JPH05284257A - Pre-paid card residual mount, residual call unit management equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the security against illegal use of a pre-paid card. CONSTITUTION:The equipment is provided with an recording section 5 in which a card number PI used to identify uniquely each pre-paid card I and its relevant information AI of a residual monetary amount or remaining call unit are stored in advance, a reference section 4 checking the validity of the card number PI inputted to a terminal equipment 7 in the call connection request process from the terminal equipment 7 based on the information in the recording means 5, a control section 3 calculating and processing the communication available time based on the information sets PI, AI from the recording section 5 and the destination number DI received when the card number PI is valid, sending a connection command to an exchange 6, monitoring a communication time when a call is connected after the relevant call is connected and sending an interrupt command of the communication to the exchange 6 when the communication time reaches the communication available time, and a revision section 2 revising the residual monetary amount or the remaining call unit information AI in the recording section 5 by the communication interrupt information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic call originating from a public telephone using a prepaid card (hereinafter referred to as a "prepaid card"), and a prepaid card balance having a remaining amount / residual number management function. Amount / remaining amount management device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, communication from a public telephone using a prepaid card provides a user with a call having a frequency not exceeding the remaining frequency recorded in the prepaid card. At the end of the call, the frequency used for the call is subtracted from the remaining frequency before use to record the new residual frequency on the prepaid card. Such remaining number management of the prepaid card is currently performed by the public telephone alone.

[0003]

In the conventional method in which the remaining number of the prepaid card is recorded on the card and the remaining number is subtracted by the public telephone alone, forgery of the prepaid card
Unauthorized phone calls due to alterations and circuit breaks in public telephones have become a problem.

Therefore, managing the remaining amount and the remaining number of the prepaid card outside the card / outside the public telephone to prevent unauthorized use has become an urgent issue for the communication service providing side. Here, the present invention is to provide a prepaid card balance amount / balance remaining amount management apparatus that is effective and appropriate for solving the above-mentioned problems.

[0005]

The solution to the above-mentioned problems can be achieved by adopting the novel characteristic construction means listed below by the present invention. That is, a first feature of the present invention is that, in a communication connection device that is connected to an exchange and manages information of a prepaid card, a card number that uniquely identifies each prepaid card and a remaining amount or a remaining number corresponding to the card number. Recording means for recording information in advance, and reference means for validating the card number of the prepaid card input to the terminal device in the call connection request process from the terminal device such as a public telephone by the information of the recording device, When the prepaid card number is valid, the other party number sent from the terminal is received, the communicable time is calculated from the other party number and the information from the recording means, and a connection command is sent to the exchange. In addition, after the call is connected, the communication time during which the call is connected is monitored and the communication time reaches the communication available time. In this case, control means for sending the communication disconnection command to the exchange, update means for updating the information such as the remaining amount of money or the remaining frequency in the recording means by the communication disconnection information, the communication available time calculation / It is provided with an interface means for exchanging information between the control means and the exchange in the communication time monitoring / connection command and disconnection command transmission processing operation, and manages the information of the prepaid card on the exchange side separately from the terminal device. It is a prepaid card balance and balance management device.

A second feature of the present invention is that the recording unit, the reference unit, the control unit, and the updating unit in the first feature are added by the control unit when the remaining amount or the remaining number of the prepaid card becomes small. Within the above-mentioned recording means, within the predetermined time after receiving the summing instruction, the information of another prepaid card number newly validated by the above-mentioned reference means and the remaining amount or the remaining number corresponding to the number is recorded. A series of new changes and recordings in the recording means by the updating means, by adding the remaining amount or the remaining number of the prepaid card that has been validated again by the reference means to the remaining amount or the remaining number. This is a prepaid card balance amount / balance level management device configured to connect and receive execution information of processing operations to and from each other.

