JP2000101574A - Charging method and device in internet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform meter rate charging only to a connection request side by performing charging corresponding to a packet number or a connection time or both to the connection request side. SOLUTION: A CF(control flag) is analyzed by a signaling recognition part 4 in a connection request side counter part 1'. In the case that the CF is SYN, a port number and an IP address are recognized, a timer operation is started, connection start is reported to a packet counter part 1 and the packet counter part 1 starts counting the number of packets for each port number and IP address. In the case that the CF is FIN, the port number and the IP address are recognized, whether or not it is during connection is judged, the operation of a timer is ended in the case that it is during the connection and the packet counter part 1 ends counting. Thus, charging is performed corresponding to a packet amount and the connection time only to the connection request side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet charging method and apparatus for performing charging depending on the number of packets and connection time in Internet communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet is a kind of computer network based on a TCP / IP protocol, and a unit of data in IP is called a packet or a datagram.

[0003] Conventional charging methods on the Internet include a method of making a fixed amount regardless of the amount of packets (a fixed amount charging method) or a method of measuring the total amount of transmitted and received packets for each call and determining a charge based on the measured number of packets. There was a method (pay-as-you-go method).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a billing apparatus α used directly when the pay-per-use method is carried out. The charging apparatus α has a packet counter unit 1, a charging processor unit 2, and a packet detection unit 3 as main components. The packet counter unit 1 has an IP address from the packet detection unit 3 connected to the Internet line (network) L, The bidirectional packet amount is measured based on the port number S1 and the packet count signal S2.

[0005] The billing processor 2 is controlled by software and executes a pay-as-you-go billing process. The accounting processor 2 includes a memory 21 for storing the number of packets measured by the packet counter unit 1 for each port number and each IP address. The number of packets measured by the packet counter unit 1 is multiplied by a unit charge per packet to determine a usage-based billing value. Note that the accounting processor unit 2 includes an arithmetic unit 22 required for arithmetic processing.

[0006]

In the flat-rate billing method for setting a fixed amount irrespective of the amount of packets, an Internet service provider, a company that provides an Internet connection, requires a fixed fee no matter how many packets flow. Could not collect. Conversely, if the Internet user does not make use of the fixed amount, the Internet user loses the difference.

Further, in the conventional usage-based charging method, charging is performed simply based on the amount of packets that have passed through the packet counter unit 1. Therefore, the side requesting connection setting and the side specified in connection setting also transmit and receive in the same manner. The amount of packets is counted and charged.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the conventional billing method and apparatus, and the main objects to be solved by the present invention are as follows.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for charging on the Internet, which makes it possible to pay only for the connection requesting side.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a charging method and apparatus in the Internet for charging according to the number of packets.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a charging method and apparatus in the Internet for performing charging according to connection time.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the specification, drawings, and particularly from the claims.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method of the present invention has a feature in which a method of charging a connection requesting side according to the number of packets and / or the connection time is adopted.

The device of the present invention solves the above problems.
A signaling recognition unit for recognizing the connection request side;
And a packet counter that is controlled by the signaling recognition unit and counts the number of packets based on the connection request side.

More specifically, in solving the problem, the present invention achieves the above object by adopting a novel characteristic configuration method or means ranging from a high-level concept to a low-level concept listed below. It is done as follows.

A first feature of the method of the present invention is that, in connection-type communication via the Internet, a charging method in the Internet is provided in which charging is performed according to one or both of the number of packets and the connection time on the basis of the connection requesting side. In the configuration adoption.

A second feature of the method of the present invention is that the connection type communication by the Internet is performed by using CF (Contr).
ol Flags), based on only the connection requesting side, the port number and the IP (Internet).
(Protocol) The configuration of a charging method on the Internet is adopted in which the connection establishment time and the number of packets are measured for each address, and charging is performed based on the measurement result.

According to a third feature of the method of the present invention, the measurement in the second feature of the method of the present invention is such that the measurement is started and terminated based on the result of analyzing the CF. It consists in adopting the configuration of the method.

