JPH0515559U - Public telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The present invention is a public telephone that sequentially collects the frequency of inserted coins or inserted magnetic cards as a call fee in response to a charging pulse from a telephone station. Displays the remaining call time corresponding to the amount. [Structure] The counter counts the elapsed time from the reception of the first charging pulse to the reception of the next charging pulse as the charging interval, and further counts as the elapsed time as it is after the reception of the next charging pulse. is doing. Then, the elapsed time from the first charging pulse reception to the second charging pulse reception is displayed on the display as it is, and after the second charging pulse reception, the remaining time calculation circuit accurately calculates the remaining available time at each time point. Is calculated and displayed on the display.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a public telephone that displays the remaining call time.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Generally, in public telephones, after the telephone user inserts a coin such as 10 yen or 100 yen into the coin insertion slot or a magnetic card into the card insertion slot, the call is made using the rotary dial or push button dial. Enter the telephone number of the destination phone. Then, a calling signal is transmitted from the in-office device (exchange) to the telephone set of the destination specified by the telephone number. When the handset of the callee is picked up and the hook switch is switched and connected to the call line side, the pulse cycle (charging interval) corresponding to the distance between the two phones from the in-office device to the caller A levy pulse with is sent.

Each time the billing pulse is input, the inserted coin is stored, or the used call frequency stored in the magnetic card to enable the call is subtracted from the used call frequency. .. In addition, a reminder sound is sent to the caller's phone 3 to 5 seconds before the callable time with the inserted coin or magnetic card expires, prompting the call charge to be inserted for 0.7 to 1.0 seconds.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in such a public telephone, it is inconvenient because the user cannot grasp the remaining available time unless the above-mentioned reminder sound is input. In particular, during long calls, users often feel uncertain about the call charges, which makes users very anxious.

In order to avoid such a problem, a ROM memory that stores the long-distance telephone numbers nationwide and the billing intervals of billing signals corresponding to these long-distance numbers is provided inside the telephone, and the dialing destination Each time a phone number is entered, the callable time corresponding to this inserted amount is calculated from the billing interval corresponding to the area code read out from the ROM memory and the inserted amount. It is also possible to subtract the time and display it on the display.

However, providing a ROM memory for storing the area code of the whole country inside the telephone has a problem that the storage capacity of the ROM memory increases and the whole public telephone becomes very expensive. In addition, since it is necessary to change the charging interval to be stored depending on the place where the public telephone is installed, there is a problem that the specifications of the public telephone must be changed depending on the installation place. Furthermore, it is necessary to replace the internal ROM memory each time the call charge is revised.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is possible to measure the elapsed time from the input of the first charging pulse to the input of the next charging pulse as a charging interval by a counter. , A public telephone that can display the elapsed time until the second charging pulse is received without using expensive components, and calculate and display the accurate remaining call time after that, which can improve service to users. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problem, in the public telephone of the present invention, the elapsed time from the time when the first charging pulse is received to the time when the next charging pulse is received is measured, and after the next charging pulse is received. Counter for measuring the elapsed call time, the charging interval memory that stores the elapsed time from the time when the first charging pulse measured by this counter is received until the time when the next charging pulse is received, and this charging interval A normalization circuit that normalizes the elapsed time output from the memory and outputs an accurate billing interval, and a call frequency calculation circuit that calculates the call frequency that can be used for this amount of money based on the amount information indicating the deposited amount. , The call frequency output from this call frequency calculation circuit, the charging interval output from the normalization circuit, and the communication elapsed time from when the next pulse output from the counter was received. The remaining time calculation circuit that calculates the remaining call time and the elapsed time after the start of the call after receiving the first charging pulse until the next charging pulse is received, and after receiving the next charging pulse Is equipped with an indicator for displaying the remaining call time.

[0009]

[Action]

 In the public telephone configured as described above, the available call frequency is calculated by the call frequency calculation circuit from the deposited amount. Also, the time from the input time of the first charging pulse to the input time of the second charging pulse is measured by the counter and stored in the charging interval memory, and the correct charging interval is obtained by the normalization circuit. From the call frequency obtained previously, the remaining time calculation circuit calculates the remaining communication time at that time.

Then, between the input time of the first charging pulse and the input time of the second charging pulse, the elapsed time from the call start time is displayed. After the second billing pulse is input, the remaining available call time that can be used for the amount of money that has not been used for calling is displayed.

Therefore, even for a user who inserts a coin corresponding to one call frequency such as 10 yen to make a local call, a user who inserts a large number of coins at a time to make a local call for a long time In addition, even a user who makes a long distance call by inserting a large number of coins at one time can enjoy the call while confirming the remaining available time.