[0007]

Since the present invention takes the above-mentioned means, it becomes possible to manage the balance or the remaining number of the prepaid card, which is currently performed by the public telephone alone, on the exchange side. It can centrally manage the remaining amount of money and the remaining frequency, and can prevent illegal use (counterfeiting / alteration) of prepaid cards.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the communication network of this embodiment and a configuration of a prepaid card remaining amount / remaining amount management device. FIG. 2 shows a prepaid card number and remaining amount / remaining amount information in the present embodiment.
It is a figure which shows an example of the corresponding recording form with utilization information and calling telephone number information.

In the figure, A is a prepaid card balance and balance management device (hereinafter referred to as "management device") of this embodiment,
B is a communication network, I is a prepaid card, 1 is an exchange interface unit, 2 is a remaining amount / remaining amount information updating unit (hereinafter,
"Renewal unit"), 3 is the exchange control unit, 4 is the balance
Residual frequency information reference section (hereinafter referred to as "reference section"), 5 is a remaining amount / remaining frequency information recording section (hereinafter referred to as "recording section"),
Reference numeral 6 is an exchange, and 7 is a public telephone.

The recording unit 5 stores the prepaid card number information P.
I, the remaining amount / remaining frequency information AI corresponding to the prepaid card number information PI, the usage information UI, and the outgoing telephone number information OI are recorded. In addition to searching various information in accordance with a signal instructing a search transmitted from the control unit 3 via the reference unit 4, various information recorded in accordance with a signal instructing an update input from the updating unit 2 Update. The usage information UI records whether the prepaid card I is in use or not, and the calling telephone number information OI records the telephone number of the public telephone 7 that uses the prepaid card I. To do.

The reference unit 4 refers to various kinds of recording information in the recording unit 5 to verify the validity of the prepaid card I. In addition, as a result of the addition, the prepaid card I is no longer needed.
The deletion of the information related to (1) is instructed as the signal DS instructing the updating unit 2 to delete. The updating unit 2 changes the remaining amount and the remaining number corresponding to the prepaid card number to the recording unit 5,
Change usage information, record outgoing phone number, and balance
An instruction is issued to update the recorded information, such as deletion of information related to the prepaid card I having the remaining count of zero.

The exchange control unit 3 outputs a signal SS for instructing the reference unit 4 to verify whether the reference unit 4 is valid, and
The callable time is calculated from the remaining amount / remaining frequency information AI of the prepaid card I obtained from the reference unit 4 and the partner number input by the user, and the exchange 6 is instructed to connect via the exchange interface unit 1. The signal CS to be transmitted is transmitted. Furthermore, after the connection command signal CS is transmitted, the call time is monitored.

When the call time reaches the call available time by the prepaid card I, the signal OS for instructing the disconnection of the call is transmitted to the exchange 6 via the exchange interface unit 1. In addition, the call usage fee and frequency are calculated from the call disconnection information composed of the prepaid card number information PI, the other party number information DI, and the call time information TI, and the update unit 2 is notified of the remaining amount of the prepaid card I. Outputs a command signal to subtract the remaining number by the call usage.

The exchange interface unit 1 has an information exchange interface function between the exchange control unit 3 and the exchange 6. In addition, the user of the public telephone 7 is informed of the available charge / frequency of the prepaid card I being used by voice before connecting the call, and the public telephone 7 is used by the user.
It receives the push button signal input from and outputs it to the exchange control unit 3.

(Processing operation example 1) Since the specification of the present embodiment exhibits such a concrete embodiment, next, the remaining amount and the remaining number of the prepaid card I are recorded, and the remaining amount and the remaining number are not exceeded. The process of providing the user with the communication of the charge and the frequency and the process of subtracting the remaining amount and the remaining frequency by the amount used for the communication after the communication is finished will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[First stage] When the prepaid card I is inserted into the public telephone 7, the access number information NI, the prepaid card number information PI, is transferred from the public telephone 7 to the exchange 6.
The outgoing telephone number information OI assigned to each public telephone 7 is transmitted. When the exchange 6 receives the access number information NI, it judges that the call is a prepaid card I call, connects the call to the management apparatus A, and the management apparatus A prepaid card number information PI and calling telephone number information. Send OI.

