JPS6243582B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a management system for communication terminal devices such as facsimile devices connected to general subscriber telephone lines.

As is well known, a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device connected to a general subscriber telephone line requires a relatively long time to transmit information, and therefore, if the communication destination is a long distance, the call charge becomes large. For example, if you use a facsimile transmitter that can transmit an A4 size document in 6 minutes and send it to a destination with a ground time of 2.5 seconds, 10 yen per document x 360/2.5 =
1,440 yen, or 14,400 yen per 10 tickets.

Previously, when communication terminal equipment that generated large call charges was shared by multiple departments, there was no way to track call charges for each department, making it impossible to allocate call charges to each department. However, inconvenient problems have arisen in charge management. Furthermore, when using a communication terminal device connected to one extension within a PBX device, there was no way to grasp the call charges for only the communication terminal device, so it was not possible to grasp the total call charges related to the use of the communication terminal device. Various problems arose in charge management.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a management method for communication terminal devices that allows charges for communication terminal devices to be managed independently of departments or other devices. be.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides means for registering the number of calls or call charges in a temporary storage memory for each unit of communication time corresponding to a communication destination during a communication originating from a communication terminal; a memory for each department code that adds and stores the contents of the temporary storage memory for each department code in response to the end of communication of the device;
A control means for reading out the contents of the memory for each department code based on a key switch input during insertion of a function card storing a function code, and a total number of calls or calls for each department code read by the means. and means for displaying charges.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a management device to which the present invention is applied, and in this embodiment, a facsimile transmitter is used as a communication terminal device to be managed.

In the figure, FX is a facsimile transmitter to be managed, TEL is a telephone for calling or answering the communication destination, DET is a detection circuit that detects dial impulses from the telephone TEL, and this detection circuit DET is connected in series to the telephone TEL. The facsimile transmitter FX is connected to the central office lines L ₁ and L ₂ by switching contacts l ₁ and l ₂ inside the facsimile transmitter FX. Contacts l ₁ and l ₂ inside the facsimile transmitter FX are
This is a contact point of a relay L (not shown) in the transmission control unit CNT, and is switched from the telephone TEL side to the transmission control unit CNT side by operating a transmission switch (not shown).

Next, 1 is a card reader that reads the department code, function code, and reset code recorded on the department card used by each department's facsimile transmitter users, and the function card and reset card used by the administrator; 2 enables the facsimile transmitter FX by receiving the department code from the card reader 1, and performs processing to register the number of calls (or call charges) for each unit of communication time corresponding to the communication destination during communication. It is an arithmetic processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU), and the call charges during communication are stored in a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 3 for each department code. Reference numeral 4 denotes a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) that stores data corresponding to all signal cycles for multiple regions as a billing table.
The charging table related to the installation area is specified by the selection setting operation of the installation area setting switches _S1 to _S0 . 5 is a display that displays the number representing the department code and the number of calls to date regarding the department; 6 is a reset switch that resets all the number of calls for each department stored in RAM 3; 7 is a reset switch.
This key switch is used to sequentially read out the number of calls for each department stored in the RAM 3 and display it on the display 5. This key switch 7 only functions when a function card is inserted into the card reader 1. The reset switch 6 becomes effective only when the reset card is inserted. Reference numeral 8 denotes a backup power supply for retaining the memory contents of the RAM 3 even in the event of a power outage.

Hereinafter, the operation will be explained in detail based on the flowchart shown in FIGS. 2a to 2b.

First, when you turn on the power, the necessary power is supplied to each part. At this time, CPU2 is the card reader 1
If no function card, reset card, or department card is inserted into the display 5, no display signal is sent to the display 5, and the display is in a non-display state as shown in FIG. 3a. After that, when any card is inserted into the card reader 1 and the reading information is given from the card reader 1, the CPU 2
determines whether this read information is a regular ID code assigned in advance to the management device, and also performs a parity check on the read information.

As a result of such determination processing, if the read information is normal, it is determined whether the code expressed in the read information corresponds to a function code, department code, or reset code. However, if the read information is not a regular ID code or if there is a parity error, the display 5 is caused to display an error message as shown in FIG. 3b using numerical segments.

