KR100202380B1 - Facsimile charging method - Google Patents

Abstract

[Technical field to which the invention described in the claims belong]

Areas of user service improvement on facsimile devices.

[Technical Challenges to Invent]

Provides an effective charging method for fax machines.

[Summary of the solution of the invention]

The charging method according to the communication mode in the facsimile apparatus having a control unit for selectively performing a fax communication and a voice call and associated circuits, registers a registration table in a preset memory area when a call path is set after a dialing operation of a telephone number. A process of preparing a charging registration, storing a current time in a corresponding area of the registration table, analyzing a counterpart signal provided through the communication path, and distinguishing a communication mode; and a voice call when the communication mode is a voice call. A flag is turned on, a disconnection time is stored as a termination time by a hook-on detection, and all billing data for one call are stored in the registration table; and when the communication mode is fax communication, a data communication flag. To turn on the time when the communication path is cut off while performing communication according to the fax communication status. And storing all billing data for one communication in the registration table, calculating an elapsed time with each current time and end time stored in the registration table, and analyzing the dialed phone number. Comprising a process of calculating the charge according to the division of the storage table, and selectively outputting the billing data according to the fax communication and voice call in response to the user's setting key.

[Important Uses of the Invention]

Used as a charging method for fax machines.

Description

Charging Method in Fax Machine

1 is a circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus applied to the present invention.

2 is a control flowchart of a billing registration preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a control flowchart of the billing data storage process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a control flowchart of a billing calculation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a control flowchart of a mode generation process for charging data output according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a control flowchart of a billing data printing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a charging method capable of selectively storing and storing charging data according to a communication mode.

In general, a facsimile apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 1 converts scanned documents into binary data, transmits them to the other party through a public telephone network, and reproduces the original document of the other party through the printer unit 4 in response to a signal transmitted from the other party. It is widely known as a data communication device. Such a facsimile device interworks with the phone 50 to transmit and receive the original data as well as to perform a voice call through the connected phone 50. Therefore, in a typical home, one telephone and one facsimile are connected to each other without using a telephone separately, and the image data transmission / reception mode and voice call mode are alternately used as necessary.

The control unit 10 in the facsimile apparatus periodically checks a ring signal to determine whether there is an external call. When a ring signal is detected and a CNG tone indicating that the other party's facsimile apparatus is sending out original data is received by a protocol, the facsimile apparatus performs an operation for receiving image data under the image data receiving mode. In this case, no call path is formed with the handset of the telephone connected to the facsimile, but a call path is formed between the internal modem 16 and the telephone line of the public telephone network. On the other hand, when the ring signal is detected and the voice of the other party other than the CNG tone is received, the device operates in the voice call mode. In this case, a communication path is formed between the telephone line of the other party and the telephone set of the telephone connected to the facsimile, and a communication path is formed between the internal modem and the telephone line of the public telephone network. Is not formed.

On the other hand, CCITT T.30, an international telephony advisory committee, recommends various signal standards and protocols for data communication between data transmission and reception devices, and manufacturers of devices are designing internationally for compatibility of devices. It is true. In general, a mutual protocol for data communication of a facsimile device is recommended in CCITT T.30, and is generally performed by performing four phases. That is, after a call line is established between the apparatus on the sending side and the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side and the CNG tone is transmitted, the receiving side provides a station ID (called station identification) to the transmitting side in the A state. In state B, operations are performed in which the receiving side sends a capacity ID to the transmitting side, the transmitting side sends a command information and status / training signal to the receiving side, and the receiving side provides a readiness acknowledgment signal (CFR) to the transmitting side. . In addition, in the state C, a message is transmitted at the set communication speed. The message is transmitted at the set communication rate. In the case of the state D, all the messages are transmitted. The operation of sending a signal confirming this to the transmitting side is performed.

The facsimile apparatus as described above only stores the document transmission / reception details for performing basic functions and was able to output them upon user request. However, since this function is data processed (regardless of charge (charge)) (generally, the station number, communication start time, time required, etc.), the billing details were unknown. In addition, since the existing facsimile apparatus stores only the contents limited to the fax communication, the details of the voice call could not be known.