The exchange interface unit 1 outputs prepaid card number information PI and calling telephone number information OI to the exchange control unit 3. The exchange control unit 3 outputs the prepaid card number information PI and the calling telephone number information OI to the reference unit 4 as a reference command signal SS. Further, the reference unit 4 instructs the recording unit 5 to search for the prepaid card number information PI. Output TS.

When the search unit 5 succeeds in searching the prepaid card number information PI by the search command signal TS, the recording unit 5 causes the reference unit 4 to display the remaining amount / remaining frequency information AI and the usage information UI corresponding to the prepaid card number information PI. Is output. When the usage information UI is not being used, the reference unit 4 outputs the remaining amount / remaining frequency information AI to the exchange control unit 3.

The exchange control section 3 records in the updating section 2 the outgoing telephone number information OI corresponding to the prepaid card number information PI, and updates the corresponding usage information UI so that the update command signal RS is changed. And the update unit 2 outputs the update command signal RS to the recording unit 5. The recording unit 5
When the update command signal RS is received, the calling telephone number information OI is recorded corresponding to the prepaid card number information PI, and the usage information UI is changed to “in use”.

The exchange control unit 3 uses the balance amount / remaining frequency information AI input from the reference unit 4 to the exchange interface unit 1.
Output to. The exchange interface unit 1 informs the user of the public telephone 7 by voice of the remaining amount / remaining frequency information AI as available charges / frequency.

[Second stage] The user of the public telephone 7 who receives the guidance inputs the other party's number by the push button.
Upon receiving the push button signal, the exchange interface unit 1 informs the exchange control unit 3 of the prepaid card number information PI.
And the partner number information DI is output.

The exchange control unit 3 obtains the remaining amount / remaining amount information AI corresponding to the prepaid card number information PI input from the exchange interface unit 1 again through the reference unit 4 and the recording unit 5, and then the remaining amount / Based on the remaining number information AI, the callable time for the other party's number is calculated, and the exchange interface unit 1 is provided with a call connection command signal C for the other party's number.
Output S. The exchange interface unit 1 includes an exchange 6
To the other party, a call connection command signal CS to the partner number is transmitted. The exchange 6 having received the call connection command signal CS connects to the partner number.

The exchange control unit 3 monitors the call duration of the call and outputs a disconnection command signal OS of the call to the exchange interface unit 1 when the call duration reaches the call available time. Upon receiving the call disconnection instruction signal OS, the exchange interface unit 1 transmits the call disconnection instruction signal OS to the exchange 6. Upon receiving the call disconnection command signal OS, the exchange 6 disconnects the call.

After the end of the call, including the case where the user disconnects the call before the disconnection command signal OS is input from the switch control unit 3, the switch interface unit 1 informs the switch control unit 3 of the call. Prepaid card number information PI, partner number information DI, call time information TI used for
Is output.

The exchange control unit 3 calculates the call usage charge / frequency information CI from the partner number information DI and the call time information TI, and informs the update unit 2 of the prepaid card number information PI.
Call usage charge / frequency CI from the remaining amount / remaining frequency corresponding to
And outputs the update command signal RS 'for changing the corresponding usage information UI to the non-use status. The updating unit 2 is the recording unit 5
Then, the update command signal RS 'is output.

The recording unit 5 stores the prepaid card number information P.
The result of subtracting the call usage fee / frequency information CI from the remaining amount / remaining number corresponding to I is recorded as new remaining amount / remaining number information AI corresponding to the prepaid card number information PI, and the corresponding usage information is also recorded. Change the UI when not in use. When the remaining amount / remaining number becomes zero as a result of the subtraction, the recording unit 5 deletes all the prepaid card number information PI and the records related to the prepaid card number information PI.

