JPS6193765A - Automatic dial telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain talking with a specific caller without cash and dialing by loading a magnetic card storing telephone number information and monetary amount information to a magnetic card reader/writer. CONSTITUTION:The user of a telephone set hooks off a handset 2 and loads the magnetic card to the magnetic reader/writer 3, then a microprocessing unit MPU5 reads card information, stores it in a RAM8 and discriminates an identification code. When monetary information has a residual in the automatic dial mode, the automatic dialing is executed and the MPU5 computes residual calculation based on the charging information transmitted from an exchange 20. When the residual is 0 or the handset hooks on, the MPU5 writes the residual data stored in the RAM8 into the magnetic card 10. Thus, the monetary information of the card is rewritten into the monetary amount subtracting the talking charge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to an auto-dial telephone, and in particular, it is capable of auto-dialing using a card that stores telephone number information and amount information, and is capable of making so-called cashless calls. Regarding auto-dial phones that can be used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known in the art, card telephones that allow cashless telephone calls using magnetic cards on which monetary information is stored are already in widespread use. When using this phone,
Insert the card into the telephone and use the button or dial to call the other party and make a conversation. When the call ends, the charge for the call is deleted from the amount information stored on the magnetic card and the card is returned.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, cashless calls using cards do not require the insertion of coins, so they are suitable for long-distance calls and international calls where call charges are high. However, when making a call to such a long distance, the amount of money wasted if you make a mistake when dialing is too great to be taken lightly. Furthermore, for people who frequently make calls to specific parties, it is tedious to dial the number every time they make a call. Furthermore, some people do not want their phone numbers made public to prevent prank calls.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a telephone that is cashless and capable of automatic dialing.

Means for Solving the Problems This invention is connected to an exchange equipped with means for generating billing information according to call distance and call time, and makes a call using a card that stores at least telephone number information and amount information. An auto-dial telephone capable of reading information stored in a card, and in response to reading by the reading means, auto-dialing based on the read telephone number. ″″ゝ′″m″
nc:iai°゛°6°7 A means for sequentially subtracting an amount corresponding to the call charge for each cycle from the amount information read by the reading means based on the billing information that comes, and a residual amount reduced in response to the end of the call. means for writing the amount of money on the card.

Operation: The reading means of the auto-dial telephone reads the telephone number information and amount information stored on the card.

The auto-dial means performs dialing based on the telephone number read by the reading means. During a call, the switched line sends billing information to the telephone set according to the distance and duration of the call. The reduction means subtracts the extra amount of the call fee from the amount information read by the reading means based on the charging information each time the charging information is sent. When the call ends, the writing means writes the reduced remaining amount onto the card.

Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a telephone communication system using an auto-dial telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. The auto-dial telephone 1 is equipped with a handset 2 for making calls and a card insertion slot 3A for inserting a card 10 storing telephone number information and amount information. The auto-dial telephone 1 may be equipped with a button 4 and a coin slot (not shown) for those who do not use cards. A dial may be provided instead of the button 4. Note that the card 1 is a magnetic storage medium.

It may be a normal magnetic card using a drive or an IC card using an IC memory. This embodiment uses a magnetic card.

Auto-dial telephone W1 is connected to exchange 20. When the handset 2 is taken off the hook and the card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 3A, the auto-dial telephone 111 automatically dials and calls the telephone 30 of the other party via the exchange 20. During a call, billing information corresponding to the call distance and call time is periodically sent to the auto-dial telephone 1 from the exchange Ia 20. Billing information is collected at regular intervals determined by the call distance (for example, 80kff1 to 1
00 (every 15 seconds in one section), or charge information per unit time predetermined for each distance may be sent at fixed unit time intervals. Billing information: Each time the billing information is sent, the amount corresponding to the call charge for each cycle is subtracted from the amount stored in the card 10, and when the call ends, the remaining amount after subtracting the call charge from the original amount is calculated. Write on the card 10 and return the card.

FIG. 4 shows an auto-dial telephone 1i according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a schematic block diagram of FIG. Auto dial telephone 1 has MPtJ (micro processing unit)
5 is provided. MPU is the CPU of a microcomputer
It is U. A magnetic card reader/writer 3 and a dial 4 for reading and writing data from the card 10 are connected to the MPU 5. Roughly speaking, a coin validator 6, a ROM 7, a RAM 8, and a network control unit 9 are connected to the MPU 5. The coin validator 6 is used to check whether there are any abnormalities in the coins inserted from the coin slot. The ROM 7 is as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which will be explained later.

This is for storing the operating program of the MPU 5. The storage area of the RAM 8 includes an information storage area and a work area for storing information read by the magnetic card reader/writer 3, as will be explained in detail later in FIG. It is used to detect signals, etc., and is connected to a telephone line.The above-mentioned handset 2 is connected to a network control section 9.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagram showing the card information storage area and work area of the RAM 8. As will be explained later in FIG. 6, the card information storage area stores information indicating an identification code, telephone number, and amount of money. For example, when a magnetic card is read by the magnetic card reader/writer 3, this information is sent to the RA.
This is information stored in M8. As will be explained later, the work area temporarily stores intermediate results such as the billing information sent from the exchange 20 and the balance of the amount calculated by the MPU 5 based on the billing information when the programs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are executed. This is the area to be kept.