That is, in the related art, the usage history limited to the functions of the facsimile can be known through the facsimile apparatus, but the telephone fee according to the usage time and the communication mode of the telephone line cannot be previously recognized through the display unit 6 or the printer unit 4. Therefore, in terms of better service, it should be possible to store not only fax communication but also billing data for voice calls, and further, a function for selectively outputting it will be required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging method in a facsimile apparatus that can solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a billing method in a facsimile apparatus which can classify and store billing data generated according to a fax communication and a voice call, and selectively output the billing data.

A billing method according to a communication mode in a facsimile apparatus having a control unit for selectively performing a fax communication and a voice call for achieving the above object and associated circuit units is established in advance when a call path is set after a dialing operation of a telephone number. A billing registration preparation process of creating a registration table in a set memory area, a process of distinguishing a communication mode by storing a current time in a corresponding area of the registration table and analyzing a counterpart signal provided through the communication path; Is a voice call, the voice call flag is turned on, the call-on detection detects the disconnection time as the end time, and stores all billing data for one call in the registration table. In case of fax communication, turn on the data communication flag and perform communication according to the fax communication status. Storing the cut time as an end time, storing all charging data for one communication in the registration table, calculating an elapsed time with each current time and end time stored in the registration table, and dialing Analyzing the telephone number, calculating the charge according to the type of call, storing it in the registration table, and selectively outputting the billing data according to the fax communication and voice call in response to the user's setting key. It features.

Here, the memory may be implemented as a semiconductor memory, such as a DRAM that can be randomly accessed by the controller, and the storage of the start time and the end time is performed by using the real time clock unit connected to each other. The charging registration preparation process includes receiving a telephone number in response to a user's key input, dialing the received telephone number to a trunk line, and switching an internal relay after completion of the dialing. And checking the response of the dialed counterpart station and creating a registration table in the memory area upon formation of a communication path. In addition, it is preferable to classify the call type based on the area code of the telephone number and preferentially classify the local call and the long distance call. In the billing data output process, the controller displays the billing data according to the communication mode. Optionally output through the printer unit.

Hereinafter, a charging method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the detailed items for such configurations are described in detail in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In addition, the features of the basic elements of well-known facsimile devices and configurations of known circuit blocks are not described in detail in order not to obscure the present invention.

First, FIG. 1 shows a circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus applied to the present invention. The analog signal as image data received by the modem 16 via the line interface unit 18 is demodulated into digital image data and then stored in the memory unit 12 by a control operation of the controller 10. The stored data is provided to the printer unit 4 and printed or displayed through the display unit 6 and then provided to the printer unit 4 and printed. In the reception mode of the image data, the user of the apparatus receives the printed data transmitted by scanning the original from the counterpart. In the voice call call mode, the telephone 50 and the line interface unit 18 are connected to each other to provide a voice call path.

The operation mode of the facsimile apparatus applied to the billing calculation of the present invention is an outgoing call mode of the voice call and a transmission mode of image data. This is because, when receiving a voice call or receiving original image data, although the telephone line is occupied, a fee is usually charged to the calling party. Since both the transmission of the original image data and the outgoing call of the voice call are made through the telephone line, the starting point of the billing calculation should be counted from the beginning of the formation of the call path after the dialing operation of the telephone number in any mode.

2 is a control flowchart of the billing registration preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention as steps 200 to 212. 3 shows control flow of the data storage process for billing according to the embodiment of the present invention as steps 300 to 315, and FIG. 4 shows a control flowchart of the billing calculation process according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control flow of the mode generation process for the charging data output according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown as steps 400-410, and FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of a billing data printing process according to an embodiment of the present invention and is shown as steps 600-602.

Referring to FIG. 2, if a call path is established in step 205 after the dialing operation of the phone number through steps 200-240, the controller 10 performs step 206 to register a table in a predetermined area of the memory unit 12. Make If the connection with the other side is not established in step 205, steps below step 208 are performed and the operation of step 206 is not performed.

Referring to FIG. 3, after the charging registration preparation process of FIG. 2 is performed, the controller 10 stores the current time in the corresponding area of the registration table in step 311, and the counterpart provided through the call path in step 301. Analyze the signal to distinguish communication mode. In step 302, the controller 10 checks whether the counterpart signal is a fax signal. In this case, when it is determined that the counterpart signal is a fax signal, the controller 10 proceeds to step 307. When the counterpart signal is not a fax signal, the controller 10 proceeds to step 303.

