JPS60162340A - Dialing method using bar code list - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dial simply and assuredly a telephone number by reading one of bar code lists containing arrays of bar codes showing telephone numbers and informing the read numbers for dial operations. CONSTITUTION:A left column L contains the names of companies and groups, the personal name, etc. and a right column R contains the telephone numbers corresponding to those names of the column L in the form of bar codes. Then the bar codes in such a bar code list are scanned by a bar code reader BCR, and the telephone numbers read out of the bar codes are displayed to a display part 1B. Thus a subscriber can dial a telephone while looking at the numeric characters displayed at the part 1B. While the subscriber puts a card into a card insertion part 1D and pushes numeric keys 2 of a key input part 1C to feed a telephone number. This number is displayed at the part 1B and at the same time a bar code corresponding to the relevant telephone number is recorded on the card. Then a bar code list is produced by means of such cards.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dialing method that uses a parcot list and a barcode league corresponding to a telephone number list to enable reliable and quick dialing operations.

BACKGROUND ART AND PROBLEMS Generally, when looking at a telephone number written on a business card or the like and trying to call the other party, the following inconveniences may occur. In other words, the telephone number written on a business card is generally small and difficult to read, and when the recipient is an organization, corporation, etc., multiple telephone numbers such as a representative number and a direct number are written side by side. It's an inconvenience to have to do it.

In such a case, first, the telephone number may be read and dialed incorrectly, resulting in an incorrect call. Second, even if you read the phone number correctly, when you read the phone number on the business card while dialing the phone, you may forget which part of the phone number you dialed, or you may be unable to read multiple phone numbers, for example. When these numbers are written side by side on a business card, the user's eyes tend to shift to a phone number on a line other than the line containing the desired phone number, and the user loses track of the next number to dial. As a result, the call may have to be repeated or the call may be the wrong one.

In order to solve this problem, the following methods have been proposed in the past.

The first method is to encode a telephone number, record the code on a card such as a business card by an appropriate means, read the code recorded on the card with an appropriate reader to generate an electrical signal, and generate an electrical signal. This method sends a signal to the telephone line to call the other party. However, this method has the disadvantage that the telephone itself must be modified and construction work is required. Moreover, the equipment for carrying out this method is expensive.

The second method is to drive the rotary or push-button dial of the telephone from outside the telephone based on the electrical signal generated in the first method described above, without sending it to the telephone line. It's a method. However, although this method does not require modification of the telephone itself, it requires a dial drive mechanism to be attached to the telephone from the outside, and has the disadvantage that the mechanism becomes complex.

The third method is to connect a device to a telephone set that stores a telephone number in a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and when calling the other party stored in the storage device, a device corresponding to the telephone number is connected to the telephone. This method involves pressing a button. However, this method has disadvantages in that it is necessary to replace or modify the telephone, construction work is required, and the equipment is expensive. Furthermore, in this method, if the number of phone numbers that can be stored increases, it will not only be difficult to find the button on the device, but also the cost of the entire device will be high, and it will be difficult to install the device. The disadvantage is that it requires a lot of space.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a barcode list that allows dialing a telephone number easily and reliably, and a dialing method using the barcode list. There is a particular thing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the dialing method using a barcode list according to the present invention, any one of the barcodes in the barcode list formed by arranging a plurality of barcodes displaying telephone numbers and barcode reading means are connected to each other. and a process of notifying the telephone number read by the reading means via the notifying means and enabling a dialing operation based on the notified information.

Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 shows a barcode list which is one part of the invention. The illustrated barcode list may be arranged in an array spanning dozens of pages, such as in a telephone directory, or it may be pasted onto a plank as a single sheet. others,
It is also possible to select and display as appropriate on a CRT (cathode ray display/l↑). Which of these should be adopted may be determined depending on the amount of information to be stored, that is, the number of telephone numbers.

In FIG. 1, the name of a company or organization, the name of an individual, etc. are recorded in the left column. Suda, does the right column R correspond to the name written in the left column? b: Record the calling number in the form of a barcode. This barcode is preferably printed on a separate sheet of paper such as a card or a sticker with adhesive on its surface and pasted on it. That is, in order to print a barcode on a card, it is preferable to use a printing device as described below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of a notification system necessary to implement the present invention. Here, FIG. 2 shows its external shape, and FIG. 3 shows its internal configuration.

2nd I5! In J, BCR is a barcode league, and by scanning the barcode shown in the right column R in the first diagram, the number is displayed on the display section IB. Note that when using a barcode league equipped with a reading section that covers the entire barcode, there is no need to scan the barcode. Also, 1 is the main body,
The main body 1 includes a stand IA on which a telephone (not shown) is placed, and a display part IB connected to the front end of the stand IA.
, a key human power section IC provided below the display section IB, and a card insertion section ID provided between the display section IB and the key human power section IC.