According to a fourth feature of the method of the present invention, when the result of the analysis in the third feature of the method of the present invention is that the CF is SYN (Synchronize Flag), the port number and the IP address are recognized. , A timer operation is started, and counting of the number of packets is started for each of the port number and the IP address.

According to a fifth feature of the method of the present invention, the result of the analysis in the third or fourth feature of the method of the present invention is that, when the CF is a FIN (Fin Flag), a port number and an IP address are provided. Is recognized, a determination is made as to whether or not a connection is being established, and when a connection is being established, the timer operation is terminated, and the accounting method in the Internet is brought about to terminate the counting.

According to a sixth feature of the method of the present invention, the recognition in the fourth or fifth feature of the method of the present invention is characterized in that the recognition is performed through packet detection performed directly through the Internet line or the Internet network. In the billing method on the Internet.

According to a seventh feature of the method of the present invention, a structure of a billing method in the Internet, wherein the counting in the sixth feature of the present invention is started and ended by a trigger signal generated by the signaling recognition. In hiring.

An eighth feature of the method of the present invention is that the CF in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh feature of the method of the present invention is characterized in that the CF is a TCP (Transmission).
The present invention is based on the adoption of a configuration of a billing method in the Internet, which is a part of the component of the header of the Control Protocol.

On the other hand, a first characteristic of the present invention is that a charging apparatus for connection-type communication via the Internet recognizes a packet signal from a connection request side,
The present invention resides in adoption of a configuration of a billing device on the Internet including a connection request side counter unit for measuring the number of packets under the control of the recognition.

A second feature of the device of the present invention is that the connection request side counter unit in the first feature of the present invention device is a signaling recognition unit for recognizing a packet signal from the connection request side; The present invention resides in adoption of a configuration of a billing device in the Internet, which includes a packet counter unit for counting the number of packets under the control of the recognition unit.

A third feature of the present invention is that the signaling recognition unit in the second feature of the present invention has a timer for measuring a connection establishment time, and adopts a configuration of a charging apparatus in the Internet. It is in.

A fourth feature of the device of the present invention is that the packet counter unit according to the first or second feature of the above-described device of the present invention is configured such that a port number, an IP (Internet Protocol) are transmitted by a trigger signal generated by the signaling recognition unit.
col) The configuration of a billing device in the Internet, which is integrally connected to the signaling recognition unit so as to be able to start counting the number of packets for each address.

A fifth feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the signaling recognition unit in the second, third or fourth feature of the above-described device of the present invention has a function of analyzing CF (Control Flags). In the configuration of the charging device.

According to a sixth feature of the device of the present invention, the signaling recognition unit in the fifth feature of the device of the present invention, as a result of the analysis, indicates that the CF is SYN (Synchroni).
In the case of zeFlag), the present invention is based on the configuration of a billing device in the Internet configured to recognize a port number and an IP address, start the operation of the timer, and notify the packet counter unit of the start of a connection.

A seventh feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the packet counter unit according to the sixth feature of the present invention receives a notification of the start of the connection, a port number,
The present invention resides in adopting a configuration of a billing device in the Internet configured to be able to start measuring the number of packets for each IP address.

According to an eighth feature of the device of the present invention, the signaling recognition unit in the fifth, sixth or seventh feature of the above-described device of the present invention, as a result of the analysis, finds that the CF is FIN (Fi).
In the case of (nFlag), there is a configuration of a charging apparatus in the Internet configured to recognize a port number and an IP address and to determine whether or not a connection is being established.

A ninth feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the signaling recognition unit in the eighth feature of the above-described device of the present invention stops the operation of the timer if the connection is determined as a result of the determination, and Another object of the present invention is to adopt a configuration of a billing apparatus in the Internet, which is configured to notify the end of a connection to a packet counter unit freely.

A tenth feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the packet counter unit in the ninth feature of the device of the present invention is characterized in that:
The present invention resides in adopting a configuration of a charging apparatus in the Internet, which is configured to be able to end counting when receiving notification of the end of the connection.

