JP2002051146A - Communication system and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct communication at a lower cost and provide a communication system used easily in a small-scale industry and the like. SOLUTION: A communication system 1 includes a COMS 4, having an interface 4a for controlling the communication, a TA 5 as a communication terminal connected with the interface 4a and a public network 2 for conducting communication with the public network 2, a relay portable unit 6 as a relay terminal connected with the same portable telephone system 3 as the portable telephone 3a, an adapter unit 7 connected with the interface 4a and the relay portable unit 6 for keeping communication with the relay portable unit 6, an MS 9 for managing a user information DB 8 that stores the user information, and a CMS 11 for managing a log information DB 10 that stores the log information indicating a communication state. The telephone 2a calls to the portable telephone 3a via the same portable telephone system 3 as the portable telephone 3a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system and a communication method for performing communication with a different communication network from a public communication network or the like to a portable telephone network or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of mobile phones, the number of lines of mobile phones has increased in recent years as compared with general subscriber phones. A mobile phone is a very effective tool for diplomats working mainly outside the company, such as diplomacy, sales and delivery, etc., not only for communication between diplomats, but also for communication with the company office. It has become indispensable. Such mobile phone communication charges tend to be lower year after year due to intensified discount competition. In addition, various discount services such as local calls and domestic long distance calls are also provided for general subscriber telephones.

[0003] However, the current discount service is effective in the same communication network between general subscriber telephones or between mobile telephones, and the communication fee when calling from a general telephone to a mobile telephone or the like over a different communication network is expensive. It has become. Therefore, when contacting a diplomat from a company office, the call is made from a general subscriber telephone to a mobile telephone, and the communication cost becomes extremely high.

[0004] Therefore, an adapter device for connecting to a mobile phone has been developed to reduce the communication cost when calling from a general subscriber phone to a mobile phone. FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a communication fee discount system using a mobile phone connection adapter device.

In FIG. 8, a mobile phone connection adapter device (hereinafter, referred to as an “adapter device”) 51 has an interface for connecting a mobile phone, and is installed between a public communication network 53 and a general telephone 54. You. Then, the user of this system connects the mobile phone 52 contracted separately from the contract for the general subscriber telephone to the interface of the adapter device 51 in advance.

[0006] When a user makes a call to a mobile phone 55 such as a diplomat, the user switches from the general telephone 54 to the mobile phone 5.
Dial the telephone number of 5. When the adapter device 51 determines that the call destination is the mobile phone 55 based on the dialed telephone number, the mobile phone 52 connected to the adapter device 51 transmits the call to the mobile phone 55. On the other hand, when the number dialed from the general telephone 54 is for the public communication network 53, the adapter device transmits the number to the public communication network 53.

[0007] That is, the communication fee discount system shown in FIG.
Inexpensive mobile telephones 52 of the same mobile telephone network without passing through a public communication network 53 where communication charges are expensive.
It is intended to reduce communication costs by transmitting from.

[0008]

However, in the case of the communication fee discount system shown in FIG. 8, the adapter device 51 is installed in each company office, and a contract is made for the portable telephone 52 connected to the adapter device 51. There is a need. For this reason, the user must pay the basic charge and the like associated with the contract of the mobile phone 52 and the cost associated with the installation work of the adapter device 51 in addition to the call charge of the mobile phone 52.

[0009] With the recent shift to SOHO (Small Office Home Office) of companies, the use of such communication fee discount systems is expected to increase for micro enterprises such as privately owned companies and venture companies. For a company, there is a big problem in that payment of the basic charge of the mobile phone 52 or the like occurs. In addition, the mobile phone 55
The frequency of calls to the mobile phone is estimated to some extent, and the number of adapter devices 51 installed and the mobile phone 52 connected to the
It is necessary to determine the number of contracts, but it is difficult to determine these as the size of the company is smaller.

