US2208357A - Telephone meter control system - Google Patents

Description

y 40- A. J. BUSCH ET! AL TELEPHONE METER CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1939 T0 056005 MARKER 546(5 GROUP I MUL TIPLE 70 OTHER C IR CU/ TS A JBUSCH NVENTORSWHMTTHIES ATTORNEY July 16, 1940.

A. J. BUSCH ET AL 2,208,357 TELEPHONE METER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

A. J. BUSCH g 'WHMATTHIES directly.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,208,357 TELEPHONE METER CONTROL SYSTEM Aloysius J. Busch, Madison, and William H. Matthias, Hackensack, N. Telephone Laboratories, York, N. Y., a corporation of J., assignors to Bell Incorporated, New

New York Application January 13, 1939, Serial No. 250,700

15 Claims. (01. 179-71) This invention relates to and particularly to those telephone systems in which message registers are used for assessing charges for the service rendered.

The object of the invention'is to simplify and improve the equipment for recording information concerning the destination of a call and for utilizing this information to assess, charges on the basis of the zone called and also on the basis of the duration of the call.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide a plurality of zone and time-controlled message register operating devices in of conversational trunks.

shown in the patent to F. J granted August 10, 1937. In

common to a group Such a system is Scudder 2,089,438, the arrangement of this patent, whenever a call is made involving one of the trunks, an idle operating device is chosen selective switches message register and connected by to the calling trunk. This idle device is also connected, independently of the trunk, to the common digit recording mechanism in which the dialed number has been recorded,

and receives the zone information from it However, the zone and timing devices employed in this arrangement include a plurality of zone timing cams each controlled by a zone clutch magnet and all controlled by a master clutch magnet and driving me require considerable them in efficient operating co In accordance with the p chanism which may adjustment to maintain ndition. resent invention, a

zone and timing device is provided which requires very little More specifically, switch for recording the zone maintenance attention.

it provides a cross-bar type and for controlling,

in accordance therewith, the number of operations of the subscriber's message register and the length of the talking periods.

In addition, the same magnets which control the setting of the zone register switch, function in cooperation with a clock-type interrupter to measure the talking periods.

Furthermore, the number controlled by a set of relays.

of registrations is When it is desired to operate the proper subscribers message register, the proper number of relays are operated in succession under the; control of the closed switch cross-point of the cross-bar switch and are then released in the same order, the releasing time of the the pulse of metering time of the second relay of the interval between pulses.=

These and other features 0 first relay of a pair measuring current and the releasing the pair measuring f the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the zone register switch and control quipment; and 5 Fig. 2 shows the message register control relays. I I

No attempthas been made to show the conversational trunk, the subscribers message register, the digit recording mechanism nor the switches for connecting them with the zone and timing device, since the present circuits are adapted for insertion in the disclosure of the above-mentioned Scudder patent, to which reference is hereby made. The conductors I01, I04, I05, I36, I38 and I33 correspond to conductors 92I, 9I5, 923, 932, I0 and IOI2, respectively, of the Scudder patent. The conductors marked To decoder marker correspond to conductors IOI5 to IOI9 of, the above-mentioned patent, provision being made for ten zones instead of the five zones shown in the patent.

When a subscriber initiates a call, his line is automatically connected to an idle district trunk circuit and to an idle subscribers register sender. The designation of the wanted station, as dialed by the calling subscriber, is recorded on the register mechanism of the sender, which associates itself with an idle decodermarker. The sender thereupon transmits to the decoder markersuch information regarding the destination of the call as this latter circuitrequires for performing its functions in the extension of the connection. Information is also passed from the sender to the marker, regarding the number of the district frame containing the particular district trunk circuit selected for use on this call, and the ma'rker thereupon establishes connections between itself and that district frame.

From the oflice code information received from the sender, the marker determines the zone in which the exchange serving the called station is located and operates a corresponding zone relay. The marker also passes a signal to the district trunk which then causes the meter con- 45 trol circuit to test for an idle zone and timing circuit. I

A zone and timing circuit is marked idle by battery connected through resistance IOI, over the back contact of magnet I02, contact of jack I03 to conductor I04. I

When an idle zone and timing circuit is found, the switch connecting it with the district trunk circuit is operated and the connection is locked A branch of this locking circuit extends over conductor IE5, through the winding of relay I06 and conductor lflloperating relay I06 to connect the zone and timing circuit through the the zone relays of point is prepared by the corresponding select, is closed by hold magnet I20 to magnet I02.

