JP2001197222A - Device for generating toll charging pulse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toll charging pulse generating device capable of supplying a charging pulse to a communication terminal needing a charging pulse while a normal analog telephone line or an ISDN telephone line which do not supply a charging pulse are used. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a dial signal transmitting means transmitting a dial signal to the analog telephone line or the analog port of a terminal adapter, a charging interval setting means setting a charging interval on the basis of the dial signal, a period detecting means detecting the communicable period of the communication terminal 5, and a charging pulse generating means 13 transmitting a charging pulse on the basis of the charging interval to the terminal 5 during the communicable period.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging pulse generator for supplying a charging pulse to a communication terminal such as a pink telephone requiring the charging pulse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of using a communication terminal such as a pink telephone which requires a charging pulse, a contract for using an analog telephone line with a charging pulse is separately made conventionally. It should be noted that a billing signal is not transmitted in the ISDN telephone line which has recently become widespread.

[0003]

The contract of an analog telephone line with a dedicated charging pulse involves an economic burden, and also causes a problem that the degree of freedom of charging the communication terminal is hindered. In addition, when an analog telephone line with a charging pulse is used, there is also a problem that the following services, which are available on a normal analog telephone line that does not supply a charging pulse, cannot be received.

1) LCR (Least Cost R)
outing) function. In other words, if you are subscribed to multiple carriers' lines, the system automatically determines and selects the carrier's line with the lowest communication fee based on the area code of the dialed telephone number, etc. A minimum line selection function for dialing by adding an identification number (eg, 001, 0088, 0077, etc.) to the destination telephone number. 2) Connection with PHS (Personal Handy Phone System), directory assistance 104. 3) Public connection. This is a form in which two public networks are connected by a dedicated line, and the dedicated line portion can also use the Internet. Therefore, the effect of reducing charges for international calls is particularly great.

[0005] In view of such a situation, an object of the present invention is to provide:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a billing pulse generator capable of supplying a billing pulse to a communication terminal that requires a billing pulse while using a normal analog telephone line or ISDN telephone line to which a billing pulse is not supplied.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A billing pulse generator interposed between an analog telephone line having no billing pulse and a communication terminal, or between an analog port of a terminal adapter used in an ISDN telephone line and the communication terminal, wherein a dial signal is transmitted. Dial signal transmitting means for transmitting to the analog port of the analog telephone line or the terminal adapter, charging interval setting means for setting a charging interval based on the dial signal, and period detecting means for detecting a communicable period of the communication terminal, Charging bill generation means for sending a charging pulse based on the charging interval to the communication terminal during the communication enabled period,
It has the structure provided with.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the dial signal transmitting means selects a connection route adapted to the dial signal emitted from the communication terminal and selects the dial signal. It is configured to change to a dial signal for designating the line of the connected connection route and transmit it.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2
In the invention, the state detection means is configured to detect a period from a point in time when the polarity of the analog port of the analog telephone line or the terminal adapter is inverted to a point in time when the communication terminal goes on-hook as the communicable period. I have.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the charging pulse generating means inverts the polarity of the driving voltage supplied to the communication terminal by a switching element. It is configured to generate a charging pulse.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a charging pulse generator according to the present invention. In the standby state of the charging pulse generator, the movers of the relays 1 to 4 are connected to the illustrated side.

In this standby state, when the communication terminal 5 such as a telephone goes off-hook, the positive terminal of the DC power supply (for example, the output voltage is 48 volts) 6 → the contact S1 of the relay 1
−a → contact S2-a of relay 2 → voice signal blocking coil L
1 → resistance R1 → loop current detection circuit 7 → communication terminal 5 → resistance R2 → voice signal blocking coil L2 → contact S2 of relay 2
A current loop of −c → 0 volt terminal of the power supply 6 is formed. The communication terminal 5 is a terminal that requires a charging pulse, and a typical example thereof is a pink telephone.

As shown in FIG. 2, the loop current detecting circuit 7 includes a light emitting diode D connected in anti-parallel between terminals a and b.
1, D1 'and a phototransistor Q1 which is turned on based on the light emission of the light emitting diodes D1, D1'. Therefore, when the current loop is formed, the light emitting diode D1 emits light and the phototransistor Q1 turns on. Thus, the loop current detection circuit 7 detects the loop current and outputs a signal indicating that the current loop has been formed. This signal is applied to a control microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) 8 as an off-hook signal.

The microcomputer 8 includes the loop current detection circuit 7
, The off-hook of the communication terminal 5 is recognized based on the output signal, and the movable element of the relay 4 is moved from the contact S4-a to the contact S4-a.
Switch to b side. Loop current / polarity detection circuit 9 interposed between the mover of relay 4 and the secondary winding of transformer T
Are light-emitting diodes D2 and D3 connected in anti-parallel between terminals a and b, as shown in FIG.
Phototransistors Q2 and Q3 are turned on based on the light emission of D3.

