GB2209415A - Apparatus for registration and communication of messages to absent addresses - Google Patents

Description

2209415 Apparatus for Registration and Communication of Message to Absent

Addresses This invention relates to apparatus for recording messages addressed to one or more absent addresses. These messages may be transmitted to other recording units designed to display each message when required by an addresse to whom a message is directed.

It is increasingly usual for persons to have appointments with others at a defined, usually well known meeting point. This is the case especially in large cities, and strategically located points such as airports, hotels, rail and bus stations, universities, hospitals, big stadia, exhibition sites, department stores and other land marks all informally serve this purpose.

Considering how crowded these places usually are, and how many inconveniences ocurr whenever people gather, it is als quite nornal for people to mistake their meeting places or be considerably late for their appointment. It is also often the case that some people having an appointment eventually cannot fulfill it, with no means at all of letting the other person know. Finally it may also happen that a person wishes to transmit a message to someone, but he or she does not know when that person will be able to receive it, since he or she could not be found at the time when the message was given.

Heretofore, communication problems between people at crowded places have been approache in very rudimentary ways, such as informatiom departments and person to person messages through a third party. These methods entail usually a considerable amount of lost time and effectiveness.

In practice, using third parties to transmit a message prevents the communication from being effective, and often means distorting the message itself and therefore causes uncertainty for both the sender and receiver.

To overcome these problems, the invention provides apparatus for registration, storage and selective communication of messages to absent addresses, characterised in that it uses a micro-processor which incorporates a memory with a program initiated by typing an addresses name and/or password, as well as the message and the sender's name and/or password, said program granting access to record any desired message in memory., magnetic tape or disc, and including a decrimental counter associated with each record to trigger a program designed to cancel or delete the respective record after a period, previously determined by the sender has elapsed, thus allowing the addressee to display the message at any time while said period lasts, by simply typing his or her name and/or password.

Electronic techniques based on programmed logic circuits provide appropriate systems to embody the invention. Particularly in this case, microprocessors with their high versatility allow any kind of control no matter how complex, which might be required.

A preferred embodiment may be implemented based on a standard microprocessor, depending an the application and subi. ect and the type and difficulty of the signals or information to be processed. since eventually information will be presented through peripherals, the range of solutions these microprocessors can offer may be looked at from the view point of those devices. Hence peripherals can either be programmable as such, or can be configured not as actual peripherals, in which case orders will be directly sent from a Central Processing Unit (CPU). In this latter case, information stored in memory will always have to go through CPU, even if that information does not need any processing. In some cases, it mi&,lit be interesting to dump all information stored in 1 Z -3memory directly into the peripherals and pass it direct to a Direct Memory Access system (DMA). The latter system is faster than the previously mentioned, yet more difficult because using a DMA controller is far more complex and difficult than using the microprocessoe itself. The advantages and disadvantages of the various methods depend on the specific problem to be solved, and in some cases on the availability of components,.

The apparatus of the invention for message recording and communication to absent addresses is based.on microprocessor operation.

Besides the usual functions of a microprocessor based apparatus, it features also a memory with a program driven by keyboard entry of the message addressee's name and/or password, as well as the sender's name and/or password. This program grants access to record the keyboard entered message in memory, magnetic tape or disc.

is More specifically, the apparatus is designed to allow any person wishing to leave a message for an absent addressee to activate the program by just typing the addressee's name and/or password, and if desired, typing his or her own name and/or password too, which will then be recorded on the same entry. By just activating the program, a message of predetermined maximum length can be entered using the keyboard. At the same time a decreasing counter associated with each record will be switched on and will trigger a cancel/delete program when a period set by the sender has elapsed, the counter being controlled by an oscillator connected to the micro processor.

The addressee can display the message on a screen at any time during the predetermined time period, activating the program by typing his or her name and/or password.

To acheive the above mentioned objects, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a memory with a program driven by typing the addressee's name andlor password which triggers a decreasing counter associated with the respective record to determine the time period for which the message will remain, and which in turn is clocked by an oscillator which controls the running of all the timers, and a further program triggered when any given counter reaches zero to cancel the respective record associated with that counter.

The microprocessor is provided with all the necessary peripherals to process information and display it. The screen may be either a visual display unit or a liquid crystal display (LCD), and both the display duration and the interval between subsequent displays can be programmed.

The apparatus obviously should include all the elements necessary to program and store information, such as an alpha-numeric keyboard and RAM and ROM memories which can be substituted if needed with new prerecorded programs.

Upon completion of the predetermined period for a particular message, the decreasing counter falls to zero and this automatically triggers the program which cancels the associated record, thus leaving free space for new records.

The apparatus allows for wire or wave connection of various physically separated recording units, in such a way that the program can be initiated from any of them by just typing the addressee's name and/or password, and the message will be displayed on the screen where the name and/or password was typed.

