JP2002152424A - Free charge telephone system, line control system, and terminal telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make telephone charge free. SOLUTION: In a line connection, a general telephone 2 joined in a public telephone network 1 is connected through a line controller 3 to a terminal telephone 5 joined in a private telephone network 4. An advertisement information provided from a sponsor 9 in addition to the voice information is sent to the terminal telephone 5 to obtain the fee of advertisement while the fee is used as a communication cost, and then the free charge telephone system is realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a free telephone system in which a user and a desired user can make a free call, a line control device and a terminal telephone used in the free telephone system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, telephones on the streets, so-called public telephones, have a telephone system that allows a user to make a telephone call by paying for a call time requested by a user. To do in advance,
By paying during a call, the call time is extended accordingly.

[0003] In recent years, with the spread of mobile phones, it has become possible for users to select communication means by contracting with a mobile phone company or the like so that cheaper call charges and services can be received.

[0004]

[0007] However, the call charges are expensive for users, and there is a demand for cheaper ones.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a free telephone system in which a user and a partner who the user desires can make a free call. It is another object of the present invention to provide a line controller and a terminal telephone suitable for the free telephone system.

[0006]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by taking the following measures.

A line controller connected to a public telephone network,
A private telephone network connectable to at least one terminal telephone and connected to the line control device. The line control device has the following functions. It relays between the terminal telephone and a general telephone connected to the public telephone network. When there is a line connection response from the general telephone to the terminal telephone in response to the line connection request from the terminal telephone to the general telephone, the advertisement information is transmitted to the terminal telephone together with the line connection response. The user of the terminal phone views and listens to the advertisement information sent. As a price for having the advertisement information viewed or listened to, the line control device permits a call between the terminal telephone and the general telephone only for a predetermined call permitted time. However, in principle, the call termination processing is performed when the call permission time has elapsed. When the user of the terminal phone requests extension of the permitted call time, the advertising information is transmitted to the terminal telephone again, and the permitted call time is extended accordingly.

[0008] Here, the call may be a conversation through voice, or a data communication such as facsimile, personal computer communication, or electronic mail. Further, transmission of video information such as a still image and a moving image may be performed.

[0009] The amount of advertisement information differs depending on the type of advertisement information. However, usually, there is a certain limit to the amount of information regarding one type of advertisement information.
That is, each piece of advertisement information has a limited amount of information. Therefore, the rational idea to cover the call fee with the advertising revenue is that when one piece of advertising information is sent to the terminal phone, the call time cannot be unlimited; Need to be added. That is the call permitted time. As a price for viewing the advertisement information, a free call is permitted in units of a predetermined call permission time.

A line connection request from a public telephone on the public telephone network side to a terminal telephone on the private telephone network side may be made possible in the same manner as in a general telephone system. The entire area may be disabled.

[0011] A company that operates a line control device or a terminal telephone can cover a public telephone network fee related to the use of the public telephone network by collecting an advertising fee for the advertising information from a sponsor of the advertising information. Therefore, the user of the terminal telephone can have a telephone call with the user of the general telephone without imposing a financial burden. The operator can obtain a profit obtained by subtracting necessary expenses from advertising revenue.

In summary, on the condition that the user of the terminal telephone views the advertisement information, the service of free call can be provided to the user by permitting the call for a predetermined call permitted time. At the same time, the advertisement effect is increased for the sponsor of the advertisement information, and the operator of the line control device can be used as a source of advertisement revenue.

[0013] Instead of being free, the call charge may be significantly reduced (the same applies throughout the entire specification).

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be generally described.

[0015] The free telephone system of the first invention of the present application comprises a line control device connected to a public telephone network, and a private telephone network to which at least one terminal telephone is connectable and connected to the line control device. The line controller relays between the terminal telephone and a general telephone connected to the public telephone network, and in response to a line connection request from the terminal telephone to the general telephone, a line is transmitted from the general telephone to the terminal telephone. When there is a connection response, the advertising information is sent to the terminal telephone in conjunction with the line connection response, and a call between the terminal telephone and the general telephone is permitted only for a predetermined call permission time, When the call permission time has elapsed, a call termination process is performed.