Therefore, in the present invention, when a call is transmitted from a public communication line network to which a general telephone is connected to a different communication network to a mobile telephone network or the like to which a mobile telephone is connected,
Provided are a communication system and a communication method that enable communication at lower cost and that can be easily used even by micro enterprises and the like.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A communication system according to the present invention connects a source terminal connected to a first communication network to a destination terminal connected to a second communication network to a second communication network. A first database for storing user information for authenticating access by the source terminal via the first communication network; and a first database from the source terminal. Authentication means for inquiring the first database in response to the access request and performing authentication; authentication means for receiving a transmission command from the source terminal to the destination terminal; and a second means from the relay terminal to the destination terminal based on the transmission command. And a second database for storing log information indicating the communication state between the source terminal and the destination terminal. .

Further, according to the communication method of the present invention, there is provided a relay terminal connected to a second communication network from a source terminal connected to a first communication network to a destination terminal connected to a second communication network. A communication method using a communication system that transmits via a first communication network, wherein the communication system stores user information in response to an access request from a transmission source terminal via a first communication network.
First step in which the communication system receives a transmission command from the source terminal to the destination terminal, and second step in which the communication system receives a transmission command from the relay terminal to the destination terminal based on the transmission command. A third step of establishing a communication state between the source terminal and the destination terminal by making a call via the second communication network, wherein the communication system stores log information indicating the communication state in the second database It is characterized by including a fourth step.

According to these inventions, when a call is made from a source terminal connected to a first communication network to a destination terminal connected to a second communication network which is a different communication network,
A relay that permits only access from the source terminal stored in the first database and allows transmission from the source terminal to the destination terminal to be connected to the same communication network as the destination terminal, thereby reducing the communication fee. By using the terminal, the communication fee from the source terminal to the destination terminal can be reduced. At this time, the user of the source terminal can easily reduce the communication cost by using the communication system and the communication method of the present invention simply by accumulating the information in the first database without adding a new device.

[0014] The communication fee for the transmission from the relay terminal to the destination terminal can be settled by charging based on the log information stored in the second database and charging the user of the source terminal. It is desirable that the communication system of the present invention further includes a charging unit that calculates and outputs a charging for the source terminal based on the log information accumulated in the second database. Thereby, the communication fee of the user of the transmission source terminal can be calculated and output at any time except for the settlement, and the user of the transmission source terminal can always refer to and manage the communication fee.

The first and second communication networks of the present invention are switched connection type communication lines provided by a telecommunications carrier or the like, and are a subscribed telephone network or a data communication network (ISDN; A public communication network such as an integrated digital communication network, a mobile phone network to which a portable mobile phone is connected, the Internet, a private network, and other dedicated network are suitable. It is preferable that the network is a public communication network and the second communication network is a mobile phone network. As a result, it is possible to reduce the communication cost particularly when making a call from a general telephone set to which a communication charge is relatively high to a mobile telephone. Here, the mobile phone is a so-called mobile phone, a PHS (Pe (Pe)
rsonal Handyphone System
m), satellite mobile phones using communication satellites, car phones installed in automobiles, and the like.

It is desirable that the authentication means of the present invention automatically authenticates based on a caller number notified from a caller terminal connected to a public communication network.
As a result, the user can perform authentication using the source terminal without having to input an authentication code, etc., thereby further reducing communication time by eliminating the trouble of inputting at the time of authentication and the communication time involved in the authentication procedure. It is possible to do.

In the communication method according to the present invention, the communication system includes means for connecting to the second communication network via another communication network. A second through a communication network selected from the communication networks according to the telephone number of the destination terminal;
It is desirable that the call be transmitted to a communication network. As a result, it is possible to select and transmit a communication network having the lowest communication fee from the source terminal to the destination terminal in accordance with the transmission time, and further reduce the communication fee. Alternatively, it is possible to further reduce the communication charge by selecting a communication network with the lowest communication charge according to the telephone number of the destination terminal and making a call.

Here, as a communication network different from the second communication network, a public communication network, the Internet or other dedicated network is suitable, and transmission from the second communication network depends on the communication time zone. A communication network that can be used at a lower communication fee than sending directly to the destination terminal. Alternatively, a communication network that can be used with a lower communication fee than directly transmitting a call from the second communication network to the destination terminal based on the telephone number of the destination terminal is used.

