WO1981002481A1

WO1981002481A1 - Electronic repertory

Info

Publication number: WO1981002481A1
Application number: PCT/FR1981/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: V Cleja
Original assignee: V Cleja
Priority date: 1980-02-19
Filing date: 1981-02-17
Publication date: 1981-09-03
Also published as: FR2476347A1; EP0046770A1

Abstract

Method and industrial product for the input and the read out by electronic means of subject-matters and information related thereto, as well as the saving thereof during absence of power supply. The subject-matters and associated information are stored in read only memories (4) connected by the input/output interface (5) to the data bus of a programmable processing unit (1) having its own working memories (2) (read only memory) and (3) (main memory). The input is effected either from a keyboard (8) connected to the processing unit through the interface (9), or from an outer line connected through the communication interface (10). The information retrieval is initiated by indicating at the keyboard at least the initial letter of the subject-matter. Messages are displayed on an electro-optical alpha numerical device (6) connected through the interface (7), to which an answer must be given by the user by using the keyboard. Typical application to the automation of telephone number dialing.

Description

ELECTRONIC DIRECTORY.

The object of the present invention is, as a new industrial process and product, an electronic directory intended to automatically store and restore information concerning subjects (names) in said directory, by an easy-to-use mode which does not involve no knowledge of electronics or IT on the part of the user. A typical but not exhaustive application of such a directory is, for example, the list of usual telephone correspondents of a subscriber, with their telephone number and possibly their address, with a view to automatically dialing the desired number. The most efficient electronic means to store and restore such information are computer file management systems. Besides their indisputable advantages, they have drawbacks which limit their applicability as a directory, among which we can cite the cost, the bulk, the maintenance problems and the certain professional competence necessary for their operation.

Another category of means is constituted by the directories which can be found on the market in sets known under the name of "automatic telephone dialers". The sub-assembly which performs the automatic composition finds the number to be dialed in an electronic register which is loaded by a sub-assembly which performs the "directory" function. In certain embodiments, the directory consists of a number of a few tens of registers, each identifiable by a button and a label, located on the front panel of the device. The label bears the name of the correspondent, the register contains in codified form the respective telephone number and the button is used to select the correspondent. In other variants of these embodiments, the registers are constituted by a random access memory. The main drawbacks of this type of directory are: the reduced capacity, the need to manually mark names, the volatility of the information when the memory supply is interrupted. In another type of embodiment, the information is stored on a magnetic tape which can be manually unwound in one direction or the other and which is marked with a label where the information sought is recorded. The user unrolls the tape to the desired label and controls by a button the reading or writing which is done by a magnetic head which moves on the recorded place. This system is free from two of the main drawbacks of the previous one, namely: the limitation to a reduced threshold of the number of correspondents and the volatility of the memory. On the other hand, it maintains the disadvantage of the non-automatic search for the label. Another system is based on the use of a larger random access digital memory; each correspondent has a 2 to 3 digit number associated with the directory. By dialing this number you select the desired correspondent. The advantage consists in saving time by dialing 2 to 3 digits instead of 6 to 15 of the real number. The major drawbacks consist in the need for an intermediate directory as well as in the problems linked to the volatility of memory. On the other hand, in the current state of technology there are means for memorizing information in a compact and non-volatile manner, in this case read-only memories with mask, read-only memories electrically programmable and erasable / reprogrammable memory memories (REPROM). These types Me memories are used mainly to keep either the operating programs of the processing units, or unchanging data recorded separately outside the processing process of the current application ("read-only memory programming"). Their use in read / write during the processing process is impossible for masked read-only memories or electrically programmable read-only memories and extremely difficult for REPROMs because of very long times, complex procedures and supply voltages involved when they were written. However, as the normal functioning of a directory implies the registration of new subjects or the modification of the information concerning the subjects already registered, the read-only memories have not been used for this purpose until now.