The structure of the first invention corresponds to the structure of the above-mentioned [Means for Solving the Problems] section described in another form of expression. Means for Solving the Problems] is substantially the same as that described in the section. That is, it is possible to realize a free telephone system in which the user of the terminal telephone can make a free call. In addition, the effect of the advertisement is increased for the sponsor of the advertisement information, and it can be used as a source of the advertisement revenue for the operator of the line control device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the free telephone system according to the first aspect, wherein the call permission time is set in accordance with the amount of advertisement information transmitted to the terminal telephone. Features.

How to set the permitted call time is in principle arbitrary, and various forms are conceivable. Here, it is assumed that the amount corresponds to the information amount of the advertisement information. This is generally reasonable.
This is because the call fee is largely proportional to the amount of information.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the line control device according to the first aspect of the present invention is arranged such that, when the terminal telephone issues a request to extend the call permission time, the line control device sets And transmitting the advertisement information to the terminal telephone again and extending the call permission over the call permission time.

Here, the second advertisement information may be different from or the same as the first advertisement information.

The operation of the third invention is as follows. As a rational way to cover call charges with advertising fees, as mentioned above, in exchange for viewing advertising information,
In some cases, free calls are permitted in units of a predetermined call permission time. However, if it is restricted to permit only one-time call during the call permission time, the call permission time may be too short to meet the needs of the user. Therefore, the user of the terminal phone is allowed to extend the call permission time, and when the extension request is made, the call permission over the call permission time is extended on condition that the advertisement information is viewed again. It was done. For the user, the free call time becomes longer, and the needs can be satisfied. In addition, for the sponsor of the advertisement information, the effect of the advertisement is increased. For the operator of the line control device, this leads to an increase in advertising revenue.

The request for extending the call permission time may be made unlimited or may be limited to a certain number. The next advertisement information at the time of the extension request may be advertisement information of the same sponsor as the previous sponsor or advertisement information of a different sponsor.

The fourth invention of the present application relates to a line control device, and includes an advertisement information database storing advertisement information, a public telephone network side interface connected to a public telephone network, and a terminal connected to a private telephone network. A telephone line interface, and a line control server for controlling communication between the public telephone network side interface and the terminal telephone side interface, and a line connection from a terminal telephone of the private telephone network to a general telephone of the public telephone network. When there is a request and there is a line connection response from the general telephone side to the terminal telephone side, the line control server retrieves advertisement information from the advertisement information database and sends the line information through the terminal telephone side interface. A connection request is sent to the terminal phone that has made the Wherein the call between the general telephone to allow only a predetermined call permission time, when the call permission time has elapsed and performing call termination processing.

The operation of the fourth invention is as follows. When there is a line connection request from the terminal telephone via the private telephone network to the terminal telephone side interface of the line controller, the line connection request is transmitted from the public telephone network side interface to the general telephone via the public telephone network,
When there is a line connection response from the general telephone, the line connection response is input from the public telephone network to the line control server via the public telephone network side interface. At this time, the line control server extracts the advertisement information from the advertisement information database and sends it out to the terminal telephone that has requested the line connection via the terminal telephone side interface. Upon receiving the advertisement information, the terminal telephone displays the advertisement information on a display or outputs a sound from a speaker to have the user view the advertisement information. Further, the line control server measures the time of a call between the terminal telephone and the general telephone, and manages the call time. That is, the remaining time is monitored, for example, by comparing the measured call time with a predetermined call permission time, and when the remaining time runs out and the call permission time elapses, a call termination process is performed. According to the present invention relating to this line control device, by having the user of the terminal telephone view the advertisement information, the advertising revenue of the advertisement information is obtained from the sponsor, and the call fee is covered, and the user of the terminal telephone In addition, free calls can be provided in units of a predetermined call permission time.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the line control apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the line control server receives the request for extending the call permission time from the terminal telephone via the terminal telephone side interface. Is configured to take out the advertisement information from the advertisement information database again and send it to the terminal telephone which has requested the extension of the call permission time, and extend the call permission over the call permission time. It is characterized by.