With relay I 06 operated, select magnets I20 to I29 are connected to the zone relays in the marker. In accordance with the zone relay operated, ground is connected to the winding of one of the select magnets, for example, magnet I20. With magnet I28 operated,a circuit is closed for hold magnet I02 extending from battery through the winding of hold magnet I 02, inner right back contact of I88, outer right contact of relay I96, in parallel with battery through resistance I09, inner left back contact of relay I38, left back contacts of select magnets I28, I25, I25 and I22, left front contact of magnet I2Il to ground over the operating circuit of that magnet. Hold magnet !82 closes cross-point Iii], thereby closing a holding circuit for itself over the fourth contact from the right of the crosspoint and conductor N25 to ground under the I control of the district'trunk circuit.

Hold magnet I02 disconnects battery from conductor I54, thereby removing the idle indication and connects ground to that conductor as an added precaution to prevent the possibility of seizing the timing circuit while it is in use.

Ground is connected over the third contact from the right of the cross-point, inner left back contact of relay I 3|, fifth right contact of relay N26 to conductor I 32, thus transmitting tothe marker the information that the zone information has been locked in at the control circuit. Having received the signal over conductor I32 and completed its other functions, the -marker disconnects itself from the control circuit and releases select magnet I20.

When the called' subscriber answers, the dis trict trunk circuit connects ground to conductor I33, operating relay I08 over the back contacts of all of the select magnets as a test that the operated select magnet has been properly released. 'The circuit may be traced from ground over conductor I 33, winding of relay I98, over the left back contacts of magnets I2I, I23, I25, I27

and I 29, over the outer left back contact of relay I30, left back contacts of magnets I20, 522, I24, I26 and I28, inner left. back contact of relay I30 to battery through resistance M9. Relay 1438 looks over its-inner rightcontact to conductor I05 and connects generator groundgover its outer left contact tothe motor I 34 of the timer. Thismotor is of the synchronous type; commonlyeim ployed in clocks and, therefore, measures theconversational periods with accuracy.

At its third left armature, relay I03 connects ground over conductor I35 tointerrupter'zml to control a time alarmf At its second left armature it disconnects ground from conductor I36 and ex tends conductor I36 over conductor IBI' to the winding of relay 26I as a test against double connections. At its inner left contact relay. I08 re moves ground from conductor I 38 over which the message register pulses are tobe transmitted and extends conductor I33 to the inner upper armt- I the operating circuit of relay 202.

ture of relay 202, where it is also connected to ground.

At its second right contact relay I 88 opensthe operating circuit for hold magnet I02 and closes a circuit for seizing themeter control, circuit of Fig. 2. This circuit may be traced frombattery through the winding of relay 232, second right contact of relay I08, and over the cross-point I II], following the locking circuit of hold magnet I532, to ground on conductor I65. Relay 202 disconnects batteryfrom the windings of relays 293, 2634, etc., to prevent the seizure. of the meter control circuit by another zone and timing circuit. Relay 202 extends its operating ground over its own second lower front contact, second lower cuit functions for only a small portion of the time during which. the zone and timing circuit is held by the district trunk. For each zone and timingcircuit. there is a relay, such as relay 202, and these relays are arranged in a chain. Relay 2EI2 has the preferential position and relay 263 has preference over relay 294. As described above, relay 202 opens the operating circuit of the relays lower'in the chain and operates relay E30 over the back contacts of these other relays. When the meter control circuit has completed its function, relay 202 releases, permitting any other relay in the chain to operate and seize the meter control circuit for use with the corresponding'zone and timing circuit.

The meter control circuit comprises a meter -made'for the initial talking period of a call to that zone and to the second'contacts of the zone switch cross-points in accordance with the number of charges to be made for each overtime talking period.

Assuming, by way of example, thatcross-point III! represents a zone for which five charges are made for an initial talking period of five minutes and two charges are made for each overtime period of three minutes, the first contactof crosspoint I I0 will be connected to the lay 2 I 9 and the second cross-point to the winding of relay 2l3.

