JPS63189041A - Variable telephone charge informing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use a network facility by leveling traffic, by measuring the traffic in a network continuously, increasing/decreasing a charge corresponding to the volume of the traffic, and informing a present charge to a subscriber. CONSTITUTION:The traffic in a telephone network is measured at a traffic measuring instrument 4 based on the count data of the number of calls and that of simultaneous connection lines in an exchange 3, and a measured data is sent to a charge informing device 5 continuously. At the charge informing device 5, a charging step in which a high charge for the large volume of the traffic, and a low charge for the small volume of the traffic are applied is selected. The charging step selected at the charge informing device 5 is informed to the exchange 3, and the exchange 3 informs the charging step at a time when the subscriber places a call to the subscriber.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a system for notifying subscribers of telephone service charges.

(Prior art) In current telephone services, times when demand for communication is generally low and there is expected to be surplus network equipment such as lines, such as nighttime/midnight discounts and Saturday/daily discounts.

Rates are fixedly discounted for the day of the week.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, for example, there is a phenomenon in which traffic suddenly increases just after 9:00 p.m., when late-night discounts begin, and network equipment must be increased in response to this, which goes against the initial purpose. The disadvantage was that traffic leveling and network equipment could not be used effectively.

The purpose of the present invention is to level out traffic and make effective use of network equipment by measuring traffic within the network from time to time, increasing or decreasing charges accordingly, and notifying subscribers of the current charges. The aim is to improve convenience for subscribers.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention measures the traffic within the network from time to time, increases the charges when the traffic is large, and lowers the charges when the traffic is small. The most important feature is to notify you of the charges.

In conventional technology, charges are fixedly changed depending on the time of day or day of the week, but the present invention differs in that charges are changed moment by moment according to traffic.

(Function) According to the present invention, a traffic measuring device is installed in the telephone network to collect data on the number of calls and the number of lines connected simultaneously, and based on the data, a rate notification device determines a higher rate level when there is a large amount of traffic. , and select a lower rate tier when traffic is low. The selected rate tier is communicated to the subscriber via the exchange.

(Effects of the Invention) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a telephone;
2 is the telephone network consisting of lines and exchanges, 3 is the exchange, 4
5 is a traffic measurement device, and 5 is a fee notification device.

The traffic within the telephone network is measured by a traffic measuring device 4 based on the counting data of the number of calls and the number of simultaneously connected lines in the exchange 3.
The charge notification device 5 is notified of the measurement data every moment. Note that the counting of the number of calls and the number of simultaneously connected lines in the exchange is also carried out in conventional exchanges. The charge notification device 5 selects a higher charge tier as the traffic is larger, and selects a lower charge tier as the traffic is smaller. The rate level selected by the rate notification device 5 is notified to the exchange 3, and in the exchange 3, the subscriber
When attempting to make a call, the subscriber is notified of the current rate level.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a telephone set and an exchange for implementing the present invention. 11 is a telephone handset, 12 is a hook switch, 13 is a charge information receiving circuit, 14 is a charge display, 31 is a communication line switch of an exchange, 32 is a central control unit, and 33 is a charge information transmitter. . When the subscriber takes the handset off-hook to make a call, the hook switch engages, and the exchange 3 detects this and connects it to the rate information transmitting device 33. The charge information transmitting device 33 transfers the current charge information to the off-hook telephone in response to a command from the central control unit 32 that stores the charge information from the charge notification device 5. This information is received by the charge information receiving circuit 13 in the telephone and displayed on the charge display 14. The subscriber determines whether or not to actually make a call based on this display, dials the number if he or she wants to make a call, or simply goes on-hook if he or she does not want to make a call. In this configuration example,
As a method of transmitting charge information from the exchange 3 to the telephone set 1, either a pulse format for turning on and off the line or a format using a tone signal within the voice band can be applied. Furthermore, it is also possible to use an announcement machine as a charge information transmitting device within the exchange and notify subscribers of charges by voice. In this case, the charge information receiving circuit 13 and the charge display 14 in the telephone are unnecessary, and the present invention can be implemented using a conventional telephone.

Note that although the above description has been made using a telephone as an example, the present invention is also applicable to general communication forms including data communication and the like.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, in the present invention, the traffic within the network is measured moment by moment, the charges are increased or decreased accordingly, and the current charges are notified to the subscribers.
It has the effect of encouraging subscribers to make calls when traffic is high, and suppressing calls when traffic is heavy.It is possible to level out traffic, make effective use of network equipment, and improve convenience for subscribers. It is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an exchange and a telephone set for implementing the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Telephone device, 2...Telephone network, 3...Switchboard, 4...Traffic measuring device, 5...
Charge notification device, 11... Handset, 12... Hook switch, 13... Charge information receiving circuit, 14...
Charge display, 31...Call path switch, 32...
- Central control device, 33... Charge information transmitting device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It is characterized by linking with a traffic measurement function within the telephone network, setting multiple rate levels according to the amount of traffic from moment to moment, and notifying telephone subscribers of the set rate levels via the telephone line. Variable telephone charge notification method.