The control unit 10 proceeds to step 303 turns on the voice call flag (flag), and in step 304 determines whether the call is detected by the hook on. At this time, when detecting the disconnection of the call, the controller 10 stores the current time as the call termination time in step 305, and saves and ends all result data for one call in step 306.

The controller 10 proceeds to step 307 and turns on the data communication flag and performs fax data communication in steps 308 to 312. If the fax data communication ends normally or an error occurs during communication, the process proceeds to step 314. Accordingly, the controller 10 stores the current time as the communication end time in step 314, and saves and ends all result data for one communication in step 315.

Referring to FIG. 4, after the storing process of FIG. 3 is finished, the controller 10 compares the stored current time with the end time to calculate an elapsed time and analyzes the dialed phone number according to the type of call. Calculate the fee and store it in the registration table. This billing process is accomplished by performing steps other than step 406 in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is shown to set an option of a user key to sort and output the stored charging data according to the communication mode. This selection function can be utilized by writing the entire program for performing charging in advance to the nonvolatile memory in the manufacturing stage and setting the call detail recording mode in advance by operating the user's selection key.

Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 10 performs a corresponding option setting in step 500 and checks whether there is a key input set in step 501. In this case, when there is the set key input, the controller 10 proceeds to step 502. When there is no set key input, the controller 10 continues to wait for the key input.

In operation 502, the controller 10 displays an item setting request message on the display unit 6. For example, 1: ALL, 2: Partial. At this time, if the user inputs No. 1, all details of the billing data are output. If the user selects No. 2, only a part of the billing details is output by the user selection.

Therefore, the controller 10 checks whether the first key for outputting all billing details is input in step 503. When the first key is pressed, the controller 10 proceeds to step 504 to mark and return the corresponding selected item bit. On the other hand, if it is determined that the first key is not input, the controller 10 proceeds to step 505 and checks whether the second key for selecting a part is input. In this case, when the second input key is input, the controller 10 proceeds to step 506 to mark and return the corresponding selection item bit. For example, if the user selects the voice call billing history output, mark the item bit for it, and if the user selects the fax communication billing history output, mark the item bit for it.

6 is a step of outputting the confirmed billing history through the printer unit 4. Accordingly, the user may receive the stored charging data through the display unit 6 or the printer unit 4 according to a communication mode by inputting a setting key.

According to the present invention as described above, the billing history for the voice call as well as the original transmission can be stored in accordance with the communication mode and can be selectively output it can provide an additional service to the user of the device.

Although the above-described present invention has been described and limited by way of example with reference to the drawings, the same will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. will be.

Claims (2)

A method of storing and displaying billing data according to a communication mode in a facsimile apparatus having a control unit for selectively performing a fax communication and a voice call and associated circuits, the preset method when a call path is set after a dialing operation of a telephone number. The billing registration preparation process of creating a registration table in a memory area, and storing the current time in a corresponding area of the registration table, analyzing the counterpart signal provided through the communication path to distinguish the communication modes and the time when the communication path is cut off. Billing data storage process for storing as end time, and compare the stored current time and end time to calculate the elapsed time and analyze the dialed telephone number to calculate the charge according to the distinction between the local call and the long distance call The billing calculation process stored in the registration table and in response to a user's setting key A charging method of a facsimile apparatus, characterized in that it comprises an output process for selectively outputting the billing data stored separately classified according to the communication mode. A billing method according to a communication mode in a facsimile apparatus having a control unit for selectively performing a fax communication and a voice call and associated circuit units, the registration table in a preset memory area when a call path is set after a dialing operation of a telephone number A process of preparing a charging registration, a process of distinguishing a communication mode by storing a current time in a corresponding area of the registration table, analyzing a signal provided through the communication path, and a voice when the communication mode is a voice call. Turning on the call flag, storing the disconnection time at the end of the call by detecting the hook-on, and storing all billing data for one call in the registration table; and when the communication mode is fax communication, data communication Turn on the flag and end the time when the call path is cut while performing communication according to the FAX communication status. Storing all charge data for one communication in the registration table; calculating an elapsed time with each current time and end time stored in the registration table; and analyzing the dialed telephone number. The billing calculation process of calculating the charge according to the distinction between the local call and the long distance call and storing it in the registration table, and the output process of selectively outputting the billing data stored according to the communication mode in response to the user's setting key. Charging method of the facsimile apparatus, characterized in that consisting of.