JPS63232731A - Line terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer the new use of a card by generating a dial signal on the basis of a telephone number information, read out from the card, in which the telephone number information and a balance information are written, and outputting it to the line. CONSTITUTION:When the telephone card is inserted into a telephone set, a card information reading part 11 reads the balance information. A controlling means 17 decides whether the balance information is '0' or not, and when it is not '0', it decides whether the telephone number information is recorded or not, through the reading part 11. Then, when the number information is not recorded, the dial signal is sent by a manual operation. When the number information is recorded, the said number is given to a dialing means 14, and the dial signal is automatically sent to the line. After a conversation state between the other party is established, the balance is calculated according to an incoming charging signal, and it is displayed on a displaying means 16.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Field of Application The present invention is applicable to telephone calls and other applications using a card such as a telephone card.
It relates to a line terminal device that performs communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, telephones that can use magnetic cards called telephone cards have become popular.

Hereinafter, a telephone will be described as an example of a line terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of a telephone that can be used with a telephone card. This is a card information reading section that reads information such as whether a telephone call can be made or not, and has a magnetic head that slides into contact with the magnetic stripe section of the magnetic card. A balance storage section 2 temporarily stores the balance information read by the card information reading section 1, and is composed of a random access memory (RAM). Reference numeral 3 denotes a communication circuit section that enables mutual communication with the other party. Reference numeral 4 denotes dial means, which has a dial signal generating section 4a and outputs a dial signal to the line by operating a dial button. 5 calculates the telephone charges used based on the charging signal sent through the line, and stores the calculated value and the balance storage unit 2.
This is a balance calculation unit that calculates the balance information stored in the telephone card and outputs a signal indicating how many more calls can be made with the telephone card. Reference numeral 6 denotes a display means for inputting the signal output from the balance calculation section 5 and displaying the balance on the liquid crystal display 6a.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a control means for controlling the operations of the above-mentioned parts.

The operation of the conventional telephone configured as described above will be explained below.

The user of this telephone first puts the telephone in an off-hook state and inserts a calling card into the telephone.

Then, first, the card information reading section 1 reads the balance information stored in the telephone card.

The read balance information is then stored in the balance information storage section 2, and the balance value is displayed on the display means 6. Next, the operator inputs the telephone number of the other party by operating a dial button. Then, the dial means 4 outputs a dial signal corresponding to the operated dial button to the line. Then, when the other party goes off-hook, a call is established with the other party via the communication circuit section.

Also, while a call is established, a billing signal is sent from the exchange via the line, so the balance calculation section 5 subtracts the balance value stored in the balance storage section 2 based on this billing signal. Then, the balance value after the subtraction is stored in the balance storage unit 2 again.
to be memorized. Further, the balance value which is being updated is displayed on the liquid crystal display 6a of the display means 6 every moment.

Problems to be solved by the invention However, telephone cards only contain balance information and some information to prevent misuse and abuse, and it is desired to develop new uses for them. .

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, the line terminal device of the present invention is a dialer that generates a dialing signal based on the phone number information read from a card on which phone number information and balance information are written and outputs it to the line. Department.

Function: It becomes possible to dial based on the read phone number information.

Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the line terminal device of the present invention will be described using a telephone as an example of the line terminal device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the main configuration of the telephone of the first embodiment. In the figure, 11 is a card information reading section that reads balance information and telephone number information written on the magnetic stripe section of a telephone card; It has a magnetic head that slides into contact with the magnetic stripe portion of the card. A balance storage section 12 temporarily stores the balance information read by the card information reading section 11, and is composed of a random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as RAM). Reference numeral 13 denotes a communication circuit section that enables mutual communication with the other party. Reference numeral 14 denotes dialing means, which has a dialing signal generating section 14a, which outputs a dialing signal to the line by operating a dial button, and automatically dials the telephone number based on the telephone number information read by the card information reading section 11. Outputs the corresponding dial signal to the line. 15 calculates the telephone charges used based on the charging signal sent through the line, calculates the calculated value and the balance information stored in the balance storage section 12, and allows you to make several more calls with the telephone card. This is a balance calculation unit that outputs a signal indicating whether the balance is the same or not. Reference numeral 16 denotes a display means for inputting the signal output from the balance calculating section 5 and displaying the balance on the liquid crystal display 16a.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a control means for controlling the operations of the above-mentioned parts, and is constituted by a microcomputer.

