Device and method for switching communications among taxis

Claim 1

A device for switching communications among commercial passenger vehicles, especially taxis, operating in an area accessible by radio, and among users who can be connected by telephone with a central telephone exchange, characterized in that the central telephone exchange (1) is connected to an automatic switching communications device (2), that in the access area of the switching communications device (2) connected to this is a user directory (3) retrievable by telephone numbers is arranged, which contains an address corresponding to a specific user telephone number, that the switching communications device (2) is connected via a data transmission circuit (4) with the radio control station (7) which is connected to the taxis (6) via transmitter and receiver (5), that a memory device (8) is provided, which is connected to the switching communications device (2) and features at least one stand-by memory (9) for the taxi (6) which has reported in that it is available, and that in each taxi (6) an indicating device for the assigned address (10) is arranged, which can be activated by the switching communications device (2) via the radio control station (7).

Claim 2

A device for switching communications among commercial passenger vehicles, especially taxis, operating in an area accessible by radio, and among users who can be connected by telephone with a central telephone exchange, characterized in that the central telephone exchange (1) is connected to an automatic switching communications device (2), that in the access area of the switching communications device (2) connected to this is a user directory (3) retrievable by telephone numbers is arranged, which contains an address corresponding to a specific user telephone number, that the switching communications device (2) is connected via a data transmission circuit (4) with the radio control station (7) which is connected to the taxis (6) via transmitter and receiver (5), that a memory device (8) is provided, which is connected to the switching communications device (2) and features at least one stand-by memory (9) for the taxi (6) which has reported in that it is available, and that in each taxi (6) an indicating device for the assigned address (10) is arranged, which can be activated by the switching communications device (2) via the radio control station (7).

Claim 5

A device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the access area of the switching communications device (2) connected to it is a taxi directory (11) with characteristics of all the taxis available to the switching exchange.

Claim 6

A device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an accounting directory (12) connected to the switching communications device (2) is provided, which contains data about the arranged rides for each taxi (6).

Claim 7

A device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the switching communications device (2) is connected to an input-output terminal (21), through which also the contents of the user directory (11) and the accounting directory (12) can be controlled.

Claim 8

A device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the central telephone exchange (1) features a number recognition unit (14) connected to the automatic switching communications device (2), the output of which is connected to a manual switching position (20).

Claim 9

A device according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that between the central telephone exchange (1) and the automatic switching communications device (2) a code recognition unit (26) is connected, which respond to abbreviated call numbers not associated with any specific address.

Claim 10

A device according to one of the claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the indicating device in each of the taxis available to the switching exchange, also contains a sector-selection device with a reverse connection via radio to the switching communications device.

Claim 12

A method for switching communications among commercial passenger vehicles, especially taxis, operating in an area accessible by radio, and among users who can be connected by telephone with a central telephone exchange, characterized by the following steps: (a) the user is requested by a tape recording device which is activated when the telephone connection is established, to dial either a code on his telephone set or the telephone number corresponding to the address to be driven to, (b) the number that is then dialed is fed to a recognition unit which--alternatively--effects the following: (b 1 ) if the code number was dialed, the user is connected by telephone with a manual switching position, from where further service is provided; (b 2 ) if a telephone number is dialed, then it is transferred, if necessary after an electronic editing, to an automatic switching communications device; in case (b 2 ), next (c) via the switching communications device, a user directory is called up which is invoked by telephone numbers, and determines the address corresponding to the telephone number dialed together with other possible user data, (d) in a memory device, a stand-by memory is invoked, which contains all of the available taxis in their log-on sequence; (e) that the taxi in first place in the invoked stand-by memory is provided with user data by the switching communications device via radio; and--provided that the transmitted ride assignments are confirmed by radio (f) via the switching communications device, a tape recording device is started which retransmits a corresponding message by telephone; and (g) via the switching communications device, the assigned rides are added to an accounting directory.

Claim 13

A method for switching communications among commercial passenger vehicles, especially taxis, operating in an area accessible by radio, and among users who can be connected by telephone with a central telephone exchange, characterized by the following steps: (a) the user is requested by a tape recording device which is activated when the telephone connection is established, to dial either a code on his telephone set or the telephone number corresponding to the address to be driven to, (b) the number that is then dialed is fed to a recognition unit which--alternatively--effects the following: (b 1 ) if the code number was dialed, the user is connected by telephone with a manual switching position, from where further service is provided; (b 2 ) if a telephone number is dialed, then it is transferred, if necessary after an electronic editing, to an automatic switching communications device; in case (b 2 ), next (c) via the switching communications device, a user directory is called up which is invoked by telephone numbers, and determines the address corresponding to the telephone number dialed together with other possible user data, (d) in a memory device, a stand-by memory is invoked, which contains all of the available taxis in their log-on sequence; (e) that the taxi in first place in the invoked stand-by memory is provided with user data by the switching communications device via radio; and--provided that the transmitted ride assignments are confirmed by radio (f) via the switching communications device, a tape recording device is started which retransmits a corresponding message by telephone; and (g) via the switching communications device, the assigned rides are added to an accounting directory.