JPH0834528B2 - Public terminal billing information collection method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Outline] Regarding a public terminal that retains billing information and autonomously collects call charges, and an exchange terminal billing information collection method in an exchange that accommodates this type of public terminal, each public terminal Even if it becomes necessary to set the billing information to be held all at once, it is held in the billing information holding means in the public terminal for the purpose of reducing the labor applied to the maintenance person or the temporary load applied to the exchange as much as possible. A billing information setting request means for requesting the exchange to transfer the billing information when the first call is made after a request for setting the billing information is made, and a billing information holding means for charging the billing information transferred from the exchange. The billing information setting means for setting the billing information is set in the switchboard, and the exchange, corresponding to each public terminal accommodated, holds a setting display holding means for holding a setting display indicating whether or not to set the billing information held by each public terminal, and a public display. Corresponding to the calling public terminal when the call from the public terminal is received and the setting request detection means that analyzes whether or not the setting of the billing information is requested when the call from the public terminal is received. If the setting display detecting means for analyzing the setting display held in the setting display holding means and the setting request detecting means detect the request for setting the billing information, or if the setting display detecting means sets the setting display, A billing information transfer means for transferring the billing information to the public terminal when detected is provided.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a public terminal and an exchange, and more particularly to a public terminal that retains billing information and autonomously collects call charges, and a public terminal billing information collection method in an exchange that accommodates this type of public terminal.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, an exchange that accommodates a public telephone, which has been widely put into practical use, holds billing information such as an allowable call time per unit charge (that is, a charge storage period) that is determined by a call destination and a call time zone. When a call is made, the charge collection cycle is determined according to the call ground and the call time zone, and during a call, a charge collection pulse is sent to the public telephone for each charge collection cycle, and the public telephone stores the unit charge each time. Was there.

In this type of exchange, since a charge storage pulse is sent to all public telephones accommodated at every charge storage cycle, a large load is applied to the central control unit and the like, which imposes a call processing capability. was there.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional public terminal accommodating exchange in which such a problem is solved.

In FIG. 5, a public telephone 1 is accommodated in an exchange 2 via a subscriber line 4, and the exchange 2 has a charge center 3 that collectively manages charging information held by each exchange 2 and the like.
To the relay line 5.

The public telephone 1 holds a charging index r _i (i is 1 to n, the same applies hereinafter) that is determined by the call destination and the call time zone when a call is made, and the charge storage period t _i corresponding to the charging index r _i. The charging information table MT to be set is set in the storage unit 15.

When making a call from the public telephone 1, the control unit 14 sends a calling signal including the identification number of the call destination to the subscriber line 4 via the line interface unit 11, and the central control unit 24 of the exchange 2 Identifies the call destination by a known method, determines the charging index r _{i according} to the call time zone and the call destination, and returns it to the public telephone 1 via the subscriber line 4.

In the public telephone 1, when the control unit 14 receives the charging index r _i returned from the exchange 2 via the line interface 11, the charging information table MT in the storage unit 15 is referred to and the received charging index r _{i is} received. The charge storage period t _i corresponding to is extracted.

When the call is started, the control unit 14 monitors the elapsed time by the timer 16 and collects the charge period extracted from the billing information table MT.
Each time t _i elapses, the charge storage mechanism 17 is controlled to store the unit charge.

In the exchange 2 that accommodates such a public telephone 1,
The control unit 14 is released from the load of sending the charge storage pulse to each of the public telephones in the call at each charge storage cycle.

However, due to changes in the call charge system, all public telephones 1
When it becomes necessary to reset the billing information table MT held by the maintenance person, the maintenance person goes around each public telephone 1 to set the billing information table MT stored in the storage unit 15, or the exchange 2 Billing information MD received from the charge center 3 via the trunk line 5
Is required to be transferred to all the public telephones 1 via the subscriber line 4 and the billing information table MT is reset in the public telephones 1.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As is clear from the above description, in the conventional public terminal accommodating exchange, when the public telephone 1 holds the billing information table MT to autonomously store the call charges, the billing information table of each public telephone 1 There is a problem that the maintenance person spends a huge amount of labor to set the MT, or the load is intensively increased on the exchange 2 to set the billing information table MT of the accommodated public telephones 1 all at once. .

