JP3365323B2 - Public telephone - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a public telephone, and particularly to a public telephone which can be transmitted not only by a user using a coin (or a card) but also by operating a key switch by the installer of the public telephone. It concerns telephones.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a public telephone such as a pink telephone can be transmitted not only by a user using a coin (or card) but also by a key switch operation by an installer of the public telephone. ing. That is, the installer of a public telephone can make a call without using a coin or a card by operating the key switch with the key he / she owns. Only owned by the installer.

[0003]

However, sometimes the key is misused by an unskilled person. That is, in such a public telephone,
Anyone who has a key can make a free call by operating the key switch. Therefore, a public telephone may be used without permission without the knowledge of the installer.

Further, in the conventional public telephone, it is not possible to distinguish between the legal use of coins and the like and the fraudulent use of the key, so that the discovery of the fraudulent use is delayed and the damage is expanded. There was a problem.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and provides a public telephone capable of remotely monitoring the unauthorized use of the public telephone by an inexperienced person operating a key switch. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

In order to achieve such an object, the public telephone of the present invention according to claim 1 can select either outgoing call based on a call charge or outgoing call based on an operation of a key switch. In a public telephone, a control unit for monitoring the operation state of the key switch and outputting a control signal according to the monitoring result, and an external interface connected to the control unit are provided. When a signal is input, a display control signal for displaying on the external display device that it is in use based on the operation of the key switch is output.

A public telephone according to a second aspect of the present invention is a public telephone which can select either a call based on a call charge or a call based on an operation of a key switch.
A control unit that monitors the operation state of the key switch and outputs a control signal according to the monitoring result, an external interface connected to the control unit, and a connection connected to the external interface and received via the external interface. The external display device for displaying the operation state of the key switch according to the control signal.

A public telephone of the present invention according to claim 3 is the public telephone according to claim 1 or 2,
The lamp emits light when receiving the control signal.

A public telephone of the present invention according to claim 4 is the public telephone according to claim 1 or 2,
The display panel is configured to display the operation state of the key switch in characters by receiving the control signal.

A public telephone of the present invention according to claim 5 is the public telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the external display device is attached to a register in a store in which the public telephone is installed. It is a thing.

With this configuration, the present invention provides
It is possible to easily monitor the use of the public telephone by operating the key switch, detect the above-mentioned fraud at an early stage, and prevent the damage from spreading.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the public telephone 10 can carry out a call without using coins (or cards) by operating a key switch using a key 19a.
The payphone 10 is provided with a lamp 30a or is connected to a display panel 30b or a display panel 30c installed on a register 40 in a store via an external interface (not shown).

Therefore, a call by operating the key switch using the key 19a can be easily monitored by turning on the lamp 30a or displaying the display panels 30b and 30c. In particular, by installing the display panels 30b and 30c at positions distant from the public telephone 10, the installer of the public telephone 10 can monitor a call by operating a key switch while being in a remote place. In particular,
Display panel 3 on the pink phone used in the store
By installing 0c in the register 40, the installer can monitor while paying the customer.

Here, the detailed configuration of the public telephone 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the public telephone 10 according to FIG. As shown in the figure, the public telephone 10 is connected to the external display device 30 via the external interface 21, and the lines L1 and L2 are connected.
It is connected to the exchange 1 via.

Further, the public telephone 10 includes a control unit 2
0 is provided, and the control unit 20 has a polarity detection circuit 13 that detects the polarities of the lines L1 and L2, a communication circuit 14, and a coin processing unit 16 that performs processing such as sorting, storage, and storage of inserted coins. An indicator 17 for displaying the accumulated amount of coins, etc., a dial key 18, and a key switch 19 for making a call by operating the switch without using coins.
The external interface 21 is connected.

