DE9112852U1 - Charge indicators for telecommunications equipment, such as telephones - Google Patents

Description

authorized representative bllrn,E;öropäj _; $eheD.,Patent Office

DiPLPHYS BUSE ■ DiPL PHYS. MENTZEL ■ dipling. LUDEWIG Unterüornun IM Post: , _t h 20 )j 10 :>600 Wuppoua! 2 Telephone (02 02) 55 70 22/23/24 ■ Telex 8 591606 wpat ■ Telefax (02 02)5715

D-5600 Wuppertal 2, 15.10.1991 56 Code: "Bar display G 187/91"

Quante AG., Uellendahler Strasse 353, 5600 Wuppertal 1
Charge indicators for telecommunications equipment, such as telephones

The invention is directed at charge indicators for telecommunications devices, such as telephones, which operate with a charge pulse fed in via the telecommunications network. The charge indicator can be connected directly to the telecommunications network next to the device to be operated, or it can be integrated as a structural unit with this device. The important thing is that the charge pulses coming from the telecommunications network and used in the device are received in the charge indicator. Such a charge indicator usually has a display to indicate the charge units incurred, whereby the resulting charge amount can also be indicated. In order to display this information on the display or to set it to its base values, a control handle could be provided on the charge indicator or on the telecommunications device.

The known fee indicators of the type specified in the generic term are set to a specific time interval that results from the applicable fee tariff. In this case (DE-OS 26 00 001) not only are the fee units and/or fee amounts incurred during the respective device use displayed, but an optical and/or acoustic signal is emitted a reasonable time before the expiry of such a set time interval. This gives the device user the opportunity to stop using the device before the next fee unit is incurred.

The disadvantage of these fee indicators is that the different tariff discounts resulting from the time of device use

nuisances are not taken into account, such as &zgr;. &Bgr;. night tariffs. A further disadvantage is that the device user is caught off guard by the warning signal of the charge cycle expiry and then has to hastily interrupt the use of the device.

The invention is based on the object of developing a simple, reliable fee indicator of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, which meets the individual needs of the device user and is characterized by great user-friendliness.

This is achieved by a continuously readable display for the remaining time (remaining time display) of the current charge cycles used in the device until the expiry of the following time intervals, in that, until the expiry of the actual first charge cycle, the remaining time display is initially set to the longest possible time period of the applicable charge tariff (maximum time period To), such as the time period of the night tariff, but then, with the start of the second charge cycle, which normally starts earlier than the preset maximum time period, the time interval determined between the first two charge pulses or between two further consecutive charge pulses is automatically made the basis for the future remaining time display when using this device.

This means that the device user can see from the continuous remaining time display how much time is left until the respective charge cycle expires. This means that he is no longer surprised by the expiration of the charge cycle and can make optimal use of the given time interval of the current charge cycle. Since the charge indicator does not initially recognize whether the device is being used according to a local tariff or one of the long-distance tariffs, a trend display of the time interval is given as a starting value until the expiration of the actual first charge cycle, namely the maximum time period determined by the longest possible time period of the applicable charge tariff. However, at the start of the second charge cycle, an automatic changeover takes place in the charge indicator; the charge indicator measures the actually effective time interval between the first and second charge pulse and uses this actual time interval as

new starting value for the following charge cycle and all further charge cycles. The correct progress display therefore begins with the second charge cycle. If necessary, the charge indicator can also determine the current time interval between two further, consecutive charge pulses and use it as the basis for the starting value for the next charge cycle. This has the advantage of an exact remaining time display even in cases where the device is used over an interim change in the charge tariff, e.g. when changing from a day tariff to a night tariff, or vice versa.

Further measures and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description and the drawings. The invention extends to all new features and combinations of features that can be derived therefrom, even if these are not expressly stated in the subclaims. The invention is shown in an exemplary embodiment in the drawings. They show:

Fig. 1 a telephone with associated external charge indicator in case of connection,

Fig. 2 , in the cutout, the display of the fee indicator with all the symbols provided there,

Fig. 3 is a time diagram showing the charge pulses that occur when a device is used, with arrows A to F indicating different times when the device is in operation.