An eleventh feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the CF in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth feature of the above-described device of the present invention is such that the CF (Transmission) is used.
nControl Protocol), which is a configuration of a billing device on the Internet, which is a part of a component of a header of the Internet.

A twelfth feature of the device of the present invention is that the device of the present invention is the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth or eleventh. The connection request-side counter unit according to the above feature is adapted to adopt a configuration of a billing device in the Internet connected to the Internet line or the Internet line network via a packet detection unit detecting an IP address, a port number, and other information regarding a packet. is there.

A thirteenth feature of the device of the present invention is that the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, or eleventh of the above-described device of the present invention. The connection request-side counter unit according to the feature of (1) stores the port number and the IP address for charging processing, and stores the port number and the IP address, and connects to a charging processing processor unit that performs charging calculation of the count value read result. The present invention resides in the configuration of a billing device.

A fourteenth feature of the device of the present invention resides in that, in the thirteenth feature of the device of the present invention, the charging processor unit is connected to the memory means for each of the port number and the IP address, and is directly connected to the memory means; The present invention is to adopt a configuration of a charging apparatus in the Internet, comprising: a calculating means for performing a charging calculation of the count value read result.

[0038]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an example of an apparatus, an example of a method, and an example.

(Example of Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an accounting apparatus β on the Internet according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The billing device β in the Internet includes a packet counter 1, a billing processor 2, a packet detector 3,
A signaling recognition unit 4 is provided. Incidentally, the packet counter unit 1 and the signaling recognition unit 4 which are internally formed in the connection form a connection request side counter unit 1 '.

The signaling recognizing unit 4 in the connection request side counter unit 1 ′ sends the connection requesting side (the side that issues a connection request signaling) to the IP (Internet) of the packet from the packet detecting unit 3.
(Protocal) address and port number S 1, and a trigger signal is issued to the packet counter unit 1.

In response to this trigger signal, the packet counter 1 starts counting the number of packets based on the packet count signal S2 from the packet detector 3 for each packet IP address and port number. Also, the signaling recognition unit 4
By providing a timer that can measure the time for which a connection is established, time-based pay-as-you-go billing becomes possible.

That is, the signaling recognizing unit 4
(Synchronize Flag) When recognizing a packet with a bit set, it recognizes a start / end port and an IP address, starts a timer operation, notifies the packet counter unit 1 of a connection start, and transmits a FI.
Upon recognizing the packet with the N (Fin Flag) bit set, it recognizes the starting and ending port number and the IP address, and if a connection is being made, terminates the timer operation and notifies the packet counter unit of the end of the connection.

The connection request side counter 1 '
When receiving the connection start notification from the signaling recognition unit 4, the packet counter unit 1 starts counting packets for each port number and IP address, and thereafter measures the number of packets flowing through the connection. Thereafter, when the connection termination notification is received from the signaling recognition unit 4, the counting of the packets for each port number and IP address is terminated. The arithmetic processor 2 and the packet detector 3 perform the same functions as those of the conventional billing device α.

(Example of Method) This example of the method is adapted to the above example of the apparatus, and will be described with reference to FIG.

The signaling recognition unit 4 in the connection request side counter unit 1 'uses CF (Control).
(Flags: control flags) are analyzed. For example, C
F stands for TCP (Transmission Controller)
ol Protocol) header.

When the CF is SYN, the port number and the IP address are recognized, the timer operation is started, and the start of the connection to the packet counter unit 1 is notified.
In response to the connection start notification, the packet counter unit 1 starts counting the number of packets for each port number and IP address.

If the CF is FIN, the port number and the IP address are recognized to determine whether or not the connection is being established. If the connection is being established, the operation of the timer is terminated, and the end of the connection is notified to the packet counter unit 1. The packet counter unit 1 that has received the notification of the connection end ends the counting. As a result, only the connection request side can be charged according to the packet amount and the connection time.

[0048]

FIG. 2 shows the format of a TCP header on the Internet. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a portion below the TCP header is detected by the charging apparatus β on the Internet, and the processing is performed by the signaling processing section 4 of the connection request side counter section 1 '.