On the other hand, when the search of the prepaid card number information PI inserted in the public telephone 7 by the search command signal TS fails, the recording unit 5 outputs the error signal ES to the reference unit 4. The error signal ES is output to the exchange control unit 3 by the reference unit 4. Even when the recording unit 5 succeeds in searching the prepaid card number information PI, if the usage information UI corresponding to the prepaid card number information PI is being used, the reference unit 4 causes the exchange control unit 3 to operate. The error signal ES is output.

The exchange control unit 3 outputs the error signal ES input from the reference unit 4 to the exchange interface unit 1. When the input signal from the exchange control unit 3 is the error signal ES, the exchange interface unit 1 gives voice guidance to the user of the public telephone 7 that "the prepaid card cannot be used", and then the exchange 6 The connection between the public telephone 7 and the public telephone 7 is disconnected.

(Processing operation example 2) Next, a process of adding the prepaid card I having a smaller remaining amount / remaining amount to another prepaid card II will be described. The procedure up to the point where the exchange interface unit 1 gives voice guidance to the user of the public telephone 7 as the remaining amount / remaining amount information AI of the prepaid card I is the first step of the operation example 1 described above. Since it is the same, it will be described below from the second stage.

[Second stage] When it is desired to add the remaining amount / remaining number of the prepaid card I to the remaining amount / remaining number of the other prepaid card II, the user of the public telephone 7 can use the prepaid card I. After listening to the information on available charges and frequencies, enter only a specific button, for example, "# (sharp)", using the push button.

The exchange interface unit 1 instructs the exchange control unit 3 that only "#" has been input, and a voice message to the user of the public telephone 7 indicates that "the telephone is hung up once and immediately Recall using a prepaid card ”. The exchange control unit 3 displays the usage information UI corresponding to the card number of the prepaid card I, which is changed during use, in advance for a predetermined time TM.
After the elapse of the
Output to.

If there is no incoming call from the public telephone 7 having the same calling telephone number within the specified time TM, the usage information UI corresponding to the card number of the prepaid card I in the recording unit 5
Is changed to non-use by a change command signal HS from the updating unit 2. The specified time TM should be sufficient for the user to consider that he / she has abandoned the additional sum of the remaining amount and the remaining frequency.

When the user inserts the prepaid card II into the same public telephone 7, the reference unit 4 is operated in the same manner as described above.
Obtains from the recording unit 5 the remaining amount / remaining frequency information AI 'and the usage information UI' corresponding to the card number information PI 'of the prepaid card II. When the usage information UI ′ is not being used, the reference unit 4 records the same calling telephone number information OI as the calling telephone number information OI input from the exchange control unit 3 in the recording unit 5. , And the search command signal T of the prepaid card number information PI for which the usage information UI is being used
Output S '.

In this processing operation, if the time when the user inserts the prepaid card II is within the prescribed time TM, the recording unit 5 searches the prepaid card I for the prepaid card number information by the search command signal TS '. Get PI. Here, the recording unit 5 is different from the reference unit 4 in the prepaid card number information P of the prepaid card I.
The remaining amount / remaining frequency information AI corresponding to I is output.

The reference unit 4 adds the remaining amount / remaining amount information AI of the prepaid card I to the remaining amount / remaining amount information AI 'of the prepaid card II and adds the total remaining amount / remaining amount information AI "to the prepaid card. The remaining amount / remaining amount information of the card II is output to the exchange control unit 3. Further, the reference unit 4 informs the updating unit 2 of the remaining amount / remaining amount information AI ′ of the prepaid card II. A command signal HS 'for changing to the frequency information AI "and a command signal DS for deleting all the card numbers of the prepaid card I and records related to the card numbers are output.

