GB2128451A

GB2128451A - Systems for data transmission over a public telephone network

Info

Publication number: GB2128451A
Application number: GB08325832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Rueff
Original assignee: Sodeco Saia AG; Societe des Compteurs de Geneve SODECO
Current assignee: Sodeco Saia AG; Societe des Compteurs de Geneve SODECO
Priority date: 1982-10-01
Filing date: 1983-09-27
Publication date: 1984-04-26
Also published as: CH659162A5; SE8305387D0; GB2128451B; DE3240020C2; SE8305387L; GB8325832D0; DK452883D0; BE897886A; DK452883A; DE3240020A1

Abstract

In a system for the transmission of data by way of a public telephone network (1) between coin operated telephones (MF1, MF2) on the one hand and between terminals (DT1 to DTn) on the other hand, each coin operated telephone (MF1; MF2) is provided with a modem (3), a memory (4) connected thereto and an input means (6) for the input of an identification number of the coin operated telephone. Each terminal (DT1; DT2) is provided with a modem (5). The memory (4) is a non-volatile RAM or a volatile memory having a buffer battery (7). When first starting, at each change of coin box, and periodically at predetermined intervals of time, each coin operated telephone (MF1; MF2) requests data from a terminal (DT1) for an applicable tariff and from a terminal (DT2) for checking the telephone traffic, such data after receipt being stored in the memory (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Systems for data transmission over a public telephone network The present invention relates to systems for the transmission of data over a public telephone network.

Systems and equipment are already known, which, for the purposes of monitoring public coinoperated telephones, permit a flow of information between such telephones and telephone exchanges or other locations. However, those systems and equipment suffer from the disadvantage that, when there is a change in parameter, the coin operated telephone cannot easily be supplied with the fresh parameters. The change in parameter must be carried out by service personnel at each coin operated telephone, which is time-consuming and expensive, particularly when there is a large number of such stations.

According to the invention there is provided a system for the transmission of data over a public telephone network between coin operated telephones and terminals, wherein each coin operated telephone comprises electronic circuits, a microprocessor, a modem which is controllable by the microprocessor, a memory which is connected to the modem, and an input means for the input of an identification number of the coin operated telephone, and wherein each terminal is provided with a modem.

A preferred embodiment of the invention described below eliminates or at least alleviates the above-mentioned disadvantage in telephone networks with coin operated telephones in that it provides a system for data transmission wherein, when necessary, the coin operated telephones go into operation and call up information stations or terminals by way of the public telephone network, in order to receive therefrom necessary information and evaluate same.

The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the sole figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a basic circuit diagram of a system embodying the invention for the transmission of data over a public telephone network.

The drawing shows a system for the transmission of data by way of a public telephone network 1. The system comprises a plurality of coin operated telephones MF1,MF2... MFn on the one hand and a plurality of terminals DT1, DT2 ... DTn on the other hand, which are connected together by way of the public telephone network 1.Each coin operated telephone MF, to MFn can be of a usual or known design comprising electronic circuits and a microprocessor 2 for controlling its functions, and is provided with a modem 3 (modulator = transmitter and demodulator = receiver) in the form of an integrated circuit which is controlled by the microprocessor 2 and which stores in a memory 4, connected thereto, received items of information relating to telephone tariffs and the telephone numbers of terminals for signalling various occurrences, such as for example an alarm, a fault, the fact that the coin box is full, and the like. The memory 4 is preferably a non-volatile RAM which is supplied with power from the telephone loop.If a volatile memory is used, then a buffer battery 7, for example a lithium batter, is provided so as to continue to supply the memory 4 with power in the event of a failure in the telephone network power supply, thereby to rescue the stored data before it is erased.

The terminals DT1 to DTn may be provided for various functions with two-way interchange of information or only for one-way signalling from the coin operated telephones MF1 to MFn. In the embodiment given by way of example, there is a terminal DT, for the applicable tariff, a terminal DT2 for checking the telephone traffic, a terminal DT3 or a signalling means for signalling an alarm, a terminal DT4 for signalling a full coin box, and a terminal DT5 for statistics. Each of the abovementioned terminals, and possibly any other terminal, is provided with a respective modem 5 which may be connected to a computer. The terminals DT1 to DTn may be disposed in a telephone exchange or at any other desired location.

For the input of identification numbers, each coin operated telephone MF, to MFn is provided with an input means 6 which is connected to the microprocessor 2 and which may be for example a coding switch panel.

In the installation, each coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn is programmed with the telephone number of the terminal DT1 for the applicable tariff and the telephone number of the terminal DT2 for monitoring telephone traffic. An identification number of the coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn is also introduced by means of the input means 6.

When first starting the coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn, and upon each change in coin box or periodically at predetermined intervals, each coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn goes into operation and, giving its identification number, automaticaliy calls up the terminal DT1 for the applicable tariff and the terminal Dot, for checking telephone traffic, which then supply the calling coin operated telephone with the applicable tariffs and a list of telephone numbers of various terminals to which for example alarms, faults, a full coin box and the like are to be signalled. All that information is stored in the memory 4 and updated at specific times.

