JPH04294652A - Communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the detection of accurate communication charge information and periodic communication charge collection and output for a desired communication charge management when a communication terminal equipment manages its communication charge. CONSTITUTION:Communication charge information is detected by a layer 3 control section 104 from a network connecting to a communication terminal equipment via layer 1,2 control sections 106,105. The communication charge information is stored in a data memory 111 by a control section 103. The stored charge information is collected (114) for a 1st period and a 2nd period according to two summing up periods and an output command date and time stored in a setting value storage section 102 commanded in advance by an operation section 101 and printed out by a printing section 108 at an output command date.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device that connects to a network and performs communications.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is communication management information management that connects to an analog network to perform communications and manages the communication management information (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-298162). Communication management information is
It consists of communication-related information such as communication time, communication destination, number of communications, and communication charges. Among communication management information, communication charge information is
With conventional analog networks, it is not possible to obtain accurate values from the analog network, so communication charge information is determined by, for example, a calling communication terminal device determining the area from the telephone number of the called communication terminal device, and determining the communication charge information according to the area. Communication charges are calculated from the charge per unit time and communication time. Communication management information is stored and retained for each communication, and after aggregation for a specific period,
It is output as a management report at any timing according to the output instruction by the operator's key input. There is also a communication terminal device that outputs communication management information regarding all communications on that day at a specific time every day, regardless of key input by the operator.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional communication charge management of communication terminal devices connected to an analog network, communication charges were calculated and obtained by the communication terminal devices independently.
I was only able to see approximate prices. Furthermore, it was not possible to automatically handle revisions and changes in information necessary to calculate communication charges, such as revisions to communication charges and changes to area codes.

Furthermore, communication management information is stored and retained within the storage capacity of the communication terminal device, but if there is no output instruction from the operator before the memory is saturated, it will be output at that point or new information will be stored. It was overwritten and regular communication management information could not be managed. There are communication terminal devices that automatically output communication management information every day, but since the communication management information for each communication is output at once for the number of communications that occur in a day, it is not possible to output communication management information for a specific period such as one month or half a year. Management required aggregation by an operator.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and makes it possible to detect accurate communication charge information and to regularly aggregate and output communication charges during a desired communication charge management period. be.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The communication terminal device of the present invention includes:
a first setting means for setting a first period; a second setting means for setting a second period that is an integral multiple of the first period; a communication means for connecting to a network; Communication charge detection means for detecting communication charge information charged for each transmission from the network, storage means for storing and holding the communication charge information detected by the communication charge detection means, and communication charge stored in the storage means. a first aggregating means for aggregating information for each of the first periods;
a second aggregation means for aggregating the aggregation results for each period; a third setting means for setting a date and time for outputting the aggregation results for each first period and the aggregation results for the second period; and output means for outputting the aggregation results at the date and time set by the setting means.

Further, the communication terminal device of the present invention includes a first setting means for setting a first period, a second setting means for setting a second period which is an integral multiple of the first period, and an ISDN network. A communication means to be connected, a communication charge detection means for detecting communication charge information in communication management information obtained from the ISDN network via the communication means, and a storage means for storing and holding the communication charge information detected by the communication charge detection means. a first aggregation means for aggregating the communication charge information stored and held in the storage means for each of the first periods; and a second aggregation means for aggregating the aggregation results for each of the first periods in the second period. means, a third setting means for setting a date and time for outputting the aggregation results for each first period and the aggregation results for the second period, and outputting the aggregation results at the date and time set by the third setting means. and an output means for outputting the output.

[0008]

[Operation] Since communication charge information is extracted from the network, communication charges can be managed using accurate charge information. Also,
The communication charge information aggregated for each specific period is aggregated for a period that is an integral multiple of the specific period, and the communication terminal device monitors and outputs the specified date and time instructed in advance, so that the communication charge information output instruction by the operator is not required. You can manage communication charge information regularly even if you do not have one.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained using a G4 standard facsimile machine as an example with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a G4 standard facsimile machine as an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, F is a G4 standard facsimile machine, which is connected to the ISDN network K through an 8-pin modular cable 116. In the case of a basic interface, the ISDN network has two 64 kbit/s information channels (B channels) and a 16 kbit/s information channel on one subscriber line.
It has one bit/second control signal channel (D channel). The control signal channel transmits and receives control signals related to line settings, and the information channel transmits and receives data such as audio and images. The control signals sent and received on the control signal channel are layer 1 to layer 3 of OSI, which the ISDN network conforms to (layer 1 is the physical layer and specifies the electrical and physical characteristics of the network and communication terminal equipment, and layer 2 is the data layer). Layer 3 is a control signal that is compliant with the frame format and its management for transmitting control signals at the link layer, and the layer 3 is a network layer that specifies control procedures for circuit switching and packet switching, as well as additional services such as notification of communication charges. It must be provided within the communication terminal equipment.

