GB2246685A - Telephone metering - Google Patents

Abstract

In a telephone system each telephone has associated therewith microprocessor-controlled circuitry which effects metering of each call made from the telephone. Tariff information, such as rate per zone, and other charge-related information are stored in RAM & ROM. <IMAGE>

Description

PUBLIC TELEPHONE SYSTEM HAVING FUNCTION -IMPOSING A TELEPHONE CHARGE BY SCH SYS2M Detailed description of the invention The present invention relates to a public telephone system and more particularly, to a public telephone designed to impose a telephone charge directly in the public telephone per se.

Up to the present, in our country the call charge has been imposed ordinarily by telephone traffic according to a region, distance, the time required, local phones, a long distance call and the international telephone service, respectively.

Further, in the prior art the call charge has been calculated and controlled collectively by the main operator-assisted circuits system installed in central office, in any case of both subscribers' and public telephones.

Accordingly, any means for imposition of telephone charge have been operated by the aforementioned main operator-assisted circuits system.

However, the prior telephone system has the following defects: When such public telephone by the call charge control system in the central office will be exported overseas, exports of great plants also are required and should be accompanied simultaneously, including the main switch board of the telephone correspondence system with softwares.

Therefore, countries required such public telephone must import it from the Korea at a great cost.

Further, small regions such as self-government states not required overall equipments included in the great switchboard systems intend to avoid importation of the abovementioned system types. Thus the afore-mentioned faults of the prior telephone systems may cause the export of the public telephone to hinder.

In addition, imposition of the call charge calculated by the main switchboard in the central office has many problems to give rise to complication, since their facilities are connected with many subscribers and thus they do not enjoy the confidence of the subscribers due to errors of the device and electric faults.

Further, a telephone system not provided with the call charge controller as stated above in the main switchboard has a problem impossible to impose the call charge.

The instant invention relates to improvement of the defects on problems of the prior art, and more particularly, to provide a public telephone system provided with means for imposition of the call charge in the public telephone per se according to the regions.

The instant invention relates to the public telephone system with a microcomputer characterized by comprising, a system CPU being operated by monitoring a key for imposition of the call charge and a designated number of a telephone exchange office according to the regions, then by starting to perform imposition of the call charge, a program for imposition of a telephone charge by regional groups, performing imposition of thecall charge according to each region by determining a cord by each regional group due to the operation of the system CPU, A Rom being remembered the call charge data by each regional group, a Rom being remembered proper date for a time when system CPU is operated and, CTC providing a charging clock for starting of operation with the system CPU by selection of a key for imposition of the charge.

Brief description of drawings Figure 1 shows a block diagram of telephone system of the invention.

Figure 2 shows on illustrative block diagram indicating main part of the invention in the figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another type of a circuit block diagram shown in the figure 2.

Description of symbols in reference to main part of drawing; 1 : System for imposition the call charge in a public telephone per se.

1A: Main block 1B: Key board la: Telephone charge selection key 11: Rom ila: Program for imposition of a telephone charge by regional groups 12: Ram 13: CPU 14: CTC 15: Tip switch for setting contents of telephone charge details by regional groups PIA 1 and PIA 2: First and second interface Now, referring to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is illustrated in detail.

Figure 1 represents a block diagram of a card reader type a public telephone system including system(1) for imposition of the call charge in the public telephone per se, wherein the input and output of the system (1) including the CPU (for example, Zqoc) are connected with a card reader, a speech circuit, a charging signal, a DTMF circuit, a relay for line connection, a display (DP), a power supply and so forth The aforementioned system (1) comprises a main block (1A) having function for imposition of the call charge in the public telephone per se and that for rarious controls of the public telephone.

A Key board comprising a conventional telephone number key, a recorrespondence (RC), an emergency (EM), and a card charge (CC) keys (lib) as special symbols, and a key (la) for selection of imposition, and a tip switch (15) for setting contents of the call charge by regional groups.

