GB2217550A - Telephone apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A microprocessor (4) responds to dialling pulses and to payment (or absence of payment) via a coin validation unit (9) to control a speech synthesiser (5) which produces spoken messages on a telephone line (6) and/or on a speaker (3) to prompt the user into making payment for use of a telephone. The apparatus may be arranged to automatically "cut-off" the telephone upon non-payment. The apparatus may be arranged to produce messages on the line which disrupt communication, but without automatically "cutting-off" at any time. Date relating to operation of the apparatus (e.g. charging rate) may be entered into the apparatus by the user. The microprocessor (4) causes the synthesiser (5) to produce spoken prompts for guiding the user as the user enters the data.

Description

APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A TELEPHONE The present invention relates to apparatus for use with a telephone. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention is concerned with payment for use of a telephone.

Payphones are well known. A known payphone allows a caller to establish a connection with the person being called and, if payment is not then made, mutes or breaks the connection. Payment allows the call to be maintained for a time dependent on the payment and then, if no further payment is made, the connection is muted or broken. A "prepayment" payphone is also known where payment is made in advance of establishing the connection. When the time for which payment is made expires, further payment is required; otherwise the connection is muted or broken. If not all the paid time is used, the remaining payment is returned.

See for example U.S. Patent 4 198 545. All payphones break the connection when the paid-for time expires and no further payment is made.

The applicants have perceived the need for an alternative to a payphone and which, whilst complying with the relevant regulations, prompts a user to make the appropriate payment for any call made by the user.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for encouraging the user of a telephone to make payment for the use, comprising means responsive to initiation of establishment of a communication link via the telephone and the absence of detection of payment to indicate to the user the absence of payment without at any time automatically disestablishing the link.

The indication of absence of payment may be a signal imposed on the link and audible to the user, or may be a flashing light.

In a preferred embodiment the audible signal is so loud to the user as to make conversation impracticable (without, of course, being so loud as to cause any harm whatsoever to the user). Preferably the audible signal comprises synthesised speech instructing the user to pay. In an alternative, the apparatus includes a sound reproducing device (e.g. a loudspeaker) separate from the telephone which produces the audible signal. Of course, the audible signal could be both imposed on the link and produced by the loudspeaker.

It is also known to provide telephones with a variety of functions, some of which can be programmed by the user. Some telephone devices provide many functions and/or may be relatively difficult to program.

The applicants have perceived the need for simplifying the use of telephone devices having a variety of functions, especially programmable ones.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use with a telephone, including a speech synthesiser, responsive to actuation of the apparatus to produce spoken instructions relating to the use of the apparatus.

It is known to provide a payphone with an adjustable function e.g. charging rate. The applicants have perceived that if a payphone is to be used in e.g. a domestic context, it is necessary that adjustment of the charging rate and setting up the payphone should be simple. Thus, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use with a telephone to operate as a payphone, and including a speech synthesiser, control means for controlling the synthesiser and for monitoring payment and controlling use of the telephone in accordance with the payment, and manually actuable means for setting in the control means data relating to payment, the control means being responsive to actuation of the actuable means to cause the speech synthesiser to produce speech signals for prompting the setting of the data.

The speech signals may be reproduced by a sound reproducing device (e.g. a loudspeaker) independently of the telephone and/or may be imposed on the telephone line for reproduction by the earpiece of the telephone.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of illustrative apparatus in accordance with the invention for use with a telephone to encourage and/or control payment for use of the phone.

The illustrative apparatus of Figure 1 is, in use, serially connected between a simple telephone and the telephone line. The apparatus has a socket 1 into which plugs a plug connected to the telephone, and a plug 2 for plugging into a socket connected to the line. The plugs and sockets are standard.

The illustrative apparatus of Figure 1 operates in three main modes as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Briefly, in the first mode, the apparatus encourages payment for a telephone call by producing spoken instructions which are imposed on the telephone line to be audible to the user and/or reproduced by a loudspeaker 3 of the apparatus, without at any time disestablishing any call established via the telephone.

In the second mode, the apparatus controls use of the telephone in accordance with payment made by the user, produces spoken instructions prompting payment on the line and/or on the loudspeaker 3, and disestablishes any call upon non-payment.

In the third mode, data (e.g. charging rate) relating to the operation of the apparatus is set into a control processor 4 of the apparatus. The processor 4 controls a speech synthesiser 5 when the data is being set to produce spoken prompts for the user, simplifying the process of making the setting.

