GB2269074A

GB2269074A - Telephone call monitor

Info

Publication number: GB2269074A
Application number: GB9215870A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Goddard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-25
Filing date: 1992-07-25
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Also published as: GB9215870D0

Abstract

THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR can be incorporated in a telephone to provide up to four additional technical features: viz A VISUAL COST DISPLAY 1 which shows the ongoing cost of the telephone call being made, A LAST CALL COST DISPLAY 2, which shows the cost of the last call made, A ROLLING COST TOTAL DISPLAY 3, which gives the accumulative cost total of all calls made to date, and A NUMERICAL COUNTER DISPLAY 4, which shows the total number of calls made to date. A visual or audible warning is associated with the VISUAL COST DISPLAY 1 - activated automatically when a pre-set cost level is reached. UNIT COST CONTROLS are incorporated in the unit which permit a variation of charges and time settings within a given time cycle in respect of the VISUAL COST DISPLAY 1. The monitoring unit may also be a separate unit, either linked or independent from the existing telephone. <IMAGE>

Description

TELEPHONE C.AT.T MONITOR This invention enables THE COST of telephone calls to be monitored.

A wide range of telephones and ancillary equipment are available on the open market, and they incorporate numerous technical features, but nothing is available to indicate either visually or audibly, THE ACTUAL COST OF THE CALL AS IT IS BEING MADE.

Consequently consumers have difficulty of controlling the cost of their telephone bills.

THE TELEPHONE CAll MONITOR can be either: (a) An additional feature incorporated in a new telephone to compliment existing features or (b) A separate unit linked physically and/or electronically to an existing telephone or (c) A separate unit operating independently of the telephone.

THE TFRPHONE CALL MONITOR has prominent visual display feature, which shows the cost of the actual call As IT IS BEING MADE. The visual display has a flashing warning light which can be pre-set to operate at a desired cost level, and which stops when the call ends. Audio type TELEPHONE CALL MONITORS give out an audible warning which can also be pre-set to operate at a desired cost level and which stops when the call ends.

THE TELEPHONE CAll. MONITOR is a visual and/or audible aid which assists consumers to control the level of their telephone expenditure. It creates consumer awareness of telephone call costs.

In the case of options (a) and (b) the visual cost display and/or the audio unit is activated either automatically when the telephone caller is connected to the telephone call receiver, or alternatively, manually. Option (c) is activated manually.

All models - options (a), (b) and (c) - have UNIT COST CONTROLS which can be set either at current telephone charge rates or at other desired unit cost rates which may take into account apparatus rental charges and/or other charges. THE UNIT COST CONTROLS permit a variation of charges within a given period, to cater for the different charge rates currently levied including those for peak and off-peak periods.

All models - options (a), (b) and (c) - have A LAST CALL COST DISPLAY which shows the cost of the last telephone call made. This Display re-sets automatically to zero either when the next call ends or at some other predetermined time. THE LAST CALL COST DISPLAY cannot be re-set manually.

All models - options (a), (b) and (c) - have A ROLLING COST TOTAL DISPLAY which shows the accumulative cost total of all calls made and which re-sets to zero automatically at a given cost level. THE ROLLING COST TOTAL DISPLAY cannot be re-set manually.

All models - options (a), (b) and (c) - have A NUMERICAL COUNTER DISPLAY which shows the total number of cally made. The Counter re-sets to zero automatically after a given number of calls. THE NUMERICAL COUNTER DISPLAY cannot be re-set manually.

All models - options (a), (b) and (c) - are either mains electricity or battery powered.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrations in which: Figure 1 Shows in perspective THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR incorporated in a new telephone to compliment other existing features.

Figure 2 Shows THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR constructed as a separate unit and linked physically and/or electronically to an existing telephone.

Figure 3 Shows THE TELEPHONE CATL MONITOR constructed as a separate unit operating independent of the telephone.

DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings - Figure 3 shows THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR which comprises a simple box type structure constructed of any suitable material, of size and shape complimentary to standard telephone equipment, into which is assembled all the parts and electrical equipment and circuitry necessary to provide the information contained in the features of THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR.

The prominent VISUAL COST DISPLAY 1 shows the actual on going cost of the telephone call as it is being made. This particular model operates independently of the telephone and the cost mechanism is activated manually be any suitable means. Similarly when the call ends the cost mechanism is stopped manually.

