Telephone technician's terminals with auto-selection of dial pulse on DTMF signalling

摘要

An improved craft technician's field terminal of the portable, hand-held type for use in communicating in diverse modes with a central technician access network. The terminal is connected to the telephone line in conventional manner in communication with the telephone access network; however, the terminal includes a SMART DIAL program that determines the type of service of the seized subscriber line thereby to facilitate out-dialing from the terminal. Job data can then be transmitted from the central network and downloaded to the terminal for instantaneous display. Re-transmission can be requested if needed. The terminal is capable of uploading data from the terminal display in either DTMF and/or ASCII to the central network. The craft technician's terminal contains a much greater storage capacity than any similar devices heretofore and it is capable of holding job order and response data for what amounts to greater than a full days technician work. In addition, data displayed at the terminal may readily be transmitted for printer access while still being retained in the terminal storage.