ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY
School of Electrical Engineering and Computing
Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering
ECEG 4342: Semester Project

“Telephone Conversation Recorder Design,

Modeling and Simulation”
S.No Name of students Register ID Stream/group
1) Henock Nebiyou ………………………..R/1030/05……………………………….Communication/02
2) Kassim Hussein …………….……………R/1112/05……………………………….Communication/02
3) Ketema Denbu…………………………… R/1126/05……………………….........Communication/02
4) Natnael Mengistu……………………….R/1522/05……………………………….Communication/02
5) Tesfahun Teshome………………………R/1907/05..……….......................Communication/02
6) Yonas Asahel ………………………………R/2146/05 ................................Communication/02

ADVISOR: Mr. Anteneh Assefa

June – 2016
Adama, Ethiopia
Acknowledgement

We would like to show our earnest gratitude to Almighty God for giving us the knowledge and
ability to study. We are all grateful to our advisor Mr.Anteneh Asefa, who allowed us to work on
Telephone Conversation Recorder and also encouraged us to take this difficult task. His
constructive support and guidelines to the completion of this project work.
We are thankful to Mr. Yonas Bekele, Lab Assistant of Communication Engineering Lab, who
tried to facilitate us in all respects concerned to the lab. We are also thankful to Dr. Vinyl, for his
willingness and supporting idea in proteus 8 professional software.
Lastly, we express our heartiest gratitude for all the teachers of our department, who shown their
sincerity and worked hard, so that we could get maximum knowledge in engineering.

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Abstract

Telephone is a device that is used to transmit and receive sound, most commonly speech, between
two people that becomes very integral part of our daily life. The major problem that causes the
importance of TCR (Telephone Conversation Recorder) emanates the prevailing poor call
customer management service of the country. In addition to this, the century old land line
telephone subscriber has decreased significantly following the emerging of mobile and smart
phone technology. The decline of customers’ number mainly associated with the inherited
problem of lack of mobility in the land line telephone and missed smart features made deem
necessary to record conversation at a time off line or when user busy to manage calls. The land
line Telephone Conversation Recorder is a smart electronic device which can be used for
recording incoming as well as outgoing calls for desired time. The objective of the project is to
upgrade the land line telephone service through creating a special telephone conversation recorder
device that is compatible with land landline telephone. The project will benefit the subscriber
with smart feature of recording incoming and outgoing calls and service provider to sustain its
customers from declining from land line telephone services. The project will involve a
conventional approach of desk review, simulating, designing and assembling to produce a proto
type at university workshop level. This project has two parts, first it enables automatic switching-
on of the tape recorder when the handset is lifted and the tape recorder gets switched-off when the
handset is replaced. Second the signals are suitably attenuated to a level at which they can be
recorded using the 'MIC IN' socket of the tape recorder. The project yields a circuit design that
can develop call recording device compatible with land line phone. The circuit design has been
tested successfully with a help of simulation by Proteus 8 Professional software.

KEY WORDS: Telephone Conversation Recorder, Telephone, Smart Phone technology, Proteus
8 Professional

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Contents

Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................................. i
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ ii
Contents ........................................................................................................................................... iii
Table of Figures............................................................................................................................... iv
Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................... v
CHAPTER ONE............................................................................................................................... 1
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1. Background ....................................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Statement of Problems....................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Objective of the Project ..................................................................................................... 2
1.4. Rationale ............................................................................................................................ 3
1.5. Scope ................................................................................................................................. 3
1.6. Benefit ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.7. Out Line ............................................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................................. 6
2. Literature Review ..................................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................................... 8
3. Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 8
CHAPTER FOUR .......................................................................................................................... 10
4. Block Diagram ....................................................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................................ 13
5. System Design and Implementation ....................................................................................... 13
5.1 System Design .................................................................................................................. 13
5.2. Design Implementation ................................................................................................... 17
5.3. Simulation ....................................................................................................................... 23
CHAPTER SIX .............................................................................................................................. 25
6. Result and Discussion ............................................................................................................ 25
CHAPTER SEVEN ........................................................................................................................ 30
7. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 30
Reference ........................................................................................................................................ 31