The present invention relates to an electronic directory which by using as erasable / reprogrammable read-only memories (REPROM) as memory-directory, is not affected by the drawbacks described above. The invention, as characterized in the claims, makes it possible to produce a directory capable of storing information relating to a large number of subjects registered without the information stored therein being able to be altered by the absence of the electric supply current. and to search for them automatically, within very short time periods relative to the specific times of human reactions, from the indication of one or more letters of the beginning, or of all the letters, of the subject sought. In accordance with the invention, a set formed by one or more REPROMs is seated (called "memory-directory") with a set formed by: an alpha-numeric-function keyboard, a display alpha-digital electron-optics, an acoustic signaling device which, while useful, is not necessary for the operation of the assembly, and a programmable processing unit such as, for example, a microprocessor with its memories, this association being produced in such a way that it constitutes an electronic directory which is distinguished in its constitutive and functional unit from the previous directories by unpublished essential characters. According to the invention, the memory-directory is. connected to the processing unit not as a conventional memory, that is to say by the address, data and control buses of the processing unit, but as a peripheral unit whose signals Access (including addressing and control signals) are all considered by the processing unit to be data. This allows the processing unit to access all the locations of the directory memory via a reduced number of input / output interfaces characterized by a reduced number of addresses, always the same, and at the same time makes it possible to satisfy all the time and electrical constraints of the REPROM while satisfying the normal working conditions of the processing unit.

According to the invention, the writing in the REPROM is carried out by sending information by the processing unit by its data bus to the input / output interfaces at time intervals conforming to the normal operating conditions. of the REPROM, part of this information being the data to be entered, another part being the address of the rental in the REPROM and another part being the information concerning the signals necessary to put the REPROM in "programming" operating mode , the input / output interfaces being connected by their connections on the peripheral side to the data, address and control inputs of the REPROM. This process also allows the cancellation of a byte in the REPROM by writing to the address of this byte a meaningless combination within the framework of the code used, for example the hexadecimal value OO (considering that the REPROM vierre contains the value FF everywhere) which will be ignored when analyzing the stored information. As a consequence, the modification of the information concerning any subject in the directory can be done by canceling the subject and the old information and rewriting the subject and the new information (modified) from the first blank address. The data to be entered in the directory memory is first introduced into the working memory (random access memory) of the processing unit from the alpha-numeric keyboard or from a line of communication with the outside.

According to the invention, the REPROM is read by sending information by the processing unit via its data bus to the input / output interfaces at time intervals that comply with the normal operating conditions of the REPROM, part of this information being the address of the rental which must be read and another part being the information concerning the signals necessary to put the REPROM in "reading" operating mode, the signals appearing on the data bus of the REPROM being read via the input / output interface connected between this bus and the processing unit.

According to the invention, keys are provided in the alpha-numeric keyboard for entering data concerning the subjects and the information associated with them, as well as in the function keyboard to allow the user to respond to the messages of the processing unit or to control the execution of main functions of the processing unit, such as "REGISTER", "CANCEL", "CALL", etc. or auxiliaries such as, for example "LIST" (constitution of a list of correspondents to call), "INVOICING" (display of the cost of communication), etc.

Still according to the invention, the ambiguities which may appear during the recording or the search are translated by the processing unit into questions which are communicated to the user via the display device (and possibly by the acoustic device) to which the user must respond by pressing a key corresponding to the appropriate response, for example one of the "YES" or "NO" keys, the lack of response during a suitably long interval of time being also interpreted as a response by the processing unit.

In accordance with the invention, during all the operating phases (registration, cancellation, search, additional functions) the operations are carried out under the control of the processing unit which in turn is controlled by suitable programs, recorded in the memory working memory of the processing unit, which can be written by a person skilled in the art with known means and which is not the subject of the present invention.

The method described and the device for its implementation can be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 represents an example of connection, according to the method described, of a REPROM (for example of the type 2716 of Intel or 2516 of Texas Instr.) To a processing unit (for example the microprocessor 6800 of Motorola) by the 'Intermediate input / output interfaces (for example of the PIA 6821 type from Motorola). In this figure, 1 represents the address bus of the processing unit connected either directly, or by a total or partial decoding of the address, to the inputs A address of the input / output interfaces 41 and 42; 2 represents the data bus of the processing unit connected to the data inputs / outputs D on the processing unit side of the interfaces 41 and 42; 3 represents the control bus of the processing unit connected to the control inputs / outputs C of interfaces 41 and 42. The peripheral buses PA∅ ... PA7 and PB∅ ... PB7 of interfaces 41 and 42 are used for connections on the peripheral side and are connected to the data inputs / outputs Q∅ ... Q7, to the address inputs A∅ ... A1∅ and to the control inputs, PD / PGM and Vpp of the REPROM; 41 and 42 represent input / output interfaces (for example of the PIA 6821 type from Motorola); 5 represents an adaptation interface between the logic level of the output PA3 of the interface 42 and the levels of the voltages to be controlled at the input Vpp of the REPROM; 61 represents the memory directory (REPROM); 7 represents a decoder which does the partial or complete decoding of the address in the case where the decoding provided for in the interfaces 41 and 42 is not sufficient.

