JPH01240063A - Credit call system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a public telephone even when a user has neither a coin nor a telephone card by requesting the input of the telephone number of a connection destination and connecting to the connection destination when a secret number and a credit number by a dial signal from a transmitting person coincide with another secret number and another credit number from a data input device. CONSTITUTION:When the user picks up the receiver of a public telephone set 21, voice guidance is sent from the voice part of a secret number collating/voice responding circuit 24 existing in a memory station 23. The user inputs the secret number, the credit number, etc., as a push-button signal. The collating part of the secret number collating/voice responding circuit 24 collates the inputted push-button signal with the secret number registered in the registering part of a memory 30 and requests the user to input the credit number by the next voice guidance when the inputted push-button signal coincides with the registered secret number. When the user inputs the credit number, it is confirmed whether the credit number is already registered or not by the collating part, and a channel is switched to another channel 27 of an exchange 26 by a channel change-over switch 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a credit calling system in which call charges from public telephones or the like are paid in arrears, and particularly to a credit calling system that does not require money or credit cards.

[Prior art]

In the conventional credit calling system, credit calling was performed using the following two methods (1) and (2).

In this method (1), use money or a telephone card at a public telephone, dial 106 to connect to the switchboard, enter your 10-digit PIN number, 4-digit credit card number, and telephone number (maximum 10 digits) to the operator,
The operator registers the personal identification number and credit card number, sends the number given by the user to a memory station, and connects when the numbers match and are confirmed.

In method (2), after dialing 1213 using money or a telephone card at a public telephone, as in method (1), enter the registered telephone number (1°), credit card number (4 digits), and the destination of the call. 'When you dial the direct number (up to 10 digits), you will be automatically connected as soon as confirmation from the memory station is obtained.

These methods required money or a telephone card to operate the public telephone.

The conventional credit calling system is discussed in, for example, ``Credit Calling System with Expanded Functions,'' NTT Facilities, Vol. 38, Na6, pp. 75''.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, after being connected to a general telephone line by a public telephone, the connection is made manually or automatically to a memory station. This allows public il! Since money or a telephone card is required to operate the handset, there is an inconvenience in that if you do not have money or a telephone card with you, you cannot use a public telephone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and provide a credit calling system that allows users to use public telephones even if they do not have money or telephone cards with them.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the credit card calling system of the present invention includes a data input device, a means (registration unit) for storing the personal identification number and credit number input by the data input device, and a credit card number input from the caller's telephone. The PIN number indicated by the dial signal.

means for temporarily storing the credit number and the telephone number of the called party (-time storage section); means for verifying the PIN number and the credit number within the storage means (verification section);
means (signal receiving section) for receiving call frequency from the exchange;
It is equipped with means for accumulating received call counts (call count accumulating unit) and means for transmitting voice guidance via a call line (audio unit), and is equipped with a means for accumulating received call counts (call count accumulating unit) and a unit (audio unit) for transmitting voice guidance via a telephone line. When the personal identification number based on the dial signal and the credit card number match, the exchange connects to the called party's telephone number, and in a credit calling system in which call charges are paid in arrears, when a caller picks up the handset of the telephone, the voice guidance sending means control,
A means (control unit) for transmitting voice guidance prompting the input of a PIN number and credit number, and a PIN number and credit number based on a dial signal from the caller;
When the PIN number and credit number from the data input device match, the voice guidance sending means is controlled;
A means (control unit) that sends voice guidance prompting the caller to input the destination phone number, and when the destination phone number is input, sends the connection destination phone number to the above-mentioned exchange, and connects the caller. It is characterized in that it includes a means (control unit) for controlling.

[Effect]

In the present invention, by picking up the handset of a public telephone or a general telephone.

Connected to a memory station or memory device. As a result, the user sends a PIN number, and if the PIN is checked and it is the same as the registered PIN number, the user will be connected to a regular telephone line and will be charged a call fee based on the number of calls at a later date. Ru.