In the communication method according to the present invention, the first database includes, as user information, a telephone number and an e-mail address of the destination terminal, and abbreviated numbers associated with these telephone numbers and the e-mail address. The second step is to receive a call instruction by abbreviated number, and the third step is to make a call to the destination terminal using a telephone number associated with the abbreviated number and to establish a communication state. It is desirable that the e-mail is transmitted to the destination terminal using the e-mail address associated with the abbreviated number. Thus, when a communication state between the source terminal and the destination terminal cannot be established, an e-mail can be transmitted to the destination terminal to leave a message.

[0020]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a functional block diagram of the communication system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing an operation mode of the communication system of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a communication system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a communication terminal as a source terminal connected to a public communication network (hereinafter, referred to as “public network”) 2 as a first communication network. General telephones (hereinafter referred to as "telephones")
A call is made from 2a to each mobile phone (hereinafter, referred to as "mobile") 3a as a destination terminal connected to the mobile phone network 3 as a second communication network to establish a communication state. And a telephone 2a to a mobile phone 3a connected respectively to different communication networks (public network 2 and mobile phone network 3).
, A call is transmitted via the mobile phone network 3 which is the same communication network as the mobile phone 3a that is the destination of the call.

The communication system 1 includes an interface 4a for connecting devices for actually bringing the telephone 2a and the mobile phone 3a into a communication state, and a communication server (hereinafter referred to as "COMS") 4 for controlling communication. A terminal adapter (T) connected to the interface 4a and the public network 2 and serving as a communication terminal for communicating with the public network 2.
A) 5, a mobile phone (hereinafter referred to as “relay mobile”) 6 as a relay terminal connected to the mobile phone network 3 which is the same communication network as the mobile 3a, and connected to the interface 4a and the relay mobile 6 An adapter device 7 for communicating with the relay portable device 6 and a management server (hereinafter, referred to as “MS”) for managing a user information database (hereinafter, referred to as “user information DB”) 8 for storing user information. 9 and
A log information database (hereinafter, referred to as “log information DB”) 10 that stores log information indicating a communication state is configured by a center management server (hereinafter, referred to as “CMS”) 11 that manages the log information.

The user information DB 8 registers, as user information, data indicating the name of the subscriber of the telephone 2a, contact information, and the like, in addition to the telephone number of the telephone 2a as the caller. Data indicating the telephone number of the telephone 2a in the user information is used to authenticate access to the communication system 1 from the telephone 2a. Registration, correction and deletion of user information in the user information DB 8 are performed by the MS 9.
In the user information DB 8, it is also possible to register, as user information, data indicating an abbreviated number for designating, for example, the mobile phone 3a or the like as a transmission destination.

The COMS 4 includes an interface 4a, T
By controlling the A5 and the adapter device 7, FIG.
Authentication means 21, acceptance means 22, and transmission means 23 shown in FIG.
Function as

The authentication means 21 refers to the user information DB 8 via the MS 9 in response to an access request from the telephone 2 a connected to the public network 2 and checks whether the telephone number of the telephone 2 a is registered in the user information DB 8. The authentication is performed by judging the above. Thereby, it is determined whether the user of the telephone 2a has a right to access the communication system 1, and unauthorized access is prevented.

Here, when the caller ID is not notified when the call is received from the telephone 2a connected to the public network 2 to the TA5, the authentication means 21 makes a voice call to the telephone 2a. The user is prompted to enter a caller ID, and an inquiry is made based on the caller ID input with a key provided on the telephone 2a. It should be noted that the authentication of the user by the authentication means 21 may be performed based on information other than the telephone number. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a voice is input from the telephone 2a instead of the key of the telephone 2a.

On the other hand, when the caller number is notified from the telephone 2a, the user is automatically referred to the user information DB 8 via the MS 9 based on the caller number.
As described above, by automatically performing authentication based on the caller number, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting an authentication code such as a telephone number and the like and the communication time involved in this authentication procedure.

The receiving means 22 receives a transmission command from the telephone 2a to the mobile phone 3a. The accepting means 22 acquires the telephone number of the mobile phone 3a, which has been input by the key of the telephone 2a authenticated by the authentication means 21, as a transmission command.
Upon receiving the telephone number of the mobile phone 3a, the acceptance unit 22 passes the acquired telephone number to the transmitting unit 23. When the abbreviated number of the destination mobile phone 3a is registered in the user information DB 8, the user can input the mobile phone 3a using the registered abbreviated number. It is also possible to omit the first three digits (for example, “090”) of the telephone number indicating that the call destination is the mobile telephone network 3 so that the input can be made.

