WO2002047371A2

WO2002047371A2 - Tariff tables

Info

Publication number: WO2002047371A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/002029
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco Giovanni Pucci; Walter Helmut Riebeling
Original assignee: Merlin Gerin Sa (Pty) Limited
Priority date: 2000-12-08
Filing date: 2001-10-30
Publication date: 2002-06-13
Also published as: WO2002047371A3; AP2003002812A0; AU2002210832A1; ZA200304458B; AP1722A

Abstract

A tariff table is made up of one or more tariff codes and an associated tariff charge. The tariff charge corresponds to a distance-related charge for the provision of a service between a source location and a destination location. Each one of the tariff codes identifies a destination location to which the associated tariff charge applies.

Description

TARIFF TABLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tariff table containing tariff charges and, more particularly, to a tariff table in which the tariff charges contained in the table are distance-related. The invention extends to a method of generating a tariff table, and to apparatus utilising the tariff table.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The problem of reducing the time required to transmit data across a communication channel is known, and many different solutions have been proposed for this problem. One solution relies on the use of compression algorithms. Such compression algorithms exist in many forms and have met with varying degrees of success. Compression methods first entail the use of a compression algorithm to compress, or reduce, the quantity of data to be transmitted across the communication channel from a sending node to a receiving node. One disadvantage of these compression methods is the fact that a corresponding decompression algorithm must exist at the receiving end of the communication channel or, alternatively, the transmitted data must itself include a decompression or a self-extraction program of some sort. This requires the receiving node to have sufficient processing power to execute the decompression algorithm or the self-extraction program.

It is well known to use tariff tables in devices which provide a sen/ice according to distance- related tariff charges. It is customary for such tariff tables to contain geographic co-ordinates of a source location at which the device is located and each of n destination locations to which the service can be provided. In order to levy a charge for provision of the service between a source location and a particular one of the n destination locations, the distance between the source location and the particular destination is determined as a function of the respective geographic co-ordinates. The tariff charge to be applied for the provision of the service is then determined as a function of this calculated distance.

This type of tariff table is disadvantageous as it is required to contain the geographic co-ordinates of each of the source and destination locations, thereby necessitating lengthy download times when it is required to download such a table to the device at the source location. Another disadvantage of this tariff table is that significant processing power is required in the device itself to compute the distance between the source location and the particular one of the n destination locations, and to perform associated indexing operations on the tariff table.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a tariff table, a method of generating a tariff table, and apparatus incorporating a tariff table which will, at least partially, alleviate the above-mentioned difficulties and disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a tariff table, comprising: at least one tariff code and an associated tariff charge, the tariff charge corresponding to a charge for providing a service between a source location and at least one destination location, and the tariff code being a code identifying the destination location to which the associated tariff charge applies. Further features of the invention provide for the tariff charge to be a distance- related tariff charge, for the source location and the destination location to be at known geographic locations, for the tariff charge to be a function of the distance between the source location and the destination location, and for the tariff code to be a public switched telephone network (PSTN) dialling code corresponding to the destination location.

Still further features of the invention provide for the tariff table to include a plurality of tariff codes, each tariff code having an associated tariff charge and each one of the plurality of tariff codes identifying a different destination location to which the associated tariff charge applies, for there to be more tariff codes than different tariff charges, for the tariff table to be downloadable to an apparatus for providing the service between the source location and the destination location and, and for the apparatus to be any one of a pay phone, a pre-paid bureau shop phone, or a domestic charge control and monitoring device.

The invention extends to a method of generating a tariff table, comprising the steps of: determining a tariff charge for providing a service between a source location and a destination location; identifying the destination location to which the associated charge applies, by means of a tariff code; and combining the tariff charge and the tariff code into a tariff table capable of downloading to an apparatus for providing the service between the source location and the destination location.

There is further provided for determining the tariff charge as a function of the distance between the source location and the destination location, for determining the distance between the source location and the destination location from their respective geographic co-ordinates, and for identifying the destination to which the associated charge applies by means of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) dialling code.

There is still further provided for the method to include the further steps of: determining the distances between the source location and a plurality of different destination locations, each different destination location being identified by means of a corresponding tariff code; categorising the distances into a number of predetermined distance classifications; determining a tariff charge corresponding to each distance category; and combining the plurality of tariff codes and all the tariff charges for the different distance categories into the tariff table.

The invention extends to an apparatus for providing a service between a source location and a destination location, the apparatus having stored therein a tariff table as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a tariff table according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 , a tariff table is indicated generally by reference numeral (1).

The tariff table (1) is employed in equipment (not shown) which is used to provide a service between a source location and any one of number, n, of destination locations (5) at known geographic co-ordinates. It is an essential aspect of this invention that the charges for providing the service are distance related. Equipment of this type may include coin or card-operated payphones, pre-paid bureau shop phones, domestic charge control and monitoring devices and the like, which all have the common feature that they utilise distance-related tariff charges.

The geographic co-ordinates of the source location and each of the n destination locations are indicated by respective public switched telephone network (PSTN) dialling codes, instead of actual latitude and longitude co-ordinates as commonly utilised in the prior art. The distance between the source location and each of the n destination locations is calculated as a function of the respective geographic co-ordinates. The calculated distances are then classified into a number of predetermined distance categories which, in this embodiment of the invention, are three in number. Each of the three predetermined distance categories has an associated charge for providing the service.

