ITMC970037A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC OF A TELEPHONE LINE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled "ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR THE ACTUATION AND CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC OF A TELEPHONE LINE"

The electronic device in question is electrically connected between the telephone line provided by the public service provider and the telephone terminal, whether it be a telephone, a fax machine, a modem, a telephone switchboard, etc. or more terminals connected according to the regulations in force in telecommunications; for convenience reference will be made later to the term "telephone terminal" without specifying that the operation can be manual (eg telephone) or automatic (eg fax).

The device is composed of an electronic board equipped with a microcontroller enclosed in a container equipped with a liquid crystal display for the visualization of messages and / or data.

The device provides the following services:

a) controlled access of calls to the telephone exchange by recognizing a sequence of numbers which we will call for convenience the "access code". The code is selected and sent to the device via the telephone terminal;

b) the interruption of the telephone number selection if a sequence of numbers has been set from the telephone terminal that have been preconfigured in the device as to be disabled;

c) the visualization on the display of information relating to the call in progress, such as the number selected by the telephone terminal, the count of the clicks, i.e. of the taxation signals received from the telephone exchange, the count of the minutes and seconds between one click and the next ;

d) the recording in electronic memory of the details of the calls made with taxation and of those received to which the user has not given an answer;

e) the display of the details of the calls previously recorded;

f) the visualization of the total of the monthly clicks and of the monthly total for each access code;

g) the serial transmission of the recorded data to an external processor;

h) the configuration of an adequate number of access codes, of telephone numbers or prefixes to be disabled, of the current date and time. The device, which has an electro-mechanical circuitry governed by a microcontroller, allows the electrical isolation of the telephone terminal from the control unit. Using the telephone terminal, it is possible to access the services listed above by sending a selected code, both in pulse and DTMF-type tone mode.

The realization of this device has arisen as a result of the need of subscribers to the public telephone service to be able to constantly monitor their telephone traffic. This is confirmed by the fact that the same public service operator already provides some services such as the documentation of the traffic carried out and the possibility of disabling some telephone prefixes. With the installation of this device, the subscriber no longer needs to request these services from the operator.

The device consists of an electronic board housed in a container. In a preferential form, the container has a liquid crystal display on the front with the ability to display two lines of sixteen characters each, while, on the back, it has a power connector, a connector for the serial line, a connector for connection with the telephone terminal. , a multipolar cable with plug termination for connection to the operator's line. Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the device in 1, the liquid crystal display with which it is equipped in 2. The particular shape of the container can serve as a support base for a telephone set, the inclination of the display favors a comfortable reading of the displayed messages. Fig. 2 shows its application: in 4 the telephone plug, in 3 the telephone socket, in 5 the telephone line of the public service provider, in 6 a generic telephone terminal is represented, in 7 the external voltage reducing transformer , in 8 the serial connection with a computer ,.

It is also possible to connect to the line of the public service provider and the telephone terminal with a single multipolar cable, equipped with a special telephone socket / plug termination, as shown in fig. 3 detail 9.

The basic architecture of the electronic board hardware is composed of an ST6225 microcontroller, a high-density RAM memory, a chip clock, a buffer battery for storing memory and clock data and for the operation of the device in the absence of external power supply, by integrated circuits for the detection of DTMF tones and the taxation signal, by optocouplers for the detection of call and line engagement signals, by relays for enabling and disabling of the telephone terminal with the operator's line. There is also a circuitry for switching the device on and off (fig. 5).

The alternating voltage of about 12V to be supplied to the device is obtained from an external reducing transformer. The internal power supply circuitry provides a voltage rectifier and suitable stabilizers to supply the power supplies to the various sections of the circuit.

