JPH05244239A - Digital telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select a toll line with a cheaper talking charge on the way of talking by adding a cheapest line automatic selection function to an ISDN digital telephone set and applying changeover control to plural information channels. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 44 measures an elapsed time in the talking state with a clock 43 and when the elapsed time exceeds a speech setting time, 'how much talking is intended to be continued' is inquired about through the display on, e.g. an LCD display device 31. Then the CPU 44 selects again the cheapest electric communication enterprise offering the cheapest talking charge based on the result. Then the connection to an opposite party in talking is requested to an integrated services digital network(ISDN) 22 newly, and only when other channel different from a B channel in busy with the talking between the caller and the receiver is not busy, the talking is continued by the new B channel. Thus, it is possible to select a toll line offering a cheaper talking charge on the way of talking, and the talking is implemented with a cheaper talking charge at all times.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention selects a telephone line with a low call charge from out-of-town lines provided by a plurality of telecommunications carriers who install telecommunications line facilities and provide services. The present invention relates to a digital telephone equipped with an LCR (Least Cost Routing) automatic line selection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows the appearance of a conventional digital telephone with an LCR function, (A) is a front view thereof, and (B) is a front view thereof.
Is a perspective view, 61 is a digital telephone, 62 is a dial button, 63 is an LCR display lamp, 64 is an LCR changeover switch, and 65 is a home number registration button. The description of other configurations is omitted because it does not need to be described.

[0003] LCR automatically selects the out-of-town line with the lowest call charge from telecommunications lines provided by a plurality of telecommunications carriers who install telecommunications line facilities and provide services. In order to say a function and to use this, it is premised that the user concludes a contract concerning the use with the telecommunications carrier that he / she wants to use. After the conclusion of the contract, the user switches and sets the LCR changeover switch 64 to the "ON" side, and inputs his / her subscriber number using the home number registration button 65 and the dial button 62. After that, when the digital telephone and the LCR center automatically communicate with each other and the LCR function becomes available, L
The CR display lamp 63 lights up. LCR display lamp 63
When the user dials the area code while is lit, the LCR function is activated, and the telecommunications carrier with a low toll charge is selected from the available telecommunications carriers. It

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The call charges in Japan are
Although determined according to the call time and the connection distance, the relationship between the call time, the connection distance, and the call charge differs for each of the plurality of telecommunications carriers. Of these, the connection distance can be uniquely calculated if the other party of the call is determined, but the call duration varies every time depending on the content of the call.

Under the present circumstances, the user preliminarily sets the call time to, for example, 3
We set the minutes and compare the call charges. Therefore, if the talk time is around one minute, or 7
If the quantile and call time are not set correctly, the actual call charge may often be higher for the telecommunications carrier who connects the long distance line than for other telecommunications carriers who do not connect. there were.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital N) network.
Paying attention to the fact that 2B channel can be used as a basic interface of etwork), an LCR function is added to a digital telephone for ISDN, and two information channels (2B channel) are effectively used to provide a low-cost toll line. The purpose is to allow selection even during a call. Note that ISDN is a network that provides a digital communication path for integrally supporting various communication services such as voice, data, and images, and is standardized by the International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an input means 1 for inputting a call set time or a dial number, a call set time storage means 2 for storing the call set time by the input means 1, and a dial number storage means for storing a dial number. 3 and clock means 4
And a call charge determining means 5 for selecting a telecommunications carrier having the lowest call charge from telecommunications carriers who provide services by installing telecommunications line facilities from the call set time and dial number, and selection The telecommunications carrier identification dial number adding means 6 for adding the telecommunications carrier identification dial number, and the outgoing dial number is sent only when the outgoing dial number is compared with the previous outgoing dial number. The dial number comparing means 7, the outgoing dial number sending means 8 for sending the outgoing dial number through the network interface means 10, the outgoing dial number storage means 9 for storing the outgoing dial number, and the network through the network interface means 10. Response monitoring means 11 for monitoring the response status of the B channel, which is an information channel. B channel switching means 12 for switching and controlling free channels from the group, call means 13 required for a call, call time measuring means 14 for measuring the call time in the call state, call time measurement result and call set time And a call set time inquiry unit 16 for inquiring about the call time based on the comparison result. The call set time is changed in the call state using the first information channel (B channel). ,
Automatically select the telecommunications carrier with the lowest call rate for long distance calls at this call setup time, and if this telecommunications carrier is the same as the previous telecommunications carrier, use the first information channel Switching the B channel so as to continue the call state and, if different from the previous telecommunications carrier, continue the call state on the second information channel and end the call state on the first information channel. This is a digital telephone in which the means 12 controls switching of the B channel.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the digital telephone is provided with a call charge discount start time storage means 17 for storing the call charge discount start time, and the call charge discount start time of the telecommunications carrier in a call state. Automatically selects the telecommunications carrier with the lowest call rate for calls, and if this telecommunications carrier is the same as the previous telecommunications carrier, the call state is maintained on the first information channel However, if it is different from the previous telecommunications carrier, the call state on the second information channel is continued and the call state on the first information channel is terminated.
The channel switching means 12 controls switching of the B channel.

