JPH1051571A - Data card type telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a telephone set, capable of transmission by inserting a data cord to the telephone set. SOLUTION: Dialing is made available for the telephone set 1 by inserting a data card 2 whose residual call unit amount is not zero to the telephone set 1. A read/write means 4 reads the residual amount of the data card 2, and a discrimination means 5 discriminated it. When the residual amount is not zero, a switch means 6 is closed, and dialing is made available. After dialing, a timer means 7 measures the speech time, and an arithmetic means 8 calculates the speech charge. Then the speech charge is subtracted from the residual amount, and the read/write means 4 records a new residual amount onto the data card 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data card type telephone such as a public telephone or a portable telephone which transmits a call using a so-called prepaid card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable telephones or
The spread of PHS (PERSONAL HANDYPHON SYSTEM) is remarkable. Generally, the call charges for these mobile phones (hereinafter, the mobile phone and the PHS are collectively referred to as a mobile phone) are paid by debiting the bank account designated by the user on a predetermined day every month. The purchaser (user) designates the bank account and the like when purchasing a mobile phone.

In recent years, some people have illegally used public telephones and mobile phones, which has become a social problem. In other words, when purchasing a mobile phone, a fictitious bank account was specified, or a fraudulently obtained other person's bank account was specified, so that the user did not pay the fee, A case has been reported that sells a purchased mobile phone to a third party.

[0004] Such an unauthorized user or a third party uses the mobile phone as much as possible after purchasing the mobile phone until the mobile phone operator sends a notice describing the call charge and the like. Will be discarded. By doing so, an unauthorized user or a third party is prevented from knowing the illegal act. Further, the unauthorized user newly purchases, sells, or uses the mobile phone by the same means.

[0005] In order to prevent the above-mentioned unauthorized use, a sales company or the like that sells a mobile phone is required to submit documents or the like identifying a purchaser when selling a mobile phone. In the present situation, a person makes illegal purchases as described above by means of forging such documents or the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to reliably prevent unauthorized use such as purchasing a telephone by designating a fictitious bank account. At the same time, a telephone carrier intends to provide a data card type mobile phone capable of surely collecting a call charge.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object,
The data card telephone according to the present invention is characterized in that it is a telephone that can make a call by inserting a data card. In the data card type telephone according to the present invention, a predetermined amount of money is recorded in the data card in advance, and the balance can be freely recorded by subtracting the call charge within this amount.

As such a data card, a magnetic data card as described in claim 4 or an IC data card incorporating a product circuit as described in claim 5 or A capacitive data card as described in item 6 can be adopted. In particular, the above-mentioned capacitive data card is preferable because forgery and alteration can be almost completely prevented.

On the other hand, the telephone reads out the insertion slot for inserting the data card and the balance of the data card inserted in the insertion slot. Reading and writing means for writing the data card after subtracting the corresponding call charge, determining means for determining whether or not the balance of the data card read by the reading and writing means is zero; Means for closing when it is determined that the balance is not 0, a switch means for enabling a call from the telephone, a timer means for measuring a call time when the call is made, and a call per unit time based on the telephone number sent. The charge is calculated, and the call charge per unit time is calculated based on the call charge per unit time and the call time measured by the timer unit. The comprises well as subtracted from the balance, and calculating means for sending a signal indicative of the balance after the subtraction to the read and write means. The reading and writing means is configured to update and record a new balance on the data card every time the signal is sent from the arithmetic means.

Further, as described in claim 2, the balance recorded on the data card can be freely displayed on display means provided in the telephone, or as described in claim 3,
The judging means has a function to make it possible to detect that the balance recorded on the data card has reached a predetermined amount, and the judging means has detected that the balance recorded on the data card has reached a predetermined amount. If you do, the display provided on the mobile phone,
That effect can also be displayed.

As a telephone to which the present invention can be applied, not only a general telephone, a business telephone and a public telephone but also a portable telephone can be applied.

[0012]

In the data card type telephone according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, a data card having a non-zero balance can be inserted into the telephone so that the telephone can make a call. Other operations such as the operation at the time of incoming call are the same as those of the conventional telephone. That is, when a call is made by the telephone of the present invention,
When calling from this phone, as described above,
A data card with a non-zero balance is inserted into the insertion slot of the telephone. The balance is read by the reading and writing means, and is determined by the determining means. If the determining means determines that the balance is not 0, the switch means is closed and transmission is possible. After the transmission, the timer means measures the call time, and the calculating means subtracts the call charge from the balance according to the call time. The new balance after the subtraction is sent to the reading and writing means, which writes the data to the data card. When a call is received from another person, the call can be made in the same manner as a conventionally known telephone.

The data card is issued by a telephone company. As a result, the telephone company can collect the call charges in advance, and thus can prevent the uncollected call charges due to the unauthorized use as described above. As for the method of selling the data card, the convenience of the user can be achieved by selling the data card at various stores such as a convenience store and a cigarette store, similarly to a conventionally known telephone card and the like.