(1) Source port: An address (port number) for identifying a process or service on the transmission side at the TCP level, and a combination of the IP address at the IP level and the port number is used to store one data on the IP internetwork. You will specify the entrance.

(2) Destination port: An address for identifying a process or service on the receiving side at the TCP level.
The CP sends the received data to the exit of the data specified by the port number in the same order.

(3) ACK (Acknowledgem)
ent Number): If the ACK flag is on, this field contains the sequence number of the data to be processed next.

(4) CF: a. SYN: The segment for which the SYN flag is on is a segment for establishing a virtual circuit.
Set the SEQ counter in the SEQ field (FTP or TELN
Since the data passed from the ET cannot be combined into one packet due to the size and timing, the data is divided into several segments and transferred. The SEQ number indicating which part of the transferred segment corresponds to which part at that time. ) Value.

B. ACK: If the ACK flag is on, it means that the ACK field is used.

C. FIN: Used to disconnect a virtual circuit.

<Signaling for establishing connection>
FIG. 3 shows an example of signaling, in which TC
P establishes a connection using a three-way handshake. Here, it is assumed that the side requesting the connection is host A and the receiving side is host B.

The host A transmits a packet with the SYN bit set to the host B (ST1), and the host B transmits a packet with the ACK bit and the SYN bit set to the host A (ST2). Next, the host A transmits a reception confirmation packet and simultaneously starts transmission of actual data (ST3), and transmits the actual data to the end (ST4).
The host A transmits a packet in which the FIN bit is set to the host B when the transmission of the actual data ends (ST5). Then, the host B sets the FIN bit and the ACK bit to the host A
(ST6), and after transmitting the confirmation, terminates the connection (ST7).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the packet counter unit 1 and the signaling recognition unit 4 in the connection request side counter unit 1 'of the charging apparatus β in the Internet from the start to the end of the TCP connection.

When the packet with the SYN bit set arrives (ST8), the signaling recognition unit 4 recognizes the start and end port numbers and the IP address (ST9), starts a timer (ST10), and connects to the packet counter unit 1. Is notified (ST11). Next, upon receiving the connection start notification from the signaling recognition unit 4, the packet counter unit 1 starts counting packets for each port number and IP address (ST12), and measures the number of packets flowing through this connection (ST13).

Then, the signaling recognition unit 4 determines that the FIN
When the packet with the bit set arrives (ST14), the start and end port numbers and the IP address are recognized (ST1).
5) It is determined whether or not a connection is being made (ST16). If a connection is being made, the timer is terminated (ST1).
7), the connection end is notified to the packet counter unit 1 (ST18), and the packet counter unit 1 ends the packet counting performed for each port number and IP address (ST19).

As a result, the side requesting the connection (connection request side) can be charged for the amount of packets flowing through the connection and the connection time.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, an example of an apparatus,
Although the method examples and embodiments have been described, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described items, and can be appropriately changed and implemented within a range that achieves the object of the present invention and has the effects described below.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The connection request side counter unit can now distinguish the side that has first issued a connection request and measure the amount of packets and the connection time that have flowed through the connection from the side that has issued the connection.

Therefore, the signal recognition unit detects the SYN flag used for establishing the virtual circuit from the arriving packet, detects that the packet is issued from the connection request side, and charges the packet. It is possible to charge the side that first issues the connection request signal by the packet or connection flowing through the connection.

As a result, a pay-as-you-go fee can be charged to a side requesting a connection for connection-type communication such as an Internet telephone, and an excellent effect such as an increase in the use of Internet services can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a billing device on the Internet showing an example of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a prerequisite TCP for explaining an example of the above method.
It is a block diagram of a header.

