Integrated accounting system

Claim 1

An integrated accounting system for a network structure which includes a telephone network and a packet network, said integrated accounting system comprising: a telephone exchange within the telephone network; a packet exchange within the packet network; a gate way coupling said telephone exchange and said packet exchange; a first terminal having an advance payment function and coupled to said telephone exchange, said first terminal including collecting means for collecting an amount of money; a second terminal coupled to said packet exchange, said second terminal being a packet mode terminal; said packet exchange including means for measuring a communication data quantity within the packet network during a communication between said first and second terminals, means for sending a control signal to said gate way every time a measured communication data quantity reaches a predetermined accounting unit of the telephone network, and means for initially sending the control signal when a call out from said first terminal is detected; said telephone exchange including means for generating a control signal for every said predetermined accounting unit which is dependent on a duration and distance of a communication within the telephone network, means for sending the control signal generated therein and the control signal received from said gate way to said first terminal, and means for initially sending the control signal when a call out from said first terminal is detected; and said collecting means of said first terminal collecting the amount of money responsive to the control signal received from said telephone exchange.