When relay 202 operates to connect the zone and timing circuit with the meter control circuit, a circuit is closed from battery through the winding of relay 207, winding of relay 259, first contact of cross-point IIII, right back contact of relay I3I, outer right front contact of relay H18, outer' upper front contact of relay 2E2, outer upperback contacts of relays 203, 284, etc., normal contacts of relay 205, inner lower back contacts of relays 204, 203, etc., second lower front contact'of relay 262' and thence to ground over "Relay 2I9 operates in this circuit and closes an obvious circuit for relay 2 I8. Relay 2I8 operates thenext relay in the chain, and the succeeding relays operate in turn 2 I 3, 2I2 and 2; Relay 26? operates in series withthese relays, in turn operating relay 205.

winding of refollowed by relays i Relay 205 opens the operating circuit of relay 2I 9 and closes a holding groundfor relay 202 over-its alternate contact, inner lower back contacts of relays 204, 203, etc., and the inner lower front contact of relay 202. I

When relay 2 operates, it closes a circuit through the lower winding of relay 206. At its uppermost contact, relay 206 provides a holding circuit for relay 205 under the control of relay 2| I. At its middle upper contact relay 206 connects a supplementary ground to conductor I35, and at its inner upper armature opens the circuit of relay I30 and closes a holding circuit for itself in parallel with that of relay I30 to the crosspoint IIO under the control of relay 202. Relay 206 also extends this holding ground over its lower front contact to the left armature of the even-numbered relay preceding relay 2I9 in the chain. Since this relay is unoperated, similar to relay 220, ground is extended over the back contact of that relay and the left front contacts of relays 2I9 and 2 to the windingof relay H0 and battery. Relay 2I0 in operating disconnects ground at its back contact and connects battery through resistance 200, over its upper front contact, lower back contact of relay 20 I, inner upper back contacts of relays 204,203, etc., inner upper front contact of relay'202, inner left front contact of relay I08 to conductor I38 and thence to the subscribers message register. 1

Since relay 205 has opened the circuit of relay 2I9, the circuit of relay 2I0 is held closed only during the releasing time of slow-to-release relay 2 I 9. When relay 2 I 9 releases, it opens the circuit of relay 2 I8, which in turn releases after an interval to reclose the circuit of relay 2I0 over the back contact of relay 2l8 and the front contact of the following odd numbered relay, which is operated. Therefore, the releasing time of the even-numbered relays, such as relay 2|8, measures the'spacing intervals between impulses of metering current. The release of relay 2 I3 measures the fourth metering impulse; that of relay 2I2 measures the spacing interval, while that of relay 2 measures the fifth'and lastimpulse.

When relay 2 releases, it opens the circuit of relay 205, which opens the holding circuityof relay 202, permitting that relay to release and. open the holding circuit of relay 206. Relay 201 also releases when thecircuit of relay 2 is opened so that the meter control circuit .hasbeen restored to normal and is now ready for use by some other zone and timing circuit.

When relay 202 operated, it closed, as above mentioned, a circuit from battery throughthe winding of relay I30, middle lower frontcontact of relay 202, outer lower back contacts of relays 203, 204,'etc., back contact of relay 206,normal contacts of relay 205, inner lower back-contacts of relays 204, 203, etc.,inner lower front'contact of relay 202, middle right frontcontactof relay I00, fourth contact of cross-point IIO to ground over conductor I05. Relay I 30 operates in this circuit and locks over its fourth left contact, inner left back contact of relay I3I to ground over the third contact of cross-point I I0. Relay I30 opens the operating circuit of relay I08 which releases. With relay I08 released, the original energizing circuit of the timer is opened but asubstitute circuit is provided over the second left contact of relay I30. Relay I08, when released, also restores battery to the windings of the select magnetsI20 to I29.

The clock-type timer was started by theoperation of relay I08, as above described. The motor I34 drives cams for operating contacts I40, I4I, I42, and I43, which make one revolution in a minute. No timer is arranged to return to a normal position, in which position cam contacts I40, I4I, I42 and I43 are open. When the motor moves away from normal, cam contacts I40 close an energizing circuit for complete revolution of the cams into their normal position and cam contacts I4I provide a holding circuit for the hold magnet I02 to prevent its premature release.

The cam contacts I42 close for a short interval when the timer moves off normal. A little less than thirty seconds later, cam contacts I43 close and then open precisely thirty secondsafter cam contacts I42 open. In this way, cam contacts I42 and I43 operate alternately at thirty-second intervals. When cam contacts first time, they complete a circuit from ground thereover, right back contacts of select magnets I29, I21, I25, I23 and I2I, inner right front contact of relay I30, winding of select magnet I20,

outer right back contact of relay I08 to battery.

the motor to ensure a I42 close for the Magnet I20 operates in this circuit and looks" over its left front contact, left back contacts of magnets I22, I24, I20 and I28, to ground at the fifth left contact of relay I30.

