DE20113333U1 - Dialing device for telephone cards - Google Patents

Description

Utility model "Dialing device for telephone cards"

1. Description

1.1 Technical area

The dialer for telephone cards is an additional device (external or integrated) for telephone terminals that are used in conjunction with pre-paid telephone cards (also called "CallingCards" or "PhoneCards").

1.2 State of the art

An alternative to the classic billing of telephone calls is the pre-paid method. In this method, the customer purchases a card with a free dial-in number (e.g. 0800...) and an identification number (usually called a "PIN") that is unique to each card (for example, by paying a certain amount in advance). To prevent misuse, the identification number is covered with a coating that must be scratched off before the card is used. After dialing the dial-in number, a connection is established to a server and the user is asked to dial the identification number. The user can then dial the number of the person they want to call and is connected to them. The cost of the telephone call is debited from a credit account associated with the identification number, the initial balance of which corresponds to the amount prepaid when purchasing the telephone card. The user can use the telephone card to make calls until the credit on the associated account is used up.

Such pre-paid phone cards are used in large numbers, particularly for international calls, which are subject to tough competition, as the simple handling (no contract, no debt collection) and the increased liquidity through advance payment enable the provider to set attractive prices. In the case of phone cards for international calls in particular, sales are mainly carried out through shops that are particularly frequented by foreigners, such as Afro and Asian shops, as well as through special "call shops" that offer cheap international phone calls via telephone booths installed there and also sell phone cards.

The disadvantage for the user is the cumbersome handling of a pre-paid phone card: after dialing the access number, the user must first wait for the connection to the server system to be established. The announcement that then appears, which prompts the user to enter the identification number, is often incomprehensible to non-German-speaking users and dialing the very long identification number is time-consuming and prone to errors.

1.3 The invention

The invention consists of a dialing device that automates the dialing and identification process when using pre-paid telephone cards and uses machine-readable information printed on the telephone card.

The dial-in number and the identification number specified on the phone card are also printed on the card in a machine-readable form, e.g. as a barcode. This does not increase the cost of producing the cards, as only the print template needs to be changed. However, standardization of the machine-readable print is necessary so that cards from different providers can be used together with the dialing device. The scratch-off cover for the identification number must also protect the machine-readable identification number.

The dialing device itself contains a reading device for the machine-readable

Information from the phone card, e.g. in the form of an optoelectronic barcode reader, and the electronics required to carry out the dialing process. The dialing device can be integrated into special end devices (e.g. for use in call shops or on public telephones) or can be connected to a conventional telephone as an additional device (e.g. for private use).

After scratching off the card, the user inserts it into the dialer's reader. This saves the numbers read and automatically dials the number, e.g. when the handset is lifted. The device then waits until the server connection is established and automatically dials the identification number. The user can then dial the desired subscriber number using the conventional telephone keypad in the usual way.

1.4 Advantages

Compared to the prior art, the invention offers the following advantages:

• Time saving when using pre-paid phone cards

• Avoiding operating errors

• increased attractiveness of the telephone card medium compared to other marketing methods (preselection or call-by-call procedures, call shops)

2. Exemplary execution

2.1 Phone card

Figure 1 shows an example of a telephone card printed with machine-readable information in the delivery state and in the scratched-off state. You can see the dial-in number (1) and identification number "PIN" (2) printed in the conventional way, as well as the machine-readable dial-in number (3) and identification number (4) and an arrow (5) that indicates the direction in which the card should be inserted into the reader of the dialer. In the delivery state, the identification number ("PIN") is covered by the coating (6).

2.2 Selector

Figure 2 shows the possible design of the dialer as an additional device for connection to a conventional telephone. You can see the slot for inserting the telephone card (1), behind which there is a barcode reader. The device is connected to the telephone network via line (2) and to the telephone via line (3).

Claims (2)

1. Dialling devices for use in connection with pre-paid telephone cards, characterized in that they contain a reading device for machine-readable information printed on the telephone card and automatically dial the dial-in number and the card identification number on the basis of this information. 2. Pre-paid telephone cards, characterized in that the dial-in number and/or the identification number are printed on them in machine-readable form.