Figure 2 shows THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR attached by any suitable method to an existing telephone. It is also linked electronically so that the VISUAL DISPLAY 1 is activated automatically when the telephone caller is connected to the telephone call receiver - viz when the telephone call is answered or at some other pre-determined time. THE VISUAL COST DISPLAY mechanism is activated automatically by OUTGOING CALLS ONLY. THE VISUAL COST DISPLAY 1 shows the on going cost of each telephone call as it progresses and it stops and returns to zero when the call ends - viz when the line is disconnected or at some other pre-determined time. The cost of the call just made is then automatically shown in the LAST CALL COST DISPLAY 2. This cost remains on display until the next call is ended or until another predetermined time. It cannot be re-set manually.

Incorporated in THE VISUAL COST DISPLAY 1 panel is a flashing warning light which can be pre-set to activate when the cost of the call reaches a given cost level. The flashing light stops when the telephone call ends. It cannot be stopped manually. Some models may also incorporate audible warning and costing features which operate in a similar manner.

THE ROLLING COST TOTAL DISPLAY 3 shows the accumulative total cost of all telephone calls made to date. It cannot be re-set manually. The display re-sets automatically to zero after a pre-determined cost total is reached.

THE NUMERICAL COUNTER DISPLAY 4 shows the total number of calls made to date.

It cannot be re-set-manually. It re-sets automatically to zero after a predetermined total is reached.

Models may incorporate "a reserve" battery to store the accumulated information in the various features, in the event of a mains power failure or disconnection.

FIGURE 1 shows all the features of THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR - displays 1, 2, 3 and 4 - incorporated in a new telephone to compliment other technical features.

Incorporated in all models are UNIT COST CONTROLS which enable the unit cost charges to be set at a chosen level. The controls permit a variation of charges and time settings, within a given time cycle, to cater for the different charge rates levied, including those for peak and off-peak periods.

The consumer may chose to set the unit cost at a price which takes into account the cost of apparatus rental charges and/or other charges.

Claims

1. THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR can be incorporated in a new telephone to provide new additional features to compliment existing features. It comprises a prominent VISUAL COST DISPLAY which shows the on-going cost of the telephone call as it is being made. THE VISUAL COST DISPLAY MECHANISM is activated automatically when the telephone caller is connected to the telephone call receiver - viz when the telephone call is answered - or at some other pre-determined time. THE VISUAL COST DISPLAY MECHANISM is activated automatically by OUTGOING CALLS ONLY.

THE VISUAL COST DISPLAY MECHANISM stops and returns to zero when the call ends - viz when the line is disconnected - or at some other pre determined time. The cost of the call just made is then automatically shown in the LAST CALL COST DISPLAY. This cost remains on display until the next call is ended or until another pre-determined time.

It cannot be re-set manually. Incorporated in the VISUAL COST DISPLAY PANEL is a flashing warning light which can be pre-set to activate when the cost of the call reaches a given cost level. The flashing light stops when the telephone call ends or at some other pre-determined time. It cannot be stopped manually. Another feature is the ROLLING COST TOTAL DISPLAY which shows the accumulative total cost of all telephone calls made to date. It cannot be re-set manually. The display re-sets automatically to zero after a pre-determined cost total is reached. A further feature is the NUMERICAL COUNTER DISPLAY which shows the total number of calls made to date. It cannot be re-set manually. It re-sets automatically to zero after a pre-determined total is reached.THE TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR has UNIT COST CONTROLS which enable the unit cost charges to be set at a chosen level. The controls permit a variation of charges and time settings within a given time cycle, to cater for the different charge rates levied, including those for peak and off-peak periods.

2. A TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR as claimed in Claim 1 where in all electrical and component parts are contained within a simple box type structure of shape and si2es complimentary to standard telephone equipment, where in means are provided to manually start and stop the VISUAL COST DISPLAY MECHANISM. The self-contained unit being either mains electricity or battery powered.

3. A TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, where in means are provided for simply securing the unit to a standard telephone and connecting it electronically to enable it to function automatically as in Claim 1.

4. A TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein equipment is provided to incorporate audible warning and costing features within the VISUAL COST DISPLAY.

5. A TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein A RESERVE BATTERY is provided to store the accumulated information within the Unit in the event of a mains power failure or disconnection.

6. A TELEPHONE CALL MONITOR substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.