[0009]

Since the present invention is the digital telephone having the above-mentioned configuration, the first information channel (B channel)
Change the call setup time in the call state using, and automatically select the telecommunications carrier with the lowest call charge for long distance calls at this call setup time, and this telecommunications carrier selects the previous telecommunications If it is the same as the carrier, the call state is continued on the first information channel, and if it is different from the previous telecommunications carrier, the call state is continued on the second information channel and at the same time on the first information channel. The B channel switching means 12 controls switching of the B channel so that the talking state is ended.

In addition, when the call charge discount start time of the telecommunications carrier in the call state is taken as an opportunity, the telecommunications carrier having the lowest call charge is automatically selected, and the telecommunications carrier selects the previous telecommunications carrier. If it is the same as the telecommunications carrier, the call state is continued on the first information channel, and if it is different from the previous telecommunications carrier, the call state is continued on the second information channel and at the same time on the first information channel. The B channel switching means 1 so as to end the call state of
2 controls the switching of the B channel.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a connection form of a digital telephone for ISDN. 20A and 20B are digital telephones, 21A and 21B are subscriber lines, and 22 is an ISDN network. The basic interface of the ISDN network 22 consists of two information channels (2B channels) and one signal channel (D channel).

The operation of, for example, a digital telephone will be described. When the user dials the destination, a signal (information) for line connection is transmitted and received between the digital telephone 20A and the ISDN network 22 using the D channel via the subscriber line 21A, and the digital telephone 20
Similarly, by transmitting and receiving a signal (information) for line connection between the B and the ISDN network 22 using the D channel via the subscriber line 21B, one of the 2B channels is connected and the digital signal is transmitted. The telephone set 20A and the digital telephone set 20B are ready for communication. If the B channel of any of the digital telephones 20A or 20B is in use, the digital telephone cannot talk.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a digital telephone with an LCR function of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 31 is an LC for displaying the dial number, time, etc.
D display (liquid crystal display), 32 is an LED lamp (light emitting diode) including an LCR display lamp 63 (see FIG. 8), 33 is a dial key including a dial button 62 and a home number registration button 65 (see FIG. 8), etc. Switch,
34 is a receiver, 35 is a transmitter, 36 is a sounder, 37
Is a speaker, 38 is an LCD driver for driving the LCD display 31, and 39 is an LED driver for operating the LED lamp 32.