FIG. 2 shows a G4 standard facsimile machine
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing messages sent and received on a D channel for communication line connection in order according to time when communicating by connecting to a DN network. In (a), when the communication line is connected and disconnected from the G4 standard facsimile machine,
(b) shows a case where the communication line is connected from the G4 standard facsimile machine as in (a) and disconnected from the ISDN network.

In FIG. 1, G4 standard facsimile machine F
The operation section 101 serves as a first to third setting means that receives instructions from the operator, and the setting value storage section 102 stores the first to third setting values instructed by the operation section 101.
, a control section 103 that performs overall control, a layer 3 control section 104 as a communication fee detection means and a communication means that realizes layer 3 of OSI, and a layer 2 control section as a communication means that realizes layer 2 of OSI. 105, and a layer 1 control unit 10 as a communication means for realizing layer 1 of OSI.
6, a reading section 107 for inputting document information to be transmitted, and a printing section 1 as an output means for outputting the document and communication management information.
08 and G4, which sends and receives manuscript information within the information channel.
A communication unit 109, a time generation unit 110 that generates a time for managing communication management information, and a data memory 11 as a storage means for storing communication management information and its aggregate management information.
1, a code memory 112 for storing transmitted or received document information, a display section 113 for displaying dial numbers, network information, a calendar, etc., and a first and second section for totalizing communication charges according to instructions from the control section 103. It is provided with a communication charge aggregation unit 114 as an aggregation means, and a battery 115 that backs up the data memory 111 and the time generation unit 110 when the power is cut off.

A case will be described in which such a device communicates with a counterpart communication terminal device having a similar configuration.

When transmitting a document using the G4 standard facsimile machine F, insert the document into the reading section 107 and press the operation section 101.
Enter the dial number etc. of the communication partner terminal from , and press the start button. Then, the control unit 103 controls the layer 3 control unit 1 of the D channel, which is the control signal channel of the ISDN network K.
Pass the dial number information of the other party to 04, and layer 3 control unit 1
04 is based on CCITT Recommendation I.04 for communication initiation. Layer 2 control unit 1
Give it to 05. The layer 2 control unit 105 controls CCITT Recommendation I. 441, data for call setup is passed to the layer 1 control unit 106. Then, the layer 1 control unit 106
Sends D channel call setup information to DN network K (2 in Figure 2)
01). At this time, the original is being binarized and read by the reading unit 107, and the encoded original information is being stored in the code memory 112. Then, call setup is received from the network (202 in Figure 2).
), the other party terminal is called (203 in FIG. 2), and the information that the other party has responded (204 in FIG. 2) is sent to the layer 1 control unit 106, layer 2 control unit 105, and layer 3 control unit 104 via the D channel. When the information is returned to the control unit 103 in order, the control unit 103 transmits the specified information channel to the G4 communication unit 1.
Instructs the layer 1 control unit 106 to connect to 09,
After the connection, the G4 communication unit 109 transmits the code data stored in the code memory 112 (205 in FIG. 2). After the transmission is completed, the control unit 103 transmits a “disconnection request” to the layer 3 control unit 104, which is sent to the ISDN network K as described above (206 in FIG. 2) and performs the release procedure (207, 208 in FIG. 2).
), then end the communication. On the called side, ISDN
A "call setup" message from network K is transmitted to the control section 103 via the D channel, layer 1 control section 106, layer 2 control section 105, and layer 3 control section 104, and if it is not busy, a "response" is sent to the ISDN network. K, the information channel is connected to the G4 communication unit 109, and the original information is sent to the code memory 112.
The data is received by the printing unit 108 and printed on recording paper after being decoded.

[0016] The charge information is transmitted in the format shown in FIG. 3 from the "Release (207 in FIG. 2)" or "Disconnect (209 in FIG. 2)" message received from the ISDN network at the end of the communication by the communication terminal device that started the communication. It can be obtained with

In FIG. 3, 301 indicates that this information is information regarding communication charges, 302 indicates the length of the following information (type 303 + charge information 304, which will be described later), and 3
03 indicates the type of communication charge (at present, only the charge from the start to the end of communication is displayed), and 304 indicates charge information. The charge information 304 is expressed in IA5 characters. This IA5 character is the same character as the ASCII code, and is extracted by the layer 3 control unit 104 in FIG. 1 and converted into binary data by the control unit 103.