Therefore, when the movable element of the relay 4 is switched from the contact S4-a to the contact S4-b as described above, the normal analog telephone lines L and L 'without supply of the charging pulse cause the loop current. -DC coupling is performed via the polarity detection circuit 9 and the secondary winding of the transformer T.
That is, a state in which transmission to the lines L and L 'is possible is established. In this state, when the communication terminal 5 dials a telephone number, a dial signal is output from the communication terminal 5. The dial signal includes a dial pulse signal (hereinafter abbreviated as DP) and a push button signal (hereinafter P).
B).

The DP is formed by interrupting the loop current in the communication terminal 5. Therefore, when the dial signal is DP, this DP is detected by the loop current detection circuit 7 and taken into the microcomputer 8. On the other hand, when the dial signal is a PB, the PB is input to a DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency) signal detector 10 via DC blocking capacitors C1 and C2, and is converted into a digital signal. 8.

FIG. 4 exemplifies a procedure executed in the microcomputer 8. In this procedure, in step 20, it is determined whether or not the current loop has been formed based on the output of the DTMF signal detector 9, that is, whether or not the communication terminal 5 has gone off-hook. When it is determined that the user is off-hook, the telephone number is stored in step 21. That is, based on the dial signal output from the loop current detection circuit 7 or the DTMF signal detector 10 based on the dial operation of the communication terminal 5, the telephone number of the other party is stored.

In the next step 22, it is determined whether or not the telephone number is a local number. If the telephone number is not a local number, that is, if it is a toll number, the telephone to be transmitted in step 23 is called. Determine the number. In other words, the toll number and the connection route table stored in the memory in advance (table in which the line routes and usage fee information of a plurality of contracted communication carriers are recorded)
Based on the above, the connection number of the route with the lowest communication fee is selected and determined. And, based on that connection number,
The stored telephone number is changed (for example, a number is added) to a number adapted to the selected connection route, and the telephone number to be transmitted is determined.

Next, at step 24, a charging interval is determined based on the determined telephone number to be sent and a charging interval table stored in advance in the memory. That is, since the charging interval corresponding to the connection route is arbitrarily set by the terminal owner in the charging interval table, the information indicating the connection route included in the telephone number to be transmitted and the contents of the charging interval table are set. , A charging interval corresponding to the connection route is determined.

When the telephone number to be sent and the charging interval are determined as described above, a dial process is executed in step 25. That is, a DP or PB corresponding to the telephone number to be transmitted is transmitted. At this time, D
P is transmitted by interrupting the mover of the relay 4. That is, the mover of the relay 4 that is currently connected to the contact S4-b is intermittently connected, and the line L,
The signal is transmitted to the lines L and L 'by intermittent DC connection between L'. On the other hand, the PB passes through the route of the microcomputer 8 → DTFM signal transmitter 11 → contacts S3-a and S3-b of relay 3 → transformer T → loop current / polarity detection circuit 9 → contact contact S4-b of relay 4. The call is transmitted to the lines L and L '.

Based on the dial signal transmitted to the lines L and L ', when the exchange of the exchange (not shown) connects the communication terminal of the other party to the lines L and L', Based on the operation, the polarity of the DC voltage applied to the lines L and L 'is inverted. When the polarity is inverted, the on / off state of the phototransistors Q2 and Q3 (see FIG. 3) provided in the loop current / polarity detection circuit 9 changes. Therefore, the inversion of the polarity is detected by the loop current / polarity detection circuit 9.

Therefore, in step 26, based on the polarity inversion output of the loop current / polarity detection circuit 9, the completion of the connection with the other party is detected, and the communication path of the connection terminal 5 is formed. That is, by switching and connecting each mover of the relay 3 to the contacts S3-b and S3-d, the terminal 5 is connected to the transformer T via the capacitors C1 and C2.
Connected to the primary winding.

The lines L, L '
(For example, a call) by the terminal 5 via the terminal 5 is enabled, and a billing pulse is sent to the terminal 5 in the next step 27. Here, the procedure for forming the charging pulse will be described.

At present, the current loop described above, that is, the positive terminal of the DC power supply → the contact S of the relay 1
1-a → contact S2-a of relay 2 → voice signal blocking coil L1 → resistor R1 → loop current detection circuit 7 → communication terminal 5 →
Resistance R2 → Audio signal blocking coil L2 → Contact S of relay 2
A current loop of 2-c → 0 volt terminal of the power supply 6 is formed. At this time, a positive voltage indicated by a in FIG. 5 is generated between the terminals P1 and P2 of the terminal 5.

The mover of the relay 1 is switched to the contact S1-b side to stop the loop current. Thereby, the voltage between the terminals P1 and P2 of the terminal 5 is represented by the symbol b in FIG.
Drop to 0 volts, as indicated by.

