JPH02244964A - Telephone set with communication charge restricting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To restrict origination when a set charge limit is exceeded by sending an origination restricting request to a control part when an accumulated charge exceeds the charge limit. CONSTITUTION:When a user inputs the limit of communication charges for a month e.g. from an impact part 1 as the charge limit information, the inputted contents are stored in a charge limit storing means 5. A communication rate information receiving means 6 receives the communication charge information and an accumulated charge storing means 7 adds the communication charge to the accumulated charge and stores the added result. At the time of receiving the accumulated charge from the means 7, a charge comparing means 8 inputs the charge limit from the means 5, compares the charge limit with the accumulated charge, and when the accumulated charge is larger than the charge limit, sends an origination restricting request to an origination restriction control means 9 in a control part 4. Consequently, origination can be restricted when the charge limit is exceeded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a telephone with a communication charge restriction function for ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Communication Network), a communication charge limit can be set on the ISDN telephone and the set charge limit is exceeded. The purpose of this telephone is to provide a telephone with a communication charge restriction function that can restrict outgoing calls when calls are made. , an ISDN telephone that has an audio device section that transmits and receives voice and signal tones, such as a handset and a speaker, and a control section that controls signal transmission and reception between the telephone's internal circuit and line, and charges that are input from the input section. charge limit storage means for receiving and storing limit information;
communication charge information receiving means for receiving communication charge information sent from the ISDN subscriber exchange at the time of termination of communication; and inputting the communication charge from the charge information receiving means, adding it to the cumulative charge after initial setting and storing it; and a cumulative charge storage means for erasing the stored cumulative charge when initial setting information is received from the input section, and a charge limit storage means for storing the cumulative charge and charge limit each time the cumulative charge is updated in the cumulative charge storage means. A charge comparison means that compares charge limits and sends a call restriction request to a control unit if the cumulative charge is greater than the charge limit;
The control unit receives a call restriction request from the charge comparison means, restricts the call when the user performs a call operation after receiving it, and displays visible and audible information on the display unit and audio equipment unit indicating that the call restriction is in effect. The device is configured to include a transmission restriction control means for displaying the information.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a telephone with communication charge restriction function for rsDN.

recent years,! As the construction of SDN progresses, a variety of services that could not be provided by conventional analog telephone networks are being provided. One of the characteristics of ISDN services is that the network side can provide various types of information at the start of communication, during communication, or at the end of communication. A service that notifies charges using digital information is about to be realized.

In conventional analog telephone networks, a service is provided in which the network side sends billing pulses to the terminal during a call, and is used in some telephones and key telephone devices. They had the disadvantage that they were given a different service class from that of general subscribers, and some of the other services provided by the telephone network were restricted.

On the other hand, it is common practice to calculate charges independently of the line on the terminal side and display them for each call, or to store and output cumulative charges for an appropriate period. Since such fee-related functions increase the price of the device, they are usually adopted in terminal devices that have a main control device, such as key telephone devices, but some stand-alone telephones have also appeared that have this function. . Further, some key telephone devices are provided with a function of setting a call charge limit for each telephone and restricting outgoing calls when the limit is exceeded. However, since all of these functions are realized without receiving charge information from the network, information for calculating charges must be stored in the terminal, and for this reason, the installation area must be identified for each terminal. In addition, when network communication charges are revised, it is necessary to change part of the charge calculation function of all terminals, creating a considerable burden on users and maintenance contractors. .

On the other hand, ISDN terminals are mainly terminals that have a variety of functions, including not only PBXs and key telephone devices, but also telephones and terminals that are used stand-alone. In particular, in 1sDN, since information regarding communication charges is provided from the network side, it is much easier to provide functions such as charge display to terminals than in the analog telephone network described above. For this reason, ISDN telephones are expected to be equipped with various charge-related functions, one of which is a function that manages communication charges and restricts outgoing calls when communication charges exceed a certain limit. It is thought that it will be necessary.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 shows a basic configuration diagram of a conventional telephone device with functions related to call charges.

The figure shows the basic configuration of a key telephone device that is composed of a telephone and a main control device, and has charge-related functions in the main control device.

