WO2003015297A1

WO2003015297A1 - Portable self-contained public access terminal to a land wireless telephone network and vehicle transporting same

Info

Publication number: WO2003015297A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/002787
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominique Lamy
Original assignee: Dominique Lamy
Priority date: 2001-08-03
Filing date: 2002-08-02
Publication date: 2003-02-20
Also published as: FR2828371A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a portable self-contained terminal (24) for access to a GSM-type network, characterised in that it comprises: at least a mobile telephone (42) whereof the handset houses a first connector to connect the subscriber card (C) to the network and a second connector to connect it to a self-contained electric power source; a portable box (26) housing first connections means (54) with the network subscription card (C), and second means for connection with the self-contained electric power source; and a cable (44) for connecting the box (26) to the mobile telephone (42) whereof the proximal end (43) is connected to the first (54) and second connection means of the box (26), and the distal end (45) comprises means for connecting it to the first and second connectors of the handset (42).

Description

"Portable autonomous terminal for public access to a terrestrial wireless telephone network and vehicle carrying such a terminal"

The present invention relates to a public access terminal to a wireless telephone network, in particular to a GSM type network.

The invention relates more particularly to a portable autonomous terminal for public access to such a network and which is intended for countries, regions or geographical areas in which the standard of living of the inhabitants likely to use the telephone does not allow them not to be individually equipped with a mobile phone connected to the network, or even to have a subscription and / or pay in advance a determined amount corresponding to a large number of telephone units. In developing countries or those undergoing industrialization in which there are no wired telephone networks analogous to PSTN type networks, the appearance of terrestrial cellular wireless telephone networks of GSM type present an opportunity for development by the rapid establishment of one or more telecommunications networks thanks to reduced investments, if we compare them to those of a fixed wired network, while making it possible to obtain significant geographic coverage in the short term.

It is therefore possible, thanks to public and / or private funding, to set up one or more GSM-type networks of which the network operator, i.e. its owner, makes available to the public. 'general network infrastructure, and in particular, from place to place, the antennas or terminals which can communicate with the various portable or mobile telephones of users or users.

However, it can be seen that the cost of mobile phones and associated subscriptions is, in very many cases, too high for a large part of the population to be able to access them individually. In order to solve this problem, access centers to GSM telephone networks have also been proposed, also called telecentres or "telepublics" which are located locally at a fixed station and to which people wishing to telephone go.

Each center comprises one or more fixed terminals for accessing the telephone networks which are generally in the form of a "telephone booth" of the type conventionally used in association with a fixed wired telephone network.

Each fixed terminal is a complex and costly assembly which in particular incorporates one or more GSM communication modules and which, if it can be used in an individual and autonomous manner, that is to say without the help of an attendant user center, must also be protected against vandalism and handling errors.

Thus, each fixed terminal requires significant investment and, if it is sufficiently protected, is of a very heavy weight which prohibits moving it and therefore requires it to be located in a privileged area in a large population area, or all or less in a central area such as a city center, a train station, etc.

This type of solution therefore does not make it possible to offer public access to a GSM telephone network in less populated areas and therefore prohibits people with reduced travel capacities from being able to telephone or receive calls.

In addition, the network operator and the various intermediaries who intervene in the economic chain up to the user or end customer, wish to obtain a guarantee of payment for telephone conversations.

Without resorting to a regular subscription, it has already been proposed to sell prepaid cards allowing the card holder to make one or more telephone calls corresponding to a relatively large amount of telephone units.

However, here again, this solution is not always universally accessible, in particular for users with a low income level and / or wishing to use the telephone only very occasionally and therefore unwilling to immobilize a sum of significant money.

It thus appeared desirable to be able to have a solution making it possible to solve these various problems and in particular to be able to have an autonomous terminal of public access to a GSM telephone network whose cost is particularly low in order to be able to multiply the number of this type of terminal and whose weight and size can be reduced so that it can be easily moved in order to constitute a mobile or portable terminal which is in the hands of a manager who can transport it easily, by any means adapted locomotion or individual travel, to make it available to customers or end users.