The operation of the fifth invention is as follows. As described above, the advantage of extending the free call time to the user, the advantage of increasing the advertising effect to the sponsor of the advertising information, and the operator of the line control device are provided. Can bring the benefits of increased advertising revenue.

The sixth invention of the present application relates to a terminal telephone. The terminal interface connected to the terminal telephone side interface in the line control device of the fourth invention, and a public telephone via the line control device. A telephone control unit for realizing a telephone call function with a network side, a telephone user interface as an interface with a user of the telephone function, and transmission from an advertisement information database in the line control device via the terminal telephone side interface and the terminal interface. And an advertisement information output unit that outputs the advertisement information.

The operation of the sixth invention is as follows. The user of the terminal telephone issues a line connection request by dialing the telephone number or address of the other party with whom the user wants to talk on the telephone user interface. This line connection request is transmitted from the telephone control unit to the other party's general telephone via the terminal interface, and further via the private telephone network, the line controller, and the public telephone network. The line connection response from the general telephone is transmitted to the line controller via the public telephone network on the reverse route. As described above, the line controller sends the advertisement information via the private telephone network together with the line connection response. The terminal interface passes the advertisement information received from the private telephone network to the advertisement information control unit, outputs the advertisement information to an advertisement information output unit such as a display or a speaker, and outputs the advertisement information by display or voice output. In the case of voice output, the receiver of the telephone user interface may also be used. The advertising information is broadcast for a certain period of time before the call starts. On condition that such advertisement information is viewed, the user of the terminal telephone can make a free call with the user of the general telephone. Note that the call termination processing when the predetermined call permission time has elapsed is performed by the line control device, and when the call termination processing is performed, the free call ends.

Note that the line control device, before the call termination processing,
It is desirable to give an end notice. The end-of-call notice may be displayed on the display as the advertisement information output means from the terminal interface via the advertisement information control unit, or may be output as sound from a speaker. Alternatively, voice output may be performed from a receiver in the telephone user interface.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the terminal phone according to the seventh aspect, the advertisement information output means is a display for displaying a still image, a moving image, and character information of the advertisement information. Features.

In a preferred form of the terminal telephone according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the advertisement information output means is a speaker that outputs audio information of the advertisement information by voice.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal telephone according to the sixth aspect, the advertisement information output means includes a display for displaying a still image, a moving image, and character information of the advertisement information, A speaker for outputting voice information as voice.

The terminal telephone according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is the terminal telephone according to the sixth aspect, wherein a call permission time extension requesting means for making the request for extending the call permission time, and an extension request by the call permission time extension requesting means. And a user control unit for transmitting the information to the terminal interface.

The operation of the tenth aspect is as follows. A user of a terminal phone permitted to make free calls on condition that he / she listens to the advertising information can terminate the call within the permitted call time when the end of the call is announced, or can make a further free call If the user wants to extend the call permission time, he operates the call permission time extension request means to issue a request to extend the call permission time. This extension request is sent to the terminal interface via the user control unit, and is further provided to the line controller via the private telephone network. The line control device performs control as described above to send the advertisement information again and extend the call permitted time. This allows the user to receive a further free call service through a request to extend the call permission time. For the operator of the line control device, the advertising revenue increases, and for the sponsor of the advertising information, the advertising effect increases.

In a preferred embodiment, the line controller according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention is the line controller according to the fourth aspect, wherein the public telephone network side interface and the terminal telephone side interface are an analog telephone line, a digital telephone line, or an ISDN. It is characterized in that it can correspond to each line.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll-free telephone system according to the first aspect, wherein the cable connecting the line control device and the terminal telephone is a two-wire type connecting a telephone line. It is characterized by comprising two types of wires: wires and wires for transmitting advertisement information. Generally, the ISDN line has a system of 2B + D, which corresponds to this.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll-free telephone system according to the first aspect, wherein the cable connecting the line control device and the terminal telephone multiplexes telephone information and advertisement information. It is characterized by comprising only two-wire type wires for transmission. Suitable for data transmission by packet method.