Reference numeral 40 is an electroacoustic transducer interface circuit for operating the receiver 34, transmitter 35, sounder 36 and speaker 37, and 41 is a dial tone or ring tone connected to the electroacoustic transducer interface circuit 40. A CODE having a function of converting an analog signal such as voice into a digital signal, or vice versa, connected to the electroacoustic transducer interface circuit 40.
C and 43 are clocks for displaying date and time. The receiver 34, transmitter 35, sounder 36, speaker 37, electroacoustic transducer interface circuit 40, and sound generation circuit 4
1 and CODEC 42 correspond to the calling means 13 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) for controlling the operation of the digital telephone. The CPU 44 has the LCD driver 38, the LED driver 39, a switch 33 such as a dial key, and a sound generating circuit 41. Each of them is connected to the clock 43. Reference numeral 45 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores a program that compensates for the operation of the CPU 44, and 46 is a RAM (random access memory) that stores various types of information. These ROM and RAM may be provided in the CPU 44. Or CPU
It can also be provided externally to 44.

CP including this ROM 45 and RAM 46
U44 is a call set time storage means 2, a dial number storage means 3, a call charge determination means 5, a telecommunications carrier identification dial number addition means 6, as shown in FIGS.
Outgoing dial number comparing means 7, outgoing dial number sending means 8, outgoing dial number storing means 9, call time measuring means 14, time comparing means 15, call set time inquiry means 16, and call charge discount start time. Storage means 17
And so on.

Reference numeral 47 is a B channel selector circuit connected to the CPU 44 for switching and selecting between two B channels, and is a B channel switching means 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
This B channel selector circuit 47 corresponds to the CO
It is also connected to the DEC 42. 48 is the ISDN network 22
This is a basic interface control circuit for controlling the basic interface of 1. The basic interface control circuit 48 is connected to the CPU 44 and the B channel selector circuit 47. 49 is the basic interface control circuit 48
The basic interface control circuit 48 and the driver / receiver circuit 49, which are connected to each other, match the electrical conditions of signals on the network side and the electrical conditions of signals on the digital telephone side. It corresponds to the network interface means 10 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 50 is a power supply circuit including a battery or the like for supplying necessary power to the respective circuits of the digital telephone, and the above respective circuits are equipped in the digital telephone T. Reference numeral 51 is a DSU that is connected to the driver / receiver circuit 49 and terminates electrical conditions of the network.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of dial number transmission when the CPU 44 of the digital telephone of the present invention requests the ISDN network 22 to connect to the other party by using the D channel. The operation will be described in detail below using this flowchart. When the caller picks up the handset of the digital telephone, turns it off, and dials the destination number, the CPU 44 uses the D channel to make the ISDN network 22.
Request a connection to the other party. At this time, the CPU 44 reads the dial number a (step (1)), sets a counter (step (2)), determines whether the call is a long distance call or a local call (step (3)), and if it is a local call ( No), the dial number a is sent to the ISDN network 22 as it is (steps (4) and (5)).

If it is a long-distance call (Yes) in the judgment of the long-distance call or the local call (step (3)), the CPU
44 reads the date and time from the clock 43, collates the table relating to the call charges for each telecommunications carrier available to the caller, and selects the cheapest telecommunications carrier (step (6)). Next, the identification dial number b of the selected telecommunications carrier is set (step (7)), this identification dial number b is added to the dial number a (step (8)), and this dial number ba is added to the ISDN network 22. (Step (5)).

The ISDN network 22 calls the other party on the basis of the request for the dialed number, and when the other party answers, the caller and the receiver can talk with each other, and the digital telephone is put into a talking state. At present, NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation) does not actually need to add the identification dial number b, but in this case, the identification dial number b is defined. Also, since the basic operation up to this point is the same as that of the conventional LCR function, the means for realizing this function is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the digital telephone according to the first aspect of the invention in a call state. The operation will be described in detail below using this flowchart. In the call state (step (1)), it is determined whether the call is ended (step (2)), and if the call is ended (Yes).
The line is disconnected (step (3)). If the call has not ended (No), the CPU 44 measures the elapsed time T1 in the call state by the clock 43 (step (4)), and the call time set by the caller (hereinafter referred to as the call set time) and the elapsed time. T1 is compared (step (5)), and if the elapsed time T1 is within the call set time (No), the call state is continued as it is.

