Telecommunication arrangement.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telecommunication arrangement.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a telecommunication arrangement for determining the cost of a telephone call.
BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
When a person uses a telephone to make a telephone call, he uses the services of a telecommunications company. The person thus subscribes to the telecommunications company and hires a telephone line from the telecommunications company. The person normally receives an invoice for money owing at the end of the month.
When a person has hired a telephone line from the telecommunications company the telephone line is sometimes utilised by clients of the person. It is therefore preferable for the person to charge his clients for , shorter time periods than the default time periods indicated on the invoice, which the person receives from the telecommunications company.
One method of charging a client is for the person to install a prepaid telephone, such as a public telephone. The client will insert money, in the form of cash or a previously bought telephone card, before being able to make a telephone call. However, such public telephones are normally maintained and controlled by the telecommunications company. The person will thus not be able to easily derive any income from supplying use of the telephone line to the clients.
Currently the applicant is not aware of any telecommunication system, which allows a person to regulate the variable parameters relating to the telephone line network and use thereof independently of any information supplied by the telecommunications company.
It is an object of the invention to suggest a telecommunication arrangement, which will assist in overcoming these problems.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention a telecommunication arrangement includes first connection means for connection to a telephone line; a detector associated with the first connection means and being adapted to detect usage of the telephone line; a microprocessor associated with the detector for determining a duration of the usage, the microprocessor being adapted to be programmed with user programmable data and further being adapted to determine the cost of the usage; and second connection means associated with the detector and the microprocessor for connection to terminal equipment.
The terminal equipment may be a telephone unit.
The user programmable data may include the duration of a charge unit.
The user programmable data may include the cost of a charge unit.
The user programmable data may include a list of locations to which telephone calls are permitted to be made.
The telecommunication arrangement may be adapted to be connected to the Internet or any other computerised network.
The user programmable data may be adapted to be obtained or updated automatically via the Internet or computerised network.
The telecommunication arrangement may be adapted to be associated with any conventional telephone network or telephone unit or other terminal equipment.
The telecommunication arrangement may be portable.
The telecommunication arrangement may include a display unit associated with and operatively connected to the terminal equipment.
The display unit may be adapted to display information to a user of the terminal equipment.
The information may include a location to which a telephone line connection is being made, a duration of a charge unit, a cost of a charge unit, a total cost incurred for the telephone line connection, or a remaining amount of a deposit not yet consumed by a telephone line connection.
Also according to the invention, a method of determining a cost of a telephone call includes the steps of providing user programmable data; of determining usage of a telephone line; of determining the duration of the usage; of calculating a cost associated with the usage; and of providing an output of the cost.
The usage may be conducted over a telephone unit.
The usage may be is conducted over a computer modem.
The user programmable data may include the duration of a charge unit.
The user programmable data may include the cost of a charge unit.
The user programmable data may include a list of locations to which telephone calls are permitted to be made.
The method may include the step of obtaining or updating the user programmable data via the Internet or a computerised network.
The method may be adapted to be used with any conventional telephone network.
The method may include the step of providing a display unit associated with and operatively connected to the terminal equipment.
The method may include the step of displaying information to a user of the terminal equipment on the display unit.
The information may include a location to which a telephone line connection is being made, a duration of a charge unit, a cost of a charge unit, a total cost incurred for the telephone line connection, or a remaining amount of a deposit not yet consumed by a telephone line connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing.
In the drawing there is shown a block diagram of a telecommunication arrangement in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
Referring to the drawing, a block diagram of a telecommunication arrangement in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The telecommunication arrangement 10
is attached to an existing telephone line 12 between a telephone network 14 and a telephone unit (or other terminal equipment) 16. Depending on requirements, more than one telephone unit 16 can be provided if necessary.
The telecommunication arrangement 10 includes a first part or master unit 18 and a second part or remote display 20. The master unit 18 includes a display unit 22 and a keyboard 24. The master unit 18 is provided with a microprocessor 26 which can be programmed with certain variable parameters. These variable parameters include, for example, a location to which telephone calls may be made, a unit cost to such location, the time length of the unit, and any credit or a debit amounts for use of the telephone unit 16.
The parameters may further include: owner PIN protection; owner telephone number; product serial number; any other serial/ order number; factory PIN protection; pulse or DTMF dial detection; pre- or post-payment mode; barred calls (enabled or disabled); time and date configuration; tariff table information uploaded or hardcoded; mark-up parameter to allow mark-up on call cost; incoming calls (enabled or disabled); and self test mode.
The remote display 20 is adapted to display information to a client using the telephone unit 16.
Although not shown in detail the telecommunication arrangement 10 generally includes the following components: a modem to allow for tariff table information transfer; real-time clock and calendar; various call detection components; various computer software programs; non-volatile memory; direct power (capacitors and/or batteries); various time, unit and revenue counters; various other electronic components; an aesthetic protective casing; telephone line connectors; and cables and mounting attachments.
In use, an owner will install the telecommunication arrangement 10 and programme the microprocessor 26 with necessary variable parameters. The owner then hires out the use of one or more of his telephone units 16 to a client. The client will either pay a deposit to the owner prior to using the telephone unit 16 or the client will be charged by the owner after using the telephone unit 16.
On request, the owner activates the telephone unit 16 via the master unit 18. By analysing the number dialled the microprocessor 26 determines which unit cost to charge and also the time duration of a unit. The microprocessor 26 logs the starting time and ending time for determining the duration of usage of the telephone unit 16. The microprocessor 26 calculates the cost incurred by the usage of the
telephone unit 16. The cost can be increased by a certain amount for obtaining the charge to the client.
All the relevant information can be displayed on the remote display 20 and the display unit 22. If necessary the information can be cleared or accessed via the keyboard 24.
All the information contained in or calculated by the microprocessor 26 is stored so that the information is not last or destroyed if a power failure occurs.
The microprocessor 26 can be connected to the Internet or any similar computerised downloading system for downloading new tariff tables.
The telecommunication arrangement 10 can be installed in any location.
The telecommunication arrangement 10 can be associated with any conventional telephone network 14 or telephone unit 16.