For the user to make an outgoing connection, dial numeric button 5
When the number of the called party is dialed from the input unit 21, which includes a function button, etc., a dial signal is sent to the central office line by a circuit (not shown), and the number of the called party is stored in the called party information storage unit 24. Ru. When the other party answers, the call monitoring unit 26 that detected the other party's response notifies the elapsed call charge calculation unit 27 of the start of the call, and the elapsed call charge calculation unit 27
7 receives the unit charge information from the charge table 25 and adds up the elapsed charges as time passes.

In this case, the charge table 25 stores, as unit charge information, for example, the callable time per unit charge by distance in the distance-based time difference method, and the preset installation area identification information of the key telephone device and the above. Calculate the distance to the destination from the destination information stored in the destination information storage section 24, and send the available call time per unit charge corresponding to the calculated distance to the elapsed call charge calculation section 27 as unit charge information. do. The elapsed call charge calculation unit 27 calculates the elapsed call charge from time to time based on the unit charge information and the elapsed call time measured by a timer (not shown), and displays the elapsed call charge from the display output unit 32 under the control of the control unit (not shown). 2
The elapsed call charges are sent to the liquid crystal display of No. 2, etc.

When the call ends, the call monitoring section 26 detects this and sends it to the elapsed call charge calculation section 27, thereby stopping calculation of the elapsed call charge. Since the elapsed call charge at the time of stopping is the call charge for the call, it is sent to the call charge storage section 28 and stored therein. The call charge storage section 28 sends the call charge to the display section 22 of the telephone via the display output section 32 in the same manner as described above. The call charge storage unit 28 further sends the call charges to the cumulative charge storage unit 29, and accumulates and stores the call charges for a specific period, for example, one month. The accumulated charge stored in the accumulated charge storage section 29 is outputted to the display section 22 of the telephone via the display output section 32 when a charge information display request is input from the input section 21 of the telephone.

Next, a case will be described in which call charges are managed and calls are restricted when a preset charge limit is exceeded. Although the charge limit may be set using a data input device (not shown), an example in which the charge limit is input using a telephone will be described below.

When setting a charge limit, the charge limit is input manually using the function button and dialing number button from the input section 21 of the telephone, and the charge limit is stored in the charge limit storage section 33. On the other hand, each time a call is made, the call charge is accumulated as described above and stored in the cumulative charge storage section 29. However, each time the cumulative charge is updated in the cumulative charge storage section 29, the charge comparison section 30 calculates the accumulated charge. A comparison is made by inputting the accumulated charge from the charge storage section 29 and the charge limit from the charge limit storage section 33.

As a result of the comparison, if it is detected that the cumulative charge is larger than the charge limit, the charge comparison section 30 notifies the call regulation control section 31 that the charge limit has been exceeded. The outgoing call restriction control unit 31 stores the overage of the toll limit, displays the overage of the toll limit on the display unit 22 of the telephone at the end of the call in which the toll limit has been exceeded, or when a call is made after the toll limit has been exceeded, and also displays the overage of the toll limit on the telephone display 22, and prevents future outgoing calls. Regulate connections.

However, in order to provide the above functions, it is necessary to measure the call time within the main controller, and
It is necessary to manually enter information that identifies the installation area of the key telephone device in the charge table 25, and in addition, if the charge of the public network is revised, the charge table 25 of all key telephone devices must be saved for a short period of time. need to be changed in between. That is, the conventional system has the problem that it requires a lot of money and time for the user and the construction/maintenance contractor not only when installing the system but also when revising the fee.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As described above, in the conventional system, the information for calculating call charges is stored in the terminal device, so if the call charge on the network side is revised, the charge table for calculating the call charge is stored on the terminal device side. The problem was that it had to be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone for X SDN with a communication charge restriction function that allows a communication charge limit to be set and to restrict outgoing calls when the set charge limit is exceeded. do.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 shows a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is the input section of the telephone consisting of number S port 1 function buttons, etc., 2 is the display section consisting of a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode, etc., 3 is the audio equipment section consisting of a handset, speaker, sounder, etc., and 4 is a micro - A control section that controls the internal circuit of the ISDN telephone and controls signal transmission and reception with the line using a processor, etc.; 5 is a charge limit storage means that receives and stores the charge limit information manually entered from the input section 1 via the control section 4; , 6 is communication charge information receiving means for receiving communication charge information sent from the ISDN subscriber exchange at the time of termination of communication, and 7 is a means for receiving and storing initial setting information inputted from input section l, and terminating communication. Accumulated charge storage means 8 receives the communication charge sent from the communication charge information receiving means 6, adds it to the accumulated charge after inputting the initial setting information, and stores it as a new accumulated charge. Each time the cumulative charge is updated, the cumulative charge stored in the cumulative charge storage means 7 is compared with the charge limit stored in the charge limit storage means 5, and it is detected that the cumulative charge is larger than the charge limit. Charge comparison means 9 sends a call regulation request to the control unit 4 at the same time, and the charge comparison means 9 receives the call regulation request from the charge comparison means 8 in the control unit 4, and after receiving the call regulation request, transmits the call regulation request to the control unit 4 when the user performs a call operation. This is a call restriction control means that restricts calls and displays on the display section 2 and audio device section 3 that the call is being restricted using visible and audible information.