The converted fee information is processed according to the first and second periods preset from the operation unit 101 and stored in the set value storage unit 102, and the desired output date and time. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which one day is set as the first period, one month is set as the second period, and 0:00 on the 22nd of every month is set as the desired output date and time.

The converted fee information is first stored in the data memory 111 for totaling for each first period. In the data memory 111, the date 401 and the number of transmitted sheets 40 shown in FIG.
2 and charge information 403 are provided for one month. 404 is a date pointer and time generator 1
The unit corresponding to the current date obtained from 10 is shown. The contents of the unit corresponding to the current date (date, number of sheets sent, charge information) are cleared when the date is changed, and charge information generated in communications during that day is stored. When the specified unit skips the previous unit, such as when the date skips over the 31st from the 30th to the 1st, the skipped unit is also cleared at the same time.

[0020] The communication charge information for one month stored and held in the data memory 111 is set from the aforementioned operation unit 101,
The data is aggregated and output as a communication charge information report at the desired output date and time stored in the setting value storage unit 102. The set output date and time is monitored by the control unit 103 and compared with date and time information obtained from the time generation unit 110. When the current date and time satisfy the date and time conditions set by the operator, the control unit 103 performs aggregation processing of one month's worth of communication charge information as a second period, and collects daily communication charge information and one month's aggregation. The processing result is printed at the printing unit 108.
Output from

FIG. 5 shows a charge management report as an example of printing communication charge information output from the printing unit 108 of the G4 standard facsimile machine F. In FIG. 5, 501 shows the date and time of output, 502 shows the daily communication fee, and 503 shows the total communication fee for one month. By outputting communication charge information for each specific period, it is possible to automate the output of communication charge information, which was conventionally performed manually by an operator, and it becomes possible to manage communication charge information reliably and easily. Here, in this embodiment, the first period is one day, and the second period, which is an integral multiple of the first period, is one month, and communication charge information for each day is managed for each month, but the first period is one day. The second period may be set to six months, or the second period may be set to six months. Furthermore, in the communication terminal device according to the present invention that manages communication charges for each of the first and second periods, if an instruction to output communication charge information is given at any timing using a conventional key operation, the communication charge information can be output within the second period. It is possible to grasp the usage status of communication charges as the process progresses.

[0022] In this embodiment, as a communication terminal device,
A printing unit 108 is provided as an output means of communication charge information, and the ISD
Although the G4 standard facsimile machine F connected to the N network is mentioned, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the communication means may be connected to a network that can detect communication charge information (for example, a paid database network, etc.), and the output means may be in a form that the operator can recognize (for example, display on a monitor, record on a printer, etc.). ).

Furthermore, even if the network connected to the communication terminal device is an analog network in which communication charge information cannot be detected, it is possible to set an arbitrary period and arbitrary charge information output date and time, although the accuracy of the communication charge information is inferior. It is possible to manage communication charges on a regular basis.

[0024]

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention has the following advantages:
Accurate charge information management is performed using communication charge information obtained from the network. Also, communication charges are managed periodically using time information generated within the communication terminal device. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and easily process and manage communication charges during any period of time, such as weekly or monthly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a G4 standard facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a call control flow diagram between a calling terminal and a network in D channel call control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a format diagram of fee information included in a message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a logical format diagram of rate information accumulation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of printing of fee information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Operation section 102 Setting value storage section 103 Control section 104 Layer 3 control unit 105 Layer 2 control unit 106 Layer 1 control unit 107 Manuscript reading section 108 Imprinting Department 109 G4 Communication Department 110 Time generation part 111 Data memory 112 Code memory 113 Display section 114 Communication charge aggregation department 115 Battery

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first setting means for setting a first period; a second setting means for setting a second period that is an integral multiple of the first period; a communication means for connecting to a network; communication charge detection means for detecting communication charge information charged for each transmission via the means from the network; storage means for storing and holding the communication charge information detected by the communication charge detection means; and storage means for storing communication charge information in the storage means. a first aggregation means for aggregating the held communication charge information for each of the first periods; a second aggregation means for aggregating the aggregation results for each of the first periods in the second period; third setting means for setting a date and time for outputting the aggregated results for each period and the aggregated results for the second period;
A communication terminal device comprising output means for outputting the tally result at the date and time set by the third setting means. 2. The communication means is an ISD as a network.
2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device is connected to an ISDN network, and the communication charge detection means detects communication charge information in communication management information obtained from the ISDN network via the communication means.