In step (5), the elapsed time T
If 1 has exceeded the call set time (Yes), the caller is inquired as to how long the call is going to be continued, for example, by displaying it on the LCD display device 31 (for example, “Twice-Cancel Config. indicate"
(Step (6)). On the other hand, the caller responds by pressing, for example, the button 5 using the dial button 62 (see FIG. 8) (Yes in step (7)).
s), the CPU 44 judges that "the call set time has been reset to 5 minutes" (step (8)), and reads the dial number a first input by the caller (step (9)). , Counter setting (step (1
0)). It should be noted that this counter is useful in later determining whether or not it is necessary to send the dial number to the ISDN network 22.

Subsequently, the CPU 44 determines the same procedure as described with reference to FIG. 5, that is, whether the call is a long distance call or a local distance call (step (11)). 5 minutes), the table relating to the call charges for each telecommunications carrier available to the caller is collated, and the telecommunications carrier equipped with the telecommunications line equipment with the lowest call charge is selected (step (12)). Then, the identification dial number b of the selected telecommunications carrier is set (step (13)), and the dial number C (T) is determined (step (14)).

It is judged whether this is the same as the dial number C (T-1) previously sent to the ISDN network 22 (step (15)), and if it is the same (Yes), the same telecommunications carrier as before is used. However, if the number is different (No), the dialed number is used to enable communication with the other party by using the unused B channel. C (T) is sent to the ISDN network 22 (step (16)). When the connection is completed (Yes in step (17)), the CPU 44
Switch to a call on the new call channel (step (1
8)), the old call channel is blocked (step (1
9)). Although not specifically mentioned in the above description, the various variables are recorded in the RAM 46. For inquiries to the caller, the LCD display 31
However, it is also possible to use voice guidance or a specific sound.

In the above description, the timing of "inquiring the estimated call time" is set depending on whether or not the elapsed time T1 of the call exceeds the call set time, but whether or not the "call set time-T2" is exceeded. You can also set it with. In this way, if the answer ends within T2, it is not necessary to continue the call even after the previously set call setting time, and it can be expected that the call charge can be reduced. Further, although the caller makes the answer by pressing the dial button, the answer may be made by combining a specific key and the dial button. Further, it is needless to say that the same effect can be obtained by using an empty channel from 23 B channels by using, for example, a primary group interface other than the basic interface of the ISDN network 22. Also, the CPU is 1
Although it is a digital telephone with only one unit, multiple CPs
The functions to be realized may be appropriately distributed by utilizing U, and for example, the functions of the digital telephone of the present invention may be realized by another CPU.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart during a call by the digital telephone of the second invention. The difference from the flow chart shown in FIG. 6 is that the charge switching time is changed between step (2) and step (4). A determination procedure is provided (step (S)) to monitor the switching time of the call charge of the telecommunications carrier equipped with the telecommunications line equipment, and when this switching time comes during the call (Yes), regardless of the elapsed time of the call. Instead, the processing of "inquiry about predicted call time" (step (6)) is performed. By doing so, for example, even at the same call, it is possible to make a call at the cheapest call rate of the late-night discount and the night discount rate, which is more economical.

[0027]

Since the present invention is the digital telephone having the above-mentioned configuration, the call set time is changed in the call state using the first information channel (B channel), and the call set time is changed at this time. Automatically select the telecommunications carrier with the lowest call rate for outside calls, and if this telecommunications carrier is the same as the previous telecommunications carrier, continue the call state on the first information channel, When different from the previous telecommunications carrier, the B channel is switched by the B channel switching means so that the call state is continued on the second information channel and the call state on the first information channel is terminated. Can be controlled.