Further, by providing the normalization circuit, the remaining call time can be displayed more accurately, so that a more useful service can be provided to the user.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a public telephone of the embodiment, in which 1 is a communication unit. The communication unit 1 is provided with a push button dial for generating a PB signal (push button signal), a handset, a charging pulse receiving circuit, a call circuit, and the like. The telephone line 2 is connected to an in-office device (exchanger) 3 in the telephone office. Further, the communication unit 1 is connected to a logic control unit 4 for controlling a call charge, a call time, etc., and a coin storage mechanism 5 for storing inserted coins is connected to the logic control unit 4. Has been done. Further, the communication unit 1 is connected to a display control unit 7 for controlling a display unit 6 for displaying an elapsed time after the start of a call or a remaining call available time.

The display control unit 7 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, reference numeral 8 in the drawing is a receiving circuit for receiving the charging pulse transmitted from the in-office device 3 provided in the communication section 1 through the telephone line 2, and the charge received by the receiving circuit 8 The pulse is input to the set terminal S of the counter 9 and also to the reset terminal R of the counter 9 via the flip-flop 10 having two stages. The clock signal of 0.1 second cycle from the timer circuit 11 is input to the clock input terminal CP of the counter 9.

The count value CN of the clock signal measured by the counter 9 is output from the output terminal Q, temporarily stored in the charging interval memory 12, and then input to the normalization circuit 13. Then, the count value CN input to the normalization circuit 13 is input to one input terminal of the multiplication circuit 14 after being normalized to the accurate charging interval Tc.

On the other hand, the money amount information output from the coin storing mechanism 5 indicating the input money amount A is divided by the division circuit 16 together with the unit call charge a output from the unit charge memory 15 storing the call charge a per unit frequency. Is input to. The dividing circuit 16 divides the input amount A by the unit amount a to calculate the call frequency N corresponding to the input amount A. Thereafter, the subtraction circuit 17 subtracts from the call frequency N the call frequency 1 corresponding to the call time from the input of the first charging pulse e to the input of the next charging pulse f, and then the multiplication circuit 1 Input to the other input terminal of 4. The coin storage mechanism 5, the unit charge memory 15, and the division circuit 16 constitute a call frequency calculation circuit 18.

In the multiplication circuit 14, the charging interval Tc from the normalization circuit 13 is multiplied by the call frequency (N-1) from the subtraction circuit 17 to multiply the talk time T after the input of the next charging pulse f. Ask for. The callable time To output from the multiplication circuit 14 is input to one input terminal of the next subtraction circuit 19. The other input terminal of the subtraction circuit 19 receives the elapsed time T output from the division circuit 20 which calculates the elapsed time T obtained by reducing the count value CN output from the output terminal Q of the counter 9 to 1/10. To be done.

The subtraction circuit 19 calculates a remaining talk time (To-T) obtained by subtracting the talk time T from the talk time To and inputs it to one input terminal of the switching circuit 21. The elapsed time T output from the division circuit 20 is input to the other input terminal of the switching circuit 21. The multiplication circuit 14 and the subtraction circuit 19 constitute a remaining time calculation circuit 22.

The charging pulse output from the receiving circuit 8 is input to the switching control terminal of the switching circuit 21 as the switching signal g via the flip-flop 23 having two stages. Therefore, the signal output to the next display unit 6 in response to the input of the next charging pulse f is as follows: the elapsed time T from the division circuit 20 becomes the remaining communication time (To-T) from the subtraction circuit 19. Can be switched. In addition, the amount of money A to be inserted from the coin storing mechanism 5 is also input to the switching circuit 21.

The normalization circuit 13 is configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the count value CN output from the charging interval memory 12 is converted into an elapsed time by the division circuit 24 having the same configuration as the division circuit 20 and input to one input terminal of the comparison circuit 25. The other input terminal of the comparison circuit 25 is connected to a charging interval storage unit 26 in which a plurality of charging intervals preset at intervals of 0.5 seconds, such as 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5, are stored. Then, the elapsed time input to the comparison circuit 25 is compared with each charging interval stored in the charging interval storage unit 26, and the charging interval having the closest value is read out from the charging interval storage unit 26, and is accurately calculated. It is sent to the multiplication circuit 14 as a different charging interval Tc.

The operation of the public telephone thus configured will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG.