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Table of Figures

Figure 1 The flow chart of Methodology ........................................................................................ 9

Figure 2 Simple Diagram of TCR ................................................................................................. 10
Figure 3 Block Diagram of TCR .................................................................................................... 11
Figure 4 Voltage divider................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 5 Filter Capacitor ............................................................................................................... 14
Figure 6 Rectifier diode .................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 7 Transistors ........................................................................................................................ 15
Figure 8 Zener voltage regulator .................................................................................................... 15
Figure 9 Relay switch ..................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 10 Overall System design of TCR ...................................................................................... 16
Figure 11 Voltage divider Resistor supplied by the Department workshop .................................. 18
Figure 12 Filter capacitor ............................................................................................................... 19
Figure 13 Rectifier diode ................................................................................................................ 20
Figure 14 Zener voltage regulator .................................................................................................. 21
Figure 15 Transistor switch ............................................................................................................ 21
Figure 16 Relay switch ................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 17 Implemented circuit ....................................................................................................... 23
Figure 18 Simulation for TCR design ............................................................................................ 24
Figure 19 On-hook condition ........................................................................................................ 26
Figure 20 Waveform of ON-hook condition .................................................................................. 27
Figure 21 Off-hook condition........................................................................................................ 28
Figure 22 Waveform of OFF-Hook Condition............................................................................... 29

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Acronyms

CRS Call recording service

ETC Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation
EEPCO Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation
GB Giga bytes
ID Identification
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network
IP Internet Protocol
M Meter
MB Mega bytes
MIC-IN Microphone in
T1 Digital voice channel(1.544MB/Sec USA)
TCR Telephone Conversation Recorder
TDM Time Division Multiplexing
Telecom Telecommunication
Sec Second
SIP Session Initiation Protocol
SQL Structured query Language
PBX Private Branch Exchange
PC Personal Computer
PRI Primary Rate Interface
RJ-11 Registered Jack
Ω Ohm

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CHAPTER ONE

1. Introduction
1.1. Background

Telephone is one of the most widely used communication device in the world. They are preferred
to be efficient and convenient. The telephone is a device that is used to transmit and receive
sound, most commonly speech, between two people. It has become one of the most common
household items today. [1]

Most of the telephones operate by transmitting electric signals over some kind of network. The
telephone network allows the phone user to communicate with the other party.

Today telephone has become an integral part of our lives. It is the most widely used
communication device in the world. Despite the emerging of cell phones technologies, the
conventional land line telephone demand is still significant at offices and house hold level. [3]

By the increased use of telephones, there is arises of need for call recording hard wares. In fact,
the tapping of telephone conversation should have a legal back ground as it will have a breaking
of the privacy of the user’s. Most of the time, the legal issues needs the consent of telephone user
before tapping any purpose. [1]

TCR has many applications in call centers, stock broking firms, police control rooms,
Households, offices etc. The inherited problem of a telephone is not being a mobile telecom
service , Particularly, made landline telephone recording device more important when the user are
busy or away from their telephone. [4]

TCR is most often used by law enforcement, lawyers, and journalist and call centers to record
phone transaction with customers. Hence, it will help to set us a transparent communication for
typically customer management whether customer request is handled and processed on time.

The TCR is an electronic device which can be used for recording incoming as well as outgoing
calls for desired time. It uses a simple and cheap circuit having certain components like resistors,

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diodes, Capacitor, Transistor, Relay, RJ-11 connector, stereo Jack, etc.

In Ethiopia, following the first telephone conversation which had a big resistant from the local
user, it becomes integrated to the people even at peripheries of the country. However, TCR
service is not well practice with the majority user as of its age.

The TCR services in Ethiopia is almost not practice at all and for this reason organization with a
number of call customers services received and not a well manage a request on time. For instance,
the popular EEPCO, Fire extinguisher brigade, police office have a number of complain which
cannot be confirmed unless the conversation is recorded both at timely and spatially.