Each mover of the relay 2 is connected to a contact S
2-B and S2-d are switched, and the mover of the relay 1 is returned to the contact S1-a. As a result, a current flows in the terminal 5 in a direction opposite to the loop current, and as a result,
A negative voltage indicated by reference numeral c in FIG. 5 is generated between the terminals P1 and P2 of the terminal 5.

The negative voltage is applied for a certain period (c to d in FIG. 5).
After that, the movable element of the relay 1 is switched to the contact S1-b. As a result, the loop current stops flowing, and the voltage between the terminals P1 and P2 of the terminal 5 rises to 0 volt, as indicated by the symbol e in FIG.

Each mover of the relay 2 is connected to a contact S
2-A and S2-b are returned, and the mover of the relay 1 is returned to the contact S1-a. As a result, a loop current flows in the terminal 5 in the same direction, and as a result, a positive voltage indicated by a symbol f in FIG. 5 is generated between the terminals P1 and P2 of the terminal 5.

The charging pulse is a signal having a shape indicated by reference characters a to f in FIG. 5. In step 27, the charging pulse is repeated at the charging interval determined in step 24 during communication of the communication terminal 5. Send it to terminal 5. Terminal 5
Has a known means for defining the communication time based on the charging pulse. As is clear from the above explanation,
The power supply 7 and the relays 1 and 2
Is composed.

In the next step 28, it is determined whether or not the communication terminal 5 has gone on-hook. That is, when the terminal goes on-hook, the output of the loop current detection circuit 7 is turned off.
It is determined whether or not is on-hook. Then, when the on-hook is determined, it is recognized that the communication connection has been completed, and the apparatus returns to the standby state in step 29.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 22 that the local number is a local number, the procedure proceeds to step 25 after the charging interval corresponding to the local number is determined in step 30. . Of course, the charging interval corresponding to the local number is also determined based on the contents of a charging interval table (not shown) (charging interval arbitrarily set by the terminal owner). The coils L1, L shown in FIG.
Numeral 2 is provided as voice component blocking means for preventing the communication sound from leaking to the power supply 6 side. The resistance R
1 and R2 are provided for the purpose of adjusting the amount of current to the communication terminal 5.

Although the charging pulse generator according to the above embodiment uses the relays 1 to 4 as the changeover switch elements, a semiconductor switch element may be used instead.
Although the charging pulse generator of the above embodiment is connected to ordinary telephone lines L1 and L2 to which no charging pulse is supplied, the charging pulse generator can be connected to an ISDN line. In this case, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 1, the terminal adapter (TA) 12 is connected to an analog port. Of course, the above terminal adapter 1
1 can be built in the charging pulse generator without being externally attached.

Note that the control microcomputer 8 also performs an incoming call process, but does not require charging when an incoming call is received. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the circuit for incoming call is omitted and only the circuit for outgoing is shown.

[0033]

According to the billing pulse generating apparatus of the present invention, a billing pulse is supplied to a communication terminal which needs a billing pulse while using a normal analog telephone line or ISDN telephone line which does not supply the billing pulse. Can be supplied. This eliminates the need for a contract fee for an analog telephone line with a billing pulse and eliminates the problem that free setting of billing is hindered. Another advantage is that the communication terminal can receive various services provided on a normal analog telephone line or ISDN telephone line that does not supply a charging pulse.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a charging pulse generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a loop current detection circuit.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a loop current / polarity detection circuit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a control microcomputer.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of a charging pulse.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4 Relay 5 Communication terminal 6 DC power supply 7 Loop current detection circuit 8 Control microcomputer 9 Loop current / polarity detection circuit 10 DTMF signal detector 11 DTMF signal transmitter 12 Terminal adapter 13 Billing pulse generation circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuo Nomura 5-9-15 Narita Higashi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5K025 AA04 AA05 EE14 FF02 5K040 CC06 DD02 5K101 LL01 NN02 NN48

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A billing pulse generator interposed between an analog telephone line having no billing pulse and a communication terminal, or between an analog port of a terminal adapter used in an ISDN telephone line and the communication terminal. Dial signal transmitting means for transmitting a dial signal to the analog telephone line or the analog port of the terminal adapter; charging interval setting means for setting a charging interval based on the dial signal; and detecting a communicable period of the communication terminal. A charging pulse generating device for transmitting a charging pulse based on the charging interval to the communication terminal during the communicable period. 2. The dial signal transmitting means selects a connection route adapted to a dial signal emitted by the communication terminal, and changes the dial signal to a dial signal designating a line of the selected connection route. 2. The charging pulse generating device according to claim 1, wherein the charging pulse generating device is configured to transmit the charging pulse. 3. The period detecting means is configured to detect, as the communicable period, a period from the time when the polarity of the analog port of the analog telephone line or the terminal adapter is inverted to the time when the communication terminal goes on-hook. The charging pulse generator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The charging pulse generating means is configured to generate the charging pulse by inverting the polarity of a driving voltage supplied to the communication terminal by a switch element. 4. The charging pulse generator according to any one of 1 to 3.