First, when a certain number of coins are inserted into the coin insertion slot, the total value A of the inserted amounts is displayed on the display 6. After that, the telephone number of the telephone of the called party is input by dialing and the call signal c is transmitted from the in-office device 3 to the telephone of the called party. At time t0, the handset of the telephone to be called is picked up and the hook switch d is activated, so that the telephone line 2 is switched from the calling line to the telephone line. At the same time, the first charging pulse e transmitted from the station interior unit 3 to the telephone of the caller is input. The counter 9 to which the first charging pulse e at the time t0 is input to the set terminal S starts measuring the count value CN of the clock signal from the timer circuit 11 in the 0.1 second cycle. Then, the count value CN output from the counter 9 is converted into the elapsed time T after the call is started in the division circuit 20 and input to the switching circuit 21.

Since the flip-flop 23 is not set only by the first charging pulse e, the switching circuit 21 inputs the elapsed time T from the division circuit 20 to the display 6. Therefore, the elapsed time after the start of the call is displayed on the display 6.

Next, in the call state, when the next charging pulse f is input at time t1, the flip-flop 10 is set and the count value CN of the counter 9 is reset to 0. At the same time, the next charging pulse f is applied to the set terminal S, so that the counter 9 starts measuring the count value CN after the input time t1 of the next charging pulse f. Therefore, the count value CN from the input time t0 of the first charging pulse e to the input time t1 of the next charging pulse f is stored in the charging interval memory 12. Then, the count value CN is input to the normalization circuit 13, converted into an accurate charging interval Tc according to the procedure described above, and sent to the multiplication circuit 14.

On the other hand, since the coin storing mechanism 5 into which a fixed number of coins have been inserted sends the inserted amount A to the division circuit 16, the call frequency N corresponding to the inserted amount A is subtracted from the call frequency calculating circuit 18. It is input to the circuit 17. Therefore, the call frequency (N-1) after the input time t1 of the next charging pulse f is input from the subtraction circuit 17 to the multiplication circuit 14. As a result, the callable time To after the input time t1 of the next charging pulse f is output from the multiplication circuit 14 and input to the subtraction circuit 19. The subtraction circuit 19 is supplied with the elapsed time T from the division circuit 20 for converting the count value CN of the counter 9 after the input time t1 of the next charging pulse f into the elapsed time T. Then, the division circuit 19 sends the remaining available time (To-T) after the input time t1 of the next charging pulse f to the switching circuit 21.

The flip-flop 23 is set at the time t1 since two pulses of the first charging pulse e and the second charging pulse f are input, and the flip-flop 23 is set and sends the switching signal g to the switching circuit 21. As a result, the passable remaining time (To-T) from the subtraction circuit 19 is input to the display device 6. Note that once the flip-flops 10 and 23 are set, they are not reset until the end of the communication. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the display 6 displays the elapsed time after the start of the call from time t0 to time t1, and the remaining available time (To-T) after the time t1.

When an additional coin is inserted into the coin slot during a call, the call frequency calculation circuit 18 recalculates the call frequency N corresponding to the amount of money inserted up to that point. Therefore, the display device 6 always displays the accurate remaining call time.

When the call ends at time t6 and the handset is placed, the hook switch d is activated to disconnect the call line, and the counter 9, the contents stored in the charging interval memory 12, the flip-flops 10, 23. Is reset. Therefore, the display content of the display 6 becomes zero.

As described above, in the case of the public telephone according to the embodiment of the present invention, the time elapsed after the start of the call is from the input time of the first charging pulse e to the input time of the next charging pulse f on the display 6. Is displayed, and the remaining available time is displayed from the input time of the next charging pulse f to the end of the call.

As described above, by distinguishing the type of time displayed on the display 6 before and after the input time t1 of the second charging pulse f, the following effects are produced. That is, for example, when a 10-yen coin corresponding to one call frequency is inserted into a public telephone to initiate a local call, the display 6 displays the elapsed time from the call start time. Since the call charge in the city is a well-known prescribed time such as 3 minutes per call frequency, the user can easily grasp the remaining call time by mental calculation etc. by looking at the elapsed time. ..

That is, by displaying the elapsed time from the start of the call until the second charging pulse f is input, the remaining time can be confirmed for the user who makes the local call, so that the call can be performed with peace of mind. It's enjoyable and very convenient.

In addition, when a large number of coins are inserted at one time to make a local call for a long time or when making a long-distance call, the coins are inserted after the input time of the second charging pulse f. The remaining available call time corresponding to the amount of coins not yet used for the call is displayed on the display 6. Therefore, the user can make a call while always checking the remaining available time before hearing the reminder sound, and can enjoy the call with peace of mind.

Furthermore, since the normalization circuit 13 is used, it is possible to display a more accurate remaining call time.