Fig. 4 to 8 show the current display on the fee indicator at times A, B, D, E and F of Fig. 3, whereby the respective position of a handle provided on the fee indicator is also indicated, and

Fig. 9 the display with the handle for setting a maximum time period, which is effective during the first charge cycle.

In the embodiment shown, a fee indicator 10 designed according to the invention is external to the telecommunications device, namely

a telephone set 11, but connected parallel to it to a line 12 of the telecommunications network. The connection to the charge indicator 10 and telephone set 11 is made via the plug contacts between a socket 17 connected to the line 12 of the telecommunications network on the one hand and plugs 13, 15 inserted into it on the other hand, which are located on the associated cable cords 14, 16 of the telephone set 11 or the charge indicator 10.

The fee indicator 10 comprises a display 20 in its housing 21, which is provided with corresponding electronic components, and a key switch 22 which has a retroactive effect on the electronic components as well as on the display 20, the handle 23 of which can be moved clockwise from the vertical starting position shown in Fig. 4 and 6 to 8 into the working position 23' shown in Fig. 5 or 9. The handle of the key switch 22 is spring-loaded and therefore tends to move back to its starting position shown in Fig. 1 and 4 when released. The handle 23 can be pulled out of the key switch 22 together with the key shaft attached to it in order to prevent the fee indicator 10 from being operated by unauthorized persons. The display 20 comprises the following symbols, which are best shown in Fig. 2, with the following function and meaning.

Four different display fields are provided in the display 20, namely a field 27 for specifying the fee units, another field 28 for specifying the corresponding fee amount, a third field 29 for calling up the current designation symbols and a fourth field 24 for a special remaining time display to be described in more detail. The information in fields 27, 28 is digital, while the remaining time display in field 24 is analogue, and according to the invention a bar 24 is used for this, the entire bar length of which represents a full time period T or To between two consecutive charge pulses 30, 30', 30" visible in Fig. 3, which is to be referred to as "time interval" below. However, the display is not continuous, but quantised. The entire bar 24 of this remaining time display is made up of several bar sections 25, which here have a section length 26 that matches one another. This section length 26 is a measure of a time contribution of a

each bar section 25 for this time interval. The bar sections 25 thus divide the time interval T into the time periods t shown in Fig. 3. The eight sections 25 in the remaining time display 24 correspond to eight time periods t into which the entire time interval T or To is divided. The working sequence in the interaction of the charge indicator 10 and the telephone set 11 when it is used can best be explained using the time diagram in Fig. 3.

As is known, when a call is set up, the telecommunications office sends high-frequency charge pulses 30 30', 30" at a specific time interval, which activate a charge counter assigned to the telephone set 11 in the office. Such a course is shown, for example, in Fig. 3 by the pulse curve 34 over the time axis serving as the abscissa, while the charge pulses that occur at defined times, e.g. D and F, are shown as the ordinate. The cycle sequence of the charge pulses 30 depends on the range of the call being set up on the one hand and on the time of the call being made on the other, because different charge tariffs are generally effective for this, such as a day tariff and a night tariff. The charge tariff that is valid at any given time is determined by the office and the sequence of the charge pulses 30, 30', 30" is thereby controlled. The time sequence of these pulses depends on the range of the call being set up and is the result of the operation of the control panel 19 in the telephone set 11 for the called party. Depending on the operation 19 of the active dialing party 11, the telecommunications office recognizes whether a local call, a long-distance call or an international call is taking place and over which designated zones of different range the connected call is being made. This results in different time intervals T between the charge pulses 30, 30', 30" for the determination of the charges according to the range zones. The charge indicator 10 according to the invention is able to recognize these charge pulses and measures the time intervals T between them, which are evaluated and made visible in the remaining time display of the bar 24 in the display 20. This takes place in detail as follows.