It is an object of the present invention to reduce labor required for a maintenance person or temporary load applied to an exchange as much as possible even when it becomes necessary to set billing information held by each public terminal all at once.

[Means for solving problems]

 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 100 is a public terminal and 110 is a public terminal 100.
Is a billing information holding means for holding billing information for collecting a call charge, and 2 is an exchange that accommodates the public terminal 100.

Reference numeral 120 is a billing information setting request means provided in the public terminal 100 according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 130 is a charging information setting means provided in the public terminal 100 according to the present invention.

210 is a setting display holding means provided in the exchange 2 according to the present invention.

220 is a setting request detecting means provided in the exchange 2 according to the present invention.

230 is a setting display detecting means provided in the exchange 2 according to the present invention.

240 is a charging information transfer means provided in the exchange 2 according to the present invention.

[Action]

In the public terminal 100, the charging information setting requesting means 120 is
After the request for setting the billing information held in the billing information holding means 110 is made, the switching device 2 is requested to transfer the billing information at the first call.

On the other hand, in the exchange 2, the setting display holding means 210 holds a setting display indicating whether or not the billing information held by each public terminal 100 should be set, corresponding to each public terminal 100 accommodated.

In this state, when the exchange 2 receives a call from the public terminal 100, the setting request detecting means 220 analyzes whether or not the setting of the billing information is requested, and the setting display detecting means 230 makes a call. Setting display holding means 21 corresponding to the public terminal 100
Analyze the configuration display held at 0.

As a result of the analysis, when the setting request detecting means 220 detects the setting request of the billing information or when the setting display detecting means 230 detects the necessity of setting the setting display, the billing information transfer means 240 publicizes the billing information. Transfer to the terminal 100.

In the public terminal 100, the billing information setting means 130 stores the billing information transferred from the exchange 2 in the billing information holding means 110.
Set to.

Therefore, even if it becomes necessary to reset the billing information held by each public terminal all at once due to modification of the call charge system, etc.
It will be set automatically when each public terminal makes a call for the first time, and there will be no need for maintenance personnel. Also, the load applied to the exchange to set the billing information will be the same as the call from each public terminal. Since it is dispersed at the time, it is possible to prevent a decrease in call processing capability.

The public terminal billing information collection method according to the present invention is also effective for setting billing information when a new public terminal is installed or when a restored public terminal is used again.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Second
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a public terminal accommodating exchange according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a charging information collecting process in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a signal transmitting / receiving process in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the drawings.

In FIG. 2, the public telephone 1 is shown as the public terminal 100 in FIG. 1, and in the public telephone 1, the billing information table MT is shown in the storage unit 15 as the billing information holding means 110 in FIG. Further, as the charging information setting requesting means 120 and the charging information setting means 130 in FIG.
A setting request sending unit 141 and a billing information setting unit 142 are provided in the inside of the exchange 2, and the subscriber data SD is stored in the storage device 25 in the exchange 2 as the setting display holding means 210 in FIG.
, And the setting request detecting means 220 in FIG.
As the setting display detecting means 230 and the charging information transferring means 240, a setting request detecting section 241, a setting display detecting section 242, and a charging information transferring section 243 are provided in the central controller 24.

The billing information table held by each corresponding public telephone 1 is included in the subscriber data SD provided in the storage device 25 corresponding to all the public telephones 1 accommodated in the exchange 2.
A setting flag f indicating whether or not MT needs to be set is stored. When setting is not necessary, it is set to logical "0", and when setting is necessary, it is set to logical "1".

2 to 4, the billing information table MT held by each public telephone 1 accommodated in the exchange 2 needs to be reset all at once due to a change in the call charge system or the like. All the setting flags f stored in the subscriber data SD corresponding to the telephone set 1 are set to logical "1".

In this state, when a call is made from any public telephone 1 which is accommodated in the exchange 2 and is operating normally, the control unit 14 issues a call-out signal including the identification number of the call destination and the identification number of the public telephone 1. SETUP is created and sent to the subscriber line 4 via the line interface 11.

The calling signal SETUP is provided with a billing information setting request m, and the billing information table MT stored in the storage unit 15 is stored.
Is set to logical "1" when the setting of
Since the public telephone 1 is currently operating normally and no setting is required, the billing information setting request m is sent in the state of being set to logic "0". In FIG. 4, a calling signal in which the billing information setting request m is set to logic "0" is shown as SETUP (m = 0).

