GB2171877A

GB2171877A - Telephone system

Info

Publication number: GB2171877A
Application number: GB08600691A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zvi Kamil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-01-13
Filing date: 1986-01-13
Publication date: 1986-09-03
Also published as: GB8600691D0; JPS61210754A; JPH10164234A; GB2171877B; JP2997709B2; JP2672085B2; BE904024A

Abstract

A telephone system is provided for enabling prepayment for telephone calls, wherein special code and credit information is stored in memory in special exchanges and debited as the call progresses. The system includes a special exchange having a memory 86 for storing special subscriber codes and credit information. Verifying means 83, 84 verifies a caller code and checks that the caller has available credit. Means 89, 91 are provided for then connecting the caller to the called party. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone system This invention is concerned with telephone systems and more particularly with telephone systems wherein when a prepayment is in force the prepaid party can use anytelephone forcompleting telephone calls including toll calls. The telephone system may include public phones dedicated to use by prepaid parties.

Telephones are generally available almost everywhere. Most telephones are private and any telephone calls are charged to the telephone on a monthly, bimothly or quarterly basis. It is not always possible or convenientto determine the time and charges for a single telephone call as it is made. Accordingly the use ofsomebody else's phone is often awkward.

Further, toll or long distance telephone calls are used more and more as people travel more and conduct business on a less localized basis. Presently long distance calls can be made by charging the call to a local telephone such as for example to a telephone in a hotel room. The long distance call can be made by instant payment such as for example when using a public payphone. The long distance call can be made by charging the call to the calling party's home or business telephone or by using a telephone company credit card number. The long distance call can also be made as a "collect call" where the called party had to acceptthe call and is then billed the time and charges forthe call.

Each of these present day methods for making and paying fortoll calls has significant detriments. For example when a call is chargedto hotel room telephones the hotel adds its charges to the call thereby disproportionately increasing the cost ofthe call.

It is extremely difficult to make long distance calls from public payphones since it requires large amounts ofthe coins- not ordinarily carried aboutespecially when touring or on a business trip.

The use of credit card calls often results in mistaken charges billed to thetelephone credit card number.

Further, to obtain a telephone credit requires credit checks and the establishment of credit, often almost impossible to acquire.

Salesmen similarly should beabletocalltheirhome offices from a customer's telephone without having the call charged to the customer's telephone which is inconvenient ortotheir home office phone with the previously mentioned difficulties and the added cost.

Thus there is a long felt need for a system which enabled making telephone calls including local ortoll calls conveniently, inexpensiveiy and from anytelephone. Thus, if a party wants to make a call, be it a local call or a long distance national or international call, he should be able to accomplish the call from the nearest available telephone.

Accordingly to a broad aspect of the invention, a telephone system is provided for enabling prepayment oftelephone calls, said system comprising: - means for coupling a calling party's station to a special central office for certifying said calling party responsive to a certified code transmitted from the calling party's station to the special central office when said calling party has a credit on a prepayment, and -meansforenablingtheconnectionofsaid calling party station to desired called party station responsive to said certification.

Means may be provided in the special central station forfurther increasing the cost effectiveness of the system by selectively routing the call over the least expensive available line.

A preferred embodiment ofthe invention provides for dedicated public paystations connected to the special central stations thereby enabling the use of the paystationsto connect to called party telephone stations with out the use of coins but instead by using said certifiable code.

According to another broad aspect of the present invention, a method enabling the coinless use of dedicated public telephones is provided, said method comprising the steps of: connecting calling station dial means to a special central station; transmitting identification signals from the station to the central station, said indentification signals generated responsive to the operation ofthestation dial means or othersignal means; comparing calling party dialed signals to said identification signals stored at said central station for verification; and conecting the calling station to a called station ifthere is verification.

The verification may include a code numberverification as well as a credit verification.

The connection may be automatically opened when means such as a peg counter indicates that the calling party has reached a credit limit.

A special dial tone may be connected from the central station to indicatethatthe dialing apparatus of the calling party station has been connected to the computer. A regular dial tone is transmitted to the calling party station when verification is complete and successful; that is, when the calling party has used the proper code number and has credit in his account two enable the call. Credit of course can be established by the deposit of money with the telephone company sufficientto make a certain numberofcalls.