The transmitting means 23 transmits a call from the relay portable telephone 6 to the portable telephone 3a via the portable telephone network 3 based on the telephone number as the transmitting instruction, and the telephone connected to the public network 2 which is a different communication network. A communication state between the mobile phone 2a and the mobile phone 3a connected to the mobile phone network 3 is established. The transmission unit 23 issues a transmission command from the relay portable device 6 to the adapter device 7 using the telephone number received from the acceptance unit 22. The adapter device 7 communicates with the relay mobile phone 6 and transmits a call from the relay mobile phone 6 to the mobile phone 3 a connected to the same mobile phone network 3. When the mobile phone 3a responds to the call from the relay mobile phone 6, the adapter device 7 connects the line between the relay mobile phone 6 and the telephone 2a. This allows
The mobile phone 3a connected to the mobile phone network 3 and the telephone 2a connected to the public network 2 which is a different communication network are connected to the relay mobile phone connected to the mobile phone network 3 which is the same communication network as the mobile phone 3a. 6 can be communicated. At this time, transmission means 2
3 monitors the communication state between the telephone 2a and the mobile phone 3a, and
11 to the log information DB 10. Note that the mobile phone network 3 is a communication network that is different for each mobile phone business company (hereinafter, referred to as “mobile phone companies”).
Is a mobile phone of a mobile phone company corresponding to the mobile phone 3a to be the destination.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of COMSs 4 having such a configuration are installed in each of the area centers A and B set one by one in each region. Also, for one COMS 4, the interface 4a, TA
5, the adapter device 7 and the relay mobile phone 6 are connected respectively. One telephone number is set in each of the area centers A and B, and the user of the telephone 2a makes a call to the set telephone number to be connected from the exchange (not shown) to the respective COMS 4. Sorted to TA5. One MS 9 is provided for each of the area centers A and B, and the same area centers A and B are provided.
Manages all of the plurality of COMSs 4 connected by a communication network 12 such as Ethernet.

The communication networks 12 of the respective area centers A and B are connected to the CMS 11 installed in the central management center C via a router 12a via a dedicated line, a wide area communication network 13a such as a public network or the Internet. The CMS 11 centrally manages the MSs 9 installed in the area centers A and B, respectively. The central management center C has an account server (hereinafter, referred to as an account server) that centrally manages user information and performs processing such as charging for each user.
14 referred to as “AS”).

The AS 14 has a user management database (hereinafter referred to as "management DB") for storing all information of the user information DB 8 installed in each of the area centers A and B.
An output device 14b for issuing a user list, a bill, other forms, and the like is connected. In addition, the AS 14 includes a user registration terminal 15 installed in a sales office or the like in each region for registering user information in the management DB 14a.
b. The user information is registered, corrected, and added to the management DB 14a by the user registration terminal 15, and the user information registered in the management DB 14a is transferred to the user information DB 8 of each of the area centers A and B.

The AS 14 is a charging unit 2 shown in FIG.
Log information DB connected to CMS 11
Based on the log information accumulated in 10, a charge for each user's telephone 2 a managed by the management DB 14 a is calculated, and a bill or the like is output by the output device 14 b or the like. The output of the bill or the like can be calculated and output at any time other than at the time of settlement, and at this time, the user of the telephone 2a can always refer to and manage the communication fee.

A communication procedure by the communication system 1 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the first
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure by the communication system 1 according to the embodiment.

The user designates each of the area centers A and B from the telephone 2a by inputting a speed dial such as "# 0000". In the communication system 1 of the area centers A and B, when there is an incoming call from the telephone 2a to the TA5 via the public network 2 in step S101, this incoming signal is input to the COMS 4 from the interface 4a. In step S102, the COMS 4 refers to the user information DB 8 for the telephone number of the telephone 2a by the authentication means 21 and performs authentication. In step S103, the presence or absence of the access right of the telephone 2a is determined, and if not, the line is disconnected from the telephone 2a in step S104, and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the user has the access right, in step S105, the COMS 4 prompts the telephone 2a to input the telephone number of the mobile phone 3a to be the destination. The input of the telephone number of the mobile phone 3a is performed by using the
It is also possible to make an announcement by voice and input it, but it is desirable to input it from the telephone 2a in advance at the time of the incoming call in step S101. COMS4
Obtains the telephone number of the mobile phone 3a by the acceptance unit 22.