The charge indicator 10 contains several memories in its housing 21. If the active subscriber on his telephone set 11 picks up the handset 18

decreases, the working position A shown in the time diagram of Fig. 3 is present, in which the information shown in Fig. 3 appears in the display 20. This shows in field 27 the number of charge units incurred during the last call on this telephone 11, namely "3" in the assumed case. In addition, the symbol 35 indicating the units appears in the symbol field 29. In the adjacent field 28, the corresponding charge amount of the previous call is shown, namely DM "0.75" in the present case, provided that the preset charge amount per unit is 0.25. To indicate this information, the amount symbol 36 shown in Fig. 4 appears in the symbol field 29. At working point A, no remaining time display is yet effective; a bar 24 according to Fig. 4 does not yet appear.

If the subscriber does not want to add the new call to be made to the previous displays in Fig. 4 in fields 27 and 29, the handle is briefly moved to its working position 23', highlighted in color in Fig. 5, already mentioned above, using the key inserted in the key switch 22, whereby the previously stored data in the display 20 is deleted, as can be seen from Fig. 5. The symbol displays 35, 36 can remain in this state to indicate that the charge indicator 10 is active and ready for the next call setup, which is to be evaluated separately. The point in time indicated by arrow B in the time diagram in Fig. 3 may then be present.

At the point in time indicated by arrow C in the timing diagram of Fig. 3, the active subscriber has long since released the handle of the key switch 22, which returns it to the starting position 23 already indicated in dash-dotted lines in Fig. 5, and begins to dial the desired subscriber at point in time C via the control panel 19 of the telephone 11. As a result, the information in the display 20 does not change at first; only the previously mentioned designation symbols 35, 36 appear in the display without any further components. However, if the passive, dialed subscriber picks up the handset on his telephone due to the received signal, the call is established, which should take place at the point in time indicated by arrow D in the timing diagram of Fig. 3.

At this point in time D, the first charge pulse 30 arrives at the active telephone set 11 and is determined by the charge indicator 10. The information shown in Fig. 6 now appears in the display 20. In relation to the unit symbol 35 already mentioned, the first charge unit "1" is shown in the charge field 27. A first charge cycle 31 begins, the end of which the charge indicator 10 does not yet know. The charge indicator 10 initially knows neither the range of the established call nor at which point in time of the possible charge tariffs this call is being made, i.e. whether, for example, in the case of a two-part charge tariff, the "day tariff" or the "night tariff" is now applicable. The charge indicator 10 is preset in such a way that the longest possible time period To of the applicable charge tariff is initially evaluated for the display, which will be referred to below as the "maximum time period To". In the assumed example, this is the duration of the night tariff, which is 8 minutes according to the tariff currently in force in Germany. The corresponding display appears at time D in the form of the full bar 24. In the amount field 28, the amount symbol 36 shows the amount of the fee corresponding to the units 27, namely DM "0.25" in the assumed case, as can be seen in Fig. 6.

It should first be assumed that the preset maximum time period To already applies to this first charge pulse 31, i.e., in deviation from the more general representation in the time diagram of Fig. 3, the time interval T between the first and second charge pulse 30 should actually be the assumed maximum time period To for a local call. Because each of the eight bar sections 25 corresponds to one eighth of the effective time interval, with the assumed maximum time period To each time section t is a partial call duration of one minute.

Fig. 7 shows the conditions that become apparent in the display 20 at time E of Fig. 3 after the conversation has been going on for three minutes. After each minute, the length of the bar 24 is shortened by one bar section 25, which is why, after three minutes, three bar sections have disappeared, which is why the remaining time display shown in Fig. 3

show ΔT only shows one remaining bar 38 from five bar sections 25 in the display 20 of Fig. 7. In the assumed case where the time interval is actually equal to the maximum time period To, this information in the display 20 would be correct. For further use Λ &Tgr; of this charge cycle 31, 5/8 of this time interval To is still available, i.e. five minutes of talk time. The bar length in the remaining time display 24 is therefore reduced step by step within the charge cycle by one time section t, while in fields 27 and 28 the information on the charge unit and the charge amount initially remain unchanged, as in Fig. 6.