(Specific Embodiments) Specific embodiments of a free telephone system, a line control device for the free telephone system, and a terminal telephone according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the free telephone system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a public telephone network such as an analog telephone line, digital telephone line, or ISDN line, 2 denotes a general telephone connected to the public telephone network 1, 4 denotes a private telephone network, and 3 denotes a telephone line. A line controller 5 connected to the public telephone network 1 via the telephone line 7 and also connected to the private telephone network 4 via the telephone line 7 is a terminal telephone connected to the private telephone network 4.

At least one terminal telephone 5 is connected to the private telephone network 4, and is connected to the public telephone network 1 via the line controller 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the line control device 3. The line controller 3 includes a public telephone network side interface 13 connected to the public telephone network 1 via the telephone line 6 and a terminal telephone side interface connected to the private telephone network 4 via the telephone line 7. 14, a line control server 15 for controlling the exchange of signals and data between the public telephone network side interface 13 and the terminal telephone side interface 14, and advertisement information provided by the sponsor 9 (see FIG. 4). And an advertisement information database 16 which are connected to each other by a bus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the terminal phone 5. As shown in FIG. The terminal telephone 5 includes a terminal interface 17 connected to the line controller 3 via the private telephone network 4 and the telephone line 7, and a telephone control unit 1 connected to the terminal interface 17 to control a call.
8, an advertisement information control unit 19 connected to the terminal interface 17 for controlling the presentation of advertisement information, and a line connected to the terminal interface 17 for requesting the user to extend the call permission time, which is a free call time. A user control unit 20 for transmitting information to the control device 3 side; and a telephone user interface 21 connected to the telephone control unit 18 and provided with a transmitter / receiver such as a dial or a handset for making a call.
A display 22 connected to the advertisement information control unit 19 for displaying the advertisement information of the image; a speaker 23 connected to the advertisement information control unit 19 for presenting the audio advertisement information; A call permission time extension request switch 24 for requesting extension of the call permission time.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a business model showing a company involved in the free telephone system and a flow of money. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 8 denotes an operator that operates the line control device 3, reference numeral 9 denotes a sponsor relating to advertisement information, and reference numeral 10 denotes charging between the general telephone 2 and the line control device 3 for use of the public telephone network 1. Public telephone network fee (NTT telephone fee), 11 is a private telephone fee charged for use of the private telephone network 4 between the terminal telephone 5 and the line controller 3.

Here, the relationship of the flow of funds in the free telephone system having the above configuration according to the present embodiment will be described.

In the toll-free telephone system, the operating costs to be borne by the operator 8 of the line controller 3 include the operation and management costs of the line controller 3, the operation and management costs of the private telephone network 4, An operation management cost of the telephone 5 and a private telephone charge 11 from the line control device 3 to the terminal telephone 5 are required as fixed costs. In addition, a public telephone network charge 10 from the line control device 3 to the general telephone 2 is required. Will bear.

The operator 8 who has to bear the above-mentioned costs collects the advertisement fee 12 from the sponsor 9 as a price for developing the advertisement information service.
For example, the advertisement fee 12 generally corresponds to, for example, the information amount of the advertisement information and the transmission degree of the advertisement information in the unit of the permitted call time.

The amount obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned expenses such as fixed charges and profits is allocated to the public telephone network charge 10.
There are various methods for the assignment.

For example, regarding the talk time between the terminal telephone 5 and the general telephone 2 controlled by the line control device 3, the amount of advertisement information for one time provided by the sponsor 9 is defined as one unit (hereinafter referred to as a call permitted time unit). The public telephone network charge 10 and the private telephone charge 11 from the terminal telephone 5 to the general telephone 2 only during the time when the advertisement information is transmitted to the terminal telephone 5
Make it free. Then, if the time exceeds the call permission time unit during a call, the line control device 3 disconnects the line connection between the terminal telephone 5 and the general telephone 2.

Alternatively, only when a request to extend the permitted call time from the terminal phone 5 is made to the line controller 3, the advertisement information corresponding to the permitted call time is sent to the terminal telephone 5 in units of the permitted call time. It is possible to extend the call permission time.

Next, the operation of the free telephone system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

The operator 8 stores the advertisement information desired by the sponsor 9 in the advertisement information database 16 of the line controller 3 in the contract with the sponsor 9.