In step S106, the calling means 23 makes a call to the obtained telephone number. The transmission command from the transmission unit 23 is transmitted from the COMS 4 to the relay mobile phone 6 via the interface 4 a and the adapter device 7, and the relay mobile phone 6 transmits the transmission command to the mobile phone 3 a via the mobile phone network 3. In step S107,
The presence or absence of a response from the destination mobile phone 3a is monitored. If the mobile 3a does not respond, in step S108, the line is disconnected if the mobile 3a is busy, and if the user of the mobile 3a does not respond due to absence or the like, the line is disconnected by timer monitoring.

On the other hand, in step S107, the mobile phone 3
If a responds, a communication state between the mobile 3a and the relay mobile 6 is established, and the transmitting means 23 connects the line between the relay mobile 6 and the telephone 2a. At this time, the transmission unit 23 starts recording log information in the log information DB 10. Step S1
When the call is ended in step 10, the line between the relay portable device 6 and the mobile device 3a and the line between the relay mobile device 6 and the telephone device 2a are disconnected in step S111, and the recording of the log information is ended.

As described above, the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the authentication unit 21 for inquiring the user information DB 8 for the access request from the telephone 2a and performing authentication, and the telephone 2
a receiving means 22 for receiving a transmission command from the mobile phone 3a to the mobile phone 3a, and making a call from the relay mobile phone 6 to the mobile phone 3a via the mobile phone network 3 based on the transmission command to establish a communication state between the telephone 2a and the mobile phone 3a. Functioning as transmitting means 23
A large number of OMSs 4 are provided in each of the area centers A and B, these COMSs 4 are centrally managed by the MS 9 and the CMS 11, and log information indicating the communication state is stored in the log information DB 10 and charged.

Thus, the relay mobile phone 6 connected to each of the COMSs 4 can make a contract for a large discount, a corporate discount, or the like by a person who operates the communication system 1. Accordingly, the communication cost incurred by the user of the telephone 2a includes the communication charge of the telephone 2a for using the public network 2 to the nearest area centers A and B, and the relay mobile phone for using the mobile telephone network 3 to the mobile phone 3a. A communication fee of 6 is sufficient.
The communication charge of the telephone 2a is an inexpensive local communication charge to the nearest area centers A and B, and the communication charge from the relay mobile phone 6 to the mobile phone 3a is a large discount for the mobile phone network 3, which is the same communication network, and for a corporation. It is inexpensive because it is used for discounts.

That is, according to the communication system 1 of the present embodiment, there is no need for the user to individually install the adapter device 51 or to contract for the portable telephone 52 connected to the adapter device 51 as in the related art. By performing the authentication of the user by the DB8, the management of the log information by the log information DB10, and the settlement of the communication fee, the communication can be performed at a lower cost, and even micro enterprises and individuals can register their respective user information in the user information DB8. It is possible to easily use the communication system 1 simply by doing.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the communication system 1a according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment, an interface 4b connected to the Internet 16a is connected to the COMS 4. It was done. In addition, public networks X and Y, which are communication networks different from the mobile phone network 3, are connected to the interface 4a. These public networks X and Y are cheaper than directly communicating with the destination mobile phone 3a from the mobile phone network 3 that is the same communication network, and the public networks X and Y are connected from the source telephone 2a to the public network 2 and mobile phone network 3 respectively. And a communication network that can communicate at a lower communication fee than directly communicating with the mobile phone 3a via.