Accordingly to fu rther aspects ofthe invention, there are provided a method and a system as defined in the appended claims 1 and 10, respectively.

The invention will be further described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. lisa flow chart showing a preferred method of use of any private telephone by a prepaid customer; Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing a preferred method of use of dedicated paystations not requiring coins or special slugs or tokens; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing of parts of a telephone system forming a first embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a biock diagram of a typical telephone system forming a second embodiment ofthe invention.

The customer, such as a regulartelephoneuserora traveller, acquires a special code, a creditamount and the telephone number ofthe special central offices by eithercash or credit card payment. The code, the credit amount and telephone numbers may be ac quired, forexample through the regular credit card companies and charged to the acquirer's credit card.

Alternatively, the credit amount, the telephone numbers and identifying code can be purchased at sales points such as in airports, hotels, rent-a-car stations and the like. The amount paid is credited to the acquirerfor use againstfuturetelephone calls. The credited amount is stored in a memory at the special central office along with the special code. The acquisition ofthe code and telephone number is indicated at block 12 of Fig. 1.

Subsequentlythereto,the acquiring pa rty wishes to make a telephone call which may be a local call or a toll call. He uses the nearest availabletelephone, removes the handsetand dials a special central office, as indicated at blocks 13 and 14. The telephone in this example is a private station. When he is conectedto the special central office (traveller phone serves office) or example, 14, a special dial tone is sentfrom the special exchange to the calling station. When the calling party hearsthe special dial tone indicating that the computeratthe exchange is readyfor him he dials the identifying code and the called number he wants as indicated at block 17. The computeratthe special exchange checks the code and registers the desired called number.

If the code number is a genuine code with credit i.e.

valid as indicated at block 18 and 19 a regular dial tone is sentto the calling partystation as he is connected to the regulartelephone system. The computeratthe special exchange routes the call on the most economical available lines, according to prior arrangements with lostdistance line suppliers if it is a toll call.

The calling party's predialled numbers are transmit- ted as indicated at block 21. Of course the system can be arranged so that the calling party dials the called party responsive to receipt of regular dial tone.

In a preferred embodimentthe special exchange equipment provides an artificial or prerecorded voice announcement stating the amount of credit available and thatthe amount of credit is equivalentto so many minutes of talking time on the call being connected.

This announcement is actively shown at block 22. The announcement is made according to the charge rate forthe distance between calling and called parties shown at block 23.

In a preferred embodiment the credit check is accomplished contemporaneouslywiththe number code verification. If the code is invalid an announcemenu is made advising the customerto try again as shown at block24. The customeris allowed a plurality oftries (such as three) before being disconnected from the special central office as shown at blocks 26 and 27.

If he is trying asain forthe second and third times he is reconnected to receive the special dial tone. After the third time he is released from the special exchange after receiving a recorded announcement explaining thatthecodeis notvalid.

The calling party may dial while the verification is being accomplished, in which case when the calling party hears normal dial tone, a register in the exchange can then inputthe dialled information to cause the exchange to complete the call between the calling party and the called party.

At this time as indicated by block 28 the normal time and distance computer circuit, shown as a peg counter, is put into service to provide information for timing the call against the available credit. The information from the peg counter is sent to a comparator 29 to continuously determine whether the calling party's credit is sufficientto pay forth call.

When the credit equals the used time rate the call is automatically ended by the computer as indicated by the block 31.

Block 31 opens the connection between the calling and called party, the connection to the computer however remains and an announcement is made to notify the customerto insert another code number, ifavailable. This actively is indicated at block 32. Ifa new code number is not inserted as indicated in block 33 by the yes output, then the calling party again receives dial tone and can dial a newcalled party. In other words he goes backto the inputto block 17 where he has computertone and he is told to dial the code number and the calling party number. All the steps of block 17, 19,21 etc. are repeated and the new call is connected. If he does not have a new code number, then the connection between the computer and the calling party is broken. The calling party is then merely off-hookwith a phone set.

The call can also betermninated after block 29 by the user customer as indicated at block34. In other words the call can be disconnected by the computer if he runs out of time or bathe user. When the call is terminated by the user, and he still has credit, he is again connected to normal dial tone, and he merely has to dial another call, if he so desires. If he does not wantto dial another call, then he returns the handset to the hookswitch. If he does wantto make another call he dials the number after hearing normal dial tone at the input block 19. Thus the customer does not have to repeatthe entire connection backto the computer and have the validation procedure repeated. He has already been checked and validated and therefore he is connected to a normal dial tone. The process is repeated as long as credit remains.