Referring now to Figure 1, the standard socket 1, which has six contacts conventionally numbered 1 to 6, is coupled to the standard plug 2 having like contacts via three conductors 6 linking contacts 2, 3 and 4, the contacts 5 being linked via a pulse detector 7 and a removable short-circuit link Ll which shorts out a relay switch 8. Contacts 1 and 6 are not used. The pulse detector 7 is of known form. A small impedance 7a and a large impedance 7b feed a small proportion of the line current to an opto-coupler 7c. The opto-coupler provides isolation between the telephone line and the apparatus.

Call timing, real-time clock, programming, call charging, dialled digit analysis and control of the speech synthesiser are all controlled by processor 4 which is a dedicated microprocessor. The processor 4 responds to various inputs as follows.

When the handset of the telephone is lifted, current from the local exchange flows in the loop formed between contacts 2 and 5 by the pulse detector 7 and the transmission circuitry of the telephone. When digits are dialled the loop current is interrupted in a pattern representing the digits. The detector 7 detects the current and feeds a call signal via an input I, to the processor 4. The processor analyses the dialled digits and calculates from them, and stored charging data, an appropriate charging rate.

The processor also responds to signals from a coin validation unit 9 which determines the value of coins inserted into the unit, and for each coin of a particular value provides a signal representing that coin to the processor 4. Coin validation units are well known in the art. The processor 4 calculates the amount of payment made.

The processor 4 also responds to the call signal at input I to time the duration of the call. In addition, the processor 4 acts as a real time dock.

The processor 4 also responds to the operation of programming switches or keys P1 and P2 in a programming device 10. The switches switch the voltage at inputs P1 and P2 between HI (+V) and LO (ground) in order to set data in the processor in the manner described below.

Other inputs to the processor 4 include a clock signal from an oscillator 12; a signal at input BL indicating "low battery" in the power supply unit 11; and a signal at input PP indicating whether the first mode or the second mode is set. The signal at PP is LO when the first mode is set, PP being coupled to ground via a removable link L2. The signal at PP is HI when the second mode is set.

The processor 4 controls the speech synthesiser via a signal transfer arrangement shown schematically at 13.

The processor has other outputs B to E and to a relay coil and coil driver circuit 14 as will be described in the following.

Under the control of the processor 4, the speech synthesiser produces complementary pulse width modulated (PWM) speech signals Sp and Sp representing various spoken messages. The signals are fed to D-type amplifiers 15 and 15'.

Amplifier 15' drives a loud-speaker 3 the inertia and impedance of which effectively integrates or filters the PWM signal to reproduce the spoken message.

Amplifier 15 is part of a high impedance current source 16 which imposes the speech signals on the telephone line (without shunting the line), the source 16 being connected across contacts 2 and 5, via a coupling capacitor 17. The amplifier 15 feeds an output isolation transformer TF, the secondary of which is connected to an integrating filter arrangement 18 to integrate the PWM speech signals.

The speech signals may be reproduced by the loudspeaker 3 alone, or by the telephone earpiece alone, or by both. For that purpose the processor 4 is programmable to produce signals B and C for selectively disabling the amplifiers 15' and 15.

In addition the magnitude of the speech signals may be varied. In the illustrative apparatus of Figure 1, the magnitude has two selectable values controlled by a level control 19 in response to a binary level control signal D produced by processor 4. The magnitude of a speech signal produced by an amplifier 15 or 15 is the difference between its maximum value defined by e.g. the positive voltage supply to the amplifier and the base level of the signal. The level control switches the base level between the negative (e.g. ground) level of the voltage supply and a value intermediate the negative (ground) level and the positive voltage.

An LED 20 which is controlled by the output signal E, lights up when it is necessary to make payment.

Illustrative operation of the apparatus in the first mode will now be described. In this mode link L1 shorts out the relay switch 8 and link L2 connects input PP to ground.

The user lifts the handset on the associated telephone and dials the desired telephone number.

After e.g. 10 seconds the LED 20 flashes and the user hears (in the speaker 3 and\or the handset of the telephone) a message, for example, "When the call answers insert a coin" This message is repeated at e.g. 2 second intervals until the user inserts a coin into the validation unit 9 or the call is cleared.

When the user inserts a coin (upon hearing the distant party answer) he is free to talk until the time allotted by the payment is within 5 seconds of expiry.

At this point, the LED 20 will flash and a persistent payphone like bleep or pay pips will be heard on the line. Inserting another coin will arrest these actions and allocate another time period calculated by the processor 4 according to the digits dialled, the charge rate set, and the amount of payment made. At any point the user can insert mulitiple coins to build up a lengthy allocation of time. In the apparatus of Figure 1 no coins can be refunded.