Both of the command signals HS 'and DS are output to the recording unit 5 via the updating unit 2, and the recording unit 5 sums the remaining amount / remaining amount information AI' of the prepaid card II. Change to the remaining number information AI ″, and delete the prepaid card number information PI of the prepaid card I and various records AI, UI, OI related to the card number PI.

The total remaining amount / remaining number information AI ″ is output to the exchange interface unit 1 by the exchange control unit 3. The exchange interface unit 1 sends the total remaining amount / remaining amount transmitted from the exchange control unit 3. The frequency information AI ″ is voice-guided to the user of the public telephone 7 as an available charge / frequency.

When the user immediately wants to establish a call connection with the other party, he / she inputs the other party's number by a push button, and additionally adds the guided remaining amount / remaining number to another prepaid card III. If the user wishes to do so, only "#" is entered by the push button, and if there is neither wish, the call is disconnected.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to perform the remaining amount and the remaining number of the prepaid card by another device other than the public telephone, and it is possible to prevent the unauthorized use in the past. .. In addition, it is possible to add the remaining amount / remaining amount of a prepaid card with a smaller remaining amount / remaining amount to the remaining amount / remaining amount of another prepaid card.・ It is extremely useful because it can be applied to the management of card usage limits.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a communication prepaid card balance amount / balance balance management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence recording form of a prepaid card number, a remaining amount / remaining frequency, usage information, a calling telephone number, an additional total amount / an additional total frequency.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: prepaid card remaining amount / remaining amount management device B ... communication network 1 ... exchange interface unit 2 ... remaining amount / remaining amount information updating unit 3 ... exchange control unit 4 ... remaining amount / remaining amount information reference unit 5 ... remaining amount / Residual number information recording unit 6 ... Exchange 7 ... Public telephone I, II ... Prepaid card AI ... Access number information AI, AI '... Remaining amount / remaining number information AI ″ ... Additional sum amount / additional sum frequency information CI ... Call usage charge -Frequency information CS ... Call connection command signal DI ... Counter number information DS ... Delete command signal ES ... Error signal HS ... Change command signal OI ... Calling phone number information OS ... Call disconnection command signal PI ... Prepaid card number information RS ... Update command Signal SS ... Reference command signal TI ... Talk time information TM ... Additional summation monitoring prescribed time information TS, TS '... Search command signal UI ... Usage information

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication connection device for managing information of a prepaid card by connecting to an exchange, and preliminarily recording a card number for uniquely identifying each prepaid card and information of a remaining amount or a remaining frequency corresponding to the card number. A recording means to be provided, a reference means for validating the card number of the prepaid card input to the terminal device in the process of requesting a call connection from a terminal device such as a public telephone, and the prepaid card number is valid. In the case of, the receiving party's number sent from the terminal is received, the communicable time is calculated based on the receiving party's number and the information from the recording means, and a connection command is sent to the exchange, and the call is sent. After is connected, the communication time when the call is connected is monitored, and when the communication time reaches the communication available time, Control means for sending a disconnection command of the communication to the exchange, updating means for updating information such as the remaining amount of money or remaining frequency in the recording means by communication disconnection information, the communication available time calculation, communication time monitoring, connection The control means and an interface means for exchanging information with the exchange in connection with a command and disconnection command transmission processing operation are provided, and the information of the prepaid card is managed by the exchange side separately from the terminal device. Prepaid card balance and balance management device 2. The recording means, the reference means, the control section, and the update means, when the remaining amount or the remaining number of the prepaid card becomes small, the reference means within a predetermined time after the control means receives an instruction for additional addition. Another prepaid card number newly validated by the means and the remaining amount or the remaining frequency corresponding to the number is recorded, and the remaining amount or the remaining number in the recording means is again verified by the referring means. Execution information of a series of processing operations for newly changing and recording the remaining amount or the remaining number of the prepaid card obtained by adding the remaining amount or the remaining number in the reference unit to the recording unit by the reference unit can be exchanged with each other. The prepaid card balance amount / balance balance management device according to claim 1, wherein