Patent ID: 8265592
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: H04M,H04W

Abstract:
1. A telephone apparatus having a calling card support function, the telephone apparatus comprising: a card information acquisition section configured to acquire card information on a plurality of calling cards; a card information storage section configured to simultaneously store therein the card information on the plurality of calling cards on a calling-card-by-calling-card basis, the stored card information being acquired by the card information acquisition section; and a control section configured to control a communication terminal to perform telephone communication with a communication counterpart by using the card information stored in the card information storage section, in such manner that: the control section causes the communication terminal to make a phone call to a communication network side and performs, via the communication terminal, the telephone communication with the communication counterpart via a telephone communication link with the communication counterpart by using the card information on a first one of the plurality of calling cards stored in the card information storage section; and the control section causes the communication terminal to again make the phone call to the communication network side in order to perform, via the communication terminal, the telephone communication with the same communication counterpart by using the card information on a second one of the plurality of calling cards stored in the card information storage section, provided that the control section determines that a predetermined conduction is satisfied; wherein the communication terminal is a cellular phone, the telephone apparatus further comprising: a power-on determination section configured to make a determination of whether the telephone apparatus is switched from power-off to power-on; and a data transfer protocol connection section configured to establish connection with the cellular phone by using a data transfer protocol for data transfer when the telephone apparatus and the cellular phone are communicatable with each other via a local wireless communication link, wherein the card information acquisition section is allowed to acquire, from the cellular phone, the card information on the plurality of calling cards stored in the cellular phone, in response to (i) the determination that the telephone is switched from the power-off to the power-on and (ii) establishment of the connection with the cellular phone by using the data transfer protocol, the connection allowing the cellular phone to transfer the card information on each calling card stored in the cellular phone.