Thirty seconds later, when cam contacts I43 close, a circuit is completed from ground at the third contact of cross-point IIO-, inner left back contact of relay I3 I, fourth andthird left contacts of relay I30, cam contacts I43,.right back contacts of magnets I28, I26, I24 and I22, rightfront contact of magnet I20 to the winding of magnet I2I and battery. Magnet I2I looks over its left front contact andthe left back contacts of magnets I23, I25, I2'I and I29 toground at the outermost left front contact of relay I30.

The second closure .of thecam contacts I42 operates magnet I22 which looks and releases magnet I20. Similarly, the second closure of cam contacts I43 operates magnet I23 and releases magnet I2I. Therefore, at the end of each minute of conversation one of the odd-numbered magnets is operated.

The sixth and fifth contacts of the cross-points of zone switch I00 are used length of the initial and overtime periods respec: tively. To this end, they are crossconnected, as

desired, to the windings of the odd-numbered] select magnets. Such, as assumed above, the in itial talking period for the zone identified by cross-point H0 is five minutes, the sixth contact of cross-point I I0 is connected to the winding of magnet I29. I

Thereforawhen at the end of an elapsed fiveminute talking interval, cam contacts I43 close to operate magnet I29, 9. parallel-circuit extends over conductor I 40, sixth contact of cross-point II 0, cuter right front contact of relay I30, left back contact of relay I3I, left winding of relay I44, outer right back contact of relay I08 to battery. Relay I44 operates in this circuit and closes a holding circuit for itself from battery through the winding of relay I3I, right winding and outer right front contact of relay I44, to ground over the third contact of cross-point IIO. Relay I3I closes a holding circuit for itself over its inner right contact and resistance I45 to ground over the third contact of cross-point I I0. Because of the presence of resistance I45, relay I44 remains operated temporarily,- supplying temporary grounds for holding magnet I29 operated and magnet I28 locked. The operation of relay I3I indicates the termifor determining the 1 nation of the initial talking period and the start of the overtimeperiods; The operation of relay I3I opens the locking circuit of relay I351, causing that relay to release and close a shunt around resistance I45, thereby causing relay I44 to release. Magnets I28 and I29 also release. A circuit'isnow closed from ground on conductor I33, through the winding of relay me, over the back contacts of the select magnets and relay I30 to battery, as previously traced.

Relay I08 calls in the meter control circuit as previously described. At this time, however, with relay I31 operated to indicate an overtime charge, the circuit; of relay 261- extends through the winding of relay 2I3,.second contact of crosspoint IIIi, outer right front contact of relay I3 I, outer right front contact of relay IE8 and thence, as previously traced, to ground over the operating circuit of relay 2H2. Relay Zltoperates, causing relays 2I2, 2H and 205 to operate in turn. As before, relay 2H5 opens the circuit of relay 2I3 and relays 2I3, 2I2, 2H and 205 also release in turn. Relay 2I3 operated closes the circuit of relay 2H1 which sends out an impulse of metering current. When relay 2I3 releases the metering impulseis terminated. The release of relay BIZ starts'the next impulse and the release of relay 2 terminates theimpulse. Two impulses of metering current are, therefore, transmitted as the charge for the firstovertime period.

The'operation of relay 2B2 reoperates relay I ii! which controls the timing of the first overtime period and releases relays I08 and 292 to restore the meter control circuit to common use. Relay I38 also opens the shunt around resistance M5 to permit relay M l to hold when operated.

Under the assumption that the overtime periods set by cross-point III] are three minutes, the fifth contact of the cross-point will be crossconnected to the winding of magnet I 25, and the circuit of relay Md may be traced from battery at the outer right back contact of relay I98, left winding of relay Hi l, outer left front contact of relay I3I fifth contact of cross-point III) to conductor I II. At the end of three minutes, cam

contacts Hi3 connect ground to the winding of magnet I25 and to conductor I47, thereby operat ing relay I MI to cause the transmission of another set of metering impulses- Relay ISI remains operated, but relays I83, 292, I3II and Hi l function as above described at three-minute intervals until the call is terminated;

When the call ends, the district trunk disconnects ground from conductors I05 and I33. I-Iold magnet m2 remains operated overcam contacts It! until the timer returns to normal to prevent mutilation of a timing operation on the next call. With hold magnet It? operated, relay IE3, if

operated, completes its function and relay I33,

if operated, remains operated to prevent seizure of the meter control circuit until it has restored Relay ISI is also held operated until the cross-point is opened. Ground remains connected to the busy test conductor I 64 over the contact of magnet Hi2 and to the holding conductor I05 from cam contacts MI until the circuit is normal, to prevent premature reseizure of the circuit.