When a call is made from the general telephone 2 to the terminal telephone 5, and vice versa,
And when you make a call. In the former case,
The line control device 3 performs only a normal call function, and does not perform an advertisement function with call time management. In the latter case, the line control device 3 also exhibits an advertisement function with call time management as well as a call function.

First, the operation when making a call from the general telephone 2 to the terminal telephone 5 will be described. The general telephone 2 makes a line connection request to the line controller 3 via the public telephone network 1. The line controller 3 relays the received line connection request via the private telephone network 4 to the terminal telephone 5 on the dialing partner side. In response to the line connection response to the call to the terminal telephone 5, the general telephone 2 and the terminal telephone 5 are line-connected via the public telephone network 1, the line control device 3, and the private telephone network 4, and a telephone call becomes possible. .

More specifically, it is as follows. A line connection request from the general telephone 2 via the public telephone network 1
The data is input to the public telephone network side interface 13 of the line controller 3 via the telephone line 6. The line control server 15 receiving the line connection request connects the public telephone network side interface 13 to the terminal telephone side interface 14. The line connection request from the terminal telephone side interface 14 is transmitted to the terminal telephone 5 via the private telephone network 4.
Is input to the terminal interface 17. The terminal interface 17 transmits a line connection request from the telephone control unit 18 to the telephone user interface 21, and a call is made in the telephone user interface 21.

The user of the terminal phone 5 gives a line connection response by an operation such as off-hook of the receiver. The line connection response is input to the terminal telephone side interface 14 of the line control device 3 via the telephone control unit 18, the terminal interface 17, the telephone line 7, and the private telephone network 4. Upon receiving the line connection response, the line control server 15 connects the terminal telephone side interface 14 to the public telephone network side interface 13 as it is, that is, the advertising function with call time management is inactive. A line connection response from the public telephone network side interface 13 is returned to the general telephone 2 via the public telephone network 1.
As a result, the general telephone 2 and the terminal telephone 5 are connected to each other via the public telephone network 1, the line control device 3, and the private telephone network 4, thereby enabling a telephone conversation.

Thus, the general telephone 2 to the terminal telephone 5
When a call is made to, the user of the general telephone 2 is charged.

Next, the operation when making a call from the terminal telephone 5 to the general telephone 2 will be described. The terminal telephone 5 makes a line connection request to the line controller 3 via the private telephone network 4. The line controller 3 relays the received line connection request via the public telephone network 1 to the general telephone 2 on the dial partner side. In response to a call to the general telephone 2, a line connection response is performed by an operation such as off-hook of the receiver of the general telephone 2. When the line connection response is input to the line control device 3 via the public telephone network 1, the line control device 3 converts the received line connection response and the voice information and advertisement information in the subsequent calls into the private telephone network. 4 to the terminal phone 5 and at the same time
It controls the talk time between the telephone and the general telephone 2.

More specifically, it is as follows. When the user of the terminal phone 5 performs a dialing operation on the telephone user interface 21 on the telephone user interface 21, a line connection request is sent from the telephone control unit 18 via the terminal interface 17, and further via the private telephone network 4. The information is transmitted to the line controller 3 and is input to the terminal telephone-side interface 14 of the line controller 3. The line control server 15 having received the line connection request connects the terminal telephone side interface 14 to the public telephone network side interface 13. Public telephone network side interface 1
The line connection request from the telephone 3 is transmitted to the general telephone 2 via the public telephone network 1, and the general telephone 2 makes a call.

The user of the ordinary telephone 2 gives a line connection response by an operation such as off-hook of the receiver. The line connection response is input to the public telephone network side interface 13 of the line control device 3 via the public telephone network 1. Upon receiving the line connection response, the line control server 15 accesses the advertisement information database 16 and, together with the advertisement information stored therein, combines the terminal telephone interface 1
4 The line connection response and the advertisement information are input from the private telephone network 4 to the terminal telephone 5.

At the same time, the line control server 15 in the line control device 3 manages a call time related to a call between the terminal telephone 5 and the general telephone 2. That is, the call time is measured, and the call time is managed in units of a certain call permitted time.

