FR2657742A1 - Programmer/meter for telephone units - Google Patents

Abstract

This appliance (3) equips a telephone line (1) which is a single line but serves a plurality of users. It totalises the telephone billing units which can be allocated to each user, and thus allows equitable distribution of the costs of using the line. To that end, the appliance comprises a programming keyboard (4) which allows each user initially to insert a personal access code (C1, C2, etc). Upon using the telephone set (2), the user first of all types in his personal access code, which must be recognised by the apparatus, then the call number of his correspondent. The telephone units (N1, N2, etc) are then counted and allocated on an account assigned to the user in question, identified by his code. On the other hand, all the appliances calling in from outside can be received by any user.

Description

"Timer counters for telephone units"
The present invention relates to a programmer-counter for telephone units, constituting an apparatus specially designed to equip a single telephone line but serving a plurality of users. Thus, this programmer-counter allows in particular a fair distribution of user costs, evaluated in taxation units, when several people share the same telephone line. This is the case, for example, in communities and on construction sites where a single telephone set is made available to various companies, or craftsmen or other persons, working on the site.

 Telephone unit counters are certainly already known and commonly used, but these existing devices are suitable for a single user and do not allow the individual "consumption" of several users of the same telephone line to be separated.

 There are also known, for installations with several telephone sets, systems for filtering or discriminating telephone calls from outside, in which the caller must dial a particular encrypted code to obtain or select his correspondent. Such systems do not, however, offer any possibility of distinguishing users of the same telephone line, with regard to calls made to the outside (and not received) by these users.

In addition, the presence of a device for controlling the consumption of several users of the same telephone line must in no case, for example on a site, limit the possibility of receiving calls from outside, or prevent any user from using the telephone to dial a specific emergency number (police, fire department, doctor, etc.) in the event of danger, request for help,
There is therefore a specific need, which the materials currently on the market cannot in any way satisfy.

The present invention overcomes this shortcoming by providing a programmer-counter for telephone units which essentially comprises a programming keyboard allowing each user to initially enter a personal access code, storage means, in particular codes for user access, on-hook detection, dialed number, start and end of communication, and ringing detection means, telephone unit counting means, means
recording and totaling the number of telephone units
attributable to each user identified by an access code, and a relay
line interruption placed under the control of the above means.

We thus obtain a device capable of counting the units
used by each user identified by a code
personal access. When he wishes to call an outside correspondent,
the user picks up the handset, first dials on the dial of the device
telephone his personal access code, which must be recognized by
the device, then dials the caller's number; the
communication is then authorized by the relay and the telephone units,
determined from a unit pulse return from a central
which is a classic possibility, are counted and imputed on
an account assigned to the user in question. The actual consumption of
each user of the telephone line is thus controlled, with
precise summation of the telephone units corresponding to its calls to
The overall cost of using the telephone line can
be distributed fairly among all the people who share this
line.

The number of telephone units consumable by each user, identified by a memorized code, may not be limited, or may be
on the contrary limited by a specific programming, allocating a certain
number of units for each user to avoid misuse of the
a phone booth. The apparatus also advantageously comprises
alphanumeric display means, which facilitate the programming of
respective access codes of users, and where appropriate, numbers
telephone units allocated to these users, and which also allow the
display of the consumption of telephone units of each user.

Results can also be collected on a small local printer
connected to the device, which edits the consumption of telephone units
of each user, or be transmitted remotely, to a computer
and its printer, via a "modem" device, which
allows further processing, up to real invoicing
detailed for each user.

In all cases, the programmer-pulse counter
according to the invention authorizes reception, by a user
any call from outside, thanks to
ringing detection means placed on the telephone line upstream of the line interruption relay, which remains closed and maintains the continuity of the telephone line when this line is free. On the other hand, taking into account the intervention of other detection means, the relay is open and cuts the line, if a user wishing to make a call does not dial a recognized access code, or if a user dials his number. access but no longer has a credit for telephone units (in the case where a limit number of allocated units is programmed).

 However, the memory means of the device can store predetermined telephone numbers which can be called independently of personal access codes, therefore by a person who does not have an individual code or who has exhausted his credit for telephone units. ; these numbers are in particular those of emergency calls.

