Centronics Data Computer Corporation

Boston Technology, Inc.

Eric A Houston

Scott A Jones

Donald F Picard

James A Hamilton

Stephen R Kowal

A pay telephone message system is disclosed that includes a voice message system storing and forwarding to a destination telephone a voice message left by a user. Call information including the destination telephone number is routed out-of-band, that is, in a data or service request channel separate from the voice channel, over a packet concentrator network separate from the voice telephone network. During operation a message telephone call is placed to the voice message system over the existing telephone network. The call information is routed over the concentrator network as a voice message service request. The voice message system returns a token, a call identifier or service request number, corresponding to the service request to the pay telephone interface making the request and handling the pay telephone call. The interface sends the token in-band over the telephone network to the voice message system prior to allowing the pay telephone user to store a message. The token allows the voice message system to correlate the incoming voice message with the call information.

Telephone message storage system with out-of-band signalling

A ribbon feed mechanism for a bi-directional printer that produces a constant relative ribbon to print-head velocity. The invention produces the constant relative velocity by coupling the ribbon to the print-head through a reciprocating shuttle, which moves in an opposite direction to and at one-half the speed of the print-head. As the shuttle reciprocates it engages the ribbon such that a constant length is maintained between the ribbon supply and the print-head and between the print-head and the ribbon take-up. The ribbon is taken up at a constant speed. By this method, the relative ribbon to print-head speed is fixed at the ribbon take-up speed.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Eric A Houston