Fig. 4 shows the electrical diagram of the electromechanical circuit part, controlled by the microcontroller, which allows the telephone terminal to be isolated from the public operator line. The voltage VT is the voltage supplied to the telephone terminal. In the a-a 'position of the contacts, the telephone terminal is isolated from the operator's line and is powered with the VA voltage. This voltage is obtained from the power supply of the device even when it is off because it is taken upstream of the extinguishing circuit described below. In position b-b 'of the contacts the telephone terminal is connected to the line of the service manager and is powered with the voltage VB supplied by the telephone exchange. This position of the contacts is maintained until the telephone terminal is returned to the rest state. In fig. 5 shows the wiring diagram relating to the switch on and switch off circuit of the device. Before this circuit, the supply voltages for the ram memory and the clock chip for data maintenance and the power supply for the telephone terminal are obtained. The voltage VI represents the input, with VL the power supply voltage subjected to switching on and off is indicated. VD and VE indicate the voltages supplied by the optocouplers; in the presence of a call signal from the telephone exchange and / or from a request for engagement of the telephone terminal these voltages are brought to the ground value, enabling the passage of current in the transistor Q1. The transistor Q2 keeps Q1 enabled even when the two aforementioned signals disappear. The circuit can be switched off by the control logic by driving the voltage VF towards the ground value.

Utilization

The device in the idle state is switched off, it switches on automatically when the first of the two following events occurs: the arrival of a call signal from the telephone exchange, the telephone terminal requests to engage the line (e.g. the user lifts the telephone "handset").

When the device is turned on, it carries out a check to verify the functional status of its circuitry and memory. Then check which of the two aforementioned events happened. In particular, when a call signal arrives from the control unit, after checking the correctness of the signal, the telephone terminal is enabled to receive the signal itself. If the telephone terminal does not respond to the call, the device records the date and time of the event that occurred in its memory. The other event that activates the device is the request for engagement of the telephone terminal. At this point it is necessary to distinguish two modes of operation of the device: without code, with access code. In the case of operation without an access code after the telephone terminal has made a request for engagement (eg the user has lifted the "telephone handset"), the user is given the possibility to enter the services menu simply by sending the device, within a preset time, the number shown on the display: "key 5 - menu '". If the number is not sent, within a few seconds, the device enables the connection of the terminal to the telephone control unit, showing a message such as: "EXTERNAL LINE ENABLED" on the display. At this point, the user can select the telephone number.

In the case of operation with an access code, the display shows: "ENTER THE ENABLING CODE"; at this point you can enter the access code to the services menu or one of the possible preconfigured codes to access the telephone exchange. The visualization of the access code on the display is programmable.

Once connected to the control panel, the telephone number selection phase is controlled by the device. The latter interrupts the connection if the set sequence corresponds to one of those configured as not accessible, the message "NUMBER NOT ENABLED" appears on the display and the telephone terminal must return to the idle state.

If the services menu is accessed, the menu items are displayed in sequence:

1 Clock

2 Prefixes

3 Data display

4 Type of access

5 Access codes

6 Sending data

7 Totalizer shots

The display sequence is interrupted by returning the telephone terminal to the idle state. The choice of a menu item is made via the telephone terminal by sending the code corresponding to the numeric character.

If you choose the "1 Clock" function, the current date and time appear on the first line of the display, while the cursor is positioned on the second line in order to set the new date and time. Example:

"10/03/97 21:40" first line of display "/ /:" second line of display If you choose the "2 Prefixes" function, you have the possibility to consult and / or update the telephone area codes not enabled for dialing the number telephone. Example:

"05 prefix:" first line of display 144 second line of display on the first line the display sequence number is shown, on the second the prefix set. This function is exited if the display sequence is completed or the terminal returns to the rest state. If you choose the "3 Data display" function, all the data relating to a call will appear in sequence. A call made from the terminal to the telephone exchange is presented as follows:

first sequence:

shots taken date

number called

second sequence:

hour: minutes: connection start seconds hour: minutes: connection end seconds third: sequence:

access code (if used) Example:

first sequence:

"00002 11/03/97" first display line "0734842983" second display line second sequence:

"12:47:58 first display line

"12:50:03 second line display third sequence:

"first display line" 123456 second display line The reception of a call signal from the control unit, towards the terminal which is not connected, is presented as follows: first sequence:

shots taken date

reception indication

second sequence:

hour: minutes: seconds of signal detection start

hour: minutes: seconds of end of signal detection

Example :

first sequence:

"00000 11/03/97" first display line "reception second display line second sequence:

"12:47:14 first line of display" 12:47:46 "second line of display All incoming and outgoing calls are recorded in chronological order. It is possible to scroll chronologically all the archive thus created using the 'send the numbers Ί' and '2'; with the number '2' the archive is scrolled forwards, with Ί 'backwards This function is interrupted by returning the terminal to the rest state.