[0014]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a data card type mobile phone of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the data card type mobile phone.

[0015] The data card type mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment.
Can be transmitted by inserting a data card 2 whose balance is not zero.

The data card 2 has a predetermined amount of money (for example, 500 yen, 1000 yen, 3000 yen, 5000 yen, 10,000 yen)
Is recorded, and the balance is freely recordable by subtracting the call charge within this amount.

The data card 2 may be a magnetic data card conventionally known as a telephone card, an IC data card incorporating an integrated circuit (IC), or a capacitive card. Data card can be adopted. Of course, when a hybrid card is adopted by appropriately combining these methods, security is further enhanced, and forgery and falsification can be more highly prevented.

This capacitive Dita card is:
It is called an electric data card and includes a plurality of electrodes, and forms a plurality of capacitors between the electrodes provided in a read / write device (means). Data is recorded based on the capacitance values of the plurality of capacitors. That is, reading of this capacitive data card
The reading is performed by reading the capacitance of the plurality of capacitors, and the writing is performed by cutting off an electric path leading to a desired one of the plurality of capacitors.
Such a capacitive data card is preferable because forgery and alteration can be almost completely prevented.

On the other hand, the portable telephone 1 has an insertion opening 3 for inserting the data card 2 on a part of a side surface.
The mobile phone 1 further includes a reading / writing unit 4, a determining unit 5, a switching unit 6, a timer unit 7, and a calculating unit 8 inside.

The reading and writing means 4 reads out the balance of the data card 2 inserted into the insertion slot 3 and, when a call is made by the mobile phone 1, subtracts a call charge according to the call time. After that, the new balance is written in the data card 2. Such a reading and writing means 4 is provided as small as possible by integrating circuits provided in a public telephone or the like and having the same configuration as those conventionally known.

The determining means 5 determines whether or not the balance of the data card 2 read by the reading and writing means 4 is zero. The switch means 6 is closed when the determination means 5 determines that the balance is not 0, and enables the mobile phone 1 to make a call.
Such a switch means 6 includes, for example, a first contact (not shown) which is closed by inserting the data card 2 and a switch which is closed when the determination means 5 determines that the balance is not zero. The second contact point (not shown) can be configured by providing a circuit for transmitting a signal provided in the mobile phone 1.

The switch means 6 can be constructed by providing only the second contact. However, from the viewpoint of making the modification difficult and preventing unauthorized use, as described above, the two contact points are used. Is effective. Whether to provide only the second contact or to provide both the first and second contacts is a matter of design.

The timer means 7 measures the talk time when a call is made from the portable telephone 1.

The calculating means 8 calculates a telephone charge per unit time (for example, one minute) from the transmitted telephone number (area code), and calculates the telephone charge per unit time and the timer means 7. The call charge per unit time is subtracted from the balance according to the measured call time. At the same time, a signal representing the balance after the subtraction is sent to the reading and writing means 4. In the case of this embodiment, the calculating means 8, the timer means 7, and the judging means 5 are composed of a single microprocessing unit (M
PU).

Note that some mobile phones have conventionally been provided with an MPU (CP) to provide functions such as display of date and time, determination of battery consumption, storage of a plurality of telephone numbers, and the like.
U). Therefore, the calculating means 8, the timer means 7, and the judging means 5 are connected to the conventional MP
U (CPU) can be used or newly added. Further, a program and data for calculating a telephone charge per unit time based on the transmitted telephone number (area code) are stored in a ROM (ReadOnl).
y Memory) and attached to the above circuit. However, this ROM can be exchanged freely so as to be able to cope with the revision of the call charge.

In order to prevent unauthorized use of the ROM,
For example, data indicating the version of the ROM is transmitted to a relay station or the like in accordance with the transmission by the mobile phone 1, and if the version is old, no signal is sent to the telephone of the other party.

That is, even after the call charge is revised, the ROM before the revision is
There is a case where the user keeps using the camera without replacing it. In such a case, if the revised call rate is raised, aside from the case where the revised call rate is reduced, there is a great disadvantage for the telephone company. Therefore, as described above, as an example of the countermeasure, data indicating the ROM version is transmitted along with the transmission, and a signal is not sent to the telephone of the other party depending on the version.

When a signal representing the balance after the subtraction is sent from the arithmetic means 8, the reading and writing means 4 updates and records the new balance on the data card 2. Further, the balance is displayed on a liquid crystal display 9 provided as a display means provided on the mobile phone 1. The configuration relating to the liquid crystal display 9 and portions other than the above-described configuration is the same as that of a conventionally known mobile phone.

Further, in the data card type portable telephone of this embodiment, the judgment means 5 has a function of detecting that the balance recorded on the data card 2 has reached a predetermined amount (for example, 10 yen). I'm making it. And this determination means 5
However, when it is detected that the balance recorded on the data card 2 has reached the predetermined amount, it informs the liquid crystal display 9 that the balance of the data card 2 has decreased. In this case, a warning sound may be emitted. Since the cellular phone is originally provided with a sound emitting function for notifying an incoming call, the above notification can be made using this function.

