US2180824A - Automatic call ticketing system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 193 w. HATToN ET A1.z n 2,180,824

v AUTOMATIC CALL 'IICKETIIKY` SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 21, 1939. w HATTON ET M 2,180,824

AUTOMATIC CALL TICKETING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vPatented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED jsTArEs PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC `cALL 'noname `SYSTEM y Y William Hatton, LeslieBaines Haigh, and VLad-v islas- Kozma, Antwerp, Belgium, assignors to` Western` Electric Company, Incorporated, .New York, N. Y., a corporation of New `York ApplicatioFebrllary 24, 1938, Serial Nin-192,224

In Belgium VMla'lch 10, 1937 12 claims. (el. 17e- 7.1)

This invention relates vto automatic call ticketing systems and more vparticularly to equipment for determining the tarii rate which shall be applicable for a completed connection.

It has heretoforelbeen the practicev to provide For long distance or toll callsit has been the practice to route such calls through a record.

ing toll operators position and to have the recording operator manually make out toll tickets for uthe use of the business department of the operating company giving such `details of toll calls as would be required for charging the proper subscribers for Athe toll service rendered, 'the tickets foreach completed toll call indicating the directory numbers of both the calling and called subscribers, the date on which the call was made and the starting and ending times yof the conversation. s

In order that both local and toll calls may be established completely by dial controlled switching equipment without the intervention of operan tors, it has been proposed to automatically make a ticket for each completed call 'Whether of a local or toll vcharacter, each such ticket giving the same lfull information as hasheretofore been manually recorded by toll operators on toll calls. Such a call ticketing system is disclosed in the applicants application Serial No. 200,656", liiled April 7, 1938. It has further been proposed to make a record of the tarii to Ybe charged for each unit period of conversation Aor for a complete connection. 2 I e The tariff to be charged for any completed connection depends, oi course, upon the location of the calling and called subscribers? lines with respect to each other, a low tariff being charged if they are located in the same or neighboring zones of the dialing area and a higher tariffv being charged if they are more widely separated.

If the tariff determining equipment is located in the .oiice or exchange in which the calling line terminates, the tariff can readily be determined from the called line number dialed by the calling subscriber. If, however, the tarii determining equipment .is at another exchange,

for example, Aat a toll oilice or at a tandem point of the exchange network, the tariff must `be vdetermined by the location ofboth the calling and called subscribers lines.

It iis, of course, possible Vto record the tari merely as code digits each'characteristic of ,a particular tariff, but 'it is the object o`f the present invention to provide equipment located at a tandem' point of the exchange network vwhereby the tariito be charged for any call is recorded in direct monetary values determined automatically by the'location` of the called subscriber only, or bythe location of both thecalling and called f subscribers andY whereby the recorded tariff rate is transferred to a ticket printer for printingfsuch rate on a call ticket. Y

The charge for certain connections is the same irrespective of the length of the conversation and in this case, of course, the monetary value of `the tariff to be charged is a record ofthe actual 'charge to be made for the entire conversational period. In vmost cases, however, when thetariff is fairly high, the charges are made on a time basis. and the tariii is usually the charge per unit period of conversation, for example-three minutes. It is, of course, `possible to record the tariff and the duration ofconversationseparate- 1 ly, or to-automatically multiply the tariffbyV the number of unit periods of conversationvduring which a connectionV has `endured andthento make a charge for the` call, or to transmit the tariff a plurality of times'to a recording device' whichfwill add vthe plurality 'of charges' before making, a permanent' record thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention Ito v'be hereinafter described, the tari tobe charged-fis' determined from one digit of thefcalledfsubscribers number together with 'the locationoffthe calling subscriber, the tariff determining equipment being located at a tandem point of the dialing area. The locationy of the'calling line is determined by the group of tandem trunks over which the call has entered the tandem point, but might be determined by a signal or digiti received from the originating exchange' equipment or from the calling line. l

It Will be lobvious that by the use f aplurality ofA digit registers and a translatingswitch in theltariff detemining equipment, the tariff may be determine from'v a plurality of digits of the called Jsubscribers number-instead of from a single digit as in. theembodiment of `the invention' disclosed. Further, the tarifffmay be determined solely from at least one digit ofthe called subscribers 'number only if kthe tariff Vdetermining equipment is locatedrin theoriginating'exchange. I, 55

yBy means of the presentinve/ntion the tariff and is recorded on Ynated on a desired subscribers line. upon operating prepares an impulsing circuit is automatically dete y I in ymonetary values is determined.