FIG. 2 represents an exemplary embodiment of element 5 of FIG. 1. A binary signal which varies between two well-defined limits (for example from less than +0.8 v. To more than +2.4 v.) applied to the input C of the amplifier 58, puts the transistors 51 and 52, via the resistors 55 and 57 in two different states of conductivity so that the voltage at the output S varies between the limits prescribed for Ypp in reading or writing (for the case of 2716 for example, Vpp = + 5 v. In reading and Vpp = + 25 v. In writing).

FIG. 3 represents an extension of FIG. 1 for the case of two REPROM memory boxes. The selection of the box is made by the processing unit which activates the signals and PD / PGM of the selected box, the other signals being common for the two boxes. This scheme can be extended for a more number large number of REPROM boxes using the other outputs of interface 42 (PA4 ... PA7, PB4 ... PB7) or by adding new interfaces and ensuring the necessary amplification for common signals. FIG. 4 represents another example of implementation of the method of coupling the REPROM memory, for 8 boxes of the type of that of FIG. 1. A decoder 8 is inserted between the three additional bits used for the addressing of the REPROM (P31 ... P33) and the REPROMs, which makes it possible to select the unit addressed via door 81 and one of doors 90 ... 97 (in the case of reading) or via door 82 and one of doors 100 ... 107 (in the case of writing). FIGS. 5 and 6 represent an example of an assembly formed by the alpha-numeric-functions keyboard, the alpha-digital electron-optical display device and the programmable processing unit, with which one associates in accordance with the invention, 's set of REPROMs. In these figures, 10 represents the processing unit which, in our example, is a 6800 microprocessor from Motorola; 7 shows a three-bit decoder, such as for example 74138 from Texas Ins., Which has the role of selecting the addressed box according to the combination of the address bits A13, A12, A11; 11 is a clock generator, such as for example 6875 from Motorola, which provides the phases ∅1 and ∅2 for the operation of the microprocessor and the pnase ∅2A (amplified ∅2) for the input / output interfaces; 41 and 42 are the input / output interfaces whose role has been described in FIG. 3; 12 and 13 are read only memories, such as for example 2316 from Intel, which contain, in our example, 4 kilobytes for the programs and the invariable values used by the microprocessor in its operation; 21 represents an initialization circuit such as for example, a key on the keyboard or a circuit activated by the setting under pressure; 14 and 15 are random access memories (in our case 2114 from Intel, 1 kilobytes) used by the microprocessor to keep variable data; 17 represents the input / output interface used for the connection of the keyboard 18 and of the display device 19 to the processing unit and which in our example is of the same type as 41 and 42; 18 represents an alpha-numeric-function keyboard which presents on its data bus D∅ ... D6 the code corresponding to the activated key as well as a sampling signal on one of the outputs STB1 or STB2; 19 represents an alpha-digital display device such as for example the SELFSCAN SSD0132 from Burroughs which keeps in its internal memory 32 characters presented to the 6 inputs D1 ... D32 in coded form and displays them at the time of reception of the signal DATA PR or erases them simultaneously (CLR signal) or successively (BKSP signal); 20 represents an input / output interface, in our example of the same type as 41 and 42, usable for communications with the outside.