That is, the time during which a call can be made with one call frequency is, for example, 3 minutes for a local call and changes depending on the distance for a long distance call, but the time is generally 0.5 seconds apart. It is set. Therefore, the charging interval measured by the counter 9 should also be 0.5 seconds. However, in reality, the average sending interval of billing pulses sent from the exchange to the public telephone is within the specified time, but each billing interval may fluctuate a little. If the line condition is bad, chattering or the like may occur in the receiving circuit 8 or the flip-flop 10 and the accurate billing time may not be detected. In other words, the charging interval measured by the counter 9 may not be the 0.5 second interval but may take an intermediate value in the vicinity thereof. When the available time remaining for call is calculated using such a billing interval, it may not match the actual available time.

Therefore, by using the normalization circuit 13, the charging interval having an intermediate value is corrected to the accurate charging interval Tc of 0.5 seconds. Therefore, the more accurate remaining call time is displayed.

Further, each circuit member constituting the display control unit 7 described above can be manufactured at low cost by using an IC or the like. Therefore, unlike the conventional public telephone, it is not necessary to provide the ROM memory for storing the area code and the billing interval corresponding to the area code, so that the service for the customer can be improved by adding a small amount of cost. ..

Further, the place of installation of the public telephone is not particularly limited, and it is not necessary to change the set value even when the call charge is revised.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Each circuit configuration of the display control unit 7 may be configured using a microcomputer.

[0040]

[Effect of the device]

 As explained above, according to the public telephone of the present invention, the counter sets the elapsed time from the reception of the first charging pulse to the reception of the next charging pulse as the charging interval, and further the next charging. After the pulse is received, it is calculated as the elapsed time as it is. Therefore, without using expensive components, the elapsed time can be displayed until the second charging pulse is received, and after that the accurate remaining call time can be calculated and displayed, greatly improving the service to users. it can.

[Submission date] February 15, 1991

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to solve the above problem, in the public telephone of the present invention, the elapsed time from the time when the first charging pulse is received to the time when the next charging pulse is received is measured, and after the next charging pulse is received. Counter for measuring the elapsed call time, the charging interval memory that stores the elapsed time from the time when the first charging pulse measured by this counter is received until the time when the next charging pulse is received, and this charging interval A normalization circuit that normalizes the elapsed time output from the memory and outputs an accurate billing interval, and a call frequency calculation circuit that calculates the call frequency that can be used for this amount of money based on the amount information indicating the deposited amount. , subsequent call elapsed time when receiving the next billing pulses output from the charging interval a counter is outputted or call units and normalizing circuit et output from this call number calculating circuit A remaining time calculating circuit for calculating a communicatable remaining time from a flip-flop is set in response to two charging pulse input of the first charging pulse and the next billing pulse is reset in response to the call termination, reset period of the flip-flop selects the elapsed time from the counter, the set period of the flip-flop is a switching circuit for selecting the call can remaining time from the remaining time calculation circuit, the elapsed time is selected by the switching circuit and And a display for displaying the remaining call time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a public telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a display control unit of the telephone of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of the display control unit,

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the telephone of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication part, 2 ... Telephone line, 3 ... In-station device, 5 ... Coin storage mechanism, 6 ... Display device, 7 ... Display control part, 8 ... Reception circuit, 9 ... Counter, 10, 23 ... Flip-flop, 1
1 ... Timer circuit, 12 ... Billing interval memory, 13 ... Normalization circuit, 14 ... Multiplication circuit, 15 ... Unit charge memory, 16 ...
Division circuit, 18 ... Call frequency calculation circuit, 19 ... Subtraction circuit,
21 ... Switching circuit, 22 ... Remaining time calculation circuit, 25 ... Comparison circuit, e ... First charging pulse, f ... Next charging pulse.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 15, 1991

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A counter for measuring an elapsed time from when a first charging pulse is received to when a next charging pulse is received, and for measuring a call elapsed time after receiving the next charging pulse. 9), and a charging interval memory (12) that stores the elapsed time from when the first charging pulse measured by the counter is received to when the next charging pulse is received.
And a normalization circuit (13) that normalizes the elapsed time output from the billing interval memory and outputs an accurate billing interval, and the number of calls that can be made at that amount based on the amount information indicating the deposited amount. The call frequency calculation circuit (18) for calculating the call frequency, the call frequency output from the call frequency calculation circuit, the charging interval output from the normalization circuit, and the time after receiving the next pulse output from the counter A remaining time calculation circuit (22) for calculating the remaining call time from the call elapsed time, and displays the elapsed time after the start of the call from the time when the first charging pulse is received until the next charging pulse is received. A public telephone comprising: a display (6) for displaying the remaining call time after receiving the next charging pulse.