The presence of a terminal manager eliminates the terminal's protection and shielding equipment insofar as he himself permanently monitors them.

In addition, the terminal manager or manager can make it available to the customer without the latter having any subscription or, where applicable, prepaid cards, the user only having to pay in advance at managing the terminal the cost of the communication that he wishes to have depending in particular on his destination and its duration.

To this end, the invention provides an autonomous portable terminal for public access to a wireless land telephone network, in particular to a GSM type network, characterized in that it comprises:

- at least one mobile telephone intended to be connected to the telephone network and whose handset accommodates: . a first connector for connecting it to a card, in particular a smart card of the SIM or MICROSIM type, for network subscription; and

. a second connector for connecting it to an autonomous source of electrical energy necessary for its operation, in particular a storage battery or batteries and / or solar cells;

- a portable safe that houses or carries:

. first means of connection with the network subscription card; and

. second means of connection with the autonomous source of electrical energy;

- And a cable for connecting the trunk to the mobile phone, the proximal end of which is connected to the first and second means of connecting the trunk, and the distal end of which comprises means for its connection to the first and second connectors of the handset. design, it is possible to realize the terminal with a reduced number of specific components, and in particular by using mobile phones available on the market.

According to other features of the invention,

- The first connection means consist of a connector which is intended to receive the network subscription card, and the outputs of which are connected to the proximal end of the cable;

- The safe has a slot accessible from the outside to allow the introduction, and extraction, of the network subscription card in and out of the connector;

- the safe houses an electronic unit which regulates the current supplied by the autonomous source of electrical energy, and the outputs of which are connected to the proximal end of the cable;

- the trunk accommodates a battery of accumulators or batteries;

- The trunk carries a battery of solar cells, in particular arranged in the form of a solar panel; - the battery is connected to the electronic current regulation unit;

the means for connecting the distal end of the cable comprise: a connection card of dimensions similar to those of the network subscription card and carrying, on a first of its two opposite faces, a series of ranges of connection which, in the mounted position of the connection card in the handset, cooperate with contact blades of said first connector and which are connected to a series of associated wires of the cable;

- A connection plate carrying two connection terminals which, in the mounted position of the connection plate in the handset, cooperate with two contact blades of said second electrical connector and which are connected to two associated wires of the cable;

- The connection plate is carried by the connection card with which it forms a connection sub-assembly which is fixed in the handset by fitting and / or locking the connection card in said first connector;

- The connection plate extends parallel to the connection card and opposite the second face of the latter;

- The card and the connection plate are made in the form of printed circuit boards; - the trunk delimits a storage compartment for the mobile phone and its cable for connection to the trunk;

- The terminal includes means for counting the duration and / or cost of a telephone call which controls the automatic interruption of the call when a predetermined and programmable value is reached.

The invention also provides a transport vehicle, in particular an individual vehicle such as a motorcycle, characterized in that it is equipped, in a demountable or removable manner, with an autonomous terminal according to the invention. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a rear perspective view which schematically represents a moped equipped on its rear luggage rack with an autonomous terminal produced in accordance with the teachings of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a side view of the autonomous terminal according to the invention after it has been removed from the luggage rack;

- Figure 3 is a rear perspective view from above which illustrates the trunk of the terminal in the open position;

- Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 which illustrates the arrangement of the upper wall of the lower shell of the trunk after removing the protective mattress from the phones;

- Figure 5 is a bottom view of the upper partition closing the lower shell;

FIG. 6 is a view which represents a mobile telephone belonging to the autonomous terminal according to the invention, from its rear face, after its removable part has been removed from the housing giving access to the interior of the handset, and in particular to various connection connectors for the handset;

- Figure 7 is a view similar to that of the left part of Figure 6 in which the open handset is shown after dismantling the connection means arranged at the end of the cable for connecting the telephone to the terminal, these connection means being illustrated next to the mobile phone in bottom view thus showing the connection card;

- Figure 8 is a top view and on a larger scale of the connection means showing more particularly the connection plate; - Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of the connection of the main components of the autonomous terminal 24 according to the invention.