With the system described above, it is not necessary for changes in tariffs and the like to be separately dealt with, at each coin operated telephone, by a service person.

1. A system for the transmission of data over a public telephone network between coin operated telephones and terminals, wherein each coin

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Systems for data transmission over a public telephone network The present invention relates to systems for the transmission of data over a public telephone network. Systems and equipment are already known, which, for the purposes of monitoring public coinoperated telephones, permit a flow of information between such telephones and telephone exchanges or other locations. However, those systems and equipment suffer from the disadvantage that, when there is a change in parameter, the coin operated telephone cannot easily be supplied with the fresh parameters. The change in parameter must be carried out by service personnel at each coin operated telephone, which is time-consuming and expensive, particularly when there is a large number of such stations. According to the invention there is provided a system for the transmission of data over a public telephone network between coin operated telephones and terminals, wherein each coin operated telephone comprises electronic circuits, a microprocessor, a modem which is controllable by the microprocessor, a memory which is connected to the modem, and an input means for the input of an identification number of the coin operated telephone, and wherein each terminal is provided with a modem. A preferred embodiment of the invention described below eliminates or at least alleviates the above-mentioned disadvantage in telephone networks with coin operated telephones in that it provides a system for data transmission wherein, when necessary, the coin operated telephones go into operation and call up information stations or terminals by way of the public telephone network, in order to receive therefrom necessary information and evaluate same. The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the sole figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a basic circuit diagram of a system embodying the invention for the transmission of data over a public telephone network. The drawing shows a system for the transmission of data by way of a public telephone network 1. The system comprises a plurality of coin operated telephones MF1,MF2... MFn on the one hand and a plurality of terminals DT1, DT2 ... DTn on the other hand, which are connected together by way of the public telephone network 1.Each coin operated telephone MF, to MFn can be of a usual or known design comprising electronic circuits and a microprocessor 2 for controlling its functions, and is provided with a modem 3 (modulator = transmitter and demodulator = receiver) in the form of an integrated circuit which is controlled by the microprocessor 2 and which stores in a memory 4, connected thereto, received items of information relating to telephone tariffs and the telephone numbers of terminals for signalling various occurrences, such as for example an alarm, a fault, the fact that the coin box is full, and the like. The memory 4 is preferably a non-volatile RAM which is supplied with power from the telephone loop.If a volatile memory is used, then a buffer battery 7, for example a lithium batter, is provided so as to continue to supply the memory 4 with power in the event of a failure in the telephone network power supply, thereby to rescue the stored data before it is erased. The terminals DT1 to DTn may be provided for various functions with two-way interchange of information or only for one-way signalling from the coin operated telephones MF1 to MFn. In the embodiment given by way of example, there is a terminal DT, for the applicable tariff, a terminal DT2 for checking the telephone traffic, a terminal DT3 or a signalling means for signalling an alarm, a terminal DT4 for signalling a full coin box, and a terminal DT5 for statistics. Each of the abovementioned terminals, and possibly any other terminal, is provided with a respective modem 5 which may be connected to a computer. The terminals DT1 to DTn may be disposed in a telephone exchange or at any other desired location. For the input of identification numbers, each coin operated telephone MF, to MFn is provided with an input means 6 which is connected to the microprocessor 2 and which may be for example a coding switch panel. In the installation, each coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn is programmed with the telephone number of the terminal DT1 for the applicable tariff and the telephone number of the terminal DT2 for monitoring telephone traffic. An identification number of the coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn is also introduced by means of the input means 6. When first starting the coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn, and upon each change in coin box or periodically at predetermined intervals, each coin operated telephone MF1 to MFn goes into operation and, giving its identification number, automaticaliy calls up the terminal DT1 for the applicable tariff and the terminal Dot, for checking telephone traffic, which then supply the calling coin operated telephone with the applicable tariffs and a list of telephone numbers of various terminals to which for example alarms, faults, a full coin box and the like are to be signalled. All that information is stored in the memory 4 and updated at specific times. With the system described above, it is not necessary for changes in tariffs and the like to be separately dealt with, at each coin operated telephone, by a service person. CLAIMS

1. A system for the transmission of data over a public telephone network between coin operated telephones and terminals, wherein each coin operated telephone comprises electronic circuits, a microprocessor, a modem which is controllable by the microprocessor, a memory which is conected to the modem, and an input means for the input of an identification number of the coin operated telephone, and wherein each terminal is provided with a modem.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein each coin operated telephone is operative, when first starting, at each change in coin box, and periodically at predetermined intervals of time, to request data from a said terminal for an applicable tariff and a said terminal for checking telephone traffic, and to store said data after receipt thereof in the memory.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the memory comprises a volatile memory having a buffer battery which, in the event of a power failure, continues to supply the memory with power and thereby rescues data stored in the memory before erasure thereof.

4. A system for the transmission of data over a public telephone network between coin operated telephones and terminals, the system being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.