In the exchange 2, when the central control unit 24 receives the call-out signal SETUP (m = 0) arriving from the subscriber line 4 via the line interface 21, the setting request detector 241 is activated to call out the call-out signal SETUP. The logical value of the billing information setting request m in (m = 0) is analyzed (step S1 in FIG. 3).

As a result of the analysis by the setting request detection unit 241, it is found that the billing information setting request m is set to the logical “0”,
(Step S2), then the central controller 24 is the setting display detector
242 is activated to analyze the logical value of the setting flag f stored in the subscriber data SD corresponding to the calling public telephone 1 (step S3).

As a result of the analysis by the setting display detection unit 242, the setting flag f
Is found to be set to logic "1" (step S4), the central controller 24 activates the billing information transfer unit 243 to execute the following billing information transfer process (step S5).

The billing information transfer unit 243 identifies the public telephone 1 as a telephone terminal by analyzing the subscriber data SD corresponding to the public telephone 1, and then creates the address signal IAM (T) including the telephone identification information T. Then, it is sent to the trunk line 5 reaching the toll center 3 via the line interface 23.

The charge center 3 is billing information for public terminals for telephones.
MD _T , billing information MD _D for public terminal for data, billing information MD _F for public terminal for facsimile, etc. are collectively managed, and address signal IAM arriving from trunk line 5
When (T) is received, the address completion signal ACM is returned to the exchange 2 via the trunk line 5 and the address signal IAM is sent.
(T) is analyzed and billing information MD for public terminals for telephones
Of the charging information MD _T is extracted and returned to the exchange 2 via the trunk line 5.

On the other hand, in the exchange 2, when the charging information transfer unit 243 receives the address completion signal ACM returned from the charge center 3, the subscriber line 4 and the relay line 5 are connected via the network 22.

Therefore, the billing information subsequently returned from the charge center 3
MD _T is transferred to the public telephone 1 via the subscriber line 4.

In the public telephone 1, when the control unit 14 receives via the line interface unit 11 the billing information MD _T arriving from the subscriber line 4, to start charging information setting unit 142, the charging stored in the storage unit 15 Reset the information table MT with the charging information MD _T.

While in exchange 2, the charging information MD _T is been transferred, along with billing information transfer unit 243 resets the update flag f of subscriber data in the SD corresponding to the public telephone 1 to a logical "0", the cutting signal When the REL is created and sent to the trunk line 5 via the line corresponding unit 23, and the disconnection completion signal RLC is returned from the charge center 3 which has received the disconnection signal REL, the network 2
The subscriber line 4 is set to 2 to release the connection between the trunk 5, it completes the process of transferring charging information MD _T.

After that, the central controller 24 executes the following call setting process (step S6).

That is, the central control unit 24 transmits the address signal IAM to the call ground illustrated by a known method based on the calling signal SETUP (m = 0) received from the public telephone 1, and the address completion signal ACM is transmitted. When the response signal ANC is returned from the call destination after being returned, a (?) Response signal CONN including the charging index r _i determined by a known method is returned to the public telephone 1, and the call path is transmitted via the network 22. To set.

In the public telephone 1, when the control unit 14 receives the response signal CONN arriving from the subscriber line 4 via the line corresponding unit 11, it refers to the set billing information table MT in the storage unit 15 and receives the response signal. The charge storage period t _i corresponding to the charge index r _i included in CONN is extracted, and the elapsed time is monitored by the timer 16, and the charge storage mechanism 17 is controlled every time the charge storage period t _i elapses, and the unit charge is set. To store.

Next, when the public telephone 1 is newly installed and starts operating, or when restarting operation after repair, the setting request sending unit 141 in the control unit 14 is activated and placed. At this moment, the storage unit 15 does not yet hold the normal billing information table MT.

When the first call originates from the public telephone 1 in such a state, the control unit 14 creates a call signal SETUP including the identification number of the call destination, the identification number of the public telephone 1, etc.
The setting request sending unit 141 sets the billing information setting request m to logical "1", and sends it to the subscriber line 4 via the line interface 11. In FIG. 4, a calling signal in which the billing information setting request m is set to logic "1" is shown as SETUP (m = 1).