If, within e.g. 3 seconds of the reminder, the user has not inserted a coin a voice message will convey: "Insert a coin" This message will be repeatedly transmitted on the speaker and/or on the telephone line until the user does insert a coin.

This message will be audible to both the calling and called parties if transmitted on the telephone line.

This message on the line may be so loud to the calling party as to disrupt communication between the calling and called parties.

A preferred version of the apparatus is selectively operable in the first mode in two ways, called programmes one and two, as follows Programme One (Messages on Speaker and Line) Setting up the call The message "When the call answers insert a coin" is generated on the line quietly and then on the speaker and line loudly. This is accompanied by LED flashing.

During the call The pay pips are generated quietly on the line followed by the "insert a coin" messages on the line and on the speaker at the loud setting. This is accompanied by LED flashing.

Programme Two (Messages on Speaker only) Setting up the call The message "When the call answers insert a coin" is generated on the speaker quietly. This is accompanied by LED flashing.

During the call The pay pips are generated quietly on the speaker followed by the "insert a coin" messages on the speaker at the quiet setting. This is accompanied by LED flashing.

In the first mode, once communication has been established between the parties, even if no payment is made, the established communication link is not ended automatically by the apparatus at any time. The link is only ended when one of the parties hangs up of their own volition.

Illustrative operation in the second mode will now be described. In this mode, links L1 and L2 are removed allowing the relay switch 8 to operate. The switch 8 is normally closed.

This mode differs from the first mode in that if the user fails to pay at the appropriate time, the processor 4 energises the relay coil via the driver 14 and opens the normally closed switch 8 breaking the connection between the calling and called parties.

Thus, as before, the user lifts the handset on the associated telephone and dials the desired telephone number.

After 10 seconds the LED 8 will flash and the user will hear (either in the speaker or in the speaker and handset): "When the call answers insert a coin" this message will be repeated at 2 second intervals for a short period e.g. 30 seconds until the user inserts a coin. If at the end of the period no coin has been inserted, switch 8 is operated to break the connection.

When the user inserts a coin (upon hearing the distant party answer) he is free to talk until the time allotted by the payment is within 5 seconds of expiry.

At this point the LED will flash and a persistent payphone like bleep or pay pips will be heard on the line. Inserting another coin will arrest these actions and allocate another time period. At any point the user can insert multiple coins to build up a lengthy allocation of time. It must be borne in mind that no coins can be refunded.

If within 6 seconds of the payphone-like-bleep reminder the user has not inserted a coin, the switch 8 is operated to break the connection.

In the preferred version of the apparatus, the second mode operates in the following manner called programme zero.

Programme Zero (Messages on Speaker and Line with cutting off) Setting up the call The message "When the call answers insert a coin" is generated on the line quietly and then on the speaker and line loudly then the call cuts off. This is accompanied by the LED flashing.

During the call The pay pips are generated quietly on the line followed by cut off. This is accompanied by LED flashing.

Illustrative operation of the apparatus in the third mode will now be described with reference to initially setting up the apparatus before first use. It is assumed that in this mode the synthesiser, under control of processor 4, drives the loudspeaker 3.

The apparatus is housed in a locked case.

Installation of the apparatus is particularly straightforward. Having unpacked the unit the user can place it on a desk or mount it on a wall using screw holes provided on the rear of the case.

1 Battery Installation The owner opens the case of the unit with a key provided. A battery holder is removed from the case and four e.g. C size cells are inserted in to the holder. The holder is replaced in the case.

2 Setting the Time and Day Two programming keys (P1 and P2) are provided within the unit. One P1 selects the function to be altered, the other P2 sets the value of the function.

Programming is particularly straightforward and involves the assistance of spoken prompts and messages through the internal loudspeaker.

Following installation of the batteries a depression of P1 will produce the prompt: e.g.

"Set the Day" as a spoken phrase from the internal loudspeaker 3.

Depression of P2 will produce: e.g.

"Sunday" a subsequent depression of P2 will produce: "Monday" further depressions of P2 will cycle through the remaining days of the week and back through to Sunday etc.

When today's day of week has been spoken the user can depress P1 to confirm his choice. Upon doing this the unit will confirm, e.g.

"Monday is set" A further depression of P1 will produce the prompt e.g.: "Set the Hours" Depressing P2 will produce the prompt e.g.: "12 am" Further depressions will cycle through 12 pm and back to 12 am etc. Depressing P1 (having heard the current hour) will confirm e.g.