The terminal interface 5 is connected to the terminal interface 17.
Is transmitted to the telephone user interface 21 via the telephone control unit 18, whereby a normal telephone call can be made between the terminal telephone 5 and the general telephone 2.

On the other hand, the advertisement information input to the terminal interface 17 is transmitted to the still image,
Advertisement information related to video and characters such as moving images is displayed on the display 22, and advertisement information related to audio is set to the speaker 2.
3 is transmitted.

Here, the advertising information relating to the voice is output from the speaker 23 to the outside. However, since this is transmitted during the user's call, it is not intended for the user, and the terminal telephone 5 It is intended for a third party in the place where it is installed, that is, a person who is in the vicinity such as a passerby.

Regardless of whether or not the terminal telephone 5 is used, an advertisement using the speaker 23 and the display 22 as a medium can be transmitted to the vicinity of the installation location under the control of the terminal control device 3.

As described above, when the user of the terminal phone 5 makes a call to the other party's general telephone 2, the user can use the free telephone call in exchange for viewing the advertisement information on the display 22. Can be.

As described above, the terminal telephone 5 is connected to the general telephone 2
Is not charged to the user of the terminal phone 5.

When a free call is made with the call permission time unit being a certain limit, the line control server 15 in the line control device 3 manages the call time. Then, a predetermined time before the measured call time exceeds the call permission time unit, a call end notice is given to the terminal telephone 5 via the terminal telephone interface 14. That is, the end-of-call notice is displayed on the display 22.

After the end-of-call notice, when the talk time exceeds the talk permitted time unit without the talk permit time extension request switch 24 being operated and the talk permit time extension request not being issued, the line control server 15 is a terminal telephone 5
And the general telephone 2 is disconnected.

If the call permission time extension request switch 24 is operated in the terminal telephone 5 during this time, a call permission time extension request is sent from the user control unit 20 via the terminal interface 17 and further via the private telephone network 4. To the line controller 3. That is, a request to extend the call permission time is given from the terminal telephone interface 14 to the line control server 15. Then, the line control server 15 accepts the extension request, and transmits the corresponding advertisement information in the advertisement information
Read out and re-enter terminal phone side interface 1
4 to the terminal telephone 5, and subsequently, a call state between the terminal telephone 5 and the general telephone 2 is secured. This allows the user of the terminal phone 5 to extend the free call in exchange for seeing the advertisement information on the display 22.

Note that the line connection between two or more terminal telephones in the private telephone network 4 is the same as described above, and the dialing party can enjoy a free call. The dialed party is not charged as in the past.

The representative embodiments have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the following embodiments are possible.

In the above description, the telephone dialing and the display of the advertisement display are performed by the telephone control unit 18 and the display 22.
Was displayed separately, but the display 22
It is also possible to put together.

Although the extension of the talk time is transmitted to the line control device 3 using the talk allowance time extension request switch 24, it is also possible to provide the talk allowance time extension request switch function on the display 22. .

The public telephone network side interface 13 and the terminal telephone side interface 14 are shown separately in the configuration of the line control device 3, but they can be realized as one.

In the configuration of the line control device 3, the advertisement information provided by the sponsor 9 is stored in the advertisement information database 1.
6, the terminal phone 5 may be further provided with a storage function, and the advertisement information may be downloaded from the line control device 3 to the storage function part of the terminal phone 5 at regular time intervals.

In the configuration of the terminal phone 5, the speaker 2
3 is built in, but it is also possible to provide it independently of the terminal phone 5.

Although the display 22 is built in the terminal telephone 5, it can be provided independently of the terminal telephone 5.

Further, in the configuration of the terminal telephone 5, it is possible to provide an advertisement information storage unit for storing advertisement information, and to download the advertisement information from the line control device 3 at regular intervals.