The embodied circuit block diagram of the above-stated system (1) is represented in the figure 2, wherein a main block (1A) comprises a system CPU(13) controlling various function of the public telephone and having function for imposition of charge per se, a Rom (11) comprising a program (lea) for imposition of charge by regional group and data thereof (lib), a Ram (12) having function remembering and storing proper date for a time when system CPU is operated, first interface (PIA 1: for example 82C55) relaying a signal selected from a key board (1B) comprised circuits of a conventional telephone number key and a special symbol key (lib), and a key (la) for selection of imposition to the system CPU(13), CTC (14): clock time circuit) providing the above-mentioned CPU(13) with the drive charging clock (CP) by pressing a key selected by said key (la), and Second interface (PIA 2) interfacing a tip switch (15) capable of setting imposition of the call charge by regional groups, data bus (DB), address bus (AB), and Control bus (CB).

The main block (1A) and circuits connected thereto, in the system (1) in the figure 2 are embodied in Figure 3, wherein in a reset (RT) of the system CPU(13) in the main bloc (1A), the system CPU (13) is connected to be reset by a hook switch (22), a character display terminal (31) is connected with the CPU (13) through an interface (3), also a card reader (41) is connected with the CPU (13) through the interface (4) and a dial control circuit (5) is connected thereto through a system bus, and concrete circuits of the conventional speech circuit system and a power supply are omitted herein, The operations and the effects of the present invention are as follows:: As shown in the figures 1 and 3, when an user uses the public telephone, first he lifts up a telephone receiver (transmitter), then pushes a card into a hole of a card reader, in which the operations of the main block (1A) in the system (1) are completely identical to that of the conventional public telephone.

However, in order to be operated the circuit for imposition of the call charge in said system (1), said system CPU(14) of the main block (1A) is operated by pressing the key (la) for selection of imposition in the key board (1B) to calculate the imposition, in which said key (lea) is pressed to transmit the signal to said system CPU (13) through the conventional first interface (PIA 1), while said CTC (14) is operated to provide base charging clock in connection with the call charge.

The CPU (13) monitors a cord being input by said program (lea) stored in the Rom (11), when the user operates a number key in said key board (1B) and the special symbol key (lob), removes the imposition data (lob) by the regional groups in Rom (11) in connection with the imposition for the call charge per base time corresponding to said cord, to Ram (12) and then calculates the impositon of the charge in operation order of said program (lea) For example, the term "the imposition by the regional groups" means the defined charge per constant time according to telephone condition such as local phones, a long distance call and the international telephone service.Thus, said program (ila) is operated in accordance with the unit of the regional telephone number pressed by an user.

Further, said imposition by the regional groups is distinguished by setting of the tip switch (15) connected to second interface (PIA2), In which if you desire that (15a) represents the international telephone, (15b) represents å long distance call and (15c) represents local phones, they are accomplished by setting them.

Accordingly, said tip switch (15) may be also set according to the desired use in region having the call charge system different from our country.

For example, in any regions, when the region is divided into local phones and international phone service, in said tip switch (15), the tip switches (15b) and (15c) only are set and then the corresponding program (lea) and data thereof (lib) in Rom (11) are set.

In salad CTC(14), the operation clock of said system CPU(13) provide with charging pulse (CP) to display the function for the imposition of the call charge.

Also, in the above-mentioned imposition procedure, as a conventional means, the status the imposition of the call charge is calculated may be identified by the display (DP).

The public telephone system of the present invention described in above has characteristics as follows: Since the public telephone system per se has function for imposing the call charge corresponding to a telephone, though regions not designed function for impositon of the charge in the public telephone per se, it is expected that said public telephone system may be employed and furthermore, in this regard, it will be contributed to promote an export.

Further, it is characterized that the present telephone system can enjoy the confidence of the users.

The appended claim does not limit the scope of the instant invention and may be modified within the spirit and the gist thereof.

Claims (3)

What is claimed is:

1. In the card type public telephone comprising a key board (1B) having a number key and a special symbol key (lob), a system CPU controlling various correspondence of a card type public telephone, Rom having fixed remembering data required for control of various correspondence and Ram as an apparatus remembering data for a time, the public telephone system having function imposing a telephone charge by schedule system comprising; Said key board (1B) having a number key and a special symbol key (lib), and a key (lea) for selection of the imposition, said Rom (lea) as a fixed rememberance device, storing program (lea) for imposition of the call charge by regional groups and the data thereof.

CTC (14) providing with the starting clock for imposition of the charge to the system CPU (13) by the key (la) for selection of imposition and the system CPU (13) having function calculating and imposing the call charge per se by said key (lea) for selection of imposition and moniforing of the cord by regional groups.

2. A telephone system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

3. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.