Fig. 2 is the flow chart showing the use of a dedicated publictelephone. Here again the customer calling party must have a prepaid-code number as indicated at 51. He goes off hookwith the dedicated public telephone indicated at block 52. The calling station receives computer dial tones as soon as going off hook as indicated at block 53. He then dials in the secret code number as indicated at block 54 and the system checks to see if he has a valid ticket number, if he does as indicated in block 56, he is visually or audibly notified ofthe amountofcredit available in his code as indicated in block 57.

If he does have a valid code then as indicated in block 58 he is notified that he has inserted an invalid code. In a preferred embodiment a recorded message is sent as shown in block 59, and he is toldthat he has dialled an invalid code. He is allowed two erra plurality of times, say three as indicated at block 61 If the inputted code is invalid less than three times, then he is again connected to the computer dial tone. If an invalid code is inputted more than three times then the phone is disconnected for a time period (say five minutes) as indicated at block 62. The disconnected time isto discourage practicai jokers oranybody maliciouslytrying to tie upthetelephone.

Afterthe five minutes time outthe phone is returned to its normal operating capabilities. A recorded message indicated at block 73, may be sentto notify potential users that this phone is out of order for diminishing periods of time i.e. 3 minutes, 4 minutes etc.

After verification ofthe code number and credit the calling party is connected to the regular telephone system and receives regular dial tone as indicated at block 63. The calling party goes through the normal call process indicated in block 64. Responsiveto his dialing indicated at block 66 he is give a call duration announcement indicating the length of call time his creditamountwillallow. Block 67 also indicated the time change rate of the call; this information is continuously computed and subtracted from the credit amount. The call can be terminated as indicated in block 69 either because there is no more credit or by the user. The user terminates by dialing a special code for example or by closing the hook switch for say ten seconds.When there is any more credit left, as indicated at block 71 ,the calling party is directed back to regular dial tone i.e. to the input of block 63 as indicated in block 72. if there is no credit leftthen the calling party phone status returns to wherethe phone is connected to the computer and receives a computer dial tone. If he does not dial in his code number after a giventimeperiodheisdisconnected. In a preferred embodiment he is notified to input a code or be disconnected. This is indicated at blocks 73 and 74.

In Fig. 3 the basic operation of the prepaid telephone call system is shown in block diagram from The calling phone is indicated at81 The telephone 81 is connected to a regulartelephone system indicated at 82. The calling party dials the special charge number and bya code number verifier 83. The code number verifier looks into a section ofthe memory as indicated bythe code to verify thatthe code is valid. When a valid code is confirmed the creditforthatcode is checked in the memory to determine how much credit is leftThe cred;t verification is shown at84 and the memory at 86. The announcing system for the purposes indicated in the flow diagram is shown at 87.

It should be understood that while announcements are show, visual indication can also be used. However in a preferred embodiment audio announcements are used. When the number and credit are verified, the calling party is then connected through a register indicated at 88, to a re-dialer 89. The register stores the called number received from the calling party and directs the redialer 89 to dial the number. After verification, the dialled number or dial tones are directed through router91 to the reguiartelephone system. The router selects the best possible route cost-wise forthe particular call if it is toll call.

The number verifier and credit verifier circuits are conected to a memory 86through a bus 85. The memory is compartmentalized so that the code number can be easily checked through checking only a portion ofthe memory according to the code.

Similarly verification of credit can be made once the code is verified by checking a separate portion of memory. The entire system is under the control of the local and routine computers 95.

Fig. 4shows the dedicated public telephone in block diagram form. Herein the dedicated phones are shown at 101.The dedicated phones are connected through switches such as switch 102, and a regular exchange, to the special exchange. A special computer control 103 is iocated at the public exchange operated through a line interface 104.Thetelephones 101 are connected to the computer control 106 for code and credit verification in conjunction with memory 107. The dedicated telephone operates in much the same way as the private phone a difference in the special computer control used to time outthe dedicated.publictelephone.