The latter only changes when, after the call has been set up, the second charge pulse 30' occurs in the time diagram of Fig. 3. This is determined by the charge indicator 10 and the resulting actual time interval T is determined. Regardless of whether this time interval T was actually equal to the maximum time period To or not, the conditions shown in Fig. 8 appear in the display 20. In the unit field 27, the number "2" indicates that the second charge cycle 32 shown in the time diagram of Fig. 3 has now begun, while the corresponding charge amount of DM "0.50" is displayed in the adjacent amount field 28. This is again documented by the designation symbols 35, 36. At the same time, at time F in Fig. 3, as shown in Fig. 8, the bar 24 has again grown to its full length. The further effectiveness of the display 20 in the fee indicator 10 now depends on this actually determined time interval T of the completed first fee cycle 31. This basically results in two case differences.

In the first case, if, as was assumed above, the preset maximum time period To was actually the length of the first charge cycle 31, this is definitely determined by the charge indicator 10 at time F and is also used as the basis for the remaining time display 24 in the second charge cycle 32. During the first charge cycle 31, the active telephone user of the device 11 was therefore always correctly informed of the correct display of the remaining time Λ T using the remaining bar, as explained in connection with Fig. 7. This now applies in a corresponding manner even more so for the second charge cycle 32, where the time interval is then again equal to the maximum time period To. After

¹ "' 9'

In each time period t of one minute, the length of the initially full bar 24 is reduced step by step by one bar section per minute, similar to the transition of the representation from Fig. 6 to Fig. 7.

The other case is when, due to a different tariff or a correspondingly shorter pulse sequence due to a long-distance call or an international call, the second charge pulse 30', according to the time diagram in Fig. 3, occurs after a shorter time than the maximum time period To. In this case, the information given in the first charge pulse 31 in the shortening of the bar 24 was not incorrect, but this is immediately corrected by the charge indicator 10 in the second charge pulse 32. The indicator 10 has measured the actually applicable time interval T from the first charge pulse 31 and therefore correctly uses it as a basis from F to the second charge pulse 32. Assuming that a long-distance call was started when the call was set up at time D, for which the official charge pulses 30 already follow at two-minute intervals, the charge indicator recognizes at time F in the diagram in Fig. 3 that, contrary to the original assumption of a maximum time period To, the first charge pulse 31 occurred in a time interval T of two minutes. After this measurement, the charge indicator uses only a time period of 1/8 of the time period of this interval T for each bar section 25 for the remaining time display 24 during the subsequent second charge pulse 32 due to this interval time length, i.e. 1/4 minute in this example. After the time F of the diagram in Fig. 3, the entire bar length 24 in the display 20 in Fig. 8 is then shortened by one bar section 25 per 1/4 minute. The active call participant can then see the remaining time length already described in connection with Fig. 7 on his display 20 using the remaining bar 38. He can see how quickly he has to end the call in order not to reach the third charge cycle 33 of the diagram in Fig. 3, after the third charge pulse 30". He can use the full time interval T during the second charge cycle 32. In such circumstances, however, the corresponding remaining time display during the first charge cycle 31 was not correct. From the second charge cycle onwards, however, the active participant can take advantage of all the benefits of the charge indicator according to the invention.

In the simplest case, the charge indicator 10 according to the invention is no longer required to measure the current time intervals T during the established call during all subsequent charge cycles 32, 33, etc. With this construction, the duration of the first time interval T determined at time F is also used as the basis for the future remaining time display 24 during all subsequent charge cycles 32, 33.