For a more compie, vention reference m I and a finder switch individual thereto for associating it with a calling ,trunk in any one of a plurality of groups' of incoming trunks and with the ticket printing machine.

'I'he drawings -show only such parts of the circuits and apparatus as are deemed necessary for an understanding of the present invention. The ticket printing machine disclosed schematically .in Fig. 1 is completely disclosed in the British patent to L. Devaux, No.'472,434.

When the incoming trunk of Fig. 1 is seized by a group selector of an briginating oilice, relay S operates and in turn operates relay AI and closes an out-pulsing loop through the windings of relays A and B for controlling the setting of the selector switch in which the incoming trunk terminates and other selector switches, not shown, over which a connection may be termi- Relay Al for the impulsing relay Is.

'I'he use of an automatic ticket printing machine for recording the data of a call may be required for every call set up over the incoming trunks in which case the tariif determining equipment of Fig. 2 and an automatic ticket printing machine are invariably connected to the incoming trunk when the trunk is seized, by finder switches J f and Cf, respectively. It may be, however, that the use of an automatic ticket printing machine depends on the destination of the call," in which case a tariff determining equipment and an automatic ticket printing machine will only be connected to the incoming trunk if the trunk receives a signal from the sender of the originating oflice, for example, informing it that an automatic ticket record is required for the connection to .beset up 'I'he circuits for caus A rt operation of the nder switches JF and CFxuo'n the seizure of the incoming trunk, lia" been omitted in order to simplify the drawin utfthey may be of any well-known type. 'I

When the nder swi el);'Cf'has operated to find the incoming trunk circuit,l`relay Ct is operated Arelays Df and Nf. When the nder switch Jf iinds the calling trunk circuit, relay Cn also operates and establishes a circuit for relay Pw extending from battery through the winding of this relay, middle contact 0f relay Cn, wiper r naar ticket printingv lmachine lwhatever .the data from which the tariff Nm3 of finder JF, wiper cfml of finder CF' to ground atthe inner left front contact of relay Ri and relay Pw operates.

The first digit series of impulses transmitted by the sender of the originating omce is received by relay S and is repeated to the control circuit associated with the incoming selector in which the trunk terminates and is also instrumental in operating the relay Is, relay Is operating each time that relay S releases in response to the reception of an impulse. On each operation relay Is closes an impulsing circuit over its inner contact, `wiper cfm3, inner front contact of relay Ct,

through the digit recording magnet DPM of the automatic ticket printing machine to battery which sets the digit printingwheel of the ticket printing machine in readiness to print the Idigit on a call ticket. Relay Is also establishes a second impulsing circuit over its outer contact, wiper jfmd of nder JF, contact of relay Cn, winding of slow-to-release relay Lm, back contact of relay Efto battery through the stepping magnet SMT of the register switch ST. Register switch ST is thus advanced in response to the transmission of the first digit series of impulses from the sender of the originating office to register the value of such digit series.

Relay Lm, which is rendered slow to release by a rectifier connected in parallel with its winding, operates upon the transmission of the first impulse through its winding and remains operated until the impulse circuit is opened upon the termination of the impulse series and upon operating closes an obvious circuit for relay Ms which operates and locks under the control of relai7 Pw. When relay Lm releases at the end of the impulse series, with relays Pw and Ms operated, a circuit is established from ground over its back contact, wiper smd2 of steering switch SD and the first position contact of the arc associated therewith, front contacts of `relays Ms and .Pw through the winding of relay Ed to battery.