Next, if the read information is a department code, the current call frequency value is read from the department code memory using the memory area of RAM 3 corresponding to the department code, and the number representing the department and the number representing the call frequency are read. is displayed on the display 5 as shown in FIG. 3c. Prior to this, a power-on signal PON is sent to the facsimile transmitter FX to enable the facsimile transmitter FX to operate.

Thereafter, when the operator makes a dial call using the telephone TEL, this dial call is detected by the detection circuit DET, and a dial impulse is given to the CPU 2 from the detection circuit DET. CPU
2 decodes the outgoing dialed number based on this dial impulse and stores only the toll number among them. Then, based on this area number and the charging table specified by the installation area setting switches _S1 to _S0 , the number of ground seconds indicating the unit communication time corresponding to the destination is extracted and temporarily stored in the RAM 3. Note that the method for extracting the number of seconds above ground is described in the specifications of Japanese Patent Application No. 52-92479 or Japanese Patent Application No. 54-48050, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

When temporarily storing the number of ground seconds in RAM 3, if the destination is within the city, that is, the first dial number is other than "0", CPU 2 stores the number of ground seconds "180 seconds" without referring to the billing table. .

Thereafter, when the called party answers, the operator informs the operator that transmission will begin and operates a transmission switch (not shown) on the facsimile transmitter FX. Then, by operating this transmitter switch, the contact
l ₁ and l ₂ are switched, and the facsimile transmitter FX is switched to the central office line.
Connected to L ₁ and L ₂ . At the same time, a transmission start signal ST is sent from the facsimile transmitter FX to CPU2.
given to. As a result, the CPU 2 adds "1" to the call frequency register used as an internal temporary storage memory, and at the same time starts an internal timer. Thereafter, the CPU 2 sequentially adds "1" to the call frequency register every time the number of seconds above ground temporarily stored in the RAM 3 elapses until the transmission end signal END is given from the facsimile transmitter FX. Note that the transmission start signal may be sent at the time when a separate switch related to transmission is operated, if there is one, or at the time when the facsimile transmitter and receiver are phase matched.

Thereafter, when the transmission is completed and a transmission end signal END is given, the CPU 2 stops the timer and stores the call frequency value registered in the call frequency register in the memory area of the RAM 3 corresponding to the department code.

On the other hand, the facsimile transmitter FX automatically restores contacts l ₁ and l ₂ upon completion of transmission, and connects the central office lines L ₁ and
Connect L ₂ to the telephone TEL side. After this, when the department card is pulled out from the card reader 1, the CPU 2 adds the contents of the call frequency register to the above-mentioned memory for each department code and stores it, and then resets the register and resets the facsimile number register. Turn off the power-on signal PON for transmitter FX. During transmission, the content of the call frequency register, ie, the total call frequency corresponding to the department code, is displayed on the display 5. This display becomes non-displayed approximately 3 seconds after the department card is pulled out.

On the other hand, if the read data from the card reader 1 is a function code, the CPU 2 causes the display 5 to display the total number of calls for all departments as shown in FIG. 3e. Then, it is determined whether either the key switch 7 or the reset switch 6 is turned on. At this time, if the key switch 7 is on, the user first specifies that the communication rate value of the first department out of the plurality of departments be displayed on the display 5. As a result, the call frequency value of the first division and the numerical value representing the division are shown in Figure 3b.
will be displayed in the same way as in . After the number of calls related to the first division is displayed, the key switch 7 is turned on again.
When turned on, the division designation of the call rate value displayed on the display 5 is updated, and the call rate value for the second division is now displayed. As you repeatedly operate this key switch 7, the call rate value for the last department will be displayed, and if you operate the key switch 7 again, the total call rate value for all departments will be displayed again, and then The first division, the second division, and so on are repeated. Therefore, the administrator can easily grasp the call frequency and total value for each department by simply inserting a card with a function code recorded therein, that is, a function card, into the card reader 1 and operating the key switch 7. can do.