"4 pm is set" Depressing P1 again will prompt: "Set the minutes" Depressing P2 will produce the prompt "Zero" Further depressions will cycle through to "fifty nine" and back to "zero". Depressing Pl will confirm e.g.

"Twenty four minutes is set" The time and day are now set.

An inactivity timer will operate within the software such that a lack of key depressions for ten seconds will return the unit to the idle state. From the idle state depressing P2 will cause the unit to speak the current day and time. This will allow the owner to check settings periodically. Hence pressing P2 produces for example: "Monday 12:39 am, Unit Charge 6p, Reminder Speaker, Urgent" 3 Setting the unit charge The unit charge in the apparatus can be altered to allow the user to recover a greater or lesser amount of money than the call charges that will be raised in his telephone bill by BT or Mercury. The current unit charge raised by BT is 4.4p.

Depressing P1 four times in rapid succession - or once just after having set the day and time will prompt: "Set the Unit Charge" This will be adjustable in steps of lp, from 2p to a maximum of 30 p. Depressing P2 will produce the prompt: (I 2p" subsequent depressions will produce rates through to "30p". Pressing P1 will confirm the rate set eg "20p is set" An inactivity timer will operate such that a lack of key depression for ten seconds will return the unit to the idle state.

From the idle state depressing P2 will cause the unit to speak the unit charge. This will allow the owner to check settings periodically. Hence pressing P2: "Monday 12:39 am, Unit Charge 6p, Reminder Speaker, Urgent" 4 Setting the reminder mode The reminder mode function allows the owner to set the way in which the user will be reminded to insert another coin.

As discussed above, the preferred version of the apparatus is selectively operable according to programmes zero, one and two. These programmes are selected using the programming keys P1 and P2 as follows.

Depressing P1 five times in rapid succession - or once just after setting the unit charge will prompt e.g.: "Select the programme.

Depressing P2 once will prompt e.g.

"Programme one" Twice "Programme two.

Pressing P1 after one of these prompts will set the chosen programme.

If the links L1 and L2 are removed, pressing P2 three times will prompt e.g.

"Programme zero".

By then pressing P1, "Programme zero" will be set.

An inactivity timer will operate to return the unit to an idle state if no key depressions occur for 10 seconds or more.

In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus, the reminder mode directs reminder messages to the speaker or to the speaker and the telephone line. The owner may wish to make this distinction depending on how they want to use apparatus. For instance, if the owner is to be the sole user of the unit and will only need gentle reminding of the need to save for his telephone bill then reminder messages might only be directed to the speaker. Where many users may use the apparatus the more insistent reminder (speaker and telephone line) might be required.

Depressing P1 five times in rapid succession - or once just after having set the unit charge will prompt e.g.: "Set the reminder mode" Depressing P2 once will prompt e.g.: "Speaker and Telephone" Twice "Speaker only" On the third depression the message will return to "Speaker and Telephone".

Pressing P1 will prompt: "Speaker and Telephone set" An inactivity timer will operate such that a lack of key depressions for ten seconds will return the unit to the idle state.

From the idle state depressing P2 will cause the unit to speak the reminder mode. This will allow the owner to check settings periodically. Hence pressing P2: "Monday 12:39 am, Unit Charge 6p, Reminder Speaker, Urgent" The alternative embodiment also allows the owner to set the degree of urgency and insistence that will be associated with the reminder messages. This setting controls the rate at which the messages are repeated, and the loudness with which they are transmitted. The owner makes this selection on the basis of the location and likely users of the apparatus. The selection may be made as follows: Depressing P1 six times in rapid succession - or once just after having set the unit reminder mode will prompt: "Set the reminder persistence" Depressing P2 once will prompt: "Mild" Twice "Urgent" with an increase in loudness.

On the third depression the message will return to "Mild".

Pressing P1 will then prompt: "mild persistence set" An inactivity timer will operate such that a lack of key depressions for ten seconds will return the unit to the idle state.

From the idle state depressing P2 will cause the unit to speak the reminder persistence. This will allow the owner to check settings periodically. Hence pressing P2: "Monday 12:39 am, Unit Charge 6p, Reminder Speaker, Mild" 5 Plugging in the local telephone The local telephone is plugged in to the internal socket 1 within the case. Any excess line cordage is wound around the hooks provided inside the case, and the cord is led out through a slot in the case.

The owner may now close the case and lock it. The only further installation requirement is to plug the case into the telephone wall socket using the plug 2.

The user will only need to concern themselves with programming again when: 1 The hour changes twice a year 2 The batteries are changed 3 He wishes to increase the unit charge in line with BT or personal needs.

