System for transfer control of telephone line

• US 6,778,654 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fintegraph, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: YOZAN, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhou, Changmine, Kiyomatsu, Hisanori, Takatori, Sunao
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): UBILES, MARIE C
• Application Number:
  US10/018,554
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/461, 455/517-519, 455/550.1, 455/554--55
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing

Abstract

A system for improving the level of service to the user, and billing according to user intentions while making effective use of telephone lines. The system includes a host computer (3) that controls communication services provided by telecommunications carriers, a base terminal (1) having base ID information which the host computer can identify, and a plurality of remote terminals (2A-2n.) having remote terminal ID information which the host computer can identify, to which control is transferred from the base terminal, and which communicate with the host computer. The base terminal (1) generates n remote IDs from which the host computer (3) can specify the base ID information based on the base ID information, for n remote terminals selected using the selection unit (12), and sends the generated remote IDs in turn to each remote terminal via a first communication device (4), and each remote terminal receiving the remote ID from the base terminal via the first communication device (5), appending remote terminal ID information, and sending the result to the host computer via a second communication device (23).

Claims

1. A telephone line control transfer system, comprising:

a host computer which controls communications services provided by telecommunications carriers;

a base terminal having base ID information which said host computer can identify; and

a plurality of remote terminals having remote terminal ID information which said host computer can identify, and which, upon receiving transfer of control from said base terminal, communicate with said host computer;

said base terminal having;

a first communication means to communicate with each remote terminal;

a selection means to select n remote terminals (n being an integer greater than or equal to

     1) to which control is to be transferred from among the remote terminals which have communicated via the first communication means; and

a control means to control said first communication means;

said remote terminals having;

a first communication means to communicate with said base terminal;

a second communication means to communicate with said host computer; and

a control means to control said first communication means and said second communication means;

said control means of said base terminal controlling said first communication means in order to generate n remote Ids based on said base ID information, from which said host computer can specify the base ID information, for n remote terminals selected using said selection means, and send the generated remote IDs in turn to each remote terminal; and

said control means of each of said remote terminals controlling said second communication means in order to, upon receipt of said remote terminal ID from said base terminal via said first communication means, append said remote terminal ID information to said received remote terminal ID, and send the results thereof to said host computer via said second communication means.

2. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said base ID information is a telephone number of user of said base terminal.

3. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said base terminal is equipped with a second communication means to communicate with said host computer.

4. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 3, wherein said second communication means of said base terminal communicates with said host computer within communication rate range pre-allocated by said host computer.

5. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 4, wherein said base terminal transfers control of the content communicated simultaneously to said host computer via said second communication means of each of said n remote terminals, within the communication rate range pre-allocated by said host computer.

6. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 5, wherein said base terminal, upon transfer of control, specifies communication rate used by said second communication means for at least one of said n remote terminals.

7. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 4, wherein said base terminal transfers control of the content communicated simultaneously to said host computer via said second communication means of said base terminal and said second communication means of said n remote terminals, within the communication rate range pre-allocated by said host computer.

8. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 7, wherein said base terminal, upon transfer of control, specifies communication rate used by said second communication means for said base terminal and/or at least one of said n remote terminals.

9. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 5, wherein said host computer has a communication rate monitoring unit which monitors the combined communication rate of communications by said base terminal and each of said n remote terminals via each second communication means, and adjusts it so that it falls within the communication rate range pre-allocated to said base terminal.

10. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 9, wherein said communication rate monitoring unit of said host computer proportionally reduces the communication rate used by each second communication means of said base terminal and said n remote terminals, in the event that the combined communication rate of communications by said base terminal and each of said n remote terminals via each second communication means exceeds the communication rate range pre-allocated to said base terminal.

11. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 6, wherein said communication rate monitoring unit of said host computer reduces the communication rate of said base terminal and/or said remote terminals that is not specified upon transfer of control from said base terminal to said n remote terminals, in the event that the combined communication rate of communications by said base terminal and each of said n remote terminals via each second communication means exceeds the communication rate range pre-allocated to said base terminal.

12. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said host computer controls so that the communications services provided by telecommunications carriers are received by said second communication means of each of said remote terminals, based on said remote terminal ID and said remote terminal ID information sent from said second communication means of each of said remote terminals.

13. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 12, wherein said host computer has a billing processing unit which processes billing charged to the user who has the base ID information, for the communications services provided by telecommunications carriers.

14. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said host computer controls Internet connection services as the communications services provided by telecommunications carriers.

15. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said host computer controls connection services to other telephones-as the communications services provided by telecommunications carriers.

16. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said first communication means so that said base terminal sends said remote terminal IDs, authentication information, and control content information showing control content to be transferred, to each of n remote terminals selected via said selection means.

17. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said selection means of said base terminal includes a display means to display a list of remote terminals which have communicated via said first communication means, and a configuration input means to configure n remote terminals from among the list of remote terminals displayed by said display means, to which control is to be transferred.

18. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the functions of said base terminal are transferred to said remote terminals, which communicate with said host computer via said second communication means.

19. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said remote terminals communicate with said host computer via said second communication means until receiving a control transfer halt signal via said first communication means signaling the halt of transfer of control.

20. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 2, wherein said base terminal is equipped with a second communication means to communicate with said host computer.

21. The telephone line control transfer system according to claim 8, wherein said communication rate monitoring unit of said host computer reduces the communication rate of said base terminal and/or said remote terminals that is not specified upon transfer of control from said base terminal to said n remote terminals, in the event that the combined communication rate of communications by said base terminal and each of said n remote terminals via each second communication means exceeds the communication rate range pre-allocated to said base terminal.