In the case of dialing such a number, the relay does not cut the telephone line so that the call is transmitted to the outside.

 The device can also authorize the programming, by each user, of "priority" call numbers which are specific to him (professional, personal numbers, etc.) and for which communication will always be established, as for call calls. emergency considered above.

 Of course, thanks to the programming keyboard, the personal access codes of the users can be periodically modified so as to keep, as much as possible, their confidential nature.

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of this programmer-counter for telephone units
Figure 1 is an explanatory overview, very schematic, of the device object of the invention, inserted on a telephone line
Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the apparatus of Figure 1.

 In the general diagram of FIG. 1, the reference 1 designates a line of the telephone network, this line serving a single telephone set 2, represented here as a conventional handset telephone. I1 is assumed that the telephone set 2 is made available to a plurality of usual users, in a maximum number n determined.

 The telephone unit programmer-counter according to the invention, designated overall by 3, is interposed between telephone line 1 and telephone set 2, and its main function is to separately totalize the telephone charging units consumed by each of the n users extension 2, during calls made by said users from this extension 2 to the outside.

 To this end, the box of the programmer-counter 3 is provided with a programming keyboard 4, the keys of which for example sixteen in number allow each user N "1, N 2, ... or N" n of initially register in the device an access code s personal number respectively C1, C2, ... or Cn; an alphanumeric display 5, for example with liquid crystal, facilitates programming. Thus, when he wishes to call an external correspondent, each user N "1, N 2, or N" n must, after lifting the handset, dial first his personal access code Cl, C2..or Cn to identify himself, then dial the ordinary call number of his correspondent. The programmer-counter 3 can then authorize the communication and count the telephone units, by charging them to the user identified by his personal access code C1, C2, ... or Cn and having, inside the device, a totalizing register constituting a personal "counter" which records a cumulative number of units N1, N2, ... or Nn.

 For the operation of the programmer-counter 3, it is supplied with electrical energy by the alternative network 6, and it still advantageously has an emergency power supply by a battery 7. The device also uses the reference of unit pulses, provided on telephone line 1 by the official telephone services on request.

 The display 5 is also used for the indication of the results, that is to say mainly the total number of telephone units NI, N2, ... or Nn consumed by each user for a determined period, such as day, week or month. The device also includes a connection 8 for the connection of a small printer, to which the results can be transmitted, here too for example at the end of the day, week or month.

In addition, the keyboard 4 allows the programming, by each user or by the holder of the telephone line 1, of a maximum daily, weekly or monthly consumption, if an operating system is used in which a limited number of 'telephone units are allocated to each user for a given duration. In this hypothesis, before establishing a communication with a called correspondent, the countdown programmer 3 not only ensures the identification of the user by his
personal access code, but still checking for the existence of a
credit units to this user's account.

Figure 2 shows more precisely in the form of a block diagram the
programmer-counter 3, of which the keyboard 4 is found in this figure,
the display 5 and the supply by the alternative network 6, resulting in a
power supply 9. For its operation, the device also includes
a line interrupt relay 10, interposed on the telephone line 1, a
ring detector 1 1 placed on line 1 upstream of relay 10, and a
set of sensors 12 located between the relay 10 and the telephone set 2.

In the set of sensors 12, a distinction can be made between:
stall 13, a dialed number sensor 14, a start detector
communication 15, an end of communication detector 16 and a counter
telephone units 17.

The purely electronic part of the device also includes a
microprocessor 18 with oscillator-clock 19, a memory 20 containing
the program, a control logic 21, an erasable read only memory
22, RAM 23 and 24 and a calendar-clock 25. These
components are interconnected, as well as the other elements described more
top, by an address bus 26, a data bus 27 and a bus
commands 28. A communication interface 29 is provided between the bus
of addresses 26 and the line interrupt relay 10.

In the event of an outside call, the ring detector
11 intervenes and controls the maintenance of relay 10 in the closed state. The
communication can then be received by anyone who picks up the
telephone set handset 2.