Thus, a telephone system is provided that can utilize prepaymentfortelephone calls which can be made from any telephone or from dedicated telephones.

The calling customer has the ability to disconnect from the called party and stay connected to the special exchange by dialing a special numberforexample. He can switch to another code number during the call, before the call and afterthe call and still remain connected to the special central office.

With the dedicated telephone, when the calling party replaces the hand set on the hook switch, after a short delay of say 10 seconds has passed, an announcement is made to the calling party notifying the calling party that he may call another party without calling the computer again within the ailocated time.

According to a preferred embodiment, special codes, say 999, can be used to terminate a call. The calling party can then get another call without having to redialthespecial exchange and his code. Another special code say 888, can be used to input more credit with another code number.

It should be understood that, when the calling party's credit is checked to institute a call and also during the call, the position in the memory is supplied with a disenabling codeto preventthesimultaneous use of the two differenttelephones on the same code.

In addition, the codes each have a home memory which other special exchanges can check.

Acordingly, a method of using any telephone for prepaidtelephone calls is provided. A system isthus provided that benefits travellers and others having the need forthe availability of telephone service from any telephone.

While the invention is described using the example embodiment and method, it should be understood thatthis description is made by way of example only and not as a limitation on the scope ofthe invention.

Claims

1. A method of making a telephone call from any availabletelephone, comprising: obtaining a special code by making a prepayment; inserting the prepayment amount in a memory in a special exchangefor use in verifying a calling party call; dialing the special exchange when a telephone call connection is desired; inputting the special codeforverification; inputting the numberofcalled party; verifying the special code comparing the credit in the memory and the running costofthe call; connecting the call and calling parties station respon siveforverification; and disconnecting the call when the credit has been spent.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting step includes special routing. -

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the comparing step comprises continuously monitoring the credit available as the credit is used on the call.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, including retaining the connection between the calling station and the special exchange for a set period of time after the call is terminated.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step ofpreventing reconnection the calling party to the special exchange for a definite timeperiod after a set number offailed verifications.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of interconnecting a plurality of special exchanges, and exchanging code and credit information between the interconnected special exchanges.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of disconnecting the called party station while keeping the calling party station connected to the special exchange to enable the calling party to connect to another called party.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of adding credit while connected tq the special exchange.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of preventing the use ofthe same special code from differentstationsatthesametime.

10. Atelephonesystem forfacilitating atelephone call from any available telephone station, comprising:.

means for coupling a calling party station to a special exchange; memory means in the special exchangeforstoring special subscriber codes and creditinformations; meansforverifying the calling party responsive to a code transmitted from the calling party station to the special exchangewhen the code matchesthecode in the memory means and the calling party has unused credit; and means for connecting said calling party station to a called station responsive to the verification.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1 0, wherein the meansforconnecting includes least cost routing means.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the least cost routing means includes means for choosing between long lines, satellite andlormicrowave links.

13. Asystem as claimed in claim 12, wherein the verifying means includes means for continuously monitoring the credit ofthe calling party during a call.

14. Asystem as claimed in claim 13, including peg counter means.

15. Asyste:n as claimed in claim 12 > wherein the calling station is a dedicated public phone including meansforcoinlesscoupling to thespecial exchange.

16. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein timing means are provided for retaining the connec- tion to the special exchangefor a certain time period afterthe called party station goes on hook.

17. Asystem as claimed in claim 12, including special dial tone generating means for indicating connection of the calling station to-the special exchange.

18. Asystem as claimed in claim 12, i ncluding means for notifying the calling party ofthe amount of credit he has available.

19. Asystem as claimed in claim 12, including meansfor preventing-reconnecting to-thespecial exchangefora settime period responsive to a certain number of consecutive no verification occurrences.

20. A system as claimed in claim 12, including meansfor interconnecting a plurality of special exchanges to enablethe interchange ofcode and credit information.

21. A system as claimed in claim 2, including means for disconnecting the called party station while keepingthecalling party station connectedto-the special exchange to enable the calling party to dial anothercalledstation through the special exchange.

22. A system as claimed in claim 12, including means for adding creditwhileconnectedtothespecial exchange.

23. A system as claimed in claim 12,including means for preventing use ofthe same special code from two differenttelephones atthe sametime.

24. Atelephone system substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.