The charge indicator 10 according to the invention can, however, also advantageously work in a modified manner, in that the actual duration of the time interval T is measured continuously, i.e. also for all further charge cycles 32, 33 etc., and is used as the basis for the remaining time display via the bar 24 for the subsequent charge cycle. This modification has the advantage that if the time limit between two applicable charge rates is exceeded, e.g. because the call coincides with a change in the charge rate from the day to the night rate, or vice versa, this is immediately recognized by the charge indicator 10 and taken into account in a corresponding correction of the remaining time display. Furthermore, the charge indicator according to the invention is also suitable for being individually adjusted in a simple manner with regard to the various specifications, for which the following applies.

The same previously described handle 23 of the key switch 22 is used to set the specifications, which can even be operated in the same direction as in Fig. 5, but for a longer period of time than for deleting the last telephone use according to Fig. 5. This period of time is specified in the electronics of the charge indicator 10. If the handle is held in its folded working position 23' for a longer period of time, different information is activated in the display 20 in cyclical switching. Although the cyclical order of the following setting options could also be selected differently, or some of the options could be replaced by others, it is recommended to proceed as follows:

By repeated short actuation of the handle in the working position 23'

When the handset is on the hook, the charge units incurred during the last call and the associated total amount are displayed, which corresponds to the situation in Fig. 4, where this information is provided by operating the switch when the handset 18 is off the hook. All further short-term analogue operations 23 of the handle, regardless of whether the handset is on or off the hook, cyclically lead to the following additional information in the display 20. When the handle 23' is operated briefly a second time, the total counter in the charge indicator 10 becomes active, which activates the additional total symbol 37 shown in the designation symbol field 29 in Fig. 2. All charge units incurred during calls made since the last deletion of the total counter then appear in field 27 on the one hand and the corresponding total charge amount in field 28 on the other. If the handle remains in the working position 23' for a longer period of time with this setting, the corresponding total memories in the fee indicator 10 are deleted.

If the handle is briefly operated for a third time in the working position 23', only the amount symbol 36 appears in the display 20 and the corresponding conversion factor, namely the amount of money per fee unit, appears in field 28. With a presetting corresponding to the applicable fee tariff in Germany, the amount of DM "0.25" would appear in this case. The owner of the fee indicator can also use the key to either adapt the conversion factor to new official conditions or, for example in restaurants, increase it to a correspondingly higher user amount. To do this, the key switch is held in position 23' in this cycle position for a longer period. The preset amount in the associated memory of the fee indicator 10 is then first deleted and then advanced penny by penny during the ongoing transfer in the working position 23'. If the handle is then released and automatically returned to its starting position 23, the conversion factor last shown in the display 20 is set and permanently stored in the indicator 10.

When the key switch is turned to position 23' for the fourth time in the above-mentioned operating cycle, all designation symbols 35, 36, 37 go out and a number appears in field 28 which indicates the preset maximum time To. These relationships are shown in Fig. 9 of the

Drawings are illustrated by the symbol "8" marked 39. By holding the handle in the working position 23' for a correspondingly longer period, the stored time "8" minutes is deleted and, if the button 23' is kept pressed, the time factor for the bar display of the maximum time To is increased step by step by one minute. If the key switch is released after the desired setting, the handle returns to its starting position 23 and the last set minute amount is used by the fee indicator 10 for the future retrieval of the maximum time To.

authorized representative at the Ewo^äiffoherf Patent Office

DiPLPHYS. BUSE - DiPL PHYS. MENTZEL ■ dipling. LUDEWIG

Unterdörnen 114 ■ PO Box 20 02 10 5600 Wuppertal 2 ■ Telephone (02 02) 55 70 22/23/24 ■ Telex 8 591 606 wpat ■ Fax (02 02) 5715

D-5600 Wuppertal 2, 15.10.1991 56 Code: "Bar display, G 187/91"

List of reference symbols:

