EP0064062A1 - Procede et dispositif pour elaborer et delivrer le montant de taxes telephoniques - Google Patents
Procede et dispositif pour elaborer et delivrer le montant de taxes telephoniquesInfo
- Publication number
- EP0064062A1 EP0064062A1 EP81902973A EP81902973A EP0064062A1 EP 0064062 A1 EP0064062 A1 EP 0064062A1 EP 81902973 A EP81902973 A EP 81902973A EP 81902973 A EP81902973 A EP 81902973A EP 0064062 A1 EP0064062 A1 EP 0064062A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tax
- signal
- telephone
- time
- coefficient
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
- H04M15/28—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
- H04M15/30—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method and a device for generating and issuing the amount of telephone charges relating to telephone calls. It can be applied to any telephone set to provide the amount of charges corresponding to the various calls made from it.
- tax meters called to associate with a telephone set i that to provide for each call the amount of the corresponding telephone tax.
- the current counters can only be used in the case where the telecommunications administration generates and transmits on the line tax signals representing during each call the amount of tax due; these meters are in fact simply adapted to record these charge signals, decode them and display them.
- the administration To transmit on the line of the station calling these tax signals, the administration must set up, at the level of the telephone exchange, a specific device for each station, which delivers these signals. This installation therefore requires special intervention on the part of the administration and the addition of these specific devices is currently relatively rare because of these constraints.
- the current meters by their very principle of operation, cannot allow the verification of invoices issued by the administration since it is the tax signals issued by the latter which are taken into account in the meter. of the subscriber's tax under these conditions, the errors of calculation in a tax are reflected at the level of this meter and are not detectable by the subscriber.
- the present invention proposes to overcome the shortcomings of known tax counters.
- An object of the invention is in particular to indicate a method and to provide a device, the implementation or operation of which are independent of the calculations made by the telecommunications administration and are based solely on the tariffs published by the latter, so as to allow effective control of invoicing.
- Another objective is to allow simple and inexpensive installation of the device covered by the invention on the subscriber's set, without intervention at the telephone exchange.
- Another objective is to make it possible to carry out this installation in all practical cases which arise whatever the type of exchange.
- Another objective is to provide the subscriber with the amount of the charge corresponding to a call not only at the end of the communication, but also as it evolves, so as to allow the subscriber to control the amount of his telephone expenditure in order, if necessary, to reduce it by shortening the calls.
- Another objective is to allow an easy update of the device according to the current pricing, by a simple manual command called to be actuated by the subscriber during each tariff modification by the administration.
- the method of the invention for developing and delivering, according to a pricing, the amount of a telephone charge for a telephone call between a calling station and a called station consists of:
- the method of the invention takes into account the current pulses emitted by the calling station and consists, from these, in generating coded signals representative of the called number. From a calling station in question, these coded signals unequivocally provide the elements for determining the charging coefficient to be applied for the call in question and such a coefficient can therefore be extracted from the aforementioned tables. Its knowledge and the detection of the start and end of communication information make it possible to calculate the amount of the telephone tax, without the need for specific signals coming from the administration's telephone exchange. The method of the invention can therefore be implemented in all cases, without intervention being necessary at the central level. It leads to a calculation of the amount of taxes due, independent of that of the telecommunications administration and from independent data, so that it constitutes a means of effective control of the latter's invoicing.
- the pricing applied by the administration is variable over time within a determined period; for example, a reduced rate is applied at weekends on Sundays, as well as at night during predetermined time slots, which depend on the numbers called.
- a reduced rate is applied at weekends on Sundays, as well as at night during predetermined time slots, which depend on the numbers called.
- the tables of tax coefficients are established so that they include, for each tax coefficient, time parameters defining instants of pricing change,
- clock signals representative of the instants of the above-mentioned period of time are generated, . after selection of a tax coefficient, the clock signals and the time parameters of the tables are compared in order to modulate the tax coefficient according to the variation in pricing,
- this modulated charging coefficient is used to generate the signal representative of the amount of the telephone tax.