In the description which follows, mobile device or mobile phone will be called the device, of known design, in the general form of a box or handset which includes in particular an earpiece and a microphone and which incorporates a GSM communication module. connected to an antenna also integrated in the handset. Without limitation, the invention will be described in the context of an autonomous portable terminal comprising, arranged, in an identical and symmetrical manner, two portable telephones allowing two customers or users to telephone simultaneously using the terminal. There is shown schematically in Figure 1 a motorcycle 20 which carries, behind the saddle 22, a portable autonomous terminal 24 produced in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

The terminal 24 comprises in particular a removable trunk 26 which, according to a known general design used in particular to make it a luggage trunk, comprises a shell molded in plastic material in two lower parts, forming base 22, and upper 30 forming cover which is mounted articulated between a closed position shown in FIG. 2 and an open position shown in FIG. 3, around a hinge 32.

The trunk 26 has on its upper face, that is to say on the upper face 34 of the cover 30, a solar panel 36 of known general design which is a panel equipped with a battery of photovoltaic cells or solar cells which, in the embodiment shown in the figures is a solar panel fixed on the cover 30 and which is connected to the interior of the trunk by a cable 38. In known manner, the trunk 26 comprises means such as a lock 40 for locking the cover 30 on the base 28 in the closed position.

When the manager or manager of the terminal 24 wishes to make it available to customers, he opens the cover 30 in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 so as to give access to two identical mobile telephones 42 each of which is, in accordance with the teachings of the invention, connected to the interior of the safe 26 by a connection cable 44. More specifically, the lower shell 28 is closed at its upper face by a plane or a closing partition 46 on which the two telephones rest. 42 in the storage position, as well as their connecting cables 44.

The partition 46 is advantageously padded on its upper face, as is the inner lower face 48 corresponding to the open face of the cover 30 so that, in the closed position of the trunk and in particular when the motorcycle 20 is moving, the mobile phones 42 are protected shocks and other vibrations or nuisances of all kinds. As can be seen in FIG. 4, on which the padded covering has been removed from the partition 46, the latter bears on its upper face 50, arranged symmetrically on either side of the vertical and longitudinal median plane of the trunk 26, two connectors 54 of known general design, each of which is capable of receiving a smart card C which, in the embodiment shown in the figures, can be inserted transversely from the outside into the connector, in the closed position of the trunk 26, thanks to a slot 56 formed for this purpose in the side wall facing the lower shell 28. The partition 46 is arranged in a removable or removable manner to allow access to the interior of the lower shell 28 in which are arranged different components of the terminal. The cable 38 for electrical connection with the solar panel 36 enters the internal cavity 60, as do the two cables 44 whose distal ends 45 are connected to telephones 42 and whose proximal ends 43 are received inside the cavity internal 60.

Each connector 54 is also connected to the interior of the internal cavity 60 by a flat cable 64, each of which also extends inside the cavity 60.

The plate or partition 46 is shown in bottom view in FIG. 5 in which it can be seen that it carries, on its underside 51, an electronic unit or unit 66 for regulating the current for supplying electrical energy to portable telephones 42 .

The electronic regulation unit 66 is connected by the cable 38 to the solar panel 36 and by another cable 68, with two wires, to an accumulator battery B which is located in the bottom of the lower shell 28.

The electronic unit 66 is also connected by two output wires 70 to a plate 72 which is fixed on the underside 51 and which comprises various electrical and electronic components.

