JPH0670066A - Public utilization type terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent communication from being cut due to tariff shortage during the communication by two channels or the like when the communication for more than a deposited amount is performed by performing adjustment with a set reserved amount and enabling the adjustment after required time. CONSTITUTION:In a public utilization type terminal provided with two information channels for receiving unit tariffs and unit time from a network independently for the respective channels, at the time of using the two information channels, a tariff control part 15 subtracts the reserved amount set beforehand from the amount fed from a user through a card unit 13 and a coin unit 14. Then, a remaining fed amount is found, the unit tariffs for the respective channels are subtracted and deposited and a temporary remaining amount is found. When the amount is negative, the adjustment is performed by the reserved amount and the adjustment after the required time is performed until the preserved amount turns to negative. Thus, the communication is prevent from being immediately cut due to the tariff shortage during the communication by two channels.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses two information channels in a public use type terminal having a digital billing signal system for independently receiving a unit charge and a unit time from a network for each of the two information channels. It happens that the charges for the two channels happen to be almost at the same time, and even if the input charge is insufficient, a public-use terminal connected to the public network that configures the charge processing system so that the additional input by the user can be made in time ( Public telephones, pink telephones, public fax machines, public videotex terminals, etc.).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a digital public telephone or a digital pink telephone, in the case of a public use type terminal having two information channels, while making a call on one channel, FAX or data transmission on the other channel. However, even if calls are made simultaneously on each channel, the communication start time of each channel is almost always different, and each channel receives the charging signal from the network at different timing. . The public-use terminal stores the unit charge from the input charge each time it mechanically receives the charging signal. On the other hand, it is convenient for the user to store the charges in the form of the charges of two channels from the charges of the same telephone card or one coin mechanism without separately charging the charges for each channel. .

[0003]

Therefore, if the chances of accommodating charges for two channels happen to be almost the same at the same time, the input charge will be insufficient, and even if a reminder is displayed or sounded,
Communication was sometimes cut off because the additional input of users was not in time.

Further, like the information charge in Videotex, it is necessary to store a charge in addition to the communication charge during communication, which is unpredictable and causes a shortage of the charge in an instant, so that the communication must be disconnected. There were times when I couldn't get it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if it happens that charges for both channels happen to coincide with each other during communication on two channels, the communication is immediately disconnected due to insufficient charges. And, in addition,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a public-use terminal that can prevent forced disconnection even if additional charges are not made in time depending on the service, and the charge to be stored immediately varies greatly.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a public use type terminal which has two information channels and receives a unit fee and a unit time from the network independently for each channel. When two are to be used, a preset holding amount is subtracted from the charges input by the user to obtain the remaining input amount, and the charge for each channel is calculated from the remaining input amount. The unit charge is subtracted for each storage opportunity, and the temporary storage is performed to obtain the temporary remaining amount. In the case where the charges for two channels happen to be almost the same at the same time, if the additional input is temporarily delayed and the remaining input amount becomes negative, the unit charge is subtracted from the holding amount to obtain the temporary remaining amount. Ask. If the provisional balance is positive, communication is continued, and if negative, communication is disconnected.
At the end of communication, the charges are settled over a sufficient time, and a part or all of the holding amount is returned based on the final communication charge. When the communication of one channel is terminated from the use of two channels and only the communication of one channel is completed, the holding amount is set to 0 and the holding amount is added to the temporary remaining amount. In the case of 1-channel communication from the beginning, the holding amount is set to 0.

[0007]

By means of the above means, when the communication for the amount of money temporarily stored in the public-use type terminal is temporarily carried out, as a temporary process within the feasible processing time, the preset hold It is possible to adjust by the amount of money and adjust after the required time elapses or after communication,
It is possible to eliminate the charge disagreement with a sufficient probability in execution, and it is possible to perform charge processing with a margin even when storing a collective charge such as an information charge where the processing time is particularly severe.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the terminal side and the network (switch) side according to the present invention. That is, the public use type terminal 11 is connected to the subscriber corresponding device 33 of the exchange 30 by the subscriber line 10, and the communication path switch 31 of the exchange 30 is connected to the receiving side exchange 41 in which the receiving telephone set 42 is housed. . The communication path switch 31 is connected to a subscriber support device 33, and a subscriber signal control device 34 is connected to the subscriber support device 33. A central control unit 32 is connected to the communication path switch 31, and a subscriber signal control unit 34 is connected to the central control unit 32.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are examples of the basic operation flow relating to the charge processing of the public terminal in the present invention. In FIGS. 2 and 3, X is the input amount count (charge of coins inserted + remaining frequency of inserted card = total amount or total frequency), Z is temporary remaining amount (temporary remaining frequency), A is holding amount (reserving frequency) , U is a unit charge (unit frequency), and XT is an additional input amount.

FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the public use type terminal. The operation will be described below with reference to the drawings.

When the user picks up the handset 12 and inserts a card into the card unit 13 or inserts a coin into the coin unit 14, the charging control unit 15 detects this and counts the charge (payment amount X). Then, the total frequency of the inserted coins is divided by the provisional unit price and the remainder is removed, and the remaining frequency of the inserted card is transmitted to the communication control unit 16. Also, the total amount X of the remaining frequency of the inserted card and the charge of the inserted coin or the remaining frequency of the card and the number of inserted coins for each type of coin are displayed on the display unit 17. When the user dials with the dial 18, the communication control unit 16 includes this dial signal as a line selection signal in the call setting signal on the signal channel of the digital interface with the exchange 30 and then from the digital signal control unit 19 to the subscriber line. It is sent out to the exchange 30 via 10. At this time, the terminal determines the service type from the dial number or the like, and calculates the hold amount A preset for each service type. The exchange 30 returns a call setting acceptance signal.

