FR2762954A1 - Programmable electronic calculator for telephone charge calculations - Google Patents

Abstract

The calculator has a programmable unit connected between the telephone line (1) and the telephone terminal (B). There is a detector (14) which determines when the telephone is lifted off the hook, and an identifier (16) which detects charge signals from the telephone centre (2). A microprocessor logic cell (9) with live memory (10) calculates the call charges and taxes.

Description

TELEPHONE TAX COUNTER
PROGRAMMABLE WITH INTEGRATED SWITCHING
The invention relates to a programmable electronic device which, connected between the telephone line and at least one of the user's telephone apparatuses, enables him to control the telephone link as well as to calculate the consumption of said telephone apparatus for the communication in progress, as for all communications for a specific period.

 This device is only operational if it is connected to a line with a function, at the telephone exchange, for transmitting a tax return signal. (For example, this function is designated "DRIC" by the operator FRANCE TELECOM).

 The present invention relates to an electronic device making it possible to locally control access to the line of at least one telephone apparatus as well as to establish the cost of the communication or communications carried out with said apparatus.

 Devices are already known which, connected to a telephone line, allow the cost of communications to be calculated, accompanied by all means for storing quantity or price data over a period determined by the user.

 Other devices, better known under the name "Publiphone", allow a user access to the line only after debit from any means of payment.

Recall that the cost of a communication is determined using the network operator's charging pulse feedback service, for example called "DRIC" by FRANCE
TELECOM.

 These two types of devices have major drawbacks.

 Some tax meters operate permanently on the user's line, without any possible distinction between a device and those in the installation. It is therefore not possible to know the monthly consumption of a telephone device such as a fax machine for example, if the latter is connected to the line in the same way as the other telephone sets of the installation.

 Others, on the contrary, are dedicated to one of the stations on the line and cannot count the consumption of the entire installation without modifying it.

 The "Publiphone" type devices use sophisticated, bulky and very expensive means since they integrate coin acceptors or other card readers. On the other hand, they need to be connected to a specifically dedicated line.

 These problems have been well identified for a long time without a solution having been provided, despite these important drawbacks.

 The aim of the present invention is to remedy these problems and to develop a tax counter device which fulfills the expected functions of consumption calculation and cost conversion, but for one or more of the stations on the line, or for all line stations at the user's choice, without the need to modify the installation.

 On the other hand, the user can, if he wishes, use the device to authorize access to the line of the telephone set connected to said device.

 To this end, the invention relates to a telephone line tax meter consisting of a box (4) suitable for being connected, without the possibility of disconnection by third parties, on the line at the subscriber, said box comprising a microprocessor (9) associated with a memory (10), (re) programming means (11) allowing the entry into the memory of the price corresponding to the charging unit as well as the resetting of the different counters, means of control (12) of the configuration of the operating mode of the device (counting of the consumption of the entire installation (A and B) or counting and / or control of the device (B) connected to the device).

 The device can therefore be used on any telephone line universally and offers great flexibility of use, which constitutes its innovative character.

A particular embodiment of the invention is described below by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to FIG. 1, in which the references are the following:
A: Standard telephone set.

 B: Standard telephone set.

 1: Telephone line.

 2: Telephone exchange.

 3: General bome of arrival of the telephone line at the subscriber.

 4: Device housing.

 5: Terminal for connecting the line to the device.

 6: Telephone line remote control output terminal.

 7: Display.

 8: Means for electrically supplying the device from the telephone line or an electronic battery.

 9: Microprocessor and software.

 10 Non-volatile memory or random access memory electrically saved for data recording.

il: Means of (re) programming the memory. Access to this function is protected, for example by a key 19 (mechanical or electronic)
12. Control means for configuring the operating mode of the device. Access to this function is protected (for example mechanical or electronic key 19).

 13: Means for signaling to the user that an order has been received (for example, indicator light).

 14: Means for detecting that the output line of the device is off-hook for individual counting according to programming.

 15: Line interface and line off-hook detection for global counting according to programming.

 16: Means of identification of the charging signals sent on the line by the telephone exchange.

 17: Means of switching off the remote-controlled output terminal.

 18: Power supply in addition to or replacing point 8.

 19: Means of access to functions 11 and 12 (mechanical or electronic key for example).

 20: Indicator light.

An example of programming this device can be as follows
A subscriber wishes to know the consumption of one of the telephone sets (B) on his line (1), which he makes available to a third party at his discretion.

 The subscriber connects the device to his line (1) and connects to said device the telephone set (B) that he wishes to make available.

 He programs the price of the unit tax, chooses the "Local" counting mode as well as the "Remote control" mode.

Thus configured, the device allows it by simply pressing a
button, authorize the use of the telephone device by the third party,
know the cost of the communication, as of all
precedent thus authorized over a specified period.

Claims (2)

1. Programmable electronic device for counting telephone charges of a specific telephone set of an installation, characterized in that it connects between the telephone line (1) and the post considered (B), and comprises a means of line off-hook detection (14), means of identification (16) of the charging signals transmitted on the line by the telephone exchange (2), a microprocessor and software (9), a random access memory (10) and a means (11) for (re) programming the memory (10). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a terminal (6) output, remotely controllable, of the telephone line.