Therefore, when making a credit phone call using a public telephone, a telephone card or money is not required.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a memory station in a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a credit telephone system in a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the signal receiving section in the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the credit telephone system of this embodiment includes a public telephone 21, a telephone line 22 connecting the public telephone 21 and the memory station 23, a memory station 23, a switch 26, and a telephone line 22 connecting the memory station 23 and the switch 26. Call line 27, general telephone 28,
It also includes an information line 29 that transfers the call frequency from the exchange 26 to the memory station 23.

The memory station 23 also includes a password verification/voice response circuit 24, a memory 30, and a communication path changeover switch 25.

Further, the functional configuration of the memory station 23 is shown as shown in FIG.

That is, the PIN verification/voice response circuit 24 includes a control section 11, a voice section 12, and a verification section 14, and the memory 30 includes a temporary storage section 13, a signal reception section 15, a call frequency accumulation section 16, and a A registration section 17 is provided.

This control unit 11 outputs audio guidance (audio unit 12), verifies the password and credit number input by the user (verification unit 14), switches lines, and Control call frequency accumulation.

Further, the registration unit 17 of the memory 30 records the subscriber's password, credit number, etc. to the credit calling system in advance.

Furthermore, the -time storage unit 13 temporarily stores a password and credit number based on a dial signal from the user.

Further, the one-call frequency storage unit 16 accumulates the call frequency sent from the exchange 26 via the information line 29 for each credit number, and uses it for calculating the call charge when billing the call fee at a later date.

Further, the signal receiving section 15 converts the call frequency information sent from the exchange 26 into data in a form that the control section 11 can receive.

Regarding the hardware configuration of the entire memory station 23 excluding the signal receiving section 15, for example, as shown in FIG.
Jllll device 31, channel multiplexer 32, multiplexer 33. An input/output device 34 and a typewriter 3 for inputting and outputting registration data such as a credit card subscriber's PIN number.
5. Consists of a magnetic drum control device 36, a magnetic drum 37 for recording registration data such as call frequency and subscriber password sent from the exchange fi 26, and a storage device 38 for storing programs for the central control device 31. . Furthermore, the hardware configuration of the signal receiving section 15 is as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a line common section 41 and a line individual section 42.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the credit card call system in the first embodiment of the present invention.

When using the credit calling system of this embodiment, when the user picks up the handset of the public telephone 21 (501
), the communication line 22 to the memory station 23 connects the memory station 2.
Audio section 1 of the PIN verification/voice response circuit 24 in 3
Voice guidance is sent from 2 (502).

Following this voice guidance, the user enters the PIN number, credit card number, etc. using the button signal (503).
.

Next, the verification section 14 of the password verification/voice response circuit 24 verifies the input button signal with the password registered in the registration section 17 of the memory 30 (504).

As a result, if they match, the next voice guidance prompts the user to input the credit number (505).

Furthermore, when the user enters the credit number (506
), the verification unit 14 checks whether the credit number has been registered (507).

As a result, if it has been registered, 1 call path changeover switch 25
The communication path is switched to the communication line 27 of the exchange 26 by (5)
08).

As a result, the user hears a dial tone and dials the one-call optical telephone number (509), and is connected to the general telephone 28 indicated by the telephone number (510).

When the call destination is connected in this way, the exchange 26 counts the number of calls (512).

Further, when the call ends (511), the counted number of calls is sent to the memory station 23 via the information line 29 and stored for each subscriber (513), and the call line 27 is switched (514).

Based on this number of calls, the user of the public telephone 21 is billed for the call on a predetermined date.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a credit card telephone system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The credit calling system of this embodiment includes an automatic private branch exchange (or business telephone flat bag) 60, a central telephone line 60,
1. Extension telephone line 62. Memory device 63, extension telephone 64
．． It includes an input device 67 such as a keyboard, and an output device 68 such as a printer.

The memory device 63 also includes a communication path changeover switch 65,
PIN verification/voice response circuit 66, call frequency management circuit 6
9. and a memory 70.

When using the credit calling system of this embodiment with such a configuration, when the user picks up the handset of the extension telephone 64, voice guidance is sent out from the voice response circuit of the password verification/voice response circuit 66. If the user follows this guidance and enters the PIN using the button signal.