In addition to storing advertisement information from the sponsor 9 in the advertisement information database 16 of the line control device 3, an advertisement information database server can be provided on the public telephone line 1.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, on the condition that the user of the terminal telephone can view the advertisement information,
By permitting a call for a predetermined call permitted time, it is possible to provide a free call service to the user, and to increase the advertising effect for the sponsor of the advertising information, and as an operator of the line control device. Can be used as a source of advertising revenue.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a free telephone system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a line control device in the free telephone system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a terminal telephone in the free telephone system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a business model explanatory diagram showing a company involved in the free telephone system according to the embodiment of the present invention and a flow of money.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Public line network 2 General telephone 3 Line controller 4 Private telephone network 5 Terminal telephone 6 Telephone line 7 Telephone line 8 Operator 9 Sponsor 10 Public telephone network fee 11 Private telephone fee 12 Advertising fee 13 Public telephone network side interface 14 Terminal telephone Side interface 15 Line control server 16 Advertising information database 17 Terminal interface 18 Telephone control unit 19 Advertising information control unit 20 User control unit 21 Telephone user interface 22 Display 23 Speaker 24 Call lengthening request switch

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A line control device connected to a public telephone network, and a private telephone network connectable to at least one terminal telephone and connected to the line control device, wherein the line control device is connected to the terminal telephone. When relaying a line connection request from the terminal telephone to the general telephone when there is a line connection response from the general telephone to the general telephone, relaying the advertisement information to the general telephone connected to the public telephone network. Is transmitted to the terminal telephone in response to the line connection response, and a call between the terminal telephone and the general telephone is permitted only for a predetermined call permission time, and terminated when the call permission time elapses. A free telephone system characterized by performing speech processing. 2. The free telephone system according to claim 1, wherein the call permission time is set in accordance with the amount of advertisement information sent to the terminal telephone. 3. The line control device, when receiving a request to extend the call permission time from the terminal telephone, the line control device sends the advertising information to the terminal telephone again, and 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the call permission is extended over time.
Free telephone system as described in. 4. An advertisement information database for storing advertisement information, a public telephone network interface connected to a public telephone network, a terminal telephone interface connected to a private telephone network, the public telephone network interface and the terminal telephone. A line control server for controlling communication with the side interface, and there is a line connection request from the terminal telephone of the private telephone network to the general telephone of the public telephone network. When receiving a line connection response, the line control server retrieves the advertisement information from the advertisement information database and sends it to the terminal telephone that has requested the line connection via the terminal telephone side interface, and Call between the telephone and the general telephone is limited to a predetermined call permission time. A call termination process is performed when the call permission time has elapsed. 5. When the line control server receives the request for extending the call permission time from the terminal telephone via the terminal telephone-side interface, the line control server extracts the advertisement information from the advertisement information database again, and The line control device according to claim 4, wherein the line control device is configured to send the request to extend the call permission time to the terminal telephone that has made the request and extend the call permission over the call permission time. 6. An end interface connected to a terminal telephone side interface in the line control device according to claim 4, and a telephone control unit for realizing a call function with a public telephone network through the line control device. A telephone user interface that is an interface with a user of the telephone function, and an advertisement information control unit that controls advertisement information transmitted from the advertisement information database in the line control device via the terminal telephone side interface and the terminal interface, A terminal telephone, comprising: advertisement information output means for outputting the advertisement information. 7. The terminal telephone according to claim 6, wherein the advertisement information output means is a display for displaying a still image, a moving image, and character information of the advertisement information. 8. The terminal telephone according to claim 6, wherein the advertisement information output means is a speaker that outputs audio information of the advertisement information by voice. 9. A display for displaying a still image, a moving image, and character information of the advertisement information,
The terminal telephone according to claim 6, further comprising a speaker that outputs audio information of the advertisement information by voice. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a communication permission time extension requesting means for making a request for extending the communication permission time; and a user control unit for transmitting an extension request by the communication permission time extension request to the terminal interface. The terminal telephone according to claim 6, wherein 11. The line control device according to claim 4, wherein said public telephone network side interface and said terminal telephone side interface can correspond to an analog telephone line, a digital telephone line, or an ISDN line, respectively. 12. A cable for connecting the line control device and the terminal telephone includes two types of wires: a two-wire type wire for connecting a telephone line and a wire for transmitting advertisement information. The free telephone system according to claim 1. 13. The cable according to claim 1, wherein the cable connecting the line control device and the terminal telephone comprises only a two-wire type wire for multiplexing and transmitting telephone information and advertisement information. Free telephone system.