FIG. 7 represents an example of the screen of the control panel of the electronic directory. In this figure 191 represents the screen of the alpha-digital electro-optical display device which is represented by 19 in FIG. 6; 181 represents two rows of function keys (the dotted keys being reserved for optional functions), 182 represents three to four rows of alphabetic keys (the dotted keys being reserved for any additional characters) and 183 represents three rows of numeric keys of the keyboard which is represented by 18 in FIG. 6; 210 represents a possible acoustic signaling device. An exemplary embodiment of the invention consists of the combination of FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 in the order presented in FIG. 8, with a panel such as that in FIG. 7. When the user wants to search for a name and the information associated with it in the directory, he successively presses the keys of the alphabetical keyboard 182 (FIG. 7) corresponding to one or more several letters at the beginning of the subject sought (or possibly all letters). The processing unit acquires the corresponding codes via 18 and 17 (fig. 6) and on the one hand keeps them in its RAM 14 and 15 (fig. 6) and on the other hand displays them by via 17 and 19 (fig. 6) on the screen 191 (fig.7) of the display device at the same time as an acoustic or optical interrogation signal, such as for example "END?". If the user presses "YES" or if he does not respond for a determined period of time, the processing unit successively reads all the names entered in the directory memory from the first address and compares the letters beginning of each name read with the letters requested by the user (kept in the RAM); if there is no total coincidence between the letters compared, the processing unit passes to the following name; if, on the other hand, there is total coincidence, the processing unit displays the full name followed by a question mark. The response "NO" via the key provided on the function keyboard 181 (fig. 7) or the lack of response for a predetermined interval of time identical to the processing unit which must be continued, while the answer "YES" indicates a positive outcome to the search and causes it to display the information associated with the name found. An additional action on the part of the user (for example pressing the "CALL" key on the keyboard-functions) can indicate to the processing unit what use to give to the information found (for example activation of the automatic dialer ). Yes, after reading all the names in the directory, there is no positive result of the search, the processing unit displays a message such as, for example, "DOES NOT EXIST IN THE DIRECTORY". When the user wants to register in the directory a new subject and the information associated with it, he first introduces them into the RAM either by successively pressing the keys of the keyboard which correspond to the characters to be registered, or by pressing a function key provided for entering the data acquired via a communication interface such as 20, (fig.6). The difference between the characters concerning the subject and those concerning the associated information can be signaled to the processing unit either by the activation of a key reserved for this purpose, or by the use of different groups of keys (for example the alphabetic keyboard for the characters of the subject and the numeric keyboard for the associated information). After entering the RAM, the user initiates the registration command by pressing a key provided for this purpose on the keyboard-functions, for example the "REGISTRATION" key (fig.7). The processing unit displays the characters as they are introduced into the RAM and verifies, by reading the directory and analyzing the information read, that the name is not already registered in the directory, verifies that the new information does not present any ambiguities compared to the information already registered, verifies that there is in the memory-directory a sufficient number of blank locations for writing the new data. If the results of these verifications are positive, the processing unit sends to the input / output interfaces 41 and 42 the signals necessary to write, byte by byte, the new data. Otherwise, the processing unit does display an appropriate message such as, for example, "DUPONT 360.58.57 FIGURE ALREADY" or "SOC.GEN. = SOCIETE GENERALE?" or "MORE SPACE IN THE DIRECTORY", etc.

When the user wants to perform an operation provided among the functions controlled by the functions keyboard, he presses the key provided for this function. The signal thus created arrives at the processing unit by the same path (18, 17-fig. 6, 10-fig. 5) which, after the end of the current task, begins the execution of the relevant part of the programs entered in ROM 12 and 13 (fig. 5).

Claims

1. Electronic directory constituted by the association of erasable-reprogrammable read-only memories (EPROM or REPROM) to a microprocessor system comprising the processing unit, its read-only and read-write memories, keyboards alpha-numeric and functions, optical display and acoustic signaling devices, characterized in that the information to be kept in the directory is recorded during the operation of said microprocessor system in said read-only memories (EPROM or REPROM) which are connected on the buses of the processing unit by input / output interfaces in such a way that all the information kept in the directory occupies in the address fields of the processing unit only the few addresses of the said input / output interfaces, the individual addresses of directory information being treated as data sent to addresses of said input / output interfaces.

2. Electronic directory according to claim 1, characterized in that the information to be entered or read at individual addresses in the directory is sent or read to the addresses of said input / output interfaces.

3. Electronic directory according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the logic values and the durations of the control signals for writing or reading said read-only memories (EPROM or REPROM) are generated by the microprocessor and sent to the addresses said input / output interfaces.

4. Electronic directory according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the microprocessor guides the user in the procedures he must follow in all situations - including ambiguous, ambiguous or abnormal situations - by indications and questions communicated to it via display and signaling devices, so that the use of the directory is accessible to people with no special training.