Information input/output controller for telephone lines
First Claim
1. An information input/output controller for telephone lines to which is connected a charge line, which incorporates a charging function, and a non-charge line, which does not incorporate a charging function, and which comprises(a) a memory means for the storage of data,(b) an input means which converts information input either from said charge line or from said non-charge line to a data format and then writes said data into said memory means along with identification data specifying the line on which said information was received, and(c) an output means which, on receipt of an information data read request from either said charge line or said non-charge line, reads the requested information data from said memory means and outputs it to said charge line or said non-charge line, while at the same time restricting the output of said information data to said non-charge line in cases where the line indicated by the identification data and the line on which the read request was received are in both cases said non-charge line.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention converts information input from either a charge line or a non-charge line to data form and then stores it in a memory device along with identification data specifying the type of line on which the information was received. It also reads information from the memory device in response to information read requests received by way either of a charge line or of a non-charge line and, when called upon to output said information either to a charge line or to a non-charge line, it inhibits the output of the information to a non-charge line in cases where the line indicated by the aforementioned identification data and the line on which the information read request is received are both non-charge lines. This enables either the sending party or the receiving party of a service, but not both, to be charged for the service while at the same time ensuring that, if the sending party and the receiving party of the service both use a non-charge line, the output of the information will be inhibited in order to preserve the integrity of the charging function. Moreover, if the line indicated by the identification data and the line on which the read request is received are both charge lines, a message is sent to the issuer of the read request to indicate the availability of a non-charge line. This prevents the sending party and the receiving party of the same service from both being charged for the service.
12 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An information input/output controller for telephone lines to which is connected a charge line, which incorporates a charging function, and a non-charge line, which does not incorporate a charging function, and which comprises
(a) a memory means for the storage of data, (b) an input means which converts information input either from said charge line or from said non-charge line to a data format and then writes said data into said memory means along with identification data specifying the line on which said information was received, and (c) an output means which, on receipt of an information data read request from either said charge line or said non-charge line, reads the requested information data from said memory means and outputs it to said charge line or said non-charge line, while at the same time restricting the output of said information data to said non-charge line in cases where the line indicated by the identification data and the line on which the read request was received are in both cases said non-charge line.
Specification