In the exchange 2, the central control unit 24 sends the calling signal SETUP (m = 1) arriving from the subscriber line 4 to the line interface unit 21.
When it is received via the setting request detecting unit 241, the setting request detecting unit 241 is activated to analyze the logical value of the billing information setting request m in the calling signal SETUP (m = 1) (step S1).

As a result of the analysis by the setting request detection unit 241, when it is found that the billing information setting request m is set to the logical “1”,
(Step S2), the central controller 24 uses the billing information transfer unit 243.
To activate the charging information transfer process as described above (step S5).

Accounting information transferring unit 243 and to transfer the charging information MD _T for telephone terminal to the public telephone 1 from fee center 3 in the same manner as described above, the charging information setting unit 142 of the public telephone 1 is similar to the above, the receiving to set the charging information table MT by the billing information MD _T was in the storage unit 15 to start and stop the setting request transmitting section 141.

After that, the central control unit 24 executes the call setting process for the received call-out signal SETUP (m = 1) as described above (step S6).

As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, it becomes necessary or necessary to newly set the billing information table MT held by all the public telephones 1 accommodated in the exchange 2. Public telephone 1 or public telephone 1 after repair
When the first call is set, the charging information MD _T is automatically transferred from the charge center 3 to the public telephone 1, and the charging information table MT is set. Call charges for subsequent calls, including
It is collected based on the billing information table MT after setting.

It is to be noted that FIGS. 2 to 4 are merely examples of the present invention, and the public terminal 100 is not limited to the public telephone 1 for telephone, but is a public terminal for data or facsimile. However, many other modifications can be considered, but in any case, the effect of the present invention does not change. Further, the determination of the charging index r _i for the outgoing call is not limited to that determined by the exchange 2 and may be determined by the public terminal 100, but the effect of the present invention does not change in such a case. .

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, even if it becomes necessary to reset the billing information held by each public terminal all at once due to the modification of the call charge system, etc., it is automatically performed when each public terminal first makes a call. It will be set to, and there will be no labor of the maintenance person,
Further, since the load applied to the exchange for setting the billing information is also distributed when making a call from each public terminal, it is possible to prevent the reduction of the call processing capability.

It is also effective for setting the billing information when a new public terminal is installed or when the restored public terminal is used again.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a public terminal accommodating switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a second diagram.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a billing information collecting process, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a signal transmitting / receiving process in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional public terminal accommodating exchange. In the figure, 1 is a public telephone, 2 is an exchange, 3 is a toll center, 4 is a subscriber line, 5 is a trunk line, 1121 and 23 are line corresponding parts, 12 is a telephone basic part, 13 is a handset, and 14 is a control. Part, 15
Is a storage unit, 16 is a timer, 17 is a charge storage mechanism, 22 is a network, 24 is a central control device, 25 is a storage device, 100 is a public terminal, 110 is billing information holding means, 120 is billing information setting requesting means, 130 Is a billing information setting unit, 141 is a setting request transmission unit,
142 is a billing information setting unit, 210 is a setting display holding unit, 220 is a setting request detecting unit, 230 is a setting display detecting unit, 240 is a billing information transferring unit, 241 is a setting request detecting unit, 242 is a setting display detecting unit, 243 Indicates a billing information transfer unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A public terminal (100) comprising a billing information holding means (110) for holding billing information for collecting a call charge.
Then, after a request for setting the billing information held in the billing information holding means (110) occurs, at the time of the first call, the exchange (2) accommodating the public terminal (100) is connected to the exchange (2). Billing information setting request means (120) for requesting transfer of billing information
And a billing information setting means (130) for setting the billing information transferred from the exchange (2) in the billing information holding means (110), and each of the publics accommodated in the exchange (2). Corresponding to the terminal (100), a setting display holding means (210) for holding a setting display indicating whether or not to set the billing information held by each public terminal (100), and from the public terminal (100) When a call is received, setting request detection means (220) for analyzing whether or not the setting of the billing information is requested, and when the call from the public terminal (100) is received, The setting display holding means (2) corresponding to the call public terminal (100)
Setting display detection means (230) for analyzing the setting display set in (10), and the setting request detection means (220) detects the charging information setting request, or the setting display detection means (23
0) detects the necessity of setting in the setting display,
A public terminal billing information collecting method, comprising: a billing information transfer means (240) for transferring the billing information to the public terminal (100).