The external interface 21 is connected to an external display device 30 installed outside the public telephone 10 by wire or wirelessly. When connected by wire, the external interface 21 and the external display device 30 are detachably or integrally connected. Specific examples of the external display device 30 include the lamp 30a and the display panels 30b and 30c shown in FIG. Therefore, while the key switch 19 is being used, the lamp is turned on or characters such as "in use" are displayed on the display panel to notify the installer of the operating state of the key switch 19. Further, instead of such a display device, it is also possible to use a means for notifying the operation state of the key switch by a warning sound or a voice.

Further, the control unit 20 is connected to the forced disconnection switch 11, and the control unit 20 uses the forced disconnection switch 11 to connect the DC of the line when there is no accumulated coin when the charge storage signal arrives from the exchange 1 during a call. Break the loop.
Further, a dial circuit (not shown) is connected to the control unit 20, and when the operation of the dial key 18 is detected, the operation signal is sent to the dial circuit and the line L is sent from this dial circuit.
1 and L2 are caused to send predetermined dial signals (DP, PB). A handset 15 is connected to the communication circuit 14, and a hook switch 12 that works in conjunction with on-hook and off-hook of the handset 15 opens and closes the DC loops of the lines L1 and L2.

By the way, in the exchange 1, when the public telephone 10 dials a call to call the other party and the other party answers the call to start the call, the public telephone 10 stores the charge. The stored coins stored in the coin processing unit 16 of the public telephone 10 are stored in a safe, not shown, and a charge storage signal is periodically transmitted when the telephone of the public telephone 1 is ongoing. And store the accumulated coins.

Here, the operation of the public telephone according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the public telephone 10 according to FIG. In step 101, it is assumed that the user has already picked up the handset 15 at this point to go off-hook (that is, the hook switch 11 is in the “on” state), and coins have been inserted as a call charge. The forced disconnection switch 12 is always closed, and the control unit 20
It is opened according to the signal from.

First, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the key switch 19 is in the "on state". If the key switch 19 is in the "on state", the control unit 20 proceeds to step 103 and transmits a control signal via the external interface 21. Thus, the external display device 30 is caused to display that the key switch 19 is in the "on state", and then the process proceeds to step 104.

At this time, the lamp 30a shown in FIG. 2 may be turned on or blinked, the display panel 30b installed in a store or the like may display characters such as "in use", or the register 40 may be displayed. Characters such as "in use" may be displayed on the installed display panel 30c, or any of them may be performed.

If the key switch 19 is not in the "on" state, the process proceeds to step 102 and the coin processing unit 16
Determines whether or not a coin has been inserted, further determines whether or not the inserted coin is a true coin, and accumulates only the coin determined to be a true coin. Then, the accumulated amount of coins is notified to the control unit 20, and the control unit 20 displays the display 1
The amount of accumulated coins is displayed on step 7, and step 10
Go to 4. On the other hand, if no coin has been inserted, the process returns to step 101 and the key switch 19 is in the "on state".
Or wait for the coins to be thrown in.

Next, in step 104, when the user uses the dial key 18 to dial the telephone number of the other party, the control section 20 detects the operation of the dial key 18 and sends the operation signal to a dial circuit (not shown). Then, the dial signal is sent from this dial circuit to the lines L1 and L2.

As a result, in step 105, when the other party makes a call and the other party answers the call, the exchange 1 transmits a charge storage signal to the public telephone 10 side through the lines L1 and L2. This charge storage signal is transmitted to the control unit 20 via the polarity detection circuit 13.

After that, the process shifts to step 106, and the control section 20 determines again whether or not the key switch 19 is in the "on state". Then, if the key switch 19 is not in the "on" state, the coin processing unit 16 stores coins corresponding to the unit charge from the accumulated coins in the safe, and step 108.
It becomes possible to talk to each other by moving to. At that time, the display 17
Indicates the balance of coins accumulated in the coin processing unit 16. On the other hand, when the key switch 19 is in the "ON state", the process proceeds to step 108 and the mutual call can be made without collecting coins.

By the way, the time that a unit charge can be used is
It depends on the distance to the other party. for that reason,
It is necessary to charge a user who uses coins without using the key switch 19 before the call time per unit charge elapses.

