Traffic Service Position System No. 1: Automated Coin Toll Service: Overall Description and Operational Characteristics

To reduce the operating expenses associated with handling coin toll calls at a Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) NO. I,1 Automated Coin Toll Service (ACTS) has been developed, ACTS permits automated processing of (i) the initial contact on most station calls paid for at coin stations (station-paid coin calls), («') notification at the end of the initial period on all coin-paid calls, (iii) overtime charge-due seizure on most coin calls, (iv) the customer-requested notification on a call that is not coin-paid, and (v) the quotation on time and charge calls. This is accomplished by giving machine-constructed announcements 1207 to the customer and by providing machine recognition of coin deposit signals. Thus, ACTS reduces the operator work time on coin toll, noncoin notification, and time and charge calls, and thereby achieves significant savings for the Bell System. The technology and concepts of Automated Coin Toll Service evolved over several years. First, the technical feasibility of ACTS was demonstrated in 1973 by building an exploratory model. System engineering studies were conducted in conjunction with American Telephone and Telegraph Company ( A T & T ) and the operating telephone companies that showed the reduction of operating expenses would offset introductory costs. Three parallel and interrelated development activities emerged. First, a new subsystem was added to TSPS. This subsystem, the Station Signaling and Announcement Subsystem (SSAS), uses a microprocessor called the Programmable Controller (PROCON) and semiconductor memory.