1.2. Statement of Problems

The major problem that causes the importance of TCR emanates the prevailing poor call customer
management service of the country. In addition to this, The inherited problem of land line
telephone not being mobile made deem necessary to record conversation at a time off line or
when user busy to manage calls.

1.3. Objective of the Project

The major objective of the project is to upgrade the call customer service of user of landline
telephone services through creating a telephone conversation recorder device. It aims to engage an
integrated circuit tap on telephone handset. In association with the major objective the paper will
expect to full fill the following specific objective:

i. To Design a special device which is convenient and communicable with hand set of
landline telephone
ii. To build a model that can simulate the conversation recording service.
iii. To simulate the model for conversation record scenario
iv. To manage voice data appropriately without breaching the privacy of user for sake of
good

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1.4. Rationale

TCR is a widely used telecom service that practiced on many developed country’s government
office, banks, police department, house hold service and call center. The service has improved the
country’s transparency on managing customer request and voice data.

In case of our country, the practice of TCR is at early stage. The common user is foreign embassy
telephone and a prominent ETC customer service (994). This practice is very limited and need to
be expanded.

We believe it is telecom professional duty to create and promote TCR on major organization of
the country. The prevailing problem of customer service management in major sector of EEPCO ,
Emergency call and associated adverted call customer services fail to fulfill their objective of
complain management as the phones either not answered or answered but ignored complain report
as there is no voice data recorded to trace the employee responses.

Hence, the TCR technology will help the society with convenient voice recording service to
promote the good governance. This semester project proposal will try to create TCR at small scale
model and simulate it at our workshop will see further expansion on this complicate organization
that should be address well with TCR service.

TCR service worth to deal at house hold level as the land lines are not mobile will record voice at
the absence of the telephone user. The current exponential growth of technology with respect to
storage device will be an essential input and enhancement of the service with a cost effective
manner.

1.5. Scope

The scope of the project is for a fulfillment of our objective to create and promote TCR at our
workshop level.

To Design a device of TCR that enables automatic switching-on of the tape recorder when
the handset is lifted. The tape recorder gets switched off when the handset is replaced.

To build a model TCR that is compatible with land lines telephone at workshop level.

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 To simulate / test the model product which is compatible with only local land line
telephone.

The addition plug we connect with the telephone without disturbance on the exiting
working data communication

The designed TCR will be built just for the sake of testing the application of voice
recording service at University workshop level

The project will select type of recorder based on its preliminary review and assessment

1.6. Benefit

The creation and promotion of TCR will have a direct benefit by opening a window with our
capacity to enhance customer service of the country. Call recording today brings benefits to most
companies and organizations. The range of uses to which call recording is now being applied has
expanded greatly.

Users can now opt for solutions that record 100% of calls – essential in businesses that need to
record calls for legal or compliance reasons.

The functionality of call recording solutions today goes beyond the simple recording of calls. You
can now automatically analyses what is going on in those calls: from assessing the effectiveness
of call handling scripts, to identifying customer service trends or spotting product mentions in
calls.

The ability to record calls if often regarded as the preserve of large companies with big budgets
but for some time this myth has been well and truly dispelled by the number of excellent, cost
effective, yet fully functional call recording systems now available for the SME. In addition the
TCR will have an advantage of:

Staff performance monitoring

Campaign and promotion evaluation

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 Training support

Improve customer service

Regulation and code of practice compliance

In contrast to this tremendous advantage TCR is vulnerable to breach the privacy of the user;
hence it must either use the consent of user parties or have a court order to do so. The TCR devise
should be promoted with the consumer country’s legal frame work.

1.7. Out Line

The paper is produced with seven chapters with a theme to describe how TCR device is designed
and implemented. The first chapter introduces the background and justification of theme of the
project. It comprises the objective, rationale, statement of problem and benefit.

Chapter two deals with the principle of TCR technology and historical background of TCR is
described

Chapter three deals with the convention approach and methodology to finish the project

Chapter four deals with block diagram that shows important work flow and devices that helps
design and implementation of TCR development. In this chapter, each stage of work flow and
components required are precisely described..