The operation of the telephone of the first embodiment configured as described above will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the operation of calculating the balance and displaying the balance is the same as the conventional operation, so the explanation of the operation is omitted, and the operation of the telephone using coins is the same as the one currently used. Since this is the same as a public telephone, a detailed explanation will be omitted, and only the operation when using a telephone card will be explained here.

When the calling card is inserted into the telephone, step 101
The process then moves to step 102, where the card information reading unit 11 reads the balance information recorded on the card.
If the balance is "0", the process moves to step 103, and processing to disable the card is performed, such as displaying on the liquid crystal display 16a that the card is unusable. If the balance is not "0", the process advances to step 104, where it is determined whether telephone number information is stored in the card. This determination is made by the control means 17 accessing the card information reading section 11. If the telephone number information is not stored, the process proceeds to step 105 and a manual dialing signal is sent. Further, if it is determined in step 104 that the telephone number information is stored, step 106
Then, the stored telephone number information is given to the dialing means 14, and the dialing means 14 automatically sends a dialing signal to the line according to the manual information using the built-in dialing signal generating section 14a. If the other party is busy, step 107 to step 10
The process proceeds to step 8, and the operator is left with the subsequent processing, ie, putting the telephone on -H hook and releasing the line. If the call is not busy, the process advances to step 109. When the other party goes off-hook, a communication state with the other party is established by the communication circuit section 13 (step 110). Note that the above-described determination of busy state and determination of off-hook state of the other party are made by monitoring the ring pack tone and busy tone arriving on the line. Further, means for this monitoring is built into the communication circuit section 13. Thereafter, as the call continues, a billing signal is sent from the exchange. Upon receiving this signal, the balance calculation unit 15 subtracts one count from the original balance stored in the balance storage unit (step 111), and in step 112, the balance becomes “0”.
” is determined. If the balance is not "0", the conversation state continues. Also, if the balance becomes "0", proceed to step 114, release the IuI, and step 11
In step 5, the fact that the balance is "0" is written on the card, and the process proceeds to step 116, where the card is ejected. Also, the balance is r
If the call ends before reaching OJ, the process advances from step 113 to step 114, the line is released, and step 115
Write the balance at that time to the card and proceed to step 1-16.
Proceed to and eject the card.

In this way, a dial signal is sent to the line and a call is established with the other party.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

- Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the main configuration of the telephone of the second embodiment, and in the figure, 21 reads the balance information and plural telephone number information written in the magnetic stripe part of the telephone card, and also reads the information of a plurality of telephone numbers, which will be described later. This is an information recording/reproducing section that records telephone number information corresponding to a telephone number input from the dial button in the telephone number storage setting mode to the magnetic stripe section of the telephone card, and is the card described in the first embodiment. This embodiment includes the structure and operation of an information reading section, and also includes a magnetic head that slides in relative contact with the magnetic stripe section of the telephone card, similar to the first embodiment. 2
A balance storage section 2 temporarily stores the balance information read by the information recording/reproducing section 21, and is similar to the balance storage section 11 of the first embodiment. 23 is the information record/
This is a telephone number storage section that temporarily stores a plurality of telephone number information read by the playback section 21, and is configured of RAM similarly to the balance storage section. Reference numeral 24 denotes a call circuit W4, which, like the call circuit section 13 of the first embodiment, enables mutual communication with the other party. Reference numeral 25 denotes a stored telephone number retrieval means for specifying and retrieving one of the plurality of telephone number information stored in the telephone number storage section 23, and is similar to the speed dial currently used in the telephone. For example, by inputting r#o I J, an operation such as retrieving the stored telephone number information corresponding to #01 is performed. Reference numeral 26 denotes dialing means, which has a dialing signal generating section 26a, which outputs a dialing signal to the line by operating a dial button, and automatically retrieves the telephone number based on the telephone number information retrieved by the stored telephone number retrieving means 25. Outputs a dial signal corresponding to to the line. 27 calculates the telephone charges used based on the charging signal sent through the line, calculates the calculated value and the balance information stored in the balance storage section 22, and allows you to make several more calls with the telephone card. This is a balance calculation unit that outputs a signal indicating whether the balance is the same as the balance calculation unit 15 of the first embodiment. Reference numeral 28 denotes a display means for inputting the signal output from the balance calculating section 27 and displaying the balance on the liquid crystal display 28a. Reference numeral 29 denotes mode switching means for switching the device between a telephone number storage setting mode and a telephone mode. And in the phone number storage setting mode,
For example, "*01): (Operate the dial button like 031234567J and store the telephone number in the telephone card, switch to telephone mode and operate the dial button of rho I J to store the telephone number information r031234567J in the telephone number storage section 23. Therefore, it is read out by the stored telephone number retrieval means 25. Reference numeral 30 denotes a control means for controlling the operations of the above-mentioned parts, and it is constituted by a microcomputer similarly to the control means of the first embodiment.