The display section IB is for displaying the telephone number read by the barcode League BCR, and is from 0 to 9.
It is composed of a liquid crystal display element (LCD) in which a plurality of number electrodes capable of displaying numbers are arranged in the horizontal direction, and a driving circuit thereof. The size of the numbers displayed on the L (ED) can be set to, for example, 15+e+sX IFv+m. Each digit key 2 is connected to a barcode generator (not shown) which generates a barcode signal corresponding to each digit when pressed.

The insertion section ID has a horizontally long slit-shaped hole 4 having a width slightly larger than the width of the card on which the barcode is to be printed, and guides 5 provided on both sides of the hole 4. Therefore, the card can be inserted along the guide 5 only when the card is inserted in a vertically long state.

A thermal transfer mechanism is provided in the main body 1 for recording a barcode corresponding to a telephone number on a card inserted into the main body 1 from the insertion section ID. This thermal transfer mechanism records the /H code corresponding to the telephone number on the card in the following manner. That is, by sequentially pressing the number keys 2 on the key input section 1c, a barcode signal corresponding to the telephone number is read from the RIIN (not shown) via a controller (not shown). Based on the read barcode signal, the controller displays the digits of the corresponding telephone number on the LCD of the display section IB, and drives the thermal transfer mechanism to record the read barcode on the card.

Figure 83' shows an outline of the thermal transfer mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3, two sets of rollers 8 are arranged so as to grip the card 7 inserted into the main body l through the hole 4 of the insertion section ID. Each set of nip rollers 8 is provided horizontally and parallel to the groove. Each nip roller 8 also includes a drive roller 8A coupled to a suitable motor (not shown) and a driven roller 8B brought into compressive contact with the drive roller 8A by suitable elastic means (not shown). Furthermore, each Ml
The height of the nip roller 8 is determined in advance.

The insertion portion IO is located close to the inner and outer sides of the two sets of nip rollers 8.
Two microswitches 9 and 10 are provided to detect the front end of the card 7 inserted into the main body l through the hole 4. The motor that drives the drive roller 8Ai and the two microswitches 9 and 10 are controlled by the controller described above.

When the card 7 is inserted into the main body 1 through the hole 4 of the insertion section 10, one of the microswitches 9 is closed, and the two drive rollers 8A of the two nip rollers 8 rotate in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. do. Therefore, the cart 7 inserted into the main body 1 through the hole 4 is pinched by one of the nip rollers 8 closer to the insertion section 10, and further fed into the main body 1 by the rotation of this one nip roller 8. The front end of the car 17 thus fed into the main body 1 is pinched by the other nip roller 8, and further fed into the main body 1 to close the other microswitch 10. Thus, the two drive rollers 8 in the two nip rollers 8
The drive of A is stopped, and the feeding of the car 17 is stopped. Incidentally, guides (not shown) are provided between the two sets of nip rollers 8 to guide both sides of the card 7 so that the card 7 fed therebetween travels straight.

As shown in FIG. 3, a thermal spatula 1 for thermally transferring a barcode onto the card 7 is provided between two sets of nip rollers 8 so as to be close to the top surface of the card 7 sandwiched between these rollers 8.

Similarly, a platen 12 is provided so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the card 7 and located directly below the thermal head 11.

Further, 13 is an ink film, which is rewound from a rewinding drum 14 provided in the main body l, and is rewound to the thermal head 11.
and the upper surface of the car 17, and the winding drum 5
It is wound up. Reference numeral 16 denotes guide rollers provided on both sides of the thermal head 11, which allow the ink film 13 rewound by the unwinding drum I4 to run stably between the thermal head 11 and the upper surface of the card 7, and are wound up. drum 1
The thermal head 11 is lowered by a driving means (not shown) and presses the ink film 13 onto the top surface of the card 7 when recording a bar code on the top surface of the card 7.

The thermal transfer mechanism is constructed as described above, but as shown in FIG. 3, between one nip roller 8 and the guide roller 16 closer to this nip roller 8,
An optical reader 17 is placed close to the top surface of the card 7. Here, it is necessary to arrange the optical reader 17 so that it is located on the same line as the thermal head 11 in the feeding direction of the car 17. The optical reader 17 uses a light emitter such as a laser beam and a light receiver to irradiate the barcode recorded on the card 7 with light from the emitter and to emit light reflected from the top of the card 17. The barcode on the card 7 is detected by a light receiver. This allows you to reconfirm the barcode you have already recorded, or to read a new code on/on a separate card.
It can be used as an aid to create the barcode list shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 2, Oka is a changeover switch provided in the key human power section 1G, which switches the previously described controller (not shown) to the "record" mode or the "display" mode. This controller introduces ON signals from the two microswitches 9 and 1O and a barcode detection signal from the optical reader 17, and connects a motor (not shown) that drives the winding drum 15 and a thermal head. 11, a motor (not shown) that drives the nip roller 8 drive roller 8A, and an LCD of the display section IB.