Each flat cable 64 connected to the associated connector 54 is also connected to the plate 72 to which the proximal ends 43 of each cable 44 of the telephone 42 are also connected. As will be understood below, the plate 72 with its various components and connections provides a "relay" between, on the one hand, the regulated electrical power supply source 66 and the smart cards C and, on the other hand, the two portable telephones 42 for suitable connectors. To this end, each cable 44 comprises, in the example illustrated in the figures, eight wires among which two electrical supply wires and six wires for the connection of the card C associated with the GSM module of the corresponding portable telephone 42. The portable telephone 42 used by way of example, for the production of the autonomous terminal according to the invention is for example a telephone of the "One Touch Easy" model sold by the company "ALCATEL". It has in its rear face 80 a lower removable cover or cover 82 which is a hollow part which usually houses an autonomous battery or batteries for the electrical supply of the telephone 42.

The interior of the telephone 42 is delimited by an internal partition or plate forming the bottom 84 which in particular carries a first connector 86 for the connection of a subscription card to a GSM telephone network and a second connector 88 in particular for the connection of the drums.

The second connector 88 is arranged in the lower part and it comprises in particular two contact blades 90 and 92 which are designed to establish electrical contact with two corresponding studs (not shown) of the rechargeable battery which is usually housed in the cover 82.

The first connector 86 here comprises six electrical blades 94 each of which is designed to cooperate with a corresponding conductive pad (not shown) of a standardized MICROSIM network subscription card which is usually received in a complementary housing 99 which surrounds the connector 86 and in which it is locked in position by fixed lugs 96 and by a movable lock 98 which cooperates with an edge facing the card.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the MICROSIM card is no longer received in the telephone 42 which also no longer has its own autonomous supply battery. The subscription card C and the electrical energy source are deported in the box 26 as described above and they are connected to the telephone 42 by the cable 44 which, at its distal end 45, is provided with means 100 for connection which simultaneously connect the card C and the regulated electrical source 66 with the two connectors 86 and 88 of the telephone 42.

The connection means 100 which will now be described in detail are designed and dimensioned to be housed in the housing of the telephone 42 without modification of the latter, with the exception of a recess or passage 102, 104 provided for this purpose in the wall of the housing to allow the passage of the cable 44.

The connection means 100 comprise a connection card 106, or "false card", and a connection plate 108 which constitute a rigid sub-assembly connected to the eight wires of the cable 44.

The connection card 106 is produced in a printed circuit board and has a contour and a thickness similar to that of a MICROSIM card so that it can be placed in the housing 99 and fixed therein by means of the tabs 96 and movable lock 98, like a MICROSIM card.

On its underside 110, the connection card 106 has six connection pads 12 arranged in the same way as the connection pads of a MICROSIM card and which are produced in the form of tracks of the printed circuit board in which is made the connection card 106.

Each track 1 12 is electrically connected by a weld 1 14 to a pin, not shown, which extends upwards in the direction of the parallel connection plate 108 which it crosses to be connected by a weld 1 18 to a track conductive 120 formed in the upper face 122 of the plate 108, the tracks 120 being themselves connected to studs 122 for connection by welding to the free ends of the six corresponding wires of the cable 44 which pass between the plate 108 and the card 106 connection.

The connection plate 108 is also produced by means of a part of a printed circuit board which is fixed rigidly to the connection card 106 by the welded pins and which also comprises, in its upper face 122, two other conductive tracks 124 each of which is connected by a welded stud 126 to one of the two electrical supply wires of the cable 44 .

Each track 124 is also connected to a welded tab or terminal 128, 130 which, in the assembled position of the connection means 100 in the telephone 42, shown in FIG. 6, is in electrical contact with the blade opposite. 90, 92 respectively of the second connector 84 of the telephone 42.

To allow access to the movable lock 98 for locking in the connection position of the connection card 106 received in the housing 99, the connection plate 108 has a circular hole 132 allowing the passage of a tool for operating the lock 98 .

The connection of the telephone 42 to its associated cable 44 which carries the connection means 100 at its distal end 45 is therefore particularly simple in so far as it is analogous to the operation usually used to install a MICROSIM card in the mobile telephone 42 .

This design according to the invention makes it possible to use a commercially available mobile telephone and to replace it easily in the event of breakdown or accidental destruction.