- the selection of a charging coefficient simultaneously provides time parameters concerning the time slots for application of the reduced rate.
- the comparison of the clock signals and of these slots makes it possible to modulate the charging coefficient to generate for each call the real amount of the telephone tax due.
- time pulses taken into account are generated from the communication start information
- a succession of signals representative of the progressive amount of the telephone tax is generated from the aforesaid time pulses and from the charging coefficient delivered.
- the subscriber thus has, throughout the duration of the communication, the instantaneous amount of the tax due; he can thus become aware of the cost of his call and act if necessary in order to limit the expense by shortening useless conversations.
- the signals representative of the charges for different communications are added from an initial instant, the charge signal corresponding to the last communication being stored in memory in order to deliver it on command in a usable form.
- the subscriber has the total due from an initial instant, for example from the date of the last billing issued by the administration, which will allow him instantaneous control of the next billing.
- the administration's pricing is calculated from a basic charge and a temporal charging coefficient defining a unit of time which depends on the current pricing.
- the basic tax is a constant which is brought to evolve from time to time when the administration changes tariff; the temporal charging coefficient depends on the relative position of the calling set and the called set and, where applicable, the reduced rate reduction granted.
- the tax due is calculated by multiplying this basic tax by the number of time units corresponding to the call in question.
- counting means are incremented, the unit increment value of which is the basic charge.
- This mode of implementation is particularly simple and makes it possible, as will be seen below, to use an implementation device having a reduced number of components.
- the invention extends to a device for implementing the method defined above.
- this device comprises the combination of the following means:
- an interface for detecting the currents existing on the telephone line of a calling station suitable for detecting the current levels on said line and their direction, with a view to delivering signals representative, on the one hand, of the various digits of a number called, on the other hand, the start and end of communication,
- a set of read-only memories of suitable capacity to contain tables of addressing and charging coefficients .
- a microprocessor having calculation means, in particular counting means, temporary storage means, and a clock providing time reference pulses,
- a second set of ROMs associated with the microprocessor and of suitable capacity to contain a program for sequentially triggering the operations to be carried out
- At least one display device comprising means for displaying the amount of telephone charges
- an adaptation interface arranged between the detection interface, the display peripheral and the microprocessor and adapted to make the signals transmitted and received by these interfaces, peripheral and microprocessor compatible.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is an electronic diagram of one of the assemblies of the device,
- FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e are symbolic diagrams illustrating the detection on the line and the generation of coded signals representative of the digits of a called number
- figure 4 is a table giving an example of the binary codes which can be adopted
- FIG. 5 is a symbolic diagram illustrating a table exploration mode in accordance with the method of the invention.
- FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c are symbolic diagrams illustrating the development of the amount of a telephone charge.
- the device whose block diagram is shown by way of example in Figure 1 is intended to develop and deliver the amounts of the telephone charges of a calling station P whatever the called stations and in the absence on the telephone line L of this position, special signals representing the said amounts.
- This device comprises the combination of the various sets which will be described below.
- a detection interface 1 is mounted in series on the line L to detect the currents existing on the latter; a preferred example of interface will be described later.
- This interface 1 delivers analog signals which reflect the currents at several levels present on the line.
- An adaptation interface 2 of the "PIA" type. is connected to this detection interface 1 and to the other assemblies of the device, essentially microprocessor 3, function switch 4, manual controls 5 and display peripheral 6, with a view to making the signals emitted and received by these assemblies compatible according to the technology adopted to achieve them.
- the microprocessor 3 is adapted to manage the operation of the device in order to sequentially trigger and control the various Operations to be carried out.
- this clock associated with a frequency divider plays the role of means of generating real time signals which will make it possible to display the time, which constitutes, as will be seen, one of the functions of the device described as 'example.
- Two sets of ROMs are associated with the microprocessor 3, a first set 7 having a capacity of the order of 1 kilobyte, suitable for containing tables of addressing and charging coefficients (which will be mentioned later), and a second set 8 of similar capacity, adapted to contain the working program of the microprocessor.