Chapter five is the core part of the paper that explains how the circuit is designed, simulates and
implemented. In this chapter, the circuit design clearly stated and diagrammatically presented.
The circuit components are explained with a pattern of work flow. This chapter has covered how
the designed circuit functionality tested for a scenario of call recording. The effort of developing a
prototype has been discussed on same chapter.

In Chapter six, the result of the project is listed and discussed on the drawback and success of the
result of the project. And finally, in chapter seven, the team tried to reflect the conclusion and
recommendation reached with project.

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CHAPTER TWO

2. Literature Review
Telephone is a telecommunication device that permits two or more users to conduct a
conversation when they are too far apart to be heard directly. A telephone converts sound
typically and most efficiently the human voice into electronic signals suitable for transmission via
cables or other transmission media over long distances, and replays such signals simultaneously
in audible form to its user. It is a two way communication. [1]

Call recording offers an automatic way of recording inbounded and outbound calls of this two
way communication. Once a call is recorded, it is stored in the device and is available for play
back at any time. Listen to the recordings as many time as you would like in order to review the
conversation or take a notes. The call recording technology serves as a device for customer
service evaluation, training purposes and keeping accurate compliance records. [1]

The TCR is an electronic device which can be used for call recording service of incoming as well
as outgoing calls for desired time. It uses a simple and cheap circuit having certain components
like resistors, diodes, Capacitor, Transistor, Relay, RJ-11 connector, stereo Jack and tape
recorder. [1]

Telephone conversation recording is a hardware that can be used to record telephone

conversation. It is most often used by law enforcement, lawyers, journalist and call centers to
record phone transaction with customers.

The law enforcement professionals began using hardware to record telephone calls in 1890
following the telephone innovation and introduction. However, The Consumer TCR is introduced
at 1970 along with the first consumer grade answering machines. These devices were connected
to the same physical lines as one of the telephone involved in the conversation and aided with
more sophisticated automatically activated wares. [4]

The PBX based call recording hardware is sold by PBX vendor and third party. This innovation of
hardware attached to PBX and configures to record all calls or some calls either randomly or on
demand.

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Modern call recorders start to use windows servers 2003/2008 based servers utilizing specific
dialogic /Intel/ cards that are designed for TDM T1 and ISDN –PRI trunks for trunk side
recording and analog and digital station side cards for recording stations.

Modern call recorders, in most cases, requires software that is engaged both for screen record and
to trigger voice recording. Modern call recorders use of Informix, SQL database, integration
servers and IP analyzer, sometimes, clustered on one machine. The common known as modern
recorder includes digital loggers, verint, witness, NICE, Call copy, Versa Dial, SIP print and
others.

There are two major types of TCR introduced for consumer market. Commonly:
Cassette Tape: The cassette tape recorder like answering machine is installed between the
telephone wall socket and the telephone itself. Telephone calls flow through the recorder.
If the recorder is on, the call is recorded . Recording are made to magnetic tape and can be
replayed on other compatible device.

Digital: Digital recorders have largely replace tape recorder. They work exactly the same
way, but instead of recording on to a magnetic tape , record on to digital media ,,digital
recorders are capable of recording call meta data. Such as , call time , call length and caller
ID.

The advanced features of TCR include

The ability to copy files on to removable media such as memory sticks,

Automatic upload to PC, The pc based call recording usually includes software to retrieve
and review recorded calls
Automated transcription of recorded calls
The most CRS now make it possible for consumer and businesses to record their telephone call
without any hardware employing a web portal

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CHAPTER THREE

3. Methodology

The approach and methodology will be a road map to achieve our project objective. It helps us
how to do at each stage of the project implementation. The methodology to achieve the objective
of the research will involve the following sharpen conventional methods with tuning of the basic
interest of the project.

3.1. DESK REVIEW

The desk study includes the collection, reading and analysis of literatures review about up to date
TCR design elements. The team will make intensive discussion and consulting with assigned
advisor on refining our work to the specific objective. The Existing TCR system, type,
opportunity and challenge will be reviewed/evaluated/ at desk level. The finding will be
processed and consolidated to find out essential items, designing of device.