Likewise, if the cable 44 with its connection means 100 is damaged, it is particularly easy to replace it insofar as its proximal end 43 is connected to the circuits of the plate 72 by a standard connector.

As can be seen in the diagram in FIG. 9, the terminal 24 can also include means 134, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9 for displaying the counting of a talk time and / or the price thereof.

More particularly, the means 134 comprise a display 136 which can, for example, directly display a duration by being associated with counting or down counting means, not shown, programmable by buttons 138.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the means 134 for displaying and counting or counting down are connected to the main circuits 72 so as to cause in particular an automatic interruption of a telephone conversation in progress, for example by interruption of the power supply telephone 42 when the programmed and displayed value reaches a threshold value, for example a zero value, in the case of progressive counting down of an authorized telephone conversation time.

The means 134 can be doubled, that is to say as many copies as there are telephone 42.

Finally, it is possible to provide ventilation openings in the trunk 24 whose total mass is less than 2 kg.

The use of the autonomous terminal 24 will now be described by way of example.

When the manager or manager arrives in a geographic area with a GSM relay or network, and in which one or more potential customers are located, he stops his vehicle and sets up the terminal simply by opening the box 26.

When a user presents himself, he can hold a GSM network subscription card. In this case, the manager introduces the user's card C into one of the two connectors 54 and puts the associated mobile telephone 42 at the disposal of the customer, then invoicing him for a fixed use of the telephone and the terminal, or else an amount corresponding to the provision of the terminal and the telephone, for example by means 134.

The means 134, when used, make it possible to request payment in advance from the user, to program the duration for which the equipment is made available to him, that is to say say the duration of his telephone conversation and stop it automatically as soon as the customer's "credit" is exhausted.

If the customer or the user does not have his own subscription card, the manager or manager inserts his own GSM network subscription card into a connector 54 so as to be able to establish communications using the terminal 24 and the telephone 42.

The client then indicates to the manager of the terminal 24 the destination of his communication and the duration he wishes for this communication.

The manager calculates, from a price table, the cost of the call to be set up and then charges this call, prior to making the terminal 24 and the telephone 42 available to the user. He then programs, thanks to the means 134, the future duration of the call and he dials the number by making the telephone available to the user.

As soon as the communication is established, it activates the counting and / or downcounting means so that the user knows the time remaining for his communication in progress, and so that the communication is interrupted automatically when end of allocated time.

According to a variant not shown, it is also possible if the GSM network and the mobile telephone allow it, to connect other blades of the connector 86 to the main circuit 72 so as to automatically cause the starting of the counting or counting down means. as soon as the conversation begins.

It is of course possible to provide additional indicators, for example of the flashing type, announcing in a more visible manner, like an alarm, the end of the communication to come. Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible to provide variants or modifications of the terminal as just described.

First of all, insofar as the trunk 26 is removable in the case where it is carried by a moped, it is of course possible to then place it on a support structure or on a counter and provide that the solar panel 36 is detachable with a long cable 38 so as to arrange the panel 36 in an ideal sunshine area. It is also possible to provide indicators illustrating the state of charge of the battery B which are preferably arranged inside the trunk 26.

The trunk 26 may also include an electrical outlet or outlet for the connection of the battery to an external electrical source, such as a booster battery of a vehicle, for example to the moped battery when the internal battery

P is insufficiently charged.

This external electrical connection of the autonomous source of electrical energy can also be used to connect it to a battery charger.

It is of course possible to multiply the number of portable telephones, and associated connection and connection means, for the same autonomous terminal.

Due to its great compactness and portable nature, the autonomous terminal 24 can also be carried for example in a backpack and set up in a public place such as a market thanks to a collapsible tubular support on which the terminal manager comes to place the trunk 26.

The autonomous terminal 24 of course also makes it possible to receive telephone calls by "appointment", this service also being invoiced, on a flat rate basis or on time spent, to the customer who receives the call.

For security, one can use the integrated switch to each connector 54 to detect the presence of a card to cause the automatic interruption of the power supply of the associated telephone as soon as card C is extracted from connector 54.