In use, the tariff table. (1) is compiled in the following manner:

1. The distances between the source location (not shown) and all of the n destination locations (5) are calculated as a function of their respective geographic co-ordinates. 2. The calculated distances are classified into 3 predetermined distance classifications.

3. A single tariff charge (3) is applied to all of the destinations falling within a particular distance classification.

4. Each of the n destinations is identified by means of a corresponding PSTN dialling code (4) for that destination, as well as a corresponding distance classification code.

5. The tariff charges (3) relating to all the three distance classifications, as well as the PSTN dialling codes (4) corresponding to all the destinations and their corresponding distance codes are a consolidated into the tariff table (1 ).

When a tariff table (1) as described above is to be downloaded to an item of equipment (not shown) at the source location, the data comprising the tariff table transmitted serially to the item of equipment along a communication channel (not shown). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that determination of distance categories between the source location and the n destination locations as described above will significantly reduce the amount of data contained in the tariff table. This feature eliminates the need to compress the distance-related and charge data prior to transmission thereof to the item of equipment (not shown) at the source location. The absence of the compression step also eliminates the need for a corresponding decompression algorithm to be applied in the item of equipment.

It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that the tariff table (1) as described above, is suitable for downloading to an apparatus which contains an embedded control system as it contains data which has been pre-processed, instead of simply containing raw data which has been compressed and downloaded together with a decompression algorithm. The data content of the tariff table is thus reduced, with the resultant advantage of a smaller download time, as well as a reduction in the time taken to perform a tariff table look-up. Further, the amount of memory required to store the tariff table (1) and the processing power required to perform the table look-up is reduced in comparison with prior art equivalent methods.

In order to apply the tariff table (1) to the provision of the distance-related services to a particular one of the n destination locations, the item of equipment at the source location (not shown) is required to conduct a lookup of the tariff table (1) to obtain the distance classification corresponding to the particular destination location, and to obtain from the tariff table (1) a tariff charge for that distance classification. Once the tariff charge has been identified in this manner, it can be applied to debit a user of the service. This lookup is simple and quick to execute.

The applicant has found that use of the tariff table (1 ) as described above has reduced an average tariff table download time from between 15 to 20 minutes for prior art equivalents, to between 5 to 7 minutes for the tariff table of this embodiment.

Numerous modifications are possible to this embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. The amount of data contained in the tariff table may be further reduced by not transmitting to the item of equipment (not shown) at the source location distance classification data corresponding to each one of the n destination locations. It is envisaged that distance classification data will only be included in the tariff table when the status of any one of the n destination locations in the tariff table (1) differs from that of the immediately preceding destination location contained in the table, as indicated by a change in distance classification, or a change in the major PSTN dialling prefix. Further, a different number of distance classifications, other than three, may be used in the tariff table (1). Still further, codes other than PSTN dialling codes may be employed to identify the n different destination locations to which the service is to be provided.

The invention therefore provides a tariff table (1) for use in a device which levies distance related tariff charges and which eliminates the requirement to store the geographic co-ordinates of all destination locations capable of being accessed by the device.

Claims

1. A tariff table, comprising: at least one tariff code and an associated tariff charge, the tariff charge corresponding to a charge for providing a service between a source location and at least one destination location, and the tariff code being a code identifying the destination location to which the associated tariff charge applies.

2. A tariff table as claimed in claiml in which the tariff charge is a distance- related tariff charge.

3. A tariff table as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the source location and the destination location are at known geographic locations.

4. A tariff table as claimed in claim 3 in which the tariff charge is a function of the distance between the source location and the destination location.

5. A tariff table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tariff code is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) dialling code corresponding to the destination location.

6. A tariff table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tariff table includes a plurality of tariff codes, each tariff code having an associated tariff charge and each one of the plurality of tariff codes identifying a different destination location to which the associated tariff charge applies.

7. A tariff table as claimed in claim 6 in which there are more tariff codes than different tariff charges.

8. A tariff table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is downloadable to an apparatus for providing the service between the source location and the destination location.

9. A tariff table as claimed in claim 8 in which the apparatus is any one of a pay phone, a pre-paid bureau shop phone, or a domestic charge control and monitoring device.

10. The invention extends to a method of generating a tariff table, comprising the steps of: determining a tariff charge for providing a service between a source location and a destination location; identifying the destination location to which the associated charge applies, by means of a tariff code; and combining the tariff charge and the tariff code into a tariff table capable of downloading to an apparatus for providing the service between the source location and the destination location.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 in which the tariff charge is determined as a function of the distance between the source location and the destination location.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the distance between the source location and the destination location is determined from their respective geographic co-ordinates.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the destination to which the associated charge applies is identified by means of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) dialling code.

14. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes the further steps of: determining the distances between the source location and a plurality of different destination locations, each different destination location being identified by means of a corresponding tariff code; categorising the distances into a number of predetermined distance classifications; determining a tariff charge corresponding to each distance category; and combining the plurality of tariff codes and all the tariff charges for the different distance categories into the tariff table.

15. An apparatus for providing a service between a source location and a destination location, the apparatus having stored therein a tariff table as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

16. A tariff table, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of generating a tariff table, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. An apparatus for providing a service between a source location and a destination location, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.