- the device comprises a display peripheral 6 composed in a conventional manner of transcoding means and display means such as a digital display with segments.
- the display means of the peripheral 6 are common to the various functions provided by it and are called upon to play, in turn, the role of display means of the amount of the telephone tax corresponding to a call, means for displaying the basic tax contained in the memory registers of the microprocessor, means for displaying the time, finally means for displaying the amounts of accumulated taxes.
- the manual control means symbolized in ⁇ are themselves common to the various functions and are adapted to allow the user to control by a manual action, either a display of the amount of the tax relating to the last communication, or a display and/or a modification of the basic tax, either a reset to the hour, or a display and/or a reset of the amount of the accumulated taxes.
- these means 5 comprise two pushbuttons, which, depending on the function, play the role either of incrementation and decrementation pushbuttons. tion to vary in one direction or the other the information displayed, or buttons causing the display of the amount of the last communication or the cumulative amount of communications from an initial time.
- the function switch 4 already mentioned is suitable for directing in the desired manner, depending on its position, the control means and the display means to the function sought.
- this switch comprises four positions designated by A, B, C, D, the effects of which will be described below.
- This switch in itself of the conventional type is associated with safety locking means 9, for example a key system. This system has two states, a locked state where it renders manual control of the switch inoperative so as to obtain so-called normal operation, and an unlocked state where it authorizes control of the switch and allows it to be placed in all positions A, B, C, D for modifications.
- the switch 4 and the locking means can be adapted (in relation to the program of the microprocessor stored in the memories 8) to produce the following switches: Locked position of the means 9 (normal operation) - telephone handset at the resting on its support: linking the real-time generation means of the microprocessor with the display means, with a view to displaying the time,
- - picking up the handset linking the counting means of the microprocessor (comprising a charge sum counter) with the display means, in order to display the amount of the cumulative charges corresponding to the calls made from a moment initial,
- control means 5 are arranged in such a way to be able to connect the display means, either, in the event of action on one of the push-buttons, with a storage register of the microprocessor in which the amount of the charge relating to the last communication is stored, or, in the event of action on the other push-button, with the summation counter of the microprocessor. The subscriber thus has the possibility of obtaining this information by simply pressing the appropriate button. Unlocked position of means 9 Switch position A
- the display means of the peripheral 6 can comprise a printer of a type known per se, supplying the various pieces of information or some of them in printed form.
- the detection interface 1 is of the type shown schematically in Figure 2 and comp renders a bidirectional photo-coupler, consisting of:
- a primary circuit 1a adapted to be connected in series on the telephone line of the calling station and comprising two photo-emissive diodes 10, 11, mounted head to tail and a resistance in parallel 12,
- a secondary circuit 1b connected to the adaptation interface 2 and comprising two photosensitive receivers 12, 13 delivering signals representative of the current levels on the line.
- This interface provided with a connecting strip 14 with the line makes it possible to unidirectionally decouple the device with respect to the telephone line so that the signals present downstream of the receivers 12 and 13 cannot in any case interfere with those of the line.
- the signal detected on the line which is delivered by the detection interface 1 has a general shape as symbolized in FIG. 3a and comprises a current signal at several levels corresponding to the current pulses generated on the line by the composition of a number or to a current reversal caused when the called station is unhooked or even to a current reversal or a cut caused when the called station or the calling station is hung up.
- this signal is modulated by a ringing current with a frequency equal to 50 Hz in France.
- This average is then compared with value thresholds (FIG. 3c) to deliver an electrical signal at at least three levels; preferably, the comparison is made with respect to a positive threshold and a negative threshold and the signal delivered (fig. 3d) is at three levels, corresponding to the absence of current on the line (level 0), to a current positive (level +) and a negative current (level -).
- FIG. 4 has given by way of example a table of correspondence between the aforementioned states and the binary words which are used to code these states.
- the words thus generated are stored in the memory means of the microprocessor and a coded signal representative of each digit of the number is generated from their succession.