3.2. WORK SHOP

The workshop will be ideal place to test the designed device and assembly of essential items. In
the workshop, there will be an application or practice of digital multi meter, Resistor, Patch
Board, transistors, Relay, RJ11 connector, Stereo jack, audio recorder, power supply and other not
mentioned wares. In general, the project will have six important phases that will drive us to our
ultimate conclusion. These stages include desk review, experience sharing, design, modeling,
simulation/testing/ and final documentation.

Review and evaluation of TCR: This is the first phase that describes the issues closely
related to the project work in order to acquire deep understanding and knowledge of the
TCR. In this stage, we will describe , identify major TCR components and architecture

Designing integrated Circuit: At this stage the major parts of the TCR circuits is
designed using MULTTISM or proteus software.

Modeling: On modeling stage the designed circuit will be built at board with our shop capacity
using resistor, capacitor, diode, relay, zener diode, voice recording cassette and so on.

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 Simulating: On this stage the designed TCR circuits can be analyzed by looking the
output of each section and tested back if any error is occurred on the circuit design.

Testing: on testing stage the built device will be tested whether it achieved the objective
of voice recording at small and workshop level.

Conclusion-this is a final phase will be dedicated on discussion of the result, limitation,

recommendation and conclusion.

Conclusion
Experience
Review and Design Simulating &
sharing with
evaluation of existing TCR and Recommendation
TCR system Testing

Figure 1 The flow chart of Methodology

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CHAPTER FOUR

4. Block Diagram

A block diagram is a diagram of a system in which the principal parts or functions are represented
by blocks connected by lines that show the relationship of the blocks. Block diagrams are used in
hardware design, electronic design, software design and process flow diagrams. Block diagrams
are typically used for higher level, less detailed descriptions that are intended to clarify overall
concepts without concern for the implementation.
The following block diagram is developed by the team to show our principal part and flow the
process of the TCR operations.

Telecomm Input TCR Circuit Tape Recorder

Figure 2 Simple Diagram of TCR

The above diagram describes the general view of the TCR device and the figure below describes
the deep view of the TCR.

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Telephone line Input

Voltage Divider Filter Rectifier

Relay Switch Transistor Switch Voltage Regulator

Tape Recorder

Figure 3 Block Diagram of TCR

Voltage divider is a passive linear circuit that produces an output voltage that is a fraction of its
input voltage. Voltage division is the result of distributing the input voltage among the
components of the divider. A simple example of a voltage divider is two resistors connected in
series, with the input voltage applied across the resistor pair and the output voltage emerging from
the connection between them.

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Capacitor filter is a passive two- terminal electrical component used to filtering of undesirable
frequencies and in this project used for blocking the flow of DC.

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically
reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction. The process is
known as rectification.

A voltage regulator is designed to automatically maintain a constant voltage level. A voltage

regulator may be a simple "feed-forward" design or may include negative feedback control loops.
It may use an electromechanical mechanism, or electronic components. Depending on the design,
it may be used to regulate one or more AC or DC voltages.

A transistor is a semiconductor device used to switch electronic signals and electrical power and
in this project, it is used to energize and not energize the relay switch.

A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many relays use an electromagnet to mechanically

operate a switch and used to switch on and off the tape recorder.

The overall circuit value is the input from telecomm office travel through the circuit is given to
the tape recorder in order to record the conversation.

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CHAPTER FIVE

5. System Design and Implementation

5.1 System Design

TCR engages circuits that enable automatic switching-on of the tape recorder when the handset is
lifted. The tape recorder gets switched off when the handset is replaced. The signals are suitably
attenuated to a level at which they can be recorded using the 'MICIN' socket of the tape recorder.
There will be two Points X and Y in the circuit. The two points are connected to the telephone
lines.
It uses Resistors R1 and R2 that act as a voltage divider. The voltage appearing across R2 is fed to
the 'MIC-IN' socket of the tape recorder. The values of R1 and R2 may be changed depending on
the input impedance of the tape recorders 'MIC-IN' terminals.