From the above, it will be realised the advantages offered by this invention, compared to currently used systems, the invention decisively i j i 1 1 i P 1 implies an important development in presenting information and in communications.

Two preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the invention;and Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment.

In the first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Fig.1, it can be seen that the microprocessor based apparatus for receipt and recording and communication of messages to absent addresses includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 1 connected to a timing clock 2 comprising an oscillator, from which all the frequencies required to drive the program to cancel various records are obtained.

The apparatus includes an alphanumeric keyboard 3 and an interface 4 to communicate with CPU 1, to program and enter data and drive the program to record messages. In the same way, input/output unit 6 and multiplexer 7 are used to communicate CPU 1 with display screen 5.

The memory section of the apparatus consists of RAM memory 8 and ROM memory 9 dependant on stored non-volatile static information.

Power supply 10 may be provided by either any electrical energy source or directly from its own supply, and provides all needed voltages to every section of the apparatus, both at the CPU and associated components and at the display screen 5.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2 and is based on a Central Unit with one or more operators. The central unit includes a CPU 1, where entered data are stored from each of a plurality of peripheral units 11. Each unit 11 is disposed at a particular location, and is connected to the central unit by cable, optical fibre or radiofrequency.

Each peripheral unit 11 includes a magnetic code reader and/or coin selector 12, microprocessor 13, keyboard 3, data display screen 5 and printer 14. the magnetic code reader sends an identification signal to microprocessor 4, which in turn connects the apparatus to transmit as well as to receive data. The microprocessor 13 displays on screen 5 a set of possible user choices with sequential change, depending on the options the operator has accepted and entered in the microprocessor by means of keyboard 3.

Information about available services, cards accepted, service fee and duration of message storage is repeatedly displayed in a sequence- when the apparatus is not operating, or in response to pushing of an external button.

A message typed on keyboard 3 with query code is received by microprocessor 13 and displayed on screen 5. Once the acknowledge signal is given, the message is automatically sent to the central unit 1. Message enquiry subject-to previous identification is carried out in two ways; from a peripheral unit 15, or from any telephone 15.

In the first case it is enough for the receiver of the message to type his or her identification code to display the message and variatle indications such as:

a) message storage period b) read message c) cancel message d) message duration application In the second case, it is enough to connect from any public or private phone 15 to contact Central Unit 1 operator 17 to verbally receive any stored message, subject to previous code identification.

1 In such a way, appointment and message delivering/reception sites can be located at particular places, such as airport halls, boat terminals rail or coach stations, and specific well known places in big cities, thus serving many kinds of eventualities.

The putting into effect of such a service by subscription, association or previous payment allows speeding of communications between individuals or groups, preventing the risk of distorting messages and the problems arising from inability to be in time for a meeting, and to let the other person know of delay or absence.- The present description is considered to be sufficient to allow an expert in the art to understand and carry out the invention, and to appreciate the advantages arising from it,

Claims (5)

1. The materials, size shape and components may be subject to change provided

   such does not go beyond the scope of the appended Claims.

   The terms used in this specification should always be interpreted in a broad and non-limiting sense.

   -GI.

   Claims 1. Apparatus for registration, recording storage and selective communication of messages to absent addressees, characterised in that it it uses a microprocessor which incorporates a memory with a program initiated by typing an addresse's name and/or password, as well as a message and the sender's name and/or password, said program granting access to record any desired message in memory, magnetic tape or disk, and including a decremental counter associated with each record intended to trigger a program designed to cancel or delete the respective record, when a period, previously determined by the sender has elapsed, thus allowing the addressee to display the message at any time while said period lasts, simply by typing his or her name or password.
2. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 which incorporates an alpanumeric keyboard and an interface with a Central Processing Unit (CPU), designed to enter data and drive a message recording program, said CPU being in turn connected to a display screen via an input/output unit and multi plexer, and being also connected to a timing clock comprising an oscillator from which all the required frequencies to drive the program to delete the respective records can be obtained.
3. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 which includes a CPU operationally connected to a plurality of peripheral units located at separate places, each connected to the central unit by cable, optical fibre or radiofrequency, and each peripheral unit being designed to include a magnetic code reader and/or coin selector, microprocessor, keyboard with data display screen, and printer, said magnetic code reader being able to send an identification signal to the microprocessor which in turn connects the components for both sending and receiving data.
4. 4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 including a microprocessor - displaying a menu of user choices with sequential change, depending on the options the operator has chosen and entered to the microprocessor from the keyboard, said information on available services being designed to be displayed sequentially on the screen or display vAienever the terminal is not in use, or when an operating button is pressed.
5. 5. Apparatus for reistration, recording storage and selective display or communication of messages to absent addressees, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Fig 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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