GB2141309A - Telephone call monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

A Telephone Call Monitor has a memory 6 which can retain the balances in a number of accounts. A user identifies himself prior to making a call by an access code or by a machine readable token. The cost of the call is then accumulated in his personal account. Conventional telephone equipment is provided 1. A microcomputer 4 controls the ability to dial 2,15, and indicates balances via display 5. It also monitors metering pulses 3 and amends the memory contents accordingly. The monitor may be local or at the exchange when a number of lines may be monitored and a voice synthesizer provided to indicate the balance in the account. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone call monitor This invention relates to a Telephone Call Monitor.

Subscribers' Call Meters are readily available which indicate the number of units spent on a telephone call. In the case where the telephone may be used by several people, existing systems require manual accounting of each person's use - a system which is open to abuse. Additionally, a single user, working on behalf of a number of clients, may wish to record the amount spent on the telephone on behalf of each of them, to permit him subsequently to invoice them each for the appropriate amount.

According to the present invention, a telephone is provided with a memory for each user, who identifies himself to the invention prior to each call with an access code or machine-readable token which is unique to him. A method for assessing the cost of the call is provided, usually via metering pulses from the exchange. When each user makes a call, the appropriate number of units are deducted from (or added to) his memory. When his balance reaches zero, the user is optionally prevented from making further calls, though other users may still do so. A means is provided for each user to establish the balance in his memory. A secure method may be provided for an administrator to initiate a user's memory to a specified number of units. The invention may be incorporated into a telephone instrument, or may be interposed at any point between the telephone and the main exchange.In the latter case, a single unit may control the use of more than one telephone line. The unit may be powered from the telephone line, or from mains electricity.

Two specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example. The first is a self-contained instrument appearing outwardly simi lay to a conventional push-button telephone, with the addition of a display (for reading balances). For this embodiment: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the internal arrangement of the instrument.

Referring to the drawing, the instrument consists of a conventional subsrciber's telephone instrument, containing conventional telephone instrument ci rcuitry (microphone, earpiece, bell, transformer) 1 modified to permit electronic control of dialling 2, and a circuit to extract metering pulses from the exchange line 3. The resulting output and input lines are connected to a microcomputer 4 which also has connected to it a display 5, a memory 6 and a keypad 7. The microcomputer contains a program to convert key-presses into dialling signals and to record meter pulses in memory. It also drives the display 5 and monitors the keyswitch 9 if present. The memory may have a battery 8 to ensure no data corruption during power loss. Connection to the exchange is via a standard exchange line 14, which is patched to provide metering pulses.

The second embodiment is a self-contained unit for interposition between a conventional telephone (or telephones) and the main exchange. For this embodiment: Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the internal arrangement of the instrument.

Referring to the drawing, those components with numbers referred to above have a similar function to the first embodiment. The display is now replaced by a speech synthesis system 10 which is capable of speaking numbers and other information, to provide an audible indication of account balance. A loudspeaker 11 is provided, controlled by switch 12 to provide local indication of balances.

Connections are provided to the telephone instrument(s) 13 and the exchange 14 via a relay 15.

Dialling detection circuitry 16 is provided to acertain the number dialled. In the event of more than one exchange line being monitored, items 3 and 11-16 will be replicated.

1. A device for maintaining a number of accounts which are not uniquely associated with any telephone equipment, and assigning the cost of a telephone call to the relevant account, with a method for immediate feedback to the user of the balance in his account.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the account is identified by entry of a special code.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the account is identified by inserting a token or key.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein more than one telephone line may be monitored.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a user of a particular account is automatically prevented from making further calls when his account reaches a certain value.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Telephone call monitor This invention relates to a Telephone Call Monitor. Subscribers' Call Meters are readily available which indicate the number of units spent on a telephone call. In the case where the telephone may be used by several people, existing systems require manual accounting of each person's use - a system which is open to abuse. Additionally, a single user, working on behalf of a number of clients, may wish to record the amount spent on the telephone on behalf of each of them, to permit him subsequently to invoice them each for the appropriate amount. According to the present invention, a telephone is provided with a memory for each user, who identifies himself to the invention prior to each call with an access code or machine-readable token which is unique to him. A method for assessing the cost of the call is provided, usually via metering pulses from the exchange. When each user makes a call, the appropriate number of units are deducted from (or added to) his memory. When his balance reaches zero, the user is optionally prevented from making further calls, though other users may still do so. A means is provided for each user to establish the balance in his memory. A secure method may be provided for an administrator to initiate a user's memory to a specified number of units. The invention may be incorporated into a telephone instrument, or may be interposed at any point between the telephone and the main exchange.In the latter case, a single unit may control the use of more than one telephone line. The unit may be powered from the telephone line, or from mains electricity. Two specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example. The first is a self-contained instrument appearing outwardly simi lay to a conventional push-button telephone, with the addition of a display (for reading balances). For this embodiment: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the internal arrangement of the instrument. Referring to the drawing, the instrument consists of a conventional subsrciber's telephone instrument, containing conventional telephone instrument ci rcuitry (microphone, earpiece, bell, transformer) 1 modified to permit electronic control of dialling 2, and a circuit to extract metering pulses from the exchange line 3. The resulting output and input lines are connected to a microcomputer 4 which also has connected to it a display 5, a memory 6 and a keypad 7. The microcomputer contains a program to convert key-presses into dialling signals and to record meter pulses in memory. It also drives the display 5 and monitors the keyswitch 9 if present. The memory may have a battery 8 to ensure no data corruption during power loss. Connection to the exchange is via a standard exchange line 14, which is patched to provide metering pulses. The second embodiment is a self-contained unit for interposition between a conventional telephone (or telephones) and the main exchange. For this embodiment: Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the internal arrangement of the instrument. Referring to the drawing, those components with numbers referred to above have a similar function to the first embodiment. The display is now replaced by a speech synthesis system 10 which is capable of speaking numbers and other information, to provide an audible indication of account balance. A loudspeaker 11 is provided, controlled by switch 12 to provide local indication of balances. Connections are provided to the telephone instrument(s) 13 and the exchange 14 via a relay 15. Dialling detection circuitry 16 is provided to acertain the number dialled. In the event of more than one exchange line being monitored, items 3 and 11-16 will be replicated. CLAIMS

1. A device for maintaining a number of accounts which are not uniquely associated with any telephone equipment, and assigning the cost of a telephone call to the relevant account, with a method for immediate feedback to the user of the balance in his account.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the account is identified by entry of a special code.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the account is identified by inserting a token or key.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein more than one telephone line may be monitored.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a user of a particular account is automatically prevented from making further calls when his account reaches a certain value.