[For production]

In FIG. 1, the user of the telephone first sets the cumulative charge stored in the cumulative charge storage means 7 to an initial value, for example 0,
In order to do so, input initial setting information from the input section 1. The initial setting information is sent to the cumulative charge storage means 7 via the control section 4, and the cumulative charge stored in the cumulative charge storage means 7 is set as an initial value. At the same time, the initial setting information is sent to the call restriction control means 9 via the control unit 4, and if the call restriction control means 9 is controlling the call restriction, the telephone user cancels the call restriction. When, for example, the limit of communication charges for one month is input from the input unit 1 as charge limit information, the charge limit information is sent to the charge limit storage means 5 via the control unit 4 and stored therein.

Next, when the user makes a call and performs communication, communication charge information is sent via the central office line from an ISDN subscriber exchange (not shown) at the end of the communication. Communication charge information receiving means 6
receives the communication charge information and sends it to the cumulative charge storage means 7, and the cumulative charge storage means 7 adds and stores the communication charge to the stored cumulative charge (or initial M value), and at the same time compares the charges. The updated accumulated charge is sent to means 8. When the charge comparison means 8 receives the accumulated charge from the charge limit storage means 7, it inputs the charge limit stored in the charge limit storage means 5 from the charge limit storage means 5 and compares it with the accumulated charge. As a result of the comparison, when it is detected that the cumulative charge is larger than the charge limit, the charge comparison means 8 sends a call regulation request to the call regulation control means 9 in the control section 4.

When the call restriction control means 9 receives the call restriction request, it sets the call restriction state, and thereafter restricts the connection when the user performs a call operation, and also controls the display unit 2 and the audio equipment unit 3 to transmit the call. Call restriction control is performed by sending call restriction information that indicates that the call is being restricted using visible and audible information.

As described above, the call restriction state can be canceled by inputting initial setting information from the input section l.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment. Both figures show the configuration of parts related to the present invention in an example in which the present invention is applied to an ISDN telephone.

In Fig. 2, 11 is an input section consisting of number buttons, 1 function button, etc.;
12 is a display section consisting of a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode, etc.; 13 is an audio equipment section consisting of a handset, speaker, sounder, etc.; and 14 is a microprocessor that controls each circuit inside the ISDN telephone and sends and receives signals to and from the line. A control unit that performs control; 15 is a charge limit storage circuit; 16 is a communication charge information receiving circuit; 17 is a cumulative charge storage circuit; 18 is a charge comparison circuit; 19 is a charge information output circuit;
0 is a transmission regulation control circuit in the control unit 14, and 21 is an IS
The receiver is the part of the DN/S interface circuit that functions as an interface between the user and the network.

In FIG. 2, when the user of the telephone inputs initial setting information from the input unit 11, the initial setting information is sent to the cumulative charge storage circuit 17 via the control unit 14, and the cumulative charge stored in the cumulative charge storage circuit 17 is stored. Set to initial value. At the same time, the signal is also sent to the call restriction control circuit 19 in the control unit 14, and if call restriction is in effect, it is canceled. Next, when the user inputs charge limit information through the input section 11, the charge limit information is stored in the charge limit storage circuit 15.