A fleet of vehicles, such as motorcycles or mopeds, equipped with autonomous terminals according to the invention allows the operator of the GSM network to rapidly develop its turnover by planning in particular to "cover" the markets, cultural events. or sports, events, etc., by making the telephone available to potential customers, as well as in remote countryside, cities or villages covered by the GSM network.

In addition, each terminal 24 with without its means of transport such as a vehicle, can constitute an excellent advertising medium allowing, either the terminal manager or the GSM operator, to advertise and / or have access to 'additional turnover.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Portable autonomous terminal (24) for public access to a terrestrial wireless telephone network, in particular to a GSM type network, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one mobile telephone (42) intended to be connected to the telephone network and whose handset accommodates:

. a first connector (86) for connecting it to a card (C), in particular a smart card of the SIM or MICROSIM type, for network subscription; and. a second connector (88) for connecting it to an autonomous source of electrical energy (66, 36, B) necessary for its operation, in particular a battery (B) of accumulators or batteries and / or solar cells (36) ;

- a portable safe (26) which houses or carries:. first means (54) for connection with the card

(C) network subscription; and

. second means (66, 72) for connection with the autonomous source of electrical energy;

- And a cable (44) for connecting the trunk (26) to the mobile phone (42) whose proximal end (43) is connected to the first (54) and second (66, 72) means for connecting the trunk (26) , and the distal end (45) of which comprises means (100, 106, 108) for its connection to the first (86) and second (88) connectors of the handset (42).

2. Autonomous terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connection means consist of a connector (54) which is intended to receive the network subscription card (C), and whose outputs (64) are connected to the proximal end (43) of the cable (44).

3. Autonomous terminal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the trunk (26) has a slot (58) accessible from the outside to allow the insertion and extraction of the subscription card (c) to network in and out of the connector (54).

4. Autonomous terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trunk (26) houses an electronic unit (66) which regulates the current supplied by the autonomous source of electrical energy, and whose outputs (70) are connected to the proximal end (43) of the cable (44).

5. Autonomous terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trunk houses a storage battery or batteries.

6. Autonomous terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trunk (26) carries a battery of solar cells, in particular arranged in the form of a solar panel (36).

7. Autonomous terminal according to one of claims 5 or 6 taken in combination with claim 4, characterized in that the battery (B) is connected to the electronic unit (66) for regulating the current.

8. Autonomous terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (100) for the connection of the distal end (45) of the cable (44) comprise:

a connection card (106) of dimensions similar to those of a network subscription card and carrying, on a first (1 10) of its two opposite faces, a series of connection pads (1 12) which, in the mounted position of the connection card (106) in the handset, cooperate with contact blades (94) of said first connector (86) and which are connected to a series of associated wires of the cable (44); and

- a connection plate (108) carrying two connection terminals (128, 130) which, in the assembled position of the connection plate (108) in the handset, cooperate with two contact blades (90, 92) of said second electrical connector (88) and which are connected to two associated wires of the cable (44).

9. Autonomous terminal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection plate (108) is carried by the connection card (106) with which it forms a connection sub-assembly (100) which is fixed in the handset by fitting and / or locking (98) of the connection card (106) in said first connector ( 86).

10. Autonomous terminal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection plate (108) extends parallel to the connection card (106) and facing the second face of the latter.

1 1. Autonomous terminal according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the card (106) and the connection plate (108) are produced in the form of printed circuit boards.

12. Autonomous terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trunk (26) defines a storage compartment for the mobile phone (42) and its cable (44) for connection to the trunk.

13. Autonomous terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (134) of counting the duration and / or the cost of a telephone call which control the automatic interruption of the communication when '' a predetermined and programmable value is reached.

14. Transport vehicle (20), in particular an individual vehicle such as a motorcycle, characterized in that it is dismountably equipped with an autonomous terminal (24, 26) according to any one of the preceding claims .