The operation of the telephone of the second embodiment configured as above will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

11 In this embodiment as well, the operation of calculating the balance and displaying the balance is performed in the same manner as in the prior art, so a description of the operation will be omitted, and the automatic dialing operation will be explained.

First, when a telephone card is inserted into the telephone, the process moves from step 201 to step 202, the balance information recorded on the card is read, and if the balance is "0", the process moves to step 203, and the liquid crystal display 16a shows the balance information. The card is processed to be unusable, such as displaying that it is unusable.

If the balance is not "0", the process advances to step 204, where it is determined whether the mode is the telephone number storage setting mode or the normal telephone mode. This determination is made by the control means 30 monitoring the state of the mode switching means 29. In the case of the telephone number storage setting mode, the process proceeds to step 205, where the information recording/reproducing unit 21 records the dials manually made by the operator using the dial buttons (including the R>:C and J keys) on the telephone card (step 205, 206).

If it is determined in step 204 that the mode is normal telephone mode, the process advances to step 207, where it is determined whether telephone number information is stored in the telephone card.

Then, if telephone number information is included, the telephone number information is read by the information recording/reproducing section 21 and the telephone number storage section 23
(step 208). And step 20
The process advances to step 9, where it is determined whether the dial input by the operator is a speed dial. If the dial is not a speed dial, the process advances to step 212 and the dial signal corresponding to the input dial is sequentially output to the next line.

If it is a speed dial, the process advances to step 210 and it is determined whether the phone number information corresponding to the manually input speed dial is stored in the phone number storage section. If stored, the stored telephone number retrieval means 25 retrieves the corresponding telephone number information and outputs the information to the dialing means. Then, the dialing means automatically sends out a dialing signal based on the information (step 212). Further, if the corresponding telephone number information is not stored, processing such as displaying this on the liquid crystal display 28a of the display means 28 (step 211) is performed, and the process moves to step 210.

The processing after sending out the dial signal in this way, that is, the processing of steps 214 to 223, is the same as that of steps 107 to 116 in the first embodiment described above.
Since the process is the same as that of , the explanation will be omitted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a telephone card, which has conventionally been used only as a substitute for coins, can be used as a storage medium for automatic dialing or speed dialing. In addition to the above-mentioned display, the liquid crystal display 28a of the display means 28 may also display a telephone number or the like stored in the telephone card.

In this example, a magnetic recording medium such as a telephone card was used as the card, but it is also possible to use an IC card, which is expected to become increasingly popular in the future, which uses a semiconductor element as a storage medium. Needless to say.

As described in detail, the line terminal device of the present invention has a dial section that generates a dial signal based on the phone number information read from a card on which phone number information and balance information are written and outputs it to the line. This feature provides a new use for cards, which are currently only used as a substitute for coins, and is very effective in practice.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the first embodiment of the line terminal device of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the second embodiment of the line terminal device of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the line terminal device of the second embodiment. A flowchart showing the flow, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of a conventional line terminal device. 11...Card information reading section, 12...
...Balance storage section 1.13...Telephone circuit section, 14
......Dialing means, 15...Balance calculation unit, 16...Display means, 17...Control means, 21...Information recording/ Reproduction Department, 22...
...Balance storage section, 23...Telephone number storage section,
24... Call circuit section, 25... Stored telephone number retrieval means, 26... Dial means,
27...Balance calculation unit, 28...Display means, 29...Mode switching means, 30...
・Name of control means agent Patent attorney Toshio Nakao (1 person) Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 8 + IIYI Figures 5 and 9

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A card information reading section that reads the telephone number information and balance information written on the card, and a dialing section that generates a telephone number signal based on the telephone number information read by the card information reading section and outputs it to the line. a balance information storage unit that stores the read balance information; a fee information output unit that outputs the usage fee information; and an operation that calculates the balance based on the balance information stored in the balance information storage unit and the usage fee information. A line terminal device comprising display means for displaying a balance and a balance thereof. (2) The line terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the charge information output unit calculates the usage charge based on a charge signal arriving on the line.