- the number 1 is represented by the succession of the following 3 words: either 001.101.001 or 011.101.011.
- the microprocessor When this sequence appears, the microprocessor provides a binary coded signal, for example 0001, representative of this number.
- the off-hook of the called station causes a current inversion on the line.
- the detection of the start of the communication consists in permanently generating the electrical signal at three levels mentioned above and in detecting this inversion which results in two successive changes of levels on this signal (transition from positive to zero, then from zero to negative or the opposite) ; these changes correspond to the succession of the following three words: 001, 101, 011 or 011, 101, 001.
- the end of communication detection consists in detecting either this second inversion following a first one (dropout), or this break, which result in the appearance either of the three words already indicated, or of the following word: 010 corresponding to the zero level long duration.
- this signal is canceled when these three words or this word appear, in order to inhibit the generation of charging pulses.
- the coded signals representative of the called number make it possible to select the charging coefficient applicable for the communication concerned between the calling station (equipped with the device of the invention) and the called station (corresponding to the dialed number).
- FIG. 5 a series of tables are established as illustrated in FIG. 5 which are stored in the memories 7 of the device. These tables are based on the location of the calling set and are the same for all sets in a region with the same pricing; they are therefore prerecorded in the memories 7 by the manufacturer taking into account the region of destination of the device.
- These tables firstly comprise a table of charging coefficient T c which comprises, on the one hand, charging coefficients, on the other hand, time parameters defining instants of pricing change.
- the charging coefficients are made up of more or less long time units depending inversely on the distance of the region of the called number from that of the calling station; there are as many tax coefficients as there are different tariffs depending on the distance published by the administration.
- the tables also include tables of addresses T A including an initial table T Ao .
- Each table of addresses T A or T Ao comprises addresses either of other tables of addresses T A or of charging coefficients of the table T C .
- the method of selecting the charging coefficient consists, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in exploring the initial table of addresses T Ao as a function of the first coded signal of the series representing the number called (1st digit); one thus selects either the address of a tax coefficient in the table T C , or the address of another address table T A . In the latter case, this other table of addresses is explored according to the second coded signal (2nd digit) and these operations are continued according to the various coded signals until the address of a tax coefficient in the table is selected. T C. This table T C is then explored with a view to selecting the charging coefficient corresponding to said address.
- the clock signals generated by the microprocessor are used, which are representative of the instants of a determined period of time (period of variation of the pricing). After selection of a charging coefficient, these clock signals and the time parameters (associated in the table T C with this coefficient) are compared with a view to modulating said charging coefficient as a function of the variation in pricing. It is this modulated coefficient which is then used to generate the signal representing the amount of the telephone tax.
- the pricing system in France comprises normal pricing and reduced pricing applicable, on the one hand, during the night period, on the other hand, during one or more days of the week (Sunday).
- the parameters associated with each charging coefficient are then two in number and define the night/day tariff change times, while the clock signals generated are representative of the times of a week.
- a preferred mode of implementation of the method consists, in this case: in carrying out a test on these clock signals to generate, if necessary, a coded signal when one is on a day with reduced pricing (Saturday, Sunday), in the absence of the signal coded above, in carrying out the comparison mentioned above between the clock signals and the nighttime/daytime time parameters with a view to modulating, if necessary, the charging coefficient to apply the reduced pricing. in the presence of the signal coded above, to directly modulate the tax coefficient to apply the reduced pricing.
- the telephone tax is calculated from this unit of time and a basic tax (which is likely to be modified by the administration due to a price change).
- the subscriber enters the value of this basic charge in a memory register of the microprocessor at each rate change.
- the telephone charge can then be obtained by generating charging pulses (Fig. 6a) temporally distant from periods corresponding to the selected time unit and this, for the entire duration the validation signal mentioned previously (FIG. 6b) (which corresponds to the duration of the communication).
- Each charging pulse is used to increment the counting means of the microprocessor, the unit increment value of which is the basic charge (FIG. 6c).