If a person wishes to make a call to a
outside correspondent, she picks up the receiver then dials
successively his personal access code C1, C2, ... or Cn and the number
of his correspondent, as already indicated above, which requests the
stall detector 13 and the dialed number sensor 14. If the code
access, compared to those saved in memory, is recognized, relay 10
is kept closed via interface 29. Communication
with the outside correspondent is thus established; the beginning and the end of the
communication are recognized by detectors 15 and 16, and also thanks to
telephone unit counter 17, the device determines the number of units assigned to this communication. This number of units, charged to the user
identified, is saved or totaled in one of the memories.

If a person dials the call number of a correspondent
any, without having previously indicated their personal access code, the
relay 10 remains open and communication is not established. However, the
programming certain emergency or priority telephone numbers allows
calling these numbers without prior code indication, the device
recognizing the composition of such a number previously set
memory, and now the relay 10 closed.

Programming and processing resources used
can offer, in connection with the identification of users by their
codes, additional options such as
- limitation of the number of telephone units allocated to a user with, in case of overflow, prohibition of new calls
by opening relay 10, except when dialing a number
emergency or priority call
- prohibition of certain telephone numbers for a user
given
- memorization of the characteristics of the calls made, such as
date and time, duration, number of units, number called, this for each
user.

A telephone unit programmer-counter, conforming to
the invention can be adapted for example for 25 different users
of the same telephone line, and can store approximately 2000 calls
in the case of the last option above. Extension possibilities are
naturally offered, in particular with regard to the capacity of
memories.

Of course, indicating and collecting results can also
be carried out in various ways: simple reading of a number of units
on display 5, transfer to a printer via connection 8,
remote transmission by modem device, establishment of a
detailed billing, broken down by line users
telephone 1.

As is obvious, and as is clear from the above,
the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this
telephone unit programmer-counter which has been described above,
for exemple ; on the contrary, it embraces all variants of
realization and application respecting the same principle. This is how,
in particular, that the present invention is in no way limited, in its application, to a telephone line leading to a station with a handset, and that other advantageous applications are the just distribution of the costs of using a fax machine or a "Minitel" type terminal made available to several users. The device is also adaptable to the future ISDN network. In another variant, the telephone handset can be incorporated into the device according to the invention.

Claims (7)

 1. Telephone unit programmer-counter, intended to equip a single telephone line (1) but serving a plurality of users, and in particular allowing a fair distribution of the costs of use, between the users of the line, characterized in that that it essentially comprises a programming keyboard (4) allowing each user to initially introduce a personal access code (C1, C2, ...), storage means (20 to 24), in particular user access codes, means for detecting (11 to 16) off-hook, dialed number, start and end of communication, as well that of ringing, means of counting telephone units (17), means of recording and totaling the number of telephone units (N1, N2, ...) attributable to each user identified by an access code (C1, C2, ...) and a line interrupt relay (10) placed under the control of the above means.  2. Telephone unit programmer-counter according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided for programming a limited number of telephone units (N1, N2, ...) allocated to each user, identified by his personal access code (C1, C2, ...).  3. Programmer-counter for telephone units according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises alphanumeric display means (5), facilitating the programming of the respective access codes (C1, C2, .. .) of the users and, where appropriate, of the numbers of telephone units (N1, N2, ...) allocated to these users, and also making it possible to display the consumption of telephone units of each user.  4. Programmer-counter for telephone units according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a connection (8) for the connection of a printer, provided in particular for editing consumption of telephone units of each user.  5. Programmer-counter for telephone units according to any one of claims I to 4, characterized in that its storage means (20 to 24) are provided for storing predetermined telephone numbers, which can be called independently of the codes access (C1, C2, ...), the line interrupt relay (10) does not cut the telephone line (1) when dialing such a number.  6. Programmer-counter for telephone units according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ringing detection means (11) are placed on the telephone line (1) upstream of the relay (10) d line interruption, the latter remaining closed when this line (1) is free, the programmer-counter thus authorizing the reception, by any user, of all calls from outside.  7. programmer-counter of telephone units according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is further provided for memorizing the characteristics of the calls made, such as date and time, duration, number of units, number called, this for each user.