Relays 2M and 23I} with interrupter Zilii serve to sound an alarm if the meter control circuit fails to release promptly. Relay Hi8 grounds conductor 7 I35 andinterrupter 209 when it operates to seize the meter control circuit. Metering relay 2I0 connects ground to conductor I35 when this conductor remains grounded if any of these relays fail to release. closes its right contact following the connection of ground to conductor I35, it completes a circuit for relay 230 which locks to conductor I35. When interrupter 200 next closes its left contact, it connects ground over the upper contact of relay 230 to the winding of relay ZIJI which looks under the control of release key 232, lights lamp 23I, sounds an alarm, grounds the metering conductor I38 and closes a locking circuit for relay 202 to prevent seizure of the circuit by any other zone and timing circuit while it is in trouble.

Relay 209 is connected over the inner right contacts of relay IM to right armatures of the select magnets I20 to I29 toztest for the presence of a false battery which might lead to incorrect.

equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance with the respective zones, charge controlling means for operating acharging means individual to the calling line comprising a cross-bar zone registering switch operable by said common control equipment in accordance with said registrations and means operated over When interrupter 20B said cross bar switch for timing and charging for telephone connections.

2. In a telephone system in which a calling line and called lines in a plurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the control of registrations set up in common control equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance with the respective zones, charge controlling means for operating a charging means individual to the calling line comprising a crossbar zone registering switch operable by said common control equipment in accordance with said registrations, means operatedover said cross-bar switch for operating said charging means in ac corclance with the zone, timing means, means operated in response to the establishment of a connection to start said timing means and means operated over said cross-bar switch for causing the reoperation of said charging means following a predetermined operationof said timing means. 3. In a telephone system in which a calling line and called lines in a plurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the control of registrations set up in common control equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance with the respective Zones, charge controlling means for operating a charging means individual to a calling line comprising a crossbar switch having a plurality of cross-points,

means operated in accordance with the zone registration in said common control equipment to prepare a corresponding cross-point, timing means, means operated in response to the establishment of a connection to close said cross-point and to start said timing means, means operated in response to the closure of said cross-point for operating said charging means in accordance with said zone, andmeans operated over said cross-point for causing the reoperation of said charging means following a predetermined opera tion ofsaid timing means.

4. In a telephone system in which a calling line and called lines in a plurality of zones are connected-by automaticswitches under the'control of registrations set up in common control equipment and a charge is made for such-con nections in accordance with the respective zones, charge controlling means-for operating a charging means individual'to a calling line comprising a cross-bar switch having apluralityyof crosspoints, each cross-point including a plurality of contacts, means operated in accordance with the zone registration in said common control equipment to prepare a, corresponding cross-point, timing means, means operated in response to the establishment of aconnection to close said crosspoint and to start said timing means, means operated over a pair of contact sets of said crosspoint for determiningthe number of operations of said charging means and for measuring an initial conversational time interval in accordance therewith, and means operated over an additional pair of contact sets-oi said cross-point for determining the number of operations of said charging means for additional conversational periods and for measuring the time of said additional conversational periods. U

5. In a telephone system in which a calling line and called lines in a plurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under thecontrol of registrations set up in common-control equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance with the respective zones,

charge controlling means ior operating a charging means individual to the calling line comprising a cross-bar zone registering switch operable by said common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsive to the operation of said cross-bar switch to operate a predetermined number of said relays and to operate said charging means, and means controlled by pairs of said relays for releasing and 'reoperating said charging means.

6. In a telephone system in which a callin line and called lines in a plurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the control of registrations set up in, common control equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance with the respective zones,

charge controlling means for operating a charging means individual to the calling line comprising a cross-bar zone registering switch operable by said common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsive to the operation of said cross-bar switch to operate a predetermined number 'of said relays in succession, means responsive to the operation of the last of said relays to operate said charging means and to release the first of said relays, and means controlled by pairs of relays in releasing for releasing and reoperating said charging means.