It should be noted that the barcode reader BCR and the numerical data register NR can be easily configured using known techniques, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

With the above configuration, a barcode corresponding to a telephone number is recorded on the card 7 in the following manner. Moreover, if necessary, the barcode recorded on the card 7 can be read again and the corresponding telephone number can be displayed on the display section IB. That is, first, set the changeover switch 18 to the "Record J" side, and use the numeric keys 2 of the key operator IC to select the telephone number to be recorded on the card 7 (
Enter numbers/letters). As a result, a barcode signal corresponding to the telephone number is input to a controller (not shown), and at the same time, the entered telephone number is displayed on the LCD of the display section 18. If the number is entered incorrectly, the clear key 2 is pressed to erase the number displayed on the LCD by the controller, and the telephone number is entered again. Next,! AP included? Insert the card 7 into the main body through the flIID hole 4.
Insert. As a result, the front end of the card 7 closes one of the microswitches 9, and the two nip rollers 8 rotate to feed the card 7 into the main body 1.

When the front end of the seal 7 closes the other microswitch 1o, the winding drum 15 starts winding up the ink film 13, and at the same time, the thermal head 11 presses the ink film 13 onto the card 7 that is being fed and moving, and as described above. A bar code corresponding to the entered telephone number is recorded on the card 7 as shown in FIG. When this recording is finished, the winding drum 1
5 finishes winding up the ink film 13, the rotation of the two nip rollers 8 temporarily stops, and the thermal head 1
1 rises by L. Next, the two nip rollers 8 rotate in reverse to return the card 7 fed into the main body 1 to the outside of the main body 1. In this way, a barcode corresponding to the telephone number can be easily recorded on the card 7. Therefore, M1
As shown in the figure, it is possible to paste a barcode recording paper close to each name column.

On the other hand, the selector switch 18 is set to the ``display'' side, and the card 7 on which the bar code is recorded as described above is inserted into the main body 1 through the hole 4 of the insertion portion 10 of the main body 1. Thereby, the card 7 is fed into the main body 1 in the same manner as described above. During this feeding, the portion on which the bar code is recorded passes directly under the optical reader 17, and the bar code is detected by the optical reader 17. The telephone number corresponding to the barcode detected in this way is displayed on display section I.
B is displayed on the CD, and when the detection ends, the nip roller 8 is reversed to move the card 7 to the main body l.
put it back outside. In this way, from the card 7 on which the barcode is written, the numbers of the telephone number corresponding to that barcode are
It can be displayed on the LCD of the display section IB having display numbers of an appropriate size.

The display section 1B is located directly in front of the telephone placed on the stand IA, and the telephone number displayed there is very easy to see. Therefore, by scanning any desired barcode on the barcode list with the barcode reader BCH, a telephone number of an appropriate size corresponding to that barcode is displayed on the display section IB, and while looking at the number, ,
You can dial your phone very reliably.

In the above description, a recording means for recording a barcode on a card having an appropriate size, a reading means for rereading the barcode recorded on the card,
Although a notification system has been shown in which a notification means for notifying a telephone number corresponding to a read barcode is integrated into the main body, the present invention can also be implemented in the following manner, for example. can.

(1) The recording means, the reading means, and the notification means are each configured independently.

(2) The recording means is an LCD that has a numeric keyboard and can display a bar code corresponding to the number input by using the numeric keys.
The present invention may be constructed by combining a sheet-like 8-code display having a barcode display with a copying machine capable of appropriately reducing the barcode on the LCD of the barcode display and recording it on a card.

(3) In the case of (2) above, magnetic toner can be used as the material for recording the barcode on the card, and in this case, the reading means can be an optical one as described above. In addition to barcode leagues, magnetic heads can also be used.

(4) As a notification means, not only a numeric display but also a voice notification can be used. In this case, the telephone number is announced at appropriate time intervals for each digit or any number of digits. The notification can be made by voice.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, a plurality of barcodes corresponding to telephone numbers are arranged to create a barcode list, and a desired telephone number is read from the barcode list. This allows for reliable dialing and extremely reliable dial operation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a barcode list which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the notification system necessary to implement the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the outline of the notification system necessary to implement the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a thermal transfer device included in the notification system. BCR...Barcode reader, NR...Numeric register, ■...Main unit, IA...Base, 1B...Display section, IC...Key power section, ■D...Insertion section , 2... Number key, 3... Clear key, 4... Hole, 5... Kite, 7... Cart, 8... Nip roller. 8A... Drive roller, 8B... Followed roller, 8.10... Micro switch, 11... Thermal head, 12... Platen, 13... Ink film, 14... Rewinding drum. 16... Guide roller, 17... Optical reader, 18... Changeover switch.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A process in which any one of the barcodes in a barcode list formed by arranging a plurality of barcodes displaying telephone numbers is confronted with the barcode reading means. A dialing method using a he code list, comprising: a process of notifying a telephone number read by the reading device via a notifying device and enabling a dialing operation based on the notification information. (2) The dialing method using a barcode list according to claim 2, wherein an optical barcode reader is used as the reading means. (3) *If the ink for recording each line segment of the barcode contains a magnetic material, the barcode is read using a magnetic spatula. How to dial using the listed barcode list.