Next, the user makes an outgoing connection, and when the communication is completed, the communication charge information is sent from the ISDN subscriber exchange (not shown) to the communication charge information receiving circuit 16 via the central office line. The communication fee information is sent to the cumulative fee storage circuit 17, added to the cumulative fee stored in the cumulative fee storage circuit 17, and stored. At the same time, the updated cumulative fee is output to the fee comparison circuit 18. When the charge comparison circuit engineer 8 receives the cumulative charge from the cumulative charge storage circuit 17, it inputs the charge limit from the charge limit storage circuit 15 and compares it with the accumulated charge. As a result of the comparison, if it is detected that the cumulative charge is larger than the charge limit, the charge comparison circuit 18 sends a call regulation request to the call regulation control circuit 20 in the control section 14 .

The call restriction control circuit 20 sets the call restriction state when the call restriction request is input, and when the user performs a call operation thereafter, it restricts the connection and displays on the display unit 12 that the call restriction is in progress. It also sends an audible signal sound to the sounder in the audio equipment section 13 to identify that outgoing calls are being restricted.

When the user recognizes that the charge limit has been exceeded and needs to perform communication, or when setting the charge limit anew, the user inputs initial setting information from the input section 11. By inputting the initial setting information, the call restriction state is canceled as described above, and the cumulative charge stored in the cumulative charge storage circuit 17 is reset to the initial value.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of another embodiment, and in the figure, the second
The same symbols are used for the same parts as in the figure, 22 is a terminal interface circuit, and 23a and 23b are data terminal equipment (DTE, , DTE,).

Figure 3 shows the configuration of an ISDN telephone that incorporates a function called a terminal adapter in the ISDN standard.
It is possible to communicate data using the attached data terminal device.

Note that the data terminal devices 23a and 23b are examples of typical data terminal devices with different synchronization methods.

In FIG. 3, when data communication is performed by the data terminal device 23a or 23b, control signals and data are transmitted and received between the data terminal device 23a or 23b and the office line through the terminal interface unit 22 and the ISDN/S interface. This is done via circuit 21. Communication charges for data communication are notified by the network in exactly the same way as for voice communication, so the setting of the charge limit and the processing when the charge limit is exceeded are handled in the same way as above, using the input/output interface circuit and the audio device interface circuit. However, it is also possible to input/output the data to/from the data terminal bag 'f123a or 23b via the terminal interface circuit 22 under the control of the control unit.

The present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, but in accordance with the gist of the present invention, there may be a configuration in which, for example, communication charges are limited only for voice communication and not for data communication, or there may be various other configurations. Modifications are possible, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set a charge limit in advance and to restrict calls when the charge limit is exceeded. In addition, the above functions can be easily realized by taking advantage of the characteristics of ISDN, and do not require any measures on the telephone side even when communication charges for public networks are revised, so it is possible to improve such services and reduce maintenance costs. This greatly contributes to the reduction of costs.

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control part Charge limit storage means Communication charge information receiving means Cumulative charge storage means Price comparison method Transmission regulation control means

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a basic block diagram of a conventional system. In the figure, engineering ・−・・・・−・−・−・−・・−・Input section 2
・−・−・−・−・・−・・−・・−・−・Display section 3
−・・・・・・−・−・・−・−・・−・・−・・−・
-・Audio equipment section ml Fig. m configuration diagram of the present invention (1) Fig. 2 'its i construction diagram of the present invention (2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An input section (1) for inputting information such as numeric buttons and function buttons, a display section (2) for displaying call charge information, etc., a handset,
Audio equipment section that sends and receives audio and signal tones, such as speakers (
3) and a control section (4) for controlling signal transmission and reception between the internal circuit of the telephone and the line, the ISDN telephone having a charge limit information inputted from the input section (1) and storing the charge limit information. A limit storage means (5), a communication charge information receiving means (6) for receiving communication charge information sent from the ISDN subscriber exchange at the end of communication, and inputting the communication charge from the charge information receiving means (6). is added to the cumulative charge after initial setting and stored, and the input section (
1) a cumulative charge storage means (7) for erasing the stored cumulative charge when initial setting information is received; and each time the cumulative charge is updated in the cumulative charge storage means (7), the cumulative charge is deleted. and a charge limit stored in the charge limit storage means (5) for comparison, and if the cumulative charge is greater than the charge limit, the charge comparison means (8) sends a call restriction request to the control section (4). ), receiving a call restriction request from the charge comparison means (8) in the control unit (4), and restricting the call when the user performs a call operation after receiving the request;
and a communication charge restriction function characterized in that the display unit (2) and the audio equipment unit (3) are equipped with a call restriction control means (9) that displays by visible and audible information that the call is being restricted. telephone.