[0028] In addition, when the call charge discount start time of the telecommunications carrier in the call state is used, the telecommunications carrier having the lowest call charge in the call is automatically selected, and this telecommunications carrier selects the previous telecommunications carrier. If it is the same as the telecommunications carrier, the call state is continued on the first information channel, and if it is different from the previous telecommunications carrier, the call state is continued on the second information channel and at the same time on the first information channel. The B channel can be switched and controlled by the B channel switching means so as to end the call state.

That is, when the call time exceeds the call time set by the user (for example, 3 minutes), the caller is asked "how much call will be made later". Only when the carrier is selected again, the ISDN network is requested to connect to the other party who is already in the call, and another B channel different from the B channel used for the call between the caller and the recipient is not in the call. Since the call is continued on the new B channel, there is an advantage that the call can be always made at a low call rate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital telephone according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a digital telephone according to the second invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram in which the digital telephone of the present invention is connected to an ISDN network.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a digital telephone according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of dial number transmission of the digital telephone according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the digital telephone of the first invention in a call state.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the digital telephone according to the second invention in a call state.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional digital telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 input means 2 call set time storage means 3 dial number storage means 4 clock means 5 call charge determination means 6 telecommunications carrier identification dial number addition means 7 outgoing dial number comparison means 8 outgoing dial number sending means 9 outgoing dial number storage means 10 Network Interface Means 11 Response Monitoring Means 12 B Channel Switching Means 13 Talking Means 14 Talking Time Measuring Means 15 Time Comparison Means 16 Call Setting Time Inquiring Means 17 Call Charge Discount Start Time Storage Means 20A Digital Telephones 20B Digital Telephones 21A Subscriber Lines 21B Subscriber line 22 ISDN network 31 LCD display 32 LED lamp 33 Switch such as dial keys 34 Receiver 35 Transmitter 36 Sounder 37 Speaker 38 LCD driver 39 LED driver 40 Electroacoustic Exchanger interface circuit 41 sound generation circuit 42 CODEC 43 clock 44 CPU 45 ROM 46 RAM 47 B channel selector circuit 48 basic interface control circuit 49 driver / receiver circuit 50 power source circuit 51 DSU

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting a call set time or dial number, call set time storage means for storing the call set time by this input means, dial number storage means for storing a dial number, and a clock. And a call charge determining means for selecting the telecommunications carrier that provides the lowest call charge from the telecommunications carriers that provide services by installing the telecommunications line equipment from the call setting time and dial number The telecommunications carrier identification dial number adding means for adding the telecommunications carrier identification dial number and the outgoing dial number to be sent only when the outgoing dial number is compared with the previous outgoing dial number Number comparing means, outgoing dial number sending means for sending outgoing dial numbers via the network interface means, An outgoing dial number storage means for storing a received dial number, a response monitoring means for monitoring a response state of the network via the network interface means, and a B channel switching means for controlling switching of an empty channel from a B channel group which is an information channel. , A call means necessary for a call, a call time measuring means for measuring a call time in a call state, a time comparing means for comparing a call time measurement result with a call set time, and a call time based on the comparison result. The call setting time inquiring means for inquiring, the call setting time is changed in the call state using the first information channel (B channel), and the telecommunications with the lowest call charge for the long distance call at this call setting time Automatically select a carrier, and if this carrier is the same as the previous carrier, Keeps the call state on the first information channel, and if different from the previous telecommunications carrier, keeps the call state on the second information channel and ends the call state on the first information channel. As described above, the digital telephone is characterized in that the B channel switching means controls the switching of the B channel. 2. The digital telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a call charge discount start time storage means for storing the call charge discount start time, and triggered by the call charge discount start time of the telecommunications carrier in a call state. Automatically select the telecommunications carrier with the lowest call rate in the call, and if this telecommunications carrier is the same as the previous telecommunications carrier, continue the call state on the first information channel, B channel switching control is performed by the B channel switching means so as to continue the call state on the second information channel and end the call state on the first information channel when different from the telecommunications carrier. A digital telephone characterized by the above.