7. In a telephone systems in which a calling line and called lines in a plurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the control of registrations set up in common control equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance with the respective zones, charge controlling means for operating a charging means individual to the calling line comprising a cross-bar zone registering switch operable by said common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsive to the operation of said cross-bar switch to operate a predetermined number of said relays in succession, means responsive to the operation of the last. of said relays to operate said charging means and to release the first of said relays, and means controlled by pairs of said relays in releasing for releasing and reoperating said charging means,

bar switch and said timing means.

charge controlling means for operating a charging means individual tothe calling line comprising across-bar zone registering switch operable bysaid common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsiveto the operation of said cross bar switch to operate a. predetermined numberfof said relays insuccession, means responsive to the operation of the last of said relays to operate said charging means and to release the first of said relays, means controlled by pairs of said relays in releasing for releasing and reoperating said charging means,timing means andmeans for reoperating a number of said chain, or relays 'under the control of said cross- 9. In 'a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering control circuit comprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, a plurality, of select magnets for preparing said crosspoints and a hold magnet individual to said metering control circuit, means to operate one of said select magnets and said hold magnet to operate one of ,said cross-points as a zone registration,,timing means and means to subsequently operate a plurality of said select magnets under the control of said timing means to measure aitime interval 7 I I I i 10. In a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering control circuit comprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, a plurality of select magnets for preparing said crosspoints and a hold magnet individual to said metering control circuit, means to operate one of said select magnets and said hold magnet to operate one of said cross-points as a zone registration, timing means, means to subsequently operate a plurality of said select magnets under the control of said timing means to measure a time interval, and means under the control of said cross-point and said select magnets to terminate said time interval.

11. In a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering control circuit comprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, each cross-point including a plurality of contacts, a plurality of select magnets for preparing said cross-points and a hold magnet individual to said metering control circuit, means to operate one of said select magnets and said hold magnet to operate one of said cross-points as a zone registration, timing means, means to subsequently operate aplurality of said select magnets un der the control of said timing means to measure a time interval, means operated under the control of one contact of said cross-point and said select magnets to terminate said time interval, and means to operate said terminating means over a different contact of said cross-point to terminate additional time intervals.

12. In a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering control circuit comprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, a plurality of select magnets for preparing said crosspoints and a hold magnet individual to said metering control circuit, means to operate one of said select magnets and said hold magnet to operate one of said cross points as a zoneregistration, timing means, means to subsequently operate a plurality of said. select magnets under the control of said timing means to measure a switch having aplurality of cross-points, each cross-point including a plurality of contacts, a plurality of select magnets for preparing said cross-points and a hold magnet individual to said metering control circuit, means to'operate one of said select magnets and said hold magnet to operate one of said cross-points as a zone registration, timing means, means to subsequently operate'a plurality of said select magnets under the control of said timing means to measure a time interval, means operated in parallel with one of said select magnets under the control of one contact of said cross-point to terminate said, time intervaL' and means to operate said terminating means in parallel with a desired one of said select magnets over a difierent contact of said cross-point to terminate additional time intervals.

' 14. In a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering control circuit for controlling the operation of a subscribers message register comprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, each cross-point including a plurality of contacts, select magnets for controlling the operation of a particular cross-point as a I zone registration, timing means, means for subprising a cross-bar I pulse transmitting attest? sequently placing said select magnets under the control of said timing means, a chain of relays, o meansfor operating said subscriber's message register under the control of said chain of relays, meansfor marking said select magnets and said chain of relays for operation over certain contacts of said cross-points, means for rendering said certain contacts of said cross-point effective in response to the establishment of a telephone connection, and means for subsequently rendering other contacts of said cross-point effective in response to: the operation of said timing means for marking said select magnets and chain of relays for reoperation.

v 15. In a telephone system'in which a calling line and called'lines in a plurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the control of registrations set up in a common control equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance with the respective zones, a plurality of charge controlling means, an idle one of which is ass'ociable with an established connection, each of said controlling means comzone registering switch operable by the common control equipment, an immeans common to said pluralityof charge controlling means, means for associating said common impulse transmitting means with the charge controlling means seized for use and means responsive to the operation of the cross-bar register switch of said charge controlling means for controlling said impulse transmitting means to transmit impulses for operating the charging means of the calling. line.

ALOYSIUS J. BUSCH. WILLIAM H. MATTHIES.

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