Figure 4 Voltage divider

This series connected resistors (18K, 2.2K) used to divide the input voltage or potential.

The telephone conversation recorder circuit has also a capacitor (C1) that is used for blocking the
flow of DC. In this case DC voltage is zero.

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 Figure 5 Filter Capacitor

The second part of the circuit controls relay RL1, which is used to switch on/off the tape recorder.
A voltage of 48 volts appears across the telephone lines in on-hook condition. This voltage drops
to about 9 volts when the handset is lifted. Diodes D1 through D4 constitute a bridge
rectifier/polarity guard.

Figure 6 Rectifier diode

The rectifier ensures that transistor T1 gets voltage of proper polarity, irrespective of the polarity
of the telephone lines. During on-hook condition, the output from the bridge (48V DC) passes
through 12V zener D5 and is applied to the base of transistor T1 via the voltage divider
comprising resistors R3 and R4.

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 Figure 7 Transistors

The switches on transistor T1 and its collector is pulled low. This, in turn, causes transistor T2 to
cut off and relay RL1 is not energized. When the telephone handset is lifted, the voltage across
points X and Y falls below 12 volts and so zener diode D5 does not conduct.

Figure 8 Zener voltage regulator

The operation of zener diode is if the incoming voltage is less than the zener voltage (12V), it will
block and reverse the bias. If the incoming voltage is greater than the operating voltage of zener
simply it will allow it for further route.

As a result, base of transistor T1 is pulled to ground potential via resistor R4 and thus is cut off.
Thus, base of transistor T2 gets forward biased via resistor R5, which results in the energization
of relay RL1. The tape recorder is switched 'on' and recording begins.

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 Figure 9 Relay switch

The tape recorder should be kept loaded with a cassette and the record button of the tape recorder
should remain pressed to enable it to record the conversation as soon as the handset is lifted.
Capacitor C2 ensures that the relay is not switched on-and-off repeatedly when a number is being
dialed in pulse dialing mode.

Figure 10 Overall System design of TCR

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5.2. Design Implementation

The implementation phase began with identifying type and quantity components of TCR that are
required to meet the final design. Then we assemble it with available items with the reference of
the circuit design. With this respect, we got a challenge to find out some items like relay, recorder
and Zener diode. Our assumption was to collect these items from the department workshop and
the workshop failed to supply us these important items.

Hence, the team obliged to assemble only with available items .The assembly we made help us to
understand how each component contribute to our design circuit

5.2.1. Essential Components

Based on the design, the following items are required to build the design and supplied accordingly
as shown on the figure:

a) Resistor (voltage dividers): Resistor voltage dividers are commonly used to create
reference voltages, or to reduce the magnitude of a voltage so it can be measured, and may
also be used as signal attenuators at low frequencies. For direct current and relatively low
frequencies, a voltage divider may be sufficiently accurate if made only of resistors; where
frequency response over a wide range is required (such as in an oscilloscope probe), a
voltage divider may have capacitive elements added to compensate load capacitance. A
voltage divider referenced to ground is created by connecting two electrical impedances in
series. The input voltage is applied across the series impedances Z1 and Z2 and the output
is the voltage across Z2. Z1 and Z2 may be composed of any combination of elements such
as resistors, inductors and capacitors. A resistor is a passive device two-terminal electrical
component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In this circuit 18k Ω,
2.2k Ω, 1M Ω, 100k Ω and 4.4 Ω resistors are used. [2]

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 Figure 11 Voltage divider Resistor supplied by the Department workshop

b) Filter Capacitor: Capacitor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that used to

store electrostatically in an electric field. Filter capacitor is an electronic component that
removes voltage or signal spikes in electronic circuits. Capacitors are used as filter devices
due to their ability to absorb and effectively store electrical charges at predetermined
values. This characteristic is used in a filter capacitor application to soak up or buffer
voltage values which exceed set parameters. Filter capacitors are typically placed across a
load or as a path to ground in circuits. Several different filter capacitor types include
electrolytic, ceramic, and tantalum. In this circuit we use electrolytic capacitor as a filter
capacitor. In this project 33pF and 100µF capacitors are used. [2]