If the reset switch 6 is on when the function card is inserted into the card reader 1,
The CPU 2 resets the conversation degree value of the displayed department on the condition that the department and the conversation degree value are displayed on the display 5. That is, regarding the department selected by operating the key switch 7,
Reset the call intensity value stored in RAM3. As a result, the display 5 displays the contents as shown in FIG. 3d. Therefore, by utilizing this fact, even if the call frequency is aggregated by department on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, it is extremely easy to manage the call frequency for each department. .

On the other hand, if the read data from card reader 1 indicates a reset code, CPU 2
Reset the call rate values for all departments stored in RAM3.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to extremely easily grasp the total value of the call rate values of all departments and the call rate value of each department.

By the way, the management device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 calculates the number of calls based on the actual time related to communication of the facsimile transmitter FX from the start of transmission to the end of transmission, and calculates the call frequency of the operator before and after transmission. Not considered. However, as shown in FIG. 4, in series with the telephone TEL, there is a detection circuit DET1 that detects dial impulses and the formation of a call loop, and a detection circuit DE2 that detects that the called party has answered. If the detection outputs of these circuits are used to perform the processing shown in the flowchart in Figure 5, even more accurate calls can be made that cover the entire passage time from the called party's response to the opening of the central office line. Can manage frequency. That is, the timer is started by the detection output from the detection circuit DET2, the timer is stopped by the detection output from the detection circuit DET1 indicating that the office line is open after the transmission end signal END is input, and the contents of the call frequency register at this time are of
Store it in RAM3. In this case, after the contacts l ₁ and l ₂ are restored to the telephone TEL side, send the transmission end signal END.
If the handset is already down, the timer will be stopped because no call loop has been formed, and if the handset is up, the timer will be stopped at the next hook-on.

Therefore, with this configuration, unless the facsimile transmitter FX is connected to a PBX device, the total call frequency will exactly match the call frequency of the station (however, if the facsimile transmitter FX is not connected to the PBX device, the total call frequency will exactly match the call frequency of the station (when used as a dedicated FX phone).

Note that in the above description, starting and stopping of the timer are arbitrary depending on the type of equipment connected to the management device, and are not limited to those in the embodiment. In addition, although the dialed number is detected and the number of ground seconds is extracted from the designated billing table, the operator may set the dial number separately from the dialing, or the number of ground seconds itself may be set. You may also set it. In this way, a dial impulse detection circuit and a billing table are not required, and the configuration can be simplified. Furthermore, if the device is dedicated to one region, there is no need for an installation region set switch and only one billing table is required. Further, although the power of the device is turned on and off by inserting and removing the card, any device other than the power supply may be used as long as it controls the operation of the device. Furthermore, it can also be applied to automatic transmission/reception that does not require communication between operators. Furthermore, it goes without saying that instead of registering, storing, and displaying the number of calls, it is also possible to register, store, and display call charges. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is applicable not only to facsimile transmitters but also to the management of all communication terminal devices connected to general subscriber telephone lines.

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, the number of calls or call charges of a communication terminal device can be accurately managed independently of other devices or by department, and is extremely effective in terms of charge management. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2a to 2b are flowcharts for explaining the operation, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the display contents of the display.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing another example of a circuit for detecting a busy period, and FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining the operation when the circuit of FIG. 4 is employed. FX...Facsimile transmitter, TEL...Telephone, 1...Card reader, 2...Arithmetic processing unit (CPU), 3...Random access memory (RAM), 4...Read only memory (ROM),
5... Display, 6... Reset switch, 7...
Key switch, 8...backup power supply.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a management device that makes it possible to use a communication terminal device connected to a general subscriber telephone line by inserting a department card with a department code recorded therein, during a communication originating from said communication terminal device, the unit corresponding to the communication destination is used. means for registering the number of calls or call charges in a temporary storage memory for each communication time; and a memory for each department code that adds and stores the contents of the temporary storage memory for each department code in response to the end of communication of the communication terminal device. , a control means for reading out the contents of the department code-specific memory based on a key switch input during insertion of a function card on which a function code is recorded; and a control means for reading the contents of the department code-specific memory read by the means 1. A management device for a communication terminal device, comprising means for displaying frequency or call charges.