APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF SEPARATED GEOGRAPHIC POINTS TO BE SERVICED AND A COMPUTER LOCATED AT A CENTRAL STATION

摘要

1422138 Selective signalling MOTOROLA Inc 19 Dec 1972 [10 Jan 1972] 58533/72 Heading G4H [Also in Division H4] Apparatus for effecting communication between any of a number of points and a central location comprises a portable unit adapted to co-operate with identifying means at each point to generate a code for transmission to the central location identifying the particular point used. As described the system is intended for use in hotels &c. to supervise the progress of work carried out by maids, cleaning and maintenance staff. Each person to be supervised carries a portable unit adapted either to plug into receptacles coupled to telephone lines, television distribution cables or power cables and located in the rooms to be serviced or to be acoustically coupled to the telephone handset and in any case to transmit binary codes identifying the room involved, the identity of the unit and thus the person involved and the extent to which the work to be carried out has been completed. The room code is generated in automatic fashion by interrogating a diode matrix located in the receptacle or secured to the telephone, the code identifying the person involved is generated by automatically interrogating a matrix within the unit and work progress code is determined by the setting of pushbuttons on the unit. The codes are sequentially entered into a shift register and transmitted to a central computer in frequency shift form. The units may include means to automatically dial the number required for the hotel PABX to connect a receptacle coupled to an extension to the computer when the unit is placed in the receptacle. The computer can store display and/or print the data and may receive information from manager and house-keeper consoles and produce bills automatically. The computer returns control signals to the units controlling transmission and indicator lamps thereat.