When using the data card type portable telephone of the present invention configured as described above, the following is performed.

First, when an incoming call arrives at the portable telephone 1, it can be used (call) without inserting the data card 2 as in the conventional portable telephone. On the other hand, when making a call using this mobile phone 1, the data card 2 whose balance is not 0 is inserted into the insertion slot 3. This allows the mobile phone 1 to make a call.

That is, when the data card 2 having a non-zero balance is inserted, the reading and writing means 4 reads the balance of the data card 2, and the judging means 5 recognizes that the balance is not zero and switches the data. 6 is closed (ON
), And the mobile phone 1 can make a call. The subsequent calling operation is the same as in the case of the conventional mobile phone. If the balance of the data card 2 inserted for transmission using the mobile phone 1 is 0, the fact is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. Also,
A warning sound may be emitted at the same time. In this way, the user is notified that a new data card 2 should be inserted.

After the call is transmitted as described above, the timer means 7 measures the talk time. Further, the calculating means 8 calculates the communication charge per unit time from the transmitted telephone number (area code), and calculates the communication charge per unit time and the communication time measured by the timer means 7. The call charge per unit time is subtracted from the above balance. At the same time, a signal representing the balance after the subtraction is sent to the reading and writing means 4.

The reading and writing means 4 updates and records a new balance on the data card 2 in response to the signal sent from the calculating means 8. That is, the reading and writing means 4 calculates a new balance obtained by subtracting the call charge required for the call for the unit time from the balance recorded on the data card 2 every time the unit time elapses. Write to card 2. Further, the balance is displayed on a liquid crystal display 9 provided in the mobile phone 1.

As described above, the mobile phone 1 of the present embodiment is
, The balance of the data card 2 is reduced. When the determining means 5 detects that the balance recorded on the data card 2 has reached the predetermined amount, the balance on the data card 2 is reduced by a display on the liquid crystal display 9 or a warning sound. Notify that it has become. The user prepares a new data card 2 by such a display or a warning sound, and replaces the data card 2 when the balance of the inserted data card 2 becomes zero. Thereby, the call can be continued.

The data card 2 is issued by a telephone company. As a result, such a company can collect the call charges in advance, and thus can prevent the call charges from being uncollected due to the unauthorized use as described above. As for the method of selling the data card 2, the convenience of the user can be achieved by selling the data card 2 at various stores such as a convenience store and a cigarette store, similarly to a conventionally known telephone card and the like.

Since the data card type portable telephone according to the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, the illegal use as described above is reliably prevented. Also,
This will help prevent crimes involving unauthorized use of such mobile phones.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a portable telephone has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that a general telephone and a business telephone are used. It can also be applied to public telephones.

[0039]

The data card type portable telephone of the present invention has the following features.
With the configuration and operation described above, unauthorized use of purchasing a mobile phone by designating a fictitious bank account can be reliably prevented. In addition, the mobile phone operator can surely collect the call charges. As a result, it is possible to contribute to the healthy spread of mobile phones.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the mobile phone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 2 Data card 3 Slot 4 Reading and writing means 5 Judging means 6 Switching means 7 Timer means 8 Computing means 9 Liquid crystal display

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A telephone capable of making a call by inserting a data card, said data card having a predetermined amount of money recorded in advance, and subtracting a call charge from said amount to record the balance. The telephone can read the slot for inserting the data card and the balance of the data card inserted into the slot. Reading and writing means for subtracting the call charge from the data card and writing the data card to the data card; determining means for determining whether the balance of the data card read by the reading and writing means is 0; But the above balance is 0
Switch means for closing when it is determined not to be possible to make a call from the telephone, timer means for measuring the call time when the call is made, and calculating the call charge per unit time based on the called telephone number. Computing means for subtracting the call charge per unit time from the balance by the per-call charge and the call time measured by the timer means, and transmitting a signal representing the balance after the subtraction to the read and write means, Wherein the reading and writing means updates and records a new balance on the data card every time the signal is sent from the calculating means. 2. The balance recorded on the data card is
2. The data card type telephone according to claim 1, wherein the data card type telephone can be displayed on display means provided on the telephone. 3. The determination means is capable of detecting that the balance recorded on the data card has reached a predetermined amount, and in this case, a display provided on the mobile phone displays the fact. A data card telephone according to claim 2. 4. The data card telephone according to claim 1, wherein the data card is a magnetic data card. 5. The data card telephone according to claim 1, wherein the data card is an IC data card incorporating an integrated circuit. 6. The data card according to claim 1, wherein said data card is a capacitive card.
4. The data card telephone according to claim 1, wherein the telephone is a data card. 7. The data card type telephone according to claim 1, wherein said telephone is a portable telephone having an insertion opening for inserting said data card. .