When the receiving telephone set 42 responds, the receiving side exchange 41 detects this and returns a response signal to the exchange 30. The subscriber signal control device 34, via the subscriber support device 33,
The unit charge and unit time obtained from the response signal and the dial number are transmitted to the public use type terminal 11 through the signal channel. The communication control unit 16 of the public-use type terminal 11 uses the exchange 3
A charging trigger is generated based on the response signal from 0, and the charging control unit 15 is instructed to store the unit charge U.

The communication control unit 16 issues a storage instruction to the charging control unit 15 every unit communication time triggered by the charging signal from the exchange 30.

During two-channel (ch) communication, at the time of response and at the timing of charging every time a unit communication time elapses, the communication control unit 16 sets a preset holding frequency from the total frequency X of cards and coins inserted by the user. A is subtracted, and the unit frequency U is subtracted from the remaining frequency for each billing opportunity to obtain the temporary residual frequency Z. At the time of this subtraction, if the temporary remaining count of the card is 0 and the coins of any kind have already reached the maximum accumulated number, one coin is stored in the safe. Similarly, at the time of subtraction, when the total frequency X is less than or equal to the holding frequency A, the temporary remaining frequency Z is set to 0. Immediately when the temporary remaining frequency Z becomes 1, or before a fixed time when the temporary remaining frequency Z becomes 0, the user is caused to sound a reminder display or a reminder sound of insufficient charge. In addition, at the time of subtraction, when the provisional residual number of the inserted card becomes 0, the card is immediately returned, and if there is a second card, the loading is started.

When the temporary residual frequency Z is 0 and the second card is inserted,
The communication control unit 16 informs the exchange 30 that the charge is insufficient as a disconnection signal when a predetermined fixed time comes before the next charging opportunity without additional coin insertion. A release signal is sent from the exchange 30, the public use type terminal 11 returns a release completion signal, and the total communication charge from the start of communication to the end of communication is sent to the public use type terminal 11 together with the release signal from the exchange 30. The exchange 30 and the public use type terminal 11 are disconnected. At this time, the exchange 30
It is also possible to disconnect the communication circuit 21 and the handset 12 at the terminal so that only the telephone call is temporarily disabled while the subscriber line 10 remains unchanged.

In the case of one-channel communication, the holding amount A is 0
As a result, normal charge processing and communication can be performed until the total amount X of money input becomes less than the unit charge U. When the communication of another channel is started during the communication of one channel, a new remaining amount Z is obtained by subtracting the holding amount A from the remaining amount Z in order to secure the holding amount A.

When the user puts the handset 12 on the hook to stop communication during communication or when the communication partner stops communication, a release signal is transmitted from the exchange 30 and 2
In the case of channel communication, 1-channel communication is performed, and the hold amount A is set to 0, and normal charge processing is performed. In the case of 1 channel, the communication control unit 16 sends a disconnection signal to the exchange 30, a release signal is sent from the exchange 30, the public use type terminal 11 returns a release completion signal, and the exchange 30 and the public use type terminal 11 Is cut off between and.

In the above description, when a collective billing is supposed like the information charge of Videotex, when the pay information is accessed or the service center is accessed, the amount of money to be reserved is transferred from the center via the network. It is also possible to transmit and perform charge processing at the terminal based on the holding amount A.

It is also possible to set a plurality of withholding amounts that differ depending on the service type in advance in the terminal, determine the service accessed by the user using the dial number or the like at the terminal, and set the predetermined withholding amount. It is possible.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the chances of storing charges for both channels happen to coincide with each other during communication on two channels, the communication may be immediately disconnected due to insufficient charges. Disappear. Further, since the holding amount is secured only during the two-channel communication, it is not necessary to additionally pay the holding amount during the one-channel communication.

Further, depending on the service, the charge to be immediately stored varies greatly, and it is possible to prevent the forced disconnection because the additional payment cannot be made in time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a terminal and a network (exchange) in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a part of a basic charge processing procedure of the terminal in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of a basic charge processing procedure of the terminal in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the terminal configuration of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Subscriber line, 11 ... Public use type terminal, 12 ... Handset, 13 ... Card unit, 14 ... Coin unit, 15
... Billing control unit, 16 ... Communication control unit, 17 ... Display unit, 18
... dial, 19 ... digital signal control unit, 21 ... communication circuit, 30 ... exchange, 31 ... communication path switch, 32 ... central control device, 33 ... subscriber support device, 34 ... subscriber signal control device, 41 ... incoming side Switch, 42 ... incoming telephone.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A public-use terminal having two information channels and capable of independently receiving a unit charge and a unit time from the network for each channel, and collecting charges based on the unit time from the network for each channel. A means to generate an opportunity, a holding amount is a preset amount when two information channels are used, and a holding amount is 0 when only one information channel is used. From the remaining input amount, the remaining input amount is subtracted, the unit charge is subtracted from the remaining input amount for each charge storage opportunity for each channel, and the temporary remaining amount is obtained. It has means for subtracting the unit charge from the holding amount, means for controlling communication based on the temporary remaining amount, and means for returning a part or all of the holding amount at the end of communication. A public-use terminal characterized by the above.