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 Figure 12 Filter capacitor

c) Rectifier: A bridge rectifier is an arrangement of four or more diodes in a bridge circuit

configuration which provides the same output polarity for either input polarity. It is used
for converting alternating current (ac) input into a direct current (dc) output. Since our
primary source is ac power we have to convert into dc by rectifier before it goes to the
recorder. rectifiers take a number of forms, including vacuum tube diodes, mercury-arc
valves, copper and selenium oxide rectifiers, semiconductor diodes, silicon-controlled
rectifiers and other silicon-based semiconductor switches. Rectifiers have many uses, but
are often found serving as components of DC power supplies and high-voltage direct
current power transmission systems. Rectification may serve in roles other than to
generate direct current for use as a source of power. Because of the alternating nature of

19
 the input AC sine wave, the process of rectification alone produces a DC current that,
though unidirectional, consists of pulses of current. [2]

Figure 13 Rectifier diode

d) Voltage Regulator: Any electrical or electronic device that maintains the voltage of a
power source within acceptable limits. The voltage regulator is needed to keep voltages
within the prescribed range that can be tolerated by the electrical equipment using that
voltage. Electronic voltage regulators utilize solid-state semiconductor devices to smooth
out variations in the flow of current. In this project zener diode is used to generate a fixed
output voltage of a preset magnitude that remains constant regardless of changes to its
input voltage or load conditions. [2]

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 Figure 14 Zener voltage regulator

e) Transistor Switch: transistors can be regarded as a type of switch, as can many electronic
components. A transistor conducts current across the collector-emitter path only when a
voltage is applied to the base. When no base voltage is present, the switch is off. When
base voltage is present, the switch is on. The transistor is off when there is no bias voltage
or when the bias voltage is less than 0.7V. The switch is on when the base is saturated so
that collector current can flow without resistance.

Figure 15 Transistor switch

f) Relay Switch: A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many relays use an

electromagnet to mechanically operate a switch, but other operating principles are also
used, such as solid-state relays. Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit
by a low-power signal (with complete electrical isolation between control and controlled
circuits), or where several circuits must be controlled by one signal. The first relays were
used in long distance telegraph circuits as amplifiers: they repeated the signal coming in

21
from one circuit and re-transmitted it on another circuit. Relays were used extensively in
telephone exchanges and early computers to perform logical operations.

A type of relay that can handle the high power required to directly control an electric
motor or other loads is called a contactor. Solid-state relays control power circuits with no
moving parts, instead using a semiconductor device to perform switching. Relays with
calibrated operating characteristics and sometimes multiple operating coils are used to
protect electrical circuits from overload or faults; in modern electric power systems these
functions are performed by digital instruments still called "protective relays".[2]

Figure 16 Relay switch

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5.2.2. Prototype of TCR

The implementation phase tried to assemble the available components of TCR device based on
the tested or simulated design. The circuit is believed to be functional if all components are
supplied to the project. However, the limitation of important items made our prototype with draw
backs of functionality.

The prototype developed by the project is shown on the picture blow.

Figure 17 Implemented circuit

5.3. Simulation

Simulation helps the designer to verify the intended function of a system circuit under
development. Once the circuit has been designed, it must be both verified and tested. The
functionality of design is simulated with a help of Proteus 8 Professional. This professional
software is used to draw the circuit and test the output of the circuit.

The team employs Proteus 8 professional software for the proposed TCR circuit design. The
simulation package includes switch, filtering capacitor, voltage divider, rectifier diode, voltage
regulator, transistor switch, relay switch, AC source, battery and oscilloscope. Then, it has been

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configured based on the designed circuit shown on fig 3. Finally we run the test on the Proteus 8
Professional software.

The result of the simulation indicates the phone at off hook the tape recorder will be energized
and start recording. On the other hand, when the phone is at on hook condition the relay will not
be energized and as a result of this, the tape recorder will automatically switch off. The simulation
run on the software is shown on the figures below. The figure shows how the original circuit
design is included on the software and ready for the test. Based on this figure, we can understand
all features of the TCR are well included before simulation.