Relay Ed upon operating establishes a circuit vfrom ground through resistance R, left front contact of relay Ed, wiper :fm of finder JF, wiper cfm2 of finder CF, left contact of relay Ct, thence by parallel paths through the winding of relay Df to battery and over the outer right contact of relay Rz' through the winding of relay Nf to battery. Relay Nf being marginally wound does not operate at this time, but relay Df operates opening the initial operating circuit of relay 'Ri and closing a circuit from ground over its front contact and the outer left contact of relay Ri and contacts of sequence switch cams SSI and SS2 of sequence switch SS closed in position l to battery through the winding of magnet CM to cause shaft MCS of the ticket printing machine to make one revolution with the result that the rdigit recorded by the operation of magnet DPM is printed, the digit printing wheel controlled by magnet DPM is restored to normal and the ticket tape is advanced in the manner described in the patent hereinbefore referred to. The revolution of shaft MCS also causes the aclvance of sequence switch shaft CS one step thereby advancing the cams of this sequence switch into position 2. When the shaft MCS leaves its normal position the cam Rl opens the locking circuit of relay Ri and this relay releases.

Relay Rz' upon releasing opens the previously traced circuit through the winding of relay Pw which thereupon releases in turn releasing -relays Ms and Ed. Relay Ed upon releasing in turn releases relay Df. When relay Ed operated ping magnet SMT to prevent the registration of aisance further impulses in the register ST and connects battery through resistance R2 to the impulsing circuit previously traced through the winding of relay Lm.

As soon as of impulses transmitted from the sender of the originating exchange, relay Is repeats these impulses to magnet DPM of the ticket printing machine and to relay Lm of the tariff determining equipment, relay Lm again causing the operation of relays Ms, Ed and -Df in the manner previously described to cause a second revolution of shaft MCS of the ticket printing machine to print the digit recorded by magnet DPM, to cause the advance of sequence switch CS another step and to cause steering switch SD of the tariff determining equipment to advance another step. -In this manner succeeding digit series transmitted from the originating exchange are printed by the ticket printing machine and l the steering switch SC thereof is advanced step by step so that following the transmission of the fourth digit series, sequence switch CS will be in position 5 and steering 'switch SD of the tariff determining equipment will be in position 5.

With steering switch SD in position 5 when relay Ed' operates at the end oi.' the reception of the fifth digit series, a circuit is established from direct ground over wiper smdI thereof, front contacty of relay Ed, thence! as traced ythrough the windings of relays Df and Nf inv parallel now causing the operation of both of these relays. Relay Nf locks to ground over the contacts of sequence switch cam CSI closed in position 5 and closes an operating circuit for magnet CM over contacts of cams SSI and SS2 whereby the shaft MCS rotates through one revolution to cause the printingof the ilfth I. digit recorded by magnet DPM and to continuously rotate through two additional revolutions whereby the sequence switch CS is advanced from position 5 into position 6 and then through two other positions reserved lfor eventual additional digits of a called line number into position 8. Relay NJ remains locked over camCSI until the sequence switch has advanced out of position 'I into position 8. When theshaft MCS starts its rotation, cam RI carried thereby opens the locking circuit of rela'y Ri which releases `in turn releasing relays Pw and Ed. Relay Ed' upon releasing advances-steering switch SD into position 6 and releases relay Df. .k

As soon as the sequence switch CS of )the ticket printing machine reaches position 8, the circuit lof magnet `CM is established over the lower Contact of cam CSI and the contacts of cams SSI and SS2 whereby the shaft MCS is advanced through two revolutions to advance the shaft MCS of theticket print-A ing machine completes one revolution, the camv RI reestablishes the circuit of yrelay Ri which again operates, locks and reestablishes the circuit of relay Pw. In response to the next series` the ticket tape for spacing purposes, the cams -oi sequence switch CS being advanced thereby into position II). Relay Ri is now operated in a circuit extending over back contacts of relays Df and-Nj., iront contact of relay Ct. the contacts closed by cam RI and the contact of sequence switchcam CSI now closed in position I0. Relay ARi upon operating locks and establishes the previously traced circuit for relay Pw. With steering switch, SD now in position 6,-