If you choose the "4 Type of access" function, the submenu "Access: 1 to code - 2 simple" is presented. If you choose Ί 'then you will configure the device to operate in "code" mode. You are asked to enter the main code, which is then used to access the services menu. This code can have a minimum variable length of a maximum of sixteen characters. Choosing '2' configures the device to operate in "no code" mode. This function ends by returning the terminal to the idle state.

If you choose the "5 Access Codes" function, you can consult and / or update the access codes enabled to make a call from the terminal to the telephone exchange. Up to a maximum of fifty codes of variable length from one to sixteen numeric characters can be stored.

Example :

"05 code: first line of display" 3173172 "second line of display Where the display sequence number is shown on the first line, the set code on the second. This function is exited when the display sequence is completed or the terminal returns to state of rest.

If you choose the "6 Send data" function, the display shows the message "Hang up to activate transmission". By placing the terminal in the idle state, data transmission is activated. At the end, after a few minutes, the device ends the function; it is possible to interrupt this function by sending the engagement signal from the telephone terminal (in the case of a telephone by picking up the "handset"). Data transmission takes place in serial mode to an external processing unit equipped with an RS232 interface. All information stored in memory regarding calls is transmitted.

If you choose the ”7 Totalizer shots" function, a mask is shown on the display whose fields must be filled in, naturally via the telephone terminal, with the month and year for which you want to calculate the monthly total of the shots. an access code is provided per month and year the calculation of the monthly total is carried out in relation to that code. The device processes the data in the memory and shows the total number of clicks on the display for a few seconds. Once the function is finished, the device returns in a state of rest.

Example :

"03/97 first line of display" 99 second line of display The first line shows the month and year, the second shows the access code on which to calculate the monthly total of the shots.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the masks described above, but can be customized according to specific needs.

Claims (15)

Claims: 1) electronic device, which is electrically connected between the telephone terminal and the line of the public telephone service operator, such as to allow the terminal to be isolated from the telephone line to access the device services. 2) Electronic device, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it allows the enabling and disabling of communications between the telephone terminal and the public telephone service exchange; the implementation of this function takes place by exchanging the contacts of one or more electromechanical devices. 3) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the access of the telephone terminal to the line of the public telephone service operator can 'take place in two ways': without code or by recognizing a predefined code. The default code is made up of one or more numbers in sequence. 4) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that all possible internal configurations occur through the telephone terminal using pulse and / or DTMF codes. 5) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the selected digits are shown on the display during the selection of the telephone number. 6) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection of the telephone terminal to the line of the public service operator, in the phase of selecting the telephone number, is interrupted if a sequence of non-authorized numbers has been selected. 7) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that after the selection of the telephone number, once the connection has been made with the called user, the following appear on the display and are updated: I) the number of tax rates received by the exchange; II) the minutes and seconds elapsed since the last "tax report sent by the exchange; III) the telephone number of the called party. 8) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that, upon receiving a call signal from the exchange, the telephone terminal is enabled to receive the call in progress so as to allow the user to answer. 9) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it stores on electronic memory the details of the telephone calls made in which the taxation took place. The information stored is: a) the telephone number of the user called; b) the day, month and year of the call being made; c) the hour, minutes and seconds of connection start with the called user; d) the hour, minutes and seconds of the end of the connection; e) the number of tax rates received from the telephone exchange; f) the code set to access the telephone exchange if the device has been configured for this type of operation. 10) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it stores on electronic memory the details of the telephone calls received to which the user has not answered. The information stored are: the day, month, year, hour, minutes and seconds in which the call signal was received from the control unit. 11) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that, at the request of the user through the telephone terminal with an interactive procedure, it displays the details of the stored and received calls on the display. 12) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it allows the visualization on the display of the total of the monthly shots. 13) Electronic device, according to the preceding claims,. characterized by the fact that it allows the visualization on the display of the total monthly clicks corresponding to a specific access code. 14. Electronic device, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it allows the transmission of the data contained in the memory to an external processing unit by means of a serial connection. 15) Electronic device substantially according to what has been described and represented, in particular, as regards the preferred structures, procedures, auxiliary indications, processing circuits.