other telephone number listing in which telephone numbers are presented in bar code form.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Telephone equipment This invention relates to telephone equipment and to a dialling technique. Existing dialling techniques generally require the userto specify each digit of the number required individually by eitherthe conventional rotary method or byte push button method which is coming increasingly into use. Various methods of shortening this dialling process are in use. For example, with some telephone equipment it is possible to code into the dialling mechanism a specified number of commonly used telephone numbers but even with this process it is necessaryforthe user to operate a dialling code. Thus with conventional dialling techniques and even with code dialling techniques the user must correctly select and operate individual digits on the telephone dialling equipment. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate such selection and operation. According to this invention the telephone number information is presented in the form of a bar code and the telephone equipment incorporates a bar code reader connected to a micro-processor or decoderfor converting the bar code information into conventional telephonic pulse code signals. The telephone equipment may comprise a handset with a bar code reader at one end connected to digital shaping circuitry within the handset, such circuitry being, in turn, connected to the micro-processor or decoder. The micro-processor or decoder may be located within the handset holder. The bar code reader may, alternatively, be mounted in a separate wand connected to the handset holder so thatthe handset can be used solely for listening and speaking. With the present invention no dialling facility is required on the telephone equipment. Thus user error in dialling is obviated or mitigated, faster and more efficient telephone calling is achieved (most important where a substantial number of calls are made per day, e.g. telephone sales operations), and staff(telephone operators) fatigue is reduced. An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates diagramma ticallytelephone equipment and a directory item of this invention. The essential requirement of the present invention is that telephone number information is presented in bar code form so a pre-requisite of the present invention is that telephone directions whether international, national, local or in-house must be re-written in barcodeform (see 5 in the drawing,forexample, which represents a telephone number). The telephone equipment comprises a handset 6 having at one end a bar code reader 7 connected to digital shaping circuitry 8 within the handset 6. The digital shaping circuitry 8 is connected to a micro-processor or decoder 11 within the holder 12 for the handset 6. The mouthpiece and earpiece of the handset 5 are respectively designated by the refer ences 9 and 10. The micro-processoror decoder 11 isconnected into the telephone transmission system (not shown) in the usual way. The connection of the micro-processorordecoder 11 to the telephone transmission circuit is by way of the usual circuitry within the holder 10, namely a ringerl3, a polarity and suppression circuit 14, a dial circuit 15 and a speech circuit 16. The micro-processor or decoder 11 serves to convert the bar code information 5 into telephonic pulse code signals. It can pre-load the telephone with its own area code on initial operation which means thatthe telephone will ignore the area code included in the barcode telephone number if it is a local call which is being summoned. The micro-processor or decoder 11 can automatically cost each call and display the charge rate and final cost. Also, the micro-processor or decoder 11 preferably has a re-dial of last numberfunction. It is envisaged that a printer may be providedto permit individuals or companies to produce their bar code telephone number on business cards or other business or commercial stationery. Private telephone networks may, as a resultof this invention, have their own security code in-built into the system. itwould be possible to have a combination of conventional dialling and bar code dialling and/or D.T.M.F. signals. CLAIMS

1. Telephone equipment incorporating a bar code reader connected to a micro-processor or decoder for converting a telephone number presented in bar code form in a directory or other data presentation into conventional telephonic pulse code circuits.

2. Telephone equipment as claimed in claim 1, comprising a handset with a bar code reader at one end connected to digital shaping circuitry within the handset, such circuitry being, in turn, connected to the micro-processor or decoder.

3. Telephone equipment as claimed in claim 2, in which the micro-processor or decoder is located within a holderforthe handset.

4. Telephone equipment as claimed in claim 1,in which the bar code reader is mounted in a separate wand connected to a holder for a telephone handset, the latter being used simply for listening and speaking.

5. Telephone equipment, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. For use with telephone equipment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, a telephone directory or other telephone number listing in which telephone numbers are presented in bar code form.