The password verification circuit of the password verification/voice response circuit 66 verifies the password entered in advance from the input device 67 and registered in the memory 70 with the password input by the user. If they match.

The call path changeover switch 65 switches the call path to the extension call line 62.
Switch to. As a result, the user hears an extension dial tone, and when the user dials the extension phone number of the destination, the connection is established in the same way as a regular telephone. In this case, the call frequency is counted by the call frequency management circuit 69 and stored in the memory 70. Further, by operating the input device 67, the result of the call frequency for each password is printed out on the output device 68.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a credit card telephone system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The credit calling system of this embodiment includes a telephone 71, a handset 73, a data input/output device 80, and a communication line 79.
Equipped with. The telephone 71 also includes a call path changeover switch 72. It includes a password verification circuit 74, a password memory 75, a voice response circuit 76, and a call frequency management circuit 77.

With this configuration, when the user picks up the receiver 73, voice guidance is sent from the voice response circuit 76. Following this guidance, users dial their PIN number. The password verification circuit 74 compares the password inputted in advance from the data input/output device 80 and stored in the password memory 75 with the password input by the user. If the passwords match, the communication path changeover switch 72 connects the communication path to the communication line 79.

The user then hears a dial tone, dials the destination phone number, and is connected. In this case, the call frequency is counted by the call frequency management circuit 77 and outputted to the data input/output device 80.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, by entering a PIN number from a public telephone etc., the telephone line is automatically connected, so it is possible to easily make a credit card call without using money, telephone cards, etc. .

Furthermore, since the number of calls can be managed using a personal identification number, it is possible to manage the number of calls for each individual, regardless of the telephone used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a memory station in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a credit telephone system in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. The configuration diagram of the memory station in the embodiment, FIG. 4 is the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the credit call system in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the credit call system in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a credit telephone system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 11: Control unit, 12: Audio unit, 13 Temporary storage unit, 14
: verification section, 15: signal reception section, 16: call frequency accumulation section,
17: Registration Department, 21: Public f! Telephone 22, 27: Call line, 23: Memory station, 24, 66: PIN verification/voice response circuit, 25, 65, 72: Call path changeover switch, 2
6: Switchboard, 28 d general telephone, 29: Information line, 30, 7
0: Memory, 31: Central controller, 32: Channel multiplexer, 33: Multiplexer, 34: Input/output bag [, 35
: Tie writer, 36: Magnetic drum control bag FZ, 37:
Magnetic drum, 38: Memory bag [, 41: Line common part. 42: Individual line section, 60: Automatic terminal exchange (main device of business phone), 61: Office line communication line, 62: Extension communication line,
63: memory device, 64: internal vA telephone, 67: input device, 68: output device, 69.77: call frequency management circuit,
71: Telephone, 73: Handset. 74: PIN verification circuit, 75: PIN memory. 76: Voice response circuit, 78: Telephone circuit network, 79: Telephone line, 80: Data input/output device. Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A data input device, a means for storing the PIN number and credit number entered by the data input device, and a PIN number, credit number, and telephone number indicated by the dial signal input from the caller's telephone. means for temporarily storing the PIN number and credit number,
The system comprises means for collating within the storage means, means for receiving the call frequency from the exchange, means for accumulating the call frequency, and means for transmitting voice guidance via the telephone line, PIN number and credit number,
When the PIN number and credit card number based on the dial signal match, the exchange connects to the called party's telephone number, and in a credit calling system where the call fee is paid in arrears, when the caller picks up the handset of the telephone, the voice guidance is given. means for controlling a sending means to send out voice guidance prompting the input of a personal identification number and credit number, a personal identification number and credit number based on a dial signal from the caller, and a personal identification number and credit number from the data input device; means for controlling the voice guidance sending means to send out voice guidance prompting the caller to input a connection destination telephone number when the numbers match;
A credit telephone call system characterized by comprising means for transmitting the connection destination telephone number to the exchange when the connection destination telephone number is input to establish a connection.