FIG. 6 shows information stored on the magnetic card 10. The identification code is information that identifies the type of card:!
Contains information indicating auto-dial mode. The telephone number is the telephone number information of the other party to call.

The amount is information indicating the amount of money that can be spent on a call, and is updated by the magnetic card reader/writer 3 for each call.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram for explaining the operation of an auto-dial telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Next, based on FIG. 1, the operation of an auto-dial telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail.
'The user of this telephone first removes the handset 2 from the hook. Accordingly, the hook is turned off (step S1). Next, the user inserts the magnetic card 10 into the card insertion slot 3A (step S2), and in response, the MP and U5 extract the card shown in FIG. 6 from the inserted magnetic card by the magnetic card reader/writer 3. The information is read and stored in the card information storage area of the RAM 8 (step 83). In step S4, MPtJ5 determines whether the identification code read from the card indicates auto dial mode. If it is not the auto-dial mode, another process is performed, but if it is the auto-dial mode, the process then proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the MPU 5 determines whether there is a balance in the read amount information. If there is no balance, the call cannot be made, so the process proceeds to step 813, where the card is returned and the operation ends; however, if there is a balance, the process proceeds to step S6, where automatic dialing is performed based on the read telephone number information.

In step S7, the MPU 5 determines whether or not the other party has answered the phone and is ready to talk, and when it is ready to talk, the MPU 5 sequentially calculates the balance based on billing information sent from the exchange 1ff20 at regular intervals. take up position (step S8). The MPU 5 determines whether the balance has reached rOJ in step S9, and determines whether the call has ended in step S10. Step 88 ~ Step S1
The 0 loop continues until the balance becomes "0" during a call or until the call ends.
”, the line is disconnected. When the other party does not answer the call, the balance becomes "0" and the line is disconnected, or the call ends, the user hangs the handset 2 on the hook. The hook is then turned on (step 511). In response, the MPU 5 writes the balance data stored in the work area of the RAM 8 to the magnetic card 10 using the magnetic card reader/writer 3 (step 512).
.

As a result, the amount information on the card is converted into yen by deducting the call charge from the original amount. Subsequently, the MPU 5 returns the magnetic card 10 and ends the operation.

By partially modifying the program shown in FIG. 1, it is also possible to use a card in which only monetary transaction methods are stored, such as those used in conventional card telephones, in the auto-dial telephone of the present invention. Since the identification code of this card does not include a code indicating the auto-dial mode, the process proceeds to a separate processing step in step S4 of FIG. step and a step of determining whether there is a balance, and then step S7
You can proceed to .

Furthermore, the auto-dial telephone system according to one embodiment of the present invention allows calls to be made without using a card. In that case, a coin is required instead of a card, and a telephone number must be dialed.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for explaining the operation of the auto-dial telephone 11 when making a call without using a card. Next, based on FIG. 2, the operation of the auto-dial telephone 1 when no card is used will be explained.

When the user picks up the handset, the hook goes off (step 514). When a coin is inserted from the coin slot (step 815), the MPU 5 uses the coin validation device 6 to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the coin, and stores the total amount data of the normal coins inserted into the RAM 8 (step 815). 816)
. The user dials using the button 4 or the dial (step 517). When the call is OK,
As shown in FIG. 1, the balance is sequentially calculated based on the charging information sent from the exchange 20 at regular intervals until the balance reaches rOJ or the call ends (steps $19 to $521). When the handset 2 is placed on the hook, the hook is turned on (step 522). In response, the MPU 5 returns coins equivalent to the balance of the inserted coins (step 523). Finish the operation.

In the embodiment, the auto-dial telephone is applied to a public telephone, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a general subscriber telephone that does not have a coin slot.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to make a call to a specific party without using a single card and without having to dial. Also, you can make calls without giving out your phone number, so if you give your card only to specific people,
You will no longer receive prank calls from other people.

According to the embodiment, it is possible to use a normal card phone card by simply changing the software without changing the equipment, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of an auto-dial telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a telephone communication system using an auto-dial telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an auto-dial telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the storage area of RAM 8 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a querier. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing information stored in a card used in the auto-dial telephone of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an auto-dial telephone, 2 is a handset, 3 is a magnetic card reader/writer, 3A is a card insertion slot,
4 is a button, 5 is MPU16 is a coin validator, 7 is R
OM, 8 is RAM, 9 is network control unit, 10 is magnetic card,
20 indicates an exchange. Roll 1 figure tower 2 figure foil 3 centroid 4 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] An automated system that is connected to an exchange equipped with means for generating billing information according to call distance and call time, and that is capable of making calls using a card that stores at least telephone number information and amount information. A dial telephone, comprising: means for reading the telephone number information and amount information stored in the card; means for automatically dialing based on the read telephone number in response to reading by the reading means; means for sequentially reducing an amount corresponding to a call charge for each period from the amount information read by the reading means based on billing information periodically sent from the exchange; and reducing the amount in response to the end of the call. and means for writing the remaining amount of money on the card.