FIG. 3 is a sequence chart of TCP connection start / end signaling which is a premise for explaining the above.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a billing method on the Internet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional billing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 α: Conventional charging apparatus β: Internet charging apparatus L: Internet line (network) 1: Packet counter unit 1 ': Connection requesting counter unit 2: Charging processor 21: Memory for each port number and IP address 22: Arithmetic unit 3 Packet detection unit 4 Signaling recognition unit S1 IP address and port number of packet S2 Packet count signal S3 Count value read result

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A charging method for the Internet, wherein charging is performed according to one or both of the number of packets and connection time on the basis of a connection request side in connection-type communication via the Internet. 2. In connection-type communication via the Internet, the connection time and the number of packets are determined by CF (Control Flags) for each port number and IP (Internet Protocol) address on the basis of only the connection requesting side. A method of charging on the Internet, comprising measuring and charging based on the result of the measurement. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the measurement is started and ended based on a result of analyzing the CF. 4. The result of the analysis is that the CF is a SYN (Synchronized Flake).
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein in the case of g), the port number and the IP address are recognized, a timer operation is started, and counting of the number of packets is started for each of the port number and the IP address. Internet billing method. 5. The result of the analysis is as follows: when the CF is FIN (Fin Flag), it recognizes a port number and an IP address to determine whether or not a connection is being established. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the timer operation is terminated and the count is terminated. 6. The charging method according to claim 4, wherein the recognition is performed by signaling recognition through packet detection performed directly through an Internet circuit or an Internet circuit network. 7. The charging method according to claim 6, wherein the counting is started and terminated by a trigger signal generated by the signaling recognition. 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the CF is a Transmission Control TCP (TCP).
The Internet charging method according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the method is a part of a component of a header of a protocol. 9. A charging apparatus for connection-type communication via the Internet, comprising a connection request side counter unit for recognizing a packet signal from a connection request side and measuring the number of packets under the control of the recognition. Billing device in the Internet. 10. The connection request side counter section includes: a signaling recognition section for recognizing a packet signal from the connection request side; and a packet counter section for counting the number of packets under the control of the signaling recognition section. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: 11. The charging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the signaling recognition unit has a timer for measuring a time for establishing a connection. 12. The packet counter according to claim 1, wherein a port number, an IP (Internet Protocol) are output in response to a trigger signal generated by the signaling recognition unit.
1) The charging apparatus for the Internet according to claim 9 or 10, wherein measurement of the number of packets for each address is integrally connected to the signaling recognition unit so as to be freely started. 13. The charging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the signaling recognition unit has a function of analyzing CF (Control Flags). 14. The signaling recognition unit, as a result of the analysis, determines that the CF is a SYN (Synchronize Flake).
14. In the case of g), the port number and the IP address are recognized, the operation of the timer is started, and the start of the connection is freely notified to the packet counter unit. Billing device on the Internet. 15. The packet counter unit according to claim 14, wherein upon receiving the notification of the start of the connection, the packet counter unit is configured to start counting the number of packets for each port number and IP address. Billing device on the Internet. 16. The signaling recognition unit, as a result of the analysis, determines that the CF is a FIN (Fin Flame).
16. The Internet charging apparatus according to claim 13, wherein in the case of g), the apparatus is configured to recognize a port number and an IP address to determine whether or not a connection is being established. 17. The signal recognizing unit, if the result of the determination is that a connection is being established, stops the operation of the timer and notifies the packet counter unit of the end of the connection. 17. The charging apparatus in the Internet according to claim 16. 18. The charging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the packet counter unit is configured to stop counting when it receives the notification of the end of the connection. 19. The transmission apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the CF is a TCP (Transmission Control).
21. A part of a component of a protocol (Protocol) header.
Or the charging device for internet in the item 18. 20. The connection request-side counter unit is connected to an Internet line or an Internet line network via a packet detection unit that detects information on an IP address, a port number, and other packets. Terms 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
20. The charging device in the Internet according to 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19. 21. The connection request-side counter section stores the port number and the IP address for charging processing and connects to a charging processing processor section that performs charging calculation of the count value read result. Claims 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
21. The charging apparatus for internet according to 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20. 22. The accounting processor section, comprising: memory means for each of the port number and the IP address; and operation means directly connected to the memory means and performing an accounting operation on the count value read result. 22. The Internet charging apparatus according to claim 21, wherein: