JP2590380B2 - Charge processing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charge processing device, and more particularly to a control device installed between a telephone line and ordinary ordinary home equipment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fee processing device used to perform a fee process for a public-use facsimile terminal used by a person who pays a fee.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a fee processing device used in a conventional public use type communication device.

That is, the fee processing device 38 includes a loading / discharging mechanism unit 31 that captures and discharges coins and cards, a mechanism driving unit 32 that drives the same, and a fee display unit that displays the fees and the like of the captured coins and cards. 33, a display driving portion 34 for driving the device, a service processing portion 35 for executing a service such as a telephone function for a user of the device, and a clock portion for counting communication time.
36, and a main control unit 37, which integrates fee processing and service processing. This type of charge processing device corresponds to a device incorporating a charge processing function in a telephone. The charge processing of this kind of charge processing device is based on time charging.

As another configuration example, there is an external service processing unit as shown in FIG. This is because a service processing device 42 for executing a service such as a telephone function and a fee processing device 41 for executing a fee process are connected by a special common bus type signal line, and the service process and the fee process are separated. This is configured to be performed by a device, and is characterized by the independence of the fee processing device 41 (see Japanese Patent Application No. 61-75475). 36-1 and 36-2 are microcomputers,
37-1 is a charge processing device program memory, 37-2 is a service processing device program memory, 38-1 is a charge processing device working memory, 38-2 is a service processing device working memory, 40 is a transmission / reception interface, and the other is It is the same as FIG.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Since the conventional fee processing device has the above-described configuration, (1) In the configuration example of FIG. 3, besides arbitrary collection of fees, in particular, in the case of a facsimile terminal, etc. For example, it is difficult to collect charges by so-called information amount charging such as charging according to the number of transmission originals or paper cost at the time of reception. Further, since the charge processing and the service processing are integrated, it is necessary to develop a dedicated facsimile terminal in order to charge the information amount.

(2) In the configuration example of FIG. 4, a special interface is required for the service processing device 42, and software for fee processing needs to be added. Therefore, in order to charge the information amount as in a facsimile terminal, it is not necessary to develop a dedicated device as in the above (1), but it is necessary to modify an existing facsimile terminal. As described above, in the case of FIG. 4, there is an advantage that the fee processing device 41 can be used independently and for general purpose, and it can be quickly developed to provide a public use type service. Is necessary and not realistic.

And so on.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and when the home device is a facsimile, when charging according to the number of transmitted originals, the number of sheets is counted based on the communication status of the facsimile communication terminal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fee processing device which can perform the fee processing.

[Means for solving the problem]

A charge processing device according to the present invention is connected between a home equipment line (1) connected to a facsimile terminal requiring charging and a telephone line (2) connected to an exchange. A terminal transmission detection means (4, 6), a counterpart terminal response notification means (5), a terminal transmission notification means (8), a counterpart terminal response detection means (9), a connection means (7, 11B),
A toll processing device having a facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring means (10) and a toll processing means (12), wherein the control means (3) includes a terminal transmission detection means (4, 6), and a home equipment line (4, 6). 1) is monitored to detect the off-hook of the facsimile terminal and the telephone number information of the other terminal, and the terminal transmission notifying means (8) transmits the information via the telephone line (2).
The off-hook information and the telephone number information of the other terminal are sent to the exchange, and then the response signal of the other terminal from the exchange is detected by the other terminal response detection means (9), and the response signal of the other terminal is transmitted by the other terminal response notification means (5). To notify the facsimile terminal of the response of the other terminal via the in-home equipment line (1), and then to send and receive a facsimile signal between the facsimile terminal and the other terminal by the connection means (7, 11B). A facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring means (10) which forms a coupling circuit for connecting the equipment line (1) and the telephone line (2)
Detects the number of originals transmitted from the facsimile terminal on the basis of the transmission control procedure signal in the facsimile signal transmitted through the coupling circuit, and, based on the number of originals transmitted, by the fee processing means (12) It is configured to control to perform processing.

[Action]

According to the present invention, a so-called amount of information billing can be performed for each transmission original without any modification or change of the facsimile terminal.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing FIG. 1 in more detail. In FIG. 2, the same blocks as those in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers. A, b, and c are relay control units 1
These are the contacts of 1A, 11B and 11C.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication line (hereinafter, referred to as an in-home device line) for connecting a facsimile terminal and the fee processing device according to the present invention, and 2 denotes a telephone line for connection to an exchange or the like. is there. Reference numeral 3 denotes a main control unit including a μCPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and a control unit that controls the operation of each unit included in the fee processing device. 4 is an off-hook or on-hook of a facsimile terminal and a diamond pulse (hereinafter, referred to as “diah pulse”).
Abbreviated as DP. ) Off-hook / DP detection circuit to detect signals
Reference numeral 6 denotes a PB signal receiving circuit for receiving a push button (hereinafter abbreviated as PB) signal, and both constitute terminal transmission detecting means for detecting a transmission operation of the facsimile terminal. Here, off-hook generally means when calling from a telephone,
This refers to the operation formed by the communication circuit and the DC loop circuit between the exchange and the on-hook, which releases the DC loop between the communication circuit and the exchange circuit formed between the exchange and the exchange and the incoming call detection circuit. This means that a DC loop circuit is formed to place the telephone in a call waiting state. Reference numeral 5 denotes a current supply / polarity inverting circuit for supplying a current to the in-home equipment line 1 and changing the polarity of the current, and constitutes a counterpart terminal response notifying unit for notifying the facsimile terminal that the counterpart terminal has responded.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a coupling transformer (hereinafter, referred to as a local line transformer) for extracting an AC signal in a voice band superimposed on a DC signal when a DC loop of the telephone line is formed when connected to a telephone line. Is a relay control unit that controls the connection between the home equipment line 1 and the telephone line 2, and each constitutes a connection unit that forms a connection circuit that connects the home equipment reselection 1 and the telephone line 2. Reference numeral 8 denotes a DC loop / DP which captures an office line to notify the off-hook or on-hook of the facsimile terminal, and sends a DP signal corresponding to the telephone number of the other terminal when the telephone line 2 subscribed to the exchange is a DP. It is a sending circuit. If the telephone line 2 subscribed to the exchange is a PB, a PB transmission circuit is required. In this embodiment, however, the facsimile control means monitoring unit 10 is described as having a PB signal transmission function as described later. However, it can be configured to have 8 as a matter of course. As described above, the terminal 8 constitutes a terminal transmission notifying means for notifying the exchange of the transmission of the facsimile terminal including the case of having the function of transmitting the PB signal. 9 is the telephone line 2
And a line reversal detection and local loop detection circuit provided to monitor the state of the network via the network, and constitutes a remote terminal response detecting means for detecting a response of the remote terminal from the exchange. Reference numeral 10 denotes a facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring unit that monitors a control signal between terminals in phases B, C, and D, which is a facsimile terminal control procedure specified in the recommendation (T.30) of the CCITT. It is a monitoring means. Note that the facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring unit 10
300 bps modem used as a binary procedure in ITT (V.2
In addition to 1), as described above, a PBOSC (PB oscillator) as a PB signal transmission function as a terminal transmission notifying means is built in. Reference numeral 12 denotes a charge processing unit which takes in a card or a coin used for charge settlement and performs charge processing, and is charge processing means. 11A and 11C are relay control units for controlling the connection between the home equipment line 1 and the telephone line 2;
13 is a charge information recorded on the card taken in, or remaining charge information according to the amount of coins taken and the amount used, an operation die, and a display for displaying various states, and 14 is a use of this device. The monitor speaker unit that prompts the user to perform operations such as charging fees and generates an alarm sound in the event of an accident such as theft. The installer of this device uses the in-home equipment free of charge without paying a fee. A key provided for the purpose of, etc., 16 is a clock unit for counting communication time,
17 is a billing information storage unit for storing information defining service charges according to the type of home equipment connected to this device or the request of the installer, and 18 is a change in internal operation by a memory card or the like or a change in billing index. Reference numeral 20 denotes an entire charge processing device according to the present invention.

 Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

The fee processing device 20 has a home device line 1 and a telephone line 2 as external interfaces. Normally, as shown in the figure, the home device is connected to and coupled to the fee processing device 20 by a contact a of the relay control unit 11A. , On the other hand, relay control
The telephone line 2 is similarly connected / coupled by the contact c of 11C, and the charge processing unit 12 is used as an interface to the user by the display drive unit for displaying operation guidance and the like.
13A and a display 13; and a monitor speaker unit 14 for prompting operation by sound.

First, the main control unit 3 operates the off-hook / DP detection circuit 4 and the PB signal receiving circuit 6 which are terminal transmission detection means, detects the off-hook of the facsimile terminal and the telephone number information of the partner terminal to be continuously transmitted, and detects the facsimile. Detect outgoing operation of terminal. Specifically, the main control unit 3 operates the off-hook / DP detection circuit 4 to monitor the home equipment line 1 and detects the off-hook of the facsimile terminal. If the facsimile terminal is a dial pulse, the off-hook / DP detection circuit 4 continues to operate, and if the facsimile terminal is a PB signal, the PB signal reception circuit 6 operates to detect the telephone number information of the destination transmitted after off-hook. I do. At this time, the received telephone number information of the partner terminal is temporarily stored in the RAM of the control unit 3.

Next, the main control unit 3 operates the DC loop / DP transmission circuit 8 which is a terminal transmission notifying unit, and sends the off-hook information detected by the terminal transmission detecting unit to the exchange via the telephone line 2 to the other terminal. The telephone number information is transmitted to notify the exchange of the calling operation of the facsimile terminal. Specifically, the telephone line 2 is captured by the DC loop / DP transmission circuit 8 and off-hook is notified to the exchange. When the subscribed telephone line is a dial pulse, the DC loop / DP transmission circuit 8 is used first. Based on the telephone number information of the partner terminal stored in the RAM of the main control unit 3, a dial pulse is sent to the exchange. When the subscriber telephone line is a PB signal, the telephone number information of the partner terminal is transmitted to the exchange by a PB signal using the PB signal transmission function of the facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring unit 10.