10 Fee indicator

11 Telephone, telecommunications device

12 Management of the telecommunications network

13 Cable cord from 11

14 cable cord of 10

15 plugs of 11

16 plugs of 10

17 Socket

18 listeners out of 11

19 Control panel of 11

20 Showing 10

21 cases of 10

22 key switches from

23 Handle (starting position) 23' Handle (working position)

24 Remaining time display field, bar

25 beam section of 24

26 Section length of 25

27 Fee unit field

28 Fee amount field

29 Naming symbol field

30 first charge pulse 30' second charge pulse 30" third charge pulse

31 first fee cycle

32 second fee cycle

33 third fee cycle

34 Pulse curve from 30 to 30"

35 unit symbol for 27 in

36 Amount symbol for 28 in

37 Sum symbol for 27 and 28 in

38 remaining bars of 24, time remaining

39 Maximum duration display

t period of 25

T time interval of 31,

To maximum duration of 31 or

&Dgr; &Tgr; Remaining time display

Claims (10)

Protection claims: 1. Charge indicators (10) for telecommunications equipment, such as telephones (11), which operate with charge pulses (30; 30'; 30") fed in via the telecommunications network (12), which determine charge cycles (31; 32; 33), wherein the fee indicator (10) is connected to the telecommunications network (12) directly next to the device (11) or is integrated into the device (11), has a display (20) for indicating the fee units (27) incurred and/or the fee amount (28) and optionally has a handle (23) for controlling it, marked by a continuously readable display (20) for the remaining time (remaining time display ΔT ) of the current charge cycles (31; 32; 33) used in the device (11) until the expiry of the following time intervals (To; T), namely, until the expiry of the actual first charge cycle (31), the remaining time display (ΔT ) is initially set to the longest possible time period (To) of the applicable charge tariff (maximum time period To), such as the time period (To) of the night tariff, but then, with the start (F) of the second charge cycle (32), which normally starts earlier than the preset maximum time period (To), the time interval (T) determined between the two first charge pulses (30, 30') or between two further consecutive charge pulses (30', 30") is automatically made the basis for the future remaining time display ( �L T) when using this device. 2. Fee indicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the Remaining time display ( ΔT ) consists of a bar (24) appearing in the display (20), the length of which shortens as the time interval (To; T) relevant for the current charge cycle progresses. 3. Fee indicator according to claim 2, characterized in that the bar is divided into several bar sections (25) which divide the time interval (To; T) for the respective fee cycle (31, 32, 33) into time sections (t) according to their section length (26). 4. Fee indicator according to claim 3, characterized in that all bar sections have a section length (26) that is the same as one another and divide the time interval (To; T) for the current fee cycle (31, 32, 33) into corresponding time sections (t). 5. Charge indicator according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when the telecommunications device (11) is activated, such as when the handset (18) on the dialer-side telephone set (11) is picked up, the charge units (27) used during the last use of the device and/or the corresponding accrued amount (28) are indicated, but the remaining time display ( ΔT ), such as the bar (24) in the display, is still suppressed. 6. Charge indicator according to claim 5, characterized in that the indication of the charge units used (27) and/or the corresponding accrued amount (28) of the last use of the device can be deleted in the display (20) by actuating (23') the handle (23) located on the charge indicator and at the start of the first charge cycle (31), as when setting up the call with the dialed subscriber, the respective current remaining time display ( ΔT ) can be set to effective for the active dialer and/or the passive dialed subscriber. 7. Fee indicator according to claim 6, characterized in that a handle (23) located on the fee indicator (10) is used for optionally setting the maximum time period (To). 8. Fee indicator according to claim 7, characterized in that the same handle (23) as for deleting the fee units (37) and/or total amount (28) accrued during the last use of the device is used for the selectable setting of the maximum time period (To). 9. Fee indicator according to claim 8, characterized in that the handle (23) for the selectable setting of the maximum time period (To) is indeed used in the same operating direction (23') as for deleting the fee units (27) and/or total amount (28) incurred during the last use of the device, but is actuated for a longer period of time. 10. Fee indicator according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that during setting (23') the selected maximum time period (To) can be read in the display (20).