when relay Pw operates a circuit'is established from ground over wiper smdI, outer right front contactof relay, Pw, back contact of relay Ed, winding of relay Ic to battery. Relay Ic upon operating establishes an operating circuit for relay Bd extending from ground4 over wiper smcI of. countingswitch SC and the normal contact vof its arc, winding of relay Bd, right back contact of relay Ed, left contact of relay Ic, through resistance R3 to battery and relay Bd operates as soon as interrupter I removes the short-cirrelay Ih. Relay Ih is now periodically operated under the controlof interrupter I and-transmitsimpulses over two paths, the firstv extending over its left front contact and the outer right front contact of relay Bd through the winding of stepping magnet *SMC of the 'counting switch SC and the other extending from ground over its right front contact, vwiper ifm2 of finder JF, wiper cfm3 of iinder CF, front contact. of relay Ct, through the winding of the digit recording magnet DPM of the ticket printing ,machine 'I'he series of digit impulses nowfbeing transmitted is the ilrstk of vi'our possible series indicating the monetary value of the tariii' rate to be charged for the connection in dollars and cents or in any other desired currency units. For example, for afcharge less than ten dollars the rst digit series indicates the number of dollars, the second digit series is a dash and the the calling line being identified by the position s assumed b-y the finder switch JF in nding the group of trunk circuits over which thefjconnection has been extended, while the position into which the register switch S.'I was,`.s et indicates the zone of the called line.v

' The circuits disclosed arearra/Lged to v,func-v tion for three diierent calling zones.V The incoming trunks of three different groups are con-sv nected to the banks of finder JF and the contacts of the bank to which wiper a'fml has acl"cess are thereforejumpered overV the terminal rack TR to the three zone terminals ZI, Z2 and Z3 on the left side thereof which are connected to the three wipers `amil, smt2 and smt, respectively, lof the register switch ST whereby any combination of the `calling and called zones is obtainable. As previously stated, if the called zone is identified by two or more digits the second and perhaps the third digits 'received by relay S of Fig. 1 would have to be registered in the tariff determining equipment which would require the addition of' a translator switch. In principle, however, the arrangement will remain the same, one level of the translator switch being allocated to each calling zone and the position of the translator wipers would indicate the called zone.

The tarii determining equipment as disclosed is arranged for three different tarii rates only, the-tariff being,determined'by the operated or uno-perated condition of relays Tf .and Ot; The

windingsY of these relays are connected to crossconnecting terminals A and B which are jumpered as required to the terminals of the arcs to which wipers of the register switch ST have vaccess in accordance with the tariff charges for dierent combinations of calling-and called zones.

`It will rst be assumed that following the operation of finder switch JFandregister switch ST, neither relay Tf nor Ot is operated. When, therefore, relay Ih has transmitted ten impulses to magnet DPM ofthe ticket printing machine and to the'stepping magnet of counting switch SC, the wipers of switch SC will be positioned on the last or tenth position contacts of their arcs and a circuit will be established from battery, through the winding of relay Ed, inner right -front contact of relay Pw, inner right contact of relay Bd, wiper smc2 and the last contact of its associated arc, upper. No. 1 back contacts Aof relays Tf and Ot, the sixth position contact and wiper smd2 ofsteering switch SD to ground at the back contact. of .relay Lm. Relay Ed will therefore operate to' open at its left back contact the circuit of relay Ic and to open at its right back Contact the loc-king circuit ofA relay Bd which will immediately release to open the operating circuit of impulsing relay Ihr to arrest impulsingand to close a restoring circuit for the counting switch SC. The restoring circuit may be traced from battery through the windingfof stepping magnet SMC, right back contact of relay Bd, interrupter contacts of stepping magnet SMC, strapped conf Vtacts of the arc with which wiper smc! cooperates to ground over wiperrsmcl whereby the counting "switch is restored to normal.

Relay Ed at its inner right front contact also establishes the operating circuit of stepping Ymagnet SMD of steering switch SD and at its left front contact establishes the previously traced operating circuit for relay Df which upon operating causes theoperation of magnet CM of the v lstep into position 1. As soon as the tariff digit has been printed and -shaft MCS oi the ticket printing machine again reaches its normal position, relays Rz and Pwreoperate.

With the steering switch SD now in position l and with relay Pw operated, relayEd reoperates in a circuit from battery throughits winding, in-

ner right frontcontaot of relay Pw, the Nc. 2

vback contacts of relays Tf and Ot, the No. 1

position contact and wiper smd2 of` steering switch SD to ground at the back contact of relay Lm. The operation of relay Ed at this time prevents the reoperaticn of relays Ic and Bd so that the initiation of impulsing is prevented, establishes'over its left front contact the operating circuit'of relay Df and reestablishes the operating circuit of magnet SMD of the steering switch SD. Relay Df upon operating causes the operation of magnet CMofthe ticket printing machine to'rotate shaft MCS through one revolution, but since ther digit recording magnet DPM 4has not advanced its associated digit printing wheel, a dash is now printed on the ticket. During the printing operation relays Ri, Pw, Ed. and Df are released, the sequence switch CS of the ticket printing machine is advanced into position I2 and at the end of the printing operation relays Ri land Pw are reoperated. 'Relay Ed upon releasing also releases magnet SMD which now advances the wipers of the steering switch SD into position 8.