Figure 18 Simulation for TCR design

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CHAPTER SIX

6. Result and Discussion

The major objective of the project was to upgrade call customer service user of landline telephone
services through creating a telephone conversation recorder device. It aims was to engage a
device tap on telephone handset. The following three points are the result of the project at this
level to meet the goal stated above:

i. Circuit design of TCR device: The circuit design will facilitate the TCR to record
incoming and outgoing calls automatically and compatible with landline telephone.
ii. Simulate the designed circuit for conversation record scenario with a help of
Proteus 8 Professional software.
iii. The team tried to build TCR device with available items found in department
workshop which can serve as a prototype.

The circuit is designed to develop an automatic call recorder device and can be used for any
production level as long as it is well followed during implementation period. In fact, the team has
a limitation of supply of items to build designed prototype to satisfaction of the team. This is
against the assumption considered during proposal time; the project assumed all items could be
provided by the department workshop. However, the circuit functionality is tested with simulation
by software proteus 8 professional.

The result of the simulation indicates the phone at off hook the tape recorder will be energized
and start recording. On the other hand, when the phone is at on hook condition the relay will not
be energized and as a result of this, the tape recorder will automatically switch off.

The first figure shows when the phone is at on hook stage, how the tape recorder stay switched off
and as a result of this, there will be no supply to the lamp. If there is no supply, the recording will
not be activated.

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 Figure 19 On-hook condition

From the switching center the incoming voltage in on- hook condition is minimum compared to
off-hook condition. This will be illustrated in the below figure.

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 Figure 20 Waveform of ON-hook condition

The second figure shows when the phone is at off hook stage, how the tape recorder stay switched
on and as a result of this, there will be supply to the lamp. If there is supply , the recording will
be activated automatically.

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 Figure 21 Off-hook condition

From the switching center the incoming voltage in off- hook condition is greater than the on-hook
condition. This will be illustrated in the below figure.

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 Figure 22 Waveform of OFF-Hook Condition

Despite the challenge of getting essential components, the project decided to produce a prototype
with available TCR wares and developed the device. Unfortunately, the built prototype has
missed major components of recording tape but tried to assemble the designed circuit to show our
effort and eagerness to change the design to prototype.

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CHAPTER SEVEN

7. Conclusion
The objective of the project was to upgrade the land line telephone service through creating a
special telephone conversation recorder device that is compatible with land landline telephone
with a conventional approach of desk review, simulating, designing and assembling to produce a
proto type at university workshop level. The device has two parts, first it enables automatic
switching-on of the tape recorder when the handset is lifted and the tape recorder gets switched-
off when the handset is replaced. Second the signals are suitably attenuated to a level at which
they can be recorded using the 'MIC IN' socket of the tape recorder. The implemented device will
improve customer service, Staff performance monitoring (to trace the employee responses),
Regulation and code of practice compliance and to promote the good governance

The project has developed a working circuit design that can build a functioning TCR device. The
design can be changed to first to prototype and then to at different production level. This is
confirmed with the simulation run by Proteus 8 Professional software.

The device can be implemented simply by the provision of important components and following
the circuit design strictly. The device consists of resistor, capacitor, relay, transistor and tape
recorder. So anyone or any company that has these components can easily implement the
provided design and build a TCR device which is compatible with the landline telephone.

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Reference

[1] Coe, Lewis (1995). The Telephone and Its Several Inventors: A History, Jefferson, NC:
McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-7864-2609-6

[2] Millman, Jacob (1979). Microelectronics. McGraw Hill. pp. 45–48. ISBN 978-0071005968

[3] Timbs, John; “Year Book of Facts in Science and art”, 1844 edition, p.55. Google books,

[4] “Communication Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures”, 2nd Edition,
McGraw-Hill, 004

[5] Dodd, Annabel Z., the Essential Guide to Telecommunications. Prentice Hall PTR, 2002,
p.183.

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