That is, in step 109, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the key switch 19 is in the "on state". Move to. on the other hand,
If the key switch 19 is not in the "on state", charging is performed, and the process proceeds to step 110.

Next, in step 110, when the control section 20 receives from the exchange 1 a charge storage signal for charging, it proceeds to step 111 and charges. If not received, there is no need for billing yet and the process proceeds to step 113 to determine whether or not it is on-hook. If it is not on-hook, the process returns to step 108 to continue the mutual call. On the other hand, if it is on-hook, the line is forcibly released,
Go to step 116.

Next, in step 111, if there are still coins accumulated in the coin processing unit 16, step 11
Move to 2 and store coins for unit charge in the safe. Then, in step 113, it is determined whether or not the line is on-hook. When the line is on-hook, the line is released to open the line.
If it is not on-hook, go to 16 and step 108
Return to.

By the way, when there is no coin in step 111, further line use is not permitted, so the process shifts to step 114 and the forced disconnection switch 12 is turned off for a certain period of time, and the lines L1 and L2 are turned on. To release. Then, the process proceeds to step 115 and waits for going on hook, and when it goes on hook, the process proceeds to step 116.

The call has already been completed by the above steps. Therefore, in step 116, the control unit 20 erases the display of the "on state" of the key switch 19 displayed in step 103, and turns the forced disconnection switch 12 in the normally closed state to the "off state" for a certain period of time. By doing so, the lines L1 and L2 are forcibly released to complete a series of operations.

In the present embodiment, an example of a public telephone using coins as a terminal connected to the exchange 1 has been described, but a card-type public telephone also has the same effect. In addition, the key switch 1 is connected via the external interface 21.
If a means for recording the operation time of 9 and the charge at that time is connected and the call time and the charge made without using coins are recorded, even if the external display device 30 is not always observed. It is possible to know the total operation time of the key switch 19. For example, a timer may be used to measure the operation time of the key switch 19, and the result may be stored and held in a storage device such as a flash memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0034]

As described above, the present invention monitors the operating state of the key switch and outputs a control signal according to the monitoring result, an external interface connected to the control unit, and the external device. An external display device connected to the interface and displaying the operation state of the key switch in response to the control signal received via the external interface. Therefore, it is possible to easily monitor a call by operating the key switch from a remote place and prevent unauthorized use of the key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a public telephone according to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the public telephone according to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Exchange, 10 ... Public telephone, 11 ... Hook switch, 12 ... Forced disconnect switch, 13 ... Polarity detection circuit, 1
4 ... call circuit, 15 ... handset, 16 ... coin processing unit, 17
... display, 18 ... dial key, 19 ... key switch,
19a ... Key, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... External interface, 30 ... External display device, 30a ... Lamp, 30b, 3
0c ... Display panel, 40 ... Register, L1, L2 ... Line.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A public telephone capable of selecting either a call based on a call charge or a call based on an operation of a key switch, and monitors a state of operation of the key switch and outputs a control signal in accordance with a result of the monitoring. A control unit and an external interface connected to the control unit are provided, and the external interface causes an external display device to display that the control unit is in use based on the operation of the key switch when the control signal is input. A public telephone which outputs the display control signal of. 2. In a public telephone capable of selecting either a call based on a call charge or a call based on an operation of a key switch, the operation state of the key switch is monitored and a control signal is output according to the monitoring result. A control unit, an external interface connected to the control unit, and an external display device connected to the external interface and displaying an operation state of the key switch according to the control signal received via the external interface. A public telephone characterized by having it. 3. The public telephone according to claim 1, wherein the external display device is a lamp that emits light when receiving the control signal. 4. The public telephone according to claim 1, wherein the external display device is a display panel that displays the operation state of the key switch in characters upon receipt of the control signal. 5. The public telephone according to claim 1, wherein the external display device is attached to a register in a store in which the public telephone is installed.