By the above operation, the other terminal is notified that the facsimile terminal has called.

The main controller 3 operates the incoming call / polarity reversal and local loop detection circuit 9 which is a response detection means for the other party's terminal.
To detect the response of the partner terminal from the exchange by detecting the partner response signal (specifically, the reversal of the polarity).

Next, the main control section 3 operates the current supply / polarity inversion circuit 5 which is the other party terminal response notification means, and inverts the polarity of the voltage.
That is, by inverting the polarity, the facsimile terminal is notified of the response of the partner terminal via the in-home device line 1.

Through the above operation, the facsimile terminal is notified that the partner terminal has responded.

In parallel with the above operation, the main control unit 3 operates the relay control unit 11B, which is the connection means, and the local line transformer 7, turns on the contact b by the relay control unit 11B, and uses the local line transformer 7 to control the home equipment line. By coupling the side 1 and the telephone line 2 in an alternating manner, a coupling circuit for connecting the home equipment line 1 and the telephone line 2 is formed. Further, the clock unit 16 is operated to start counting the communication time.

By the above operation, the facsimile terminal and the partner terminal are connected and can communicate with each other.

Next, the main control unit 3 operates the facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring unit 10 of the facsimile transmission control procedure starting means, and the connection circuit formed by the relay control unit 11B as the connection means and the local line transformer 7 is transmitted. The facsimile signal transmission control procedure is monitored, and the number of documents transmitted from the facsimile terminal is detected.

The main control unit 3 activates the charge processing unit 12 of the charge processing means, gives the number of documents detected by the facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring unit 10, and performs charge processing. In the case of time-based charging, the clock unit 16 is used to notify the fee processing unit 12 at regular time intervals (this information is in the previous billing information storage unit 17 or the external storage device 18) and perform fee processing. It is also possible to combine the charge processing for each number of documents and the charge processing for a fixed time.

By the way, the display 13 and the monitor speaker 14
Is provided to assist the operation of the user, and displays the current accumulated balance in the fee processing unit 12, the communication fee, the number of facsimile transmission documents, and the like.
Is used to prompt an operation by sound.

On the other hand, since this fee processing device 20 is of a public use type,
When the installer who is the service provider uses the service, there is no need to separately collect the fee. At this time, if the key 15 is operated, the contact a of the relay control unit 11A and the relay control unit 11C are operated.
By operating the contact c in FIG. 2 to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 2 to directly connect the home equipment line 1 and the telephone line 2, the charge processing device 20 can be prevented from operating.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described in detail above, the present fee processing device is connected between a home device line connected to a facsimile terminal requiring charging and a telephone line connected to an exchange, and includes a control unit, a terminal transmission detection unit, The facsimile terminal is not modified in any way because it has a configuration including a partner terminal response notification unit, a terminal transmission notification unit, a partner terminal response detection unit, a connection unit, a facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring unit, and a charge processing unit. In addition to this, it is possible to obtain an effect that not only time charging but also information amount charging for charging according to the number of documents can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 in more detail, and FIGS. FIG. In the figure, 1 is a home equipment line, 2 is a telephone line, 3 is a main control unit, 4 is an off-hook / DP detection circuit, 5 is a current supply / polarity end point circuit, 6 is a PB signal receiving circuit, 7 is a local line transformer, 8
Is a DC loop / DP transmission circuit, 9 is an incoming / polarity inversion and local loop detection circuit, 10 is a facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring unit, 11 is a relay control unit, 12 is a charge processing unit, 13 is a display, and 14 is a monitor. A speaker unit, 15 is a key, 16 is a clock unit, 17 is a billing information recording unit, 18 is an external storage device, and 20 is an entire fee processing device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A control means (3) connected between a home equipment line (1) connected to a facsimile terminal requiring charging and a telephone line (2) connected to an exchange, and a terminal transmission detecting means. (4, 6), the other party terminal response notification means (5),
Charge processing including terminal transmission notifying means (8), partner terminal response detecting means (9), connecting means (7, 11B), facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring means (10), and charge processing means (12) The control means is: (3) a terminal transmission line (1) by terminal transmission detection means (4, 6);
To detect the off-hook of the facsimile terminal and the telephone number information of the other terminal, and the terminal transmission notifying means (8) informs the exchange via the telephone line (2) of the off-hook information and the telephone number information of the other terminal. Then, the response signal of the partner terminal from the exchange is detected by the partner terminal response detecting means (9), and the facsimile is transmitted by the partner terminal response notifying means (5) via the home equipment line (1). Notifying the terminal of the response of the partner terminal, and then transmitting and receiving a facsimile signal between the facsimile terminal and the partner terminal by the connection means (7, 11B)
A facsimile transmission control procedure monitoring means (1) forms a coupling circuit for connecting the home equipment line (1) and the telephone line (2).
0), the number of originals transmitted from the facsimile terminal is detected based on the transmission control procedure signal in the facsimile signal transmitted through the coupling circuit, and the charge processing means (12)
The charge processing device controls the charge processing based on the number of transmitted documents.