- the value recorded in these counting means represents the telephone charge at each instant.
- these counting means are reset when dialing the next number, for example by taking into account the coded signal representative of the first digit of this number in order to generate a reset signal.
- these counting means which are incremented from zero provide the progressive value of the telephone tax which is displayed on the peripheral 6 as seen previously; moreover, between two communications, said counting means store in memory the charge for the last call, which it is thus possible to display on command as already explained.
- the invention is not limited to the terms of the previous previous cri pti, but in comp makes all the variants.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR8023780 | 1980-11-06 | ||
FR8023780A FR2493648A1 (fr) | 1980-11-06 | 1980-11-06 | Procede et dispositif pour elaborer et delivrer le montant de taxes telephoniques |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0064062A1 true EP0064062A1 (fr) | 1982-11-10 |
Family
ID=9247760
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP81902973A Withdrawn EP0064062A1 (fr) | 1980-11-06 | 1981-10-27 | Procede et dispositif pour elaborer et delivrer le montant de taxes telephoniques |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0064062A1 (fr) |
FR (1) | FR2493648A1 (fr) |
OA (1) | OA07142A (fr) |
WO (1) | WO1982001634A1 (fr) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2121568A (en) * | 1982-05-14 | 1983-12-21 | Answercall Limited | Telephone subscriber private metering |
GB8301421D0 (en) * | 1983-01-19 | 1983-02-23 | Rathdown Ind Ltd | Telephone call cost indicator |
US4538030A (en) * | 1983-12-08 | 1985-08-27 | At&T Information Systems Inc. | Method and apparatus for establishing telephone calling costs |
FR2566118A1 (fr) * | 1984-06-13 | 1985-12-20 | Thomson Csf Mat Tel | Dispositif de taxation d'appels telephoniques |
FR2643202A1 (en) * | 1989-02-10 | 1990-08-17 | Cardon Jean Luc | Monitoring device for telephone apparatus |
FR2656967A1 (fr) * | 1990-01-10 | 1991-07-12 | Bastiand Alexandre | Automate et table pour la determination du cout d'une communication dans un reseau. |
GB2246685A (en) * | 1990-08-02 | 1992-02-05 | Pak Sun Keu | Telephone metering |
US6094644A (en) * | 1997-09-12 | 2000-07-25 | Nortel Networks Corporation | Method and apparatus for recording actual time used by a service which makes requests for data |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4122308A (en) * | 1977-06-03 | 1978-10-24 | Utility Verification Corp. | Telephone call metering device |
FR2408955A1 (fr) * | 1977-11-10 | 1979-06-08 | Basset Charles | Dispositif electronique associe a un telephone permettant de calculer, d'indiquer et de controler le montant des communications telephoniques |
FR2444379A1 (fr) * | 1978-12-11 | 1980-07-11 | Jouin Denis | Indicateur de taxe telephonique au fur et a mesure du deroulement de celle-ci |
FR2447654A1 (fr) * | 1979-01-24 | 1980-08-22 | App Automatiques Sa Fse | Dispositif pour l'affichage de la duree d'une communication telephonique |
FR2462071A1 (fr) * | 1979-07-24 | 1981-02-06 | Serres Bernard | Appareil enregistreur automatique du cout d'une communication telephonique |
-
1980
- 1980-11-06 FR FR8023780A patent/FR2493648A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
-
1981
- 1981-10-27 EP EP81902973A patent/EP0064062A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
- 1981-10-27 WO PCT/FR1981/000140 patent/WO1982001634A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1982
- 1982-07-06 OA OA57733A patent/OA07142A/fr unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1982001634A1 (fr) | 1982-05-13 |
FR2493648A1 (fr) | 1982-05-07 |
OA07142A (fr) | 1984-03-31 |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19830110 |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
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RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: PONS, JEAN Inventor name: CARTON, PATRICK Inventor name: SAINT-MARTIN, CHARLES Inventor name: FONTENAUD, SERGE Inventor name: MONNIER, GERARD |