Relay Pw upon operating now establishes the operating circuit of relay Ic extending from battery through the winding of relay Ic, left back contact of relay Ed, outer front contact of relay Pw, eighth positioncontact and wiper smdi of steering switch SD to ground. With the counting switch in its normal position the previously traced circuit of relay Bd is now closed and relay Bd operates, locks and establishes the circuit l of impulsing relay Ih..v Relay Ih under the control of interrupter I now transmits a series of impulses to the magnet DPM of the ticket printing machine and correspondingly transmits impulses to the stepping magnet SMC of the counting switch SC.

At this time when `wiper smd2 has advanced eight steps an operating circuit for relay Ed is established from battery through its winding, the

, ing and closing the restoring circuit of the counting switch SC. Relay Dj upon operating causes the operation-of magnet CM oi' the ticket printing machine to print the digit 8 recorded by the setting of the digit recording magnet DPM and to advance the sequence switch CS into position i3. When the shatMCS of the ticket printing rmachine leaves normal during the printing operation, relays Rz', Pw, Ec* and Df release and the circuit of Ymagnet SMD is opened to advance the wipers of steering switch SD one step into position 8. As soon as the tariff digit has been printed and shaft MCS of` the ticket printing 4machine again reaches its normal position, relays Ri and Y Pw reoperate.

When relay Pw reoperates, relays Ic and Bd re-- operate and impulse relay Ih is again operated under the control of interrupter I to transmit another series of impulses to magnet DPM of the ticket printing machine and to correspondingly advance the wipers ofthe counting switch SC. With steering switch SD now in position 9 when the wipers ofthe countingwswitch reach the last or tenth position contacts of their arcs, or after a series of ten impulses has been transmitted, the circuit of relay Ed is again established from battery through its winding, the inner right front 5v contact of relay Pw, the inner right front contact of relay Bd, wiper smc2 and the last terminal of its arc, the No. 4 back contacts of relays Tf and Ot ,the No. 9 contactand wiper smd2 of steering switch SD to ground at the back contact of 10 relay Lm. Relay Ed now operates to release relays Ic and Bd to Vree'nergize stepping magnet SMD of the steering switch SD and to reoperate relay Df. Relay Bd upon releasing stops the operation kof relay Ih to arrest the transmission 15 of` further impulses and causes the restoration of the counting switch SC. Relay Df upon operating causes the operation of magnet CM of the ticket printing machine to print the digit zero recorded by the operation of magnet DPM, to 20 advance the sequence switch CS into position I4 and to release relays Ri, Pw, Ed and Df. The ticket printing machine is now prepared to record and print digits indicating the number of the calling line. The tariff rate now printed on "1.25 the ticket by the ticket printing machine Aindin cates that the tarii to be charged is -80, or eighty cents for each unit period of conversation.

The tarii .determining equipment may now be released .from the established connection and re- 30 stored to normal in .any well-known manner; The ticket printing machine, however, is retained in connection with the established connection for printing other data relating to the connection such asthe calling line number, the date and the 35 number of elapsed unit periods during which the conversational circuit is maintained.

It will now-be' assumed thatrelay Ot is op erated and thatrelay Tf is unoperated due to the joint settings bi finder switch JF and register 40 switch ST. In this case relay Ed will be operated when wiper smc2 ofthe counting switch reaches its rst position contact during the transmission of the iirst tarii digit series of impulses at which time steering switch SD will be in position 6, over 45 a circuit extending from battery through the winding of relay Ed, thence as traded over wiper smc2, the No. 1 front contact of relay Ot, wiper smd2 to ground at the back contact of relay Lm and the digit 1 will be printed by the ticket 50 printing machine; a dash will be printed by the ticket printing machine with steering switch SD in position 1; relay Ed will be again operated when the wiper smcZ of the counting switch reaches its second position contact during the transmission of the next digit-series of impulses with steering switch SD in position, over a circuit extending from battery through the winding of relay Ed, thence as traced over wiper smc2, in position 2, the No. 3 front contact of relay Ot,

60 -wiper smd2 to ground at the back contact of relay Lm and the digit 2 will be printed by the ticket printing machine; and relay Ed will be again operated whenwiper smc2 of the counting switch reaches its tenth position contact during g5 the transmission of the last digit series of impulses with steering switch SD in position 9, over a circuit extending from battery, through the winding of relay Ed, thence as traced over wiper smc2 in position l0, the No. 4 front contact of 70 relay Ot, wiper smd2 to ground at the back contact of relay Lm and the digit zero will be printed by the ticket printing machine. Thus, the tari rate printed will be $1.20.

Y If it be assumed that relay Tf is operated and 75 that relay Ot is unoperated, the tarii rate tween said lines, a tariff determining equipment vcommon to said trunk circuits, and means responsive to the seizure of a'trunk circuit for associating said equipment therewith, said equipment comprising means for registering the zones in which both the calling and the called lines are located, and means controllable jointly by said registering means for determining the monetary value of the taril rate to be applied for said connection.

2. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means includ-- ing interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines, a tarii determining equipment common to said trunk circuits, and means responsive to the seizure of a trunk-circuit for associating said equipment therewith, said equipment comprising a register operable in accordance with the setting of said associating m'eans for registering the zone of the calling line, a register operable in response to impulses transmitted in establishing a connection to a called line for kregistering the zone of the called line, and means controlled jointly by said registers for .determining the monetary value of the tariff rate to be applied for said connection.

3. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including groups of interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections vbetween said lines, a

tariff determining equipment common to said.

trunk circuits, and means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit of any one of said groups for associating said equipment therewith, said equipment comprising a register operable in accordance with the group of trunk circuits selected by said associating means for registering the ,zone of the calling line, a register operable in response to impulses transmitted over the seized trunk circuit in establishing a connection to a called line for registering the zone of the called line, and means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the monetary value of the tariff rate to be applied for said connection.

4. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including groups of interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines a tariff determining equipment located at a tandem point of said exchange system and common to said trunk circuits, a nder switch individual to said equipment and responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit of any one of said groups for associating said equipment therewith, said finder switch having a wiper and associated group of bank contacts serving to register the group in which the seized trunk circuit is located to thereby register the zone of the calling line, a register operable in response to impulses transmitted over the seized trunk circuit in establishing a connection to a called line for registering the zone of the called line, and means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the monetary value of the tariff rate to be applied for said connection. j

5. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including groups of interzone-trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines, a tariff determining equipment located at a tandem point of said exchange system and common to said trunk circuits, a nder switch individual to said equipment and responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit of any one of said groups for associating said equipment therewith, said nder switch having a wiper and associated group of bank contacts serving to register the group in which the seized trunk is located to thereby register the zone of the calling line, a register switch having a wiper corresponding to each calling line zone and operable in response to impulses transmitted over the seized trunk circuit in establishing a connection to a called line for registering the zone of the called line, and a group of relays connected to the banks of said register switch and selectively operable in accordance with the joint settings of said finder switch and said register switch for determining the monetary value of the tariff rate to be applied for said connection.

6. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines, a ticket printing mechanism and a tariiT determining equipment common to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit for associating said equipment therewith, and means for associating said printing mechanismwith said seized trunk circuit and with said equipment, said equipment comprising a register operable in accordance With the setting ,of said equipment associating means for registering the zone of the calling line, a register operable in response to impulses transmitted over said trunk circuit in establishing a connection to a `called line for registering the zone of the called line, means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the monetary valueY of the tariff rate to be applied rfor said connection, and means controlled by said latter means for causing said printing mechanism to print said tarii rate on a ticket.

'7. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines, a ticket printing mechanism and a tariff determining equipment common to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit for associating said equipment therewith, and means for associating said printing mechanism with said seized trunk circuit and with said equipment, said equipment comprising a register operable in accordance with the setting of said equipment associating means for registering the zone of the calling line, a register operable in response to impulses transmitted over said trunk circuit in establishing a connection* to a called line for registering the zone of the called line, means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the monetary value of the tariff rate to be applied for said connection, and means controlled by said latter means for transmitting series of impulses to said printing mechanism for causing said mechanism to print said tarii rate in monetary values on a ticket.

8. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines; a ticket printing mechanism and a tariff determining equipment common to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit for associating said equipment therewith, and means for associating said printing mechanism with said seized trunk circuit and with said equipment, said ticket printing mechanism being responsive fto series of impulses transmitted for Setting up a connection to a called line for printing digits on a ticket indicativel of the number of said called line, and said equipment comprising a register operable in accordance with the setting of said equipment associating means for registering the zone of the calling line, a register operable in respouse to impulses transmitted in establishing a connection for registering the zone of the called line, means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the value of the tariff rate to be applied for said connection, and means controlled by said latter means for transmitting series of impulses to said printing mechanism for causing said mechanism to print said tariff rate on said ticket.

9. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines, a ticket printing mechanism and a tariil determining equipment lcommon to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit for associating said equipment therewith, and means for associating said printing mechanism with said seized trunk. circuit vand with said equipment, said equipmentl comprising a register operable in accordance. with the setting of said equipment associating means for registering the zone of the calling line, a register operable in response to impulses transmitted in establishing a connection to a called line for registering the zone of the called line, means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the tariff rate to be applied for said connection, impulse transmitting means, impulse counting means and means controlled by said tariff rate determining means for controlling said impulse transmitting and counting means to successively transmit series of impulses to said printing mechanism to cause said mechanism to print digits on a ticket indicative of the ltariff rate.

10. In a telephone exchange system divided into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines, a ticket printing mechanism and a tarii determining equipment common to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit for associating said equipment therewith, and means for associating said printing mechanism with said seized trunk circuit and with said equipment, said equipment comprising a register operable in acccrdance with the setting of said equipment as- Y sociating means for registering the zone of the calling line, a register operable in response to impulses transmitted in establishing a connection to a called line for registering the zone of the called line, means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the tariff rate to be applied for said connection, impulse transmitting means, impulse counting means, a steering switch, means controlled by said tariff rate determining means in successive positions of said steering switch for controlling said impulse transmitting and counting means to transmit series of impulses to said printing mechanism to areas iprint digits on a meer indicative ci the tarif: rate, land means controlled by said printingl mechanism following the printing of each digit f to advance'said steering switch.

11. In a telephone exchange system divided" into zones, subscribers lines, switching means including interzone trunk circuits for establishing connections between 'said lines, a ticket printing mechanism and altari!! determining equipment common to said trunk circuits, means responsive Ato the seizure of a trunk circuit for associating registering the calling line zone, a steeringv switch, a register controllable in one position of said steering switch by impulses transmitted to said vprinting mechanism for registering the called line zone, means controlled jointly by said registers for determining the tarii rate to be applied for said connection, impulse transmitting means, impulse counting means, means controlled by said tariff rate determining means in other positions of said steering switch for controlling said impulse transmitting and counting means to transmit series of impulses to said'v printing mechanism `to print. digits on a ticket indicative of the tariff rate, and means controlled by said printing mechanism following the printing of each digit to advance said steering switch.

12. In a telephone exchange system divided inte zones. subscribers lines, switching means including interzone 'trunk circuits for establishing connections between said lines, a Aticketprinting i 2 mechanism and a tarli! determining equipment v common to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit for associating said mechanism and said equipment with each other and with said trunk circuit, meansjin said printing mechanism and in saidr equipment re sponsive to series of connection establishing impulses transmitted over said .trunk circuit, said equipment comprising a `register responsive to the seizure of said trunk circuit for registering the calling line zone, `asteering switch, a registering means responsive to certain of said series of impulses for registering the calledline zone,

v means controlled jointly by said register and said registering means for determining the tariff rate to be applied for said connection, impulse transmitting means, impulse counting means, and

vmeans controlled by said tariff determining means in certain positions of said steering switch for controlling said impulse transmitting and counting means to transmit series of impulses to the responsive means of said printing mechanism,

' means in said mechanism responsive to the responsive means thereof and controlled from said equipment for successively printing the digits of l the called line number and the digits of the tarii rate on a ticket, and means. controlled by said printing mechanism following the printing of each digit to advance said steering switch.

WILLIAM HATTON.

LESLIE BAINES HAIGH. 35

LADISLAS KOZMA.

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