4 He wishes to change e.g. the reminder mode If any of the setting up procedures are omitted the software of the unit will default to initial settings of e.g.

Sunday:12:00 am: Unit Charge 6p: Reminder Mode Speaker and Phone: Urgent Battery Exhaustion When the batteries are near depletion, the processor 4 responds to the signal at input BL to produce the following message when a call is made on the associated telephone: e.g.

"The Battery is low" When the batteries are exhausted the unit will not affect normal telephone operation and will allow use of the telephone as though the apparatus was not connected.

Modifications Various modifications, including the following, could be made. Although the apparatus of Figure 1 may operate in the first and second modes selectively, it could be modified to operate in only one of those modes.

For instance, if only the first mode is required, the relay switch 8, relay coil and driver 14 may be omitted. In addition, the loudspeaker 3 and amplifier 15' may be omitted.

The first mode has been described with reference to a spoken message on the line for disrupting the call.

In a modification another audible signal could be imposed on the line instead to disrupt the call. In this case, the speech systhesiser could be replaced by another signal source.

If only the second mode is required, the links L1 and L2 may be omitted. In addition the current source 16 may be omitted or the amplifier 15' and speaker 3 may be omitted.

In either of the first and second modes the level control 19 could be omitted. Alternatively, more than two sound levels could be provided.

The LED 20 could be omitted.

The apparatus may be combined with a telephone in which case the socket 1 may be omitted.

In one version of the apparatus, the apparatus is selectively operable to generate no audible messages but to flash only the LED. The LED is flashed instead of generating the messages and the pay-pips. This mode of operation is selected using the programming keys P1 and P2 in the same manner as described above.

Claims (20)

1. Apparatus for use with a telephone comprising: an input/output arrangement for connection to the telephone, and an input/output port for connection to a telephone line, whereby the apparatus is, in use, serially connected between the telephone and the line; and control means, including a speech synthesiser, responsive to initiation of establishment of communication link via the telephone line to produce speech signals representing spoken instructions relating to the use of the telephone in conjunction with the apparatus.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a sound reproducing device for reproducing the spoken instructions represented by the speech signals independently of the telephone.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 including means for causing the telephone to reproduce the spoken instructions represented by the speech signals.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the causing means comprises means for imposing the speech signals representing the spoken instructions on the telephone line.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for detecting payment for use of the telephone and wherein the control means is responsive to the said initiation of establishment of the communication link and to the absence of detected payment to produce the said speech signals representing the spoken instructions which include instructions instructing the user of the telephone to make a payment.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the said spoken instructions include an instruction repeated at predetermined intervals over a preset period, beginning with the said initiation, allowing the communication link to be established, and, if payment is not detected within the preset period, an instruction continuously produced until payment is detected, said instructions ceasing when communication is disestablished.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control means is responsive to detection of payment to produce a further instruction regarding further payment at a predetermined time after the detection of the said payment.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the said further instruction is produced continuous until the further payment is detected or the communication link disestablished.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, 7 or 8 when claim 5 is dependent on claim 4, wherein the said signals representing the said continuously produced instruction and/or the said further instructions are of sufficient magnitude to disrupt communication between a user of the said telephone and a called party.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9, which is arranged to produce the said spoken instructions and/or the said further instructions in the absence of detected payment without automatically disestablishing at any time the communication link.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9 further comprising switching means for disestablishing the communication link, the control means being operable to cause the switching means to automatically disestablish the link in the absence of payment.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9 which is selectively operable to automatically disestablish the communication link in the absence of payment.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, comprising switching means for disestablishing the communication link, the control means being operable to cause the switching means to disestablish the link, and means for preventing the disestablishment of the link.

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 13, further comprising manually actuable means for setting in the control means data relating at least to the said payment, the control means being operable in response to actuation of the actuable means to cause the synthesiser to produce speech signals representing spoken instructions about the setting of said data.

15. Apparatus for encouraging the user of a telephone to make payment for the use, comprising means responsive to initiation of establishment of a communication link via the telephone and the absence of detection of payment to impose on the link a signal audible to the user and indicative of the absence of payment without at any time automatically disestablishing the link.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the audible signal is of sufficient magnitude to make communication difficult.

17. Apparatus for use with a telephone, comprising a speech synthesiser, control means for controlling the synthesiser and for performing functions related to the use of the telephone, and manually actuable means for setting in the control means data related to the functions, the control means being responsive to the actuation of the actuable means to cause the speech synthesiser to produce speech signals for prompting the setting of the data.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising means for reproducing the speech represented by said speech signals.

19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in combination with the telephone.

20. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.