A mail server 17 for transmitting electronic mail via the Internet 16a is connected to the interface 4b. The e-mail transmitted by the mail server 17 to the e-mail address of the mobile phone 3a or the like is delivered to the mobile phone 3a or the like via the packet communication network 16b connected to the Internet 16a.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of telephone directory data registered in the user information DB 8 of FIG. User information DB
8, telephone directory data shown in FIG. 6 is registered for each registered user who uses this system. The telephone directory data is a part of the user information of each user. As shown in FIG. 6, the telephone number (mobile number) 21 of the mobile phone 3a or the like and the e-mail address 22 of each mobile phone 3a, as shown in FIG. It includes an abbreviated number 23 associated with the number 21 and the e-mail address 22, and a name 24 as a heading for the user to identify the abbreviated number 23.

The communication procedure by the communication system 1a having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a communication procedure by the communication system 1a in the second embodiment. Steps S201 to S20
The processes up to 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted here.

In step S205, the COMS 4 prompts the telephone 2a to input the telephone number or the abbreviated number of the mobile phone 3a to be called. In step S206, the telephone 2a
If the COMS 4 obtains the number input by the authentication unit 22 and the number is an abbreviated number, in step S207, the COMS 4 obtains a telephone number and an e-mail address corresponding to the abbreviated number from the user information DB 8 via the MS 9 in step S207. To get.

In step S208, when the COMS 4 obtains the telephone number, it performs a calling process in step S209. In step S206, C
If the number obtained by the OMS 4 is a telephone number, the process of step S209 is also performed. In step S209,
Sending is performed by the sending means 23 to the obtained telephone number. The transmission process here is performed in step S206.
According to the time of the transmission command received by the OMS 4, the mobile phone network 3, the public network X or the public network Y is selected and performed.

Then, in step S210, the transmission means 23 monitors whether or not there is a response from the mobile phone 3a of the transmission destination. This call arrives at the destination mobile phone 3a, and the mobile phone 3a
Is transmitted, the transmitting unit 23 establishes a communication state between the mobile phone 3a, the public network X, or the public network Y selected in step S206 and the mobile 3a, and ends the call in step S211. When the call ends, the log information in the log information DB 10 is recorded in step S212, and the process returns to step S205.

On the other hand, in step S210, the mobile phone 3
If a does not respond for reasons such as busy or an error, a mail distribution process is performed in step S213 together with the recording of the log information in step S211 described above. This mail distribution process is performed by the mail server 17 using the e-mail address corresponding to the shortened number obtained by the COMS 4 in step S207. For the mail server 17, for example, "Please contact from XX. 090-****-***
* "Is transmitted as an e-mail. The e-mail transmitted to the Internet 16a by the mail server 17 is transmitted to the mobile phone 3 via the packet communication network 16b.
a.

As described above, in the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the mobile communication is performed via the communication network selected from the mobile telephone network 3 or the Internet telephone network 19b in step S209 according to the time of the transmission command. By sending a call to the mobile phone 3a of the telephone network 3, the mobile phone 3a
A communication network with the lowest communication fee can be selected and transmitted to a in accordance with the transmission time, and the communication fee can be further reduced. Alternatively, this step S209
It is also possible to reduce the communication charge by selecting a communication network with the lowest communication charge according to the telephone number of the destination terminal and making a call.

When a call is made to the mobile phone 3a using the telephone number associated with the abbreviated number registered in the user information DB 8 and a communication state cannot be established, the electronic mail address associated with the abbreviated number is used. By transmitting an e-mail to the mobile phone 3a in step S213, a message can be left in the mobile phone 3a.
It is possible to easily communicate even if the communication state cannot be established.

In the present embodiment, the telephone 2a connected to the public network 2 as a source terminal and the mobile phone 3a connected to the mobile telephone network 3 as a destination terminal are selected in accordance with the time of the transmission command. Although the mobile phone network 3, the public network X, and the public network Y have been described as examples of possible communication networks, the present invention is not limited to these, and the same applies to other communication terminals and communication networks. The operation and effect can be obtained.

[0054]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) When a call is made from a source terminal connected to the first communication network to a destination terminal connected to the second communication network which is a different communication network, the call is stored in the first database. By allowing access only from the source terminal and making a call from the source terminal to the destination terminal via a relay terminal connected to the same communication network as the destination terminal, large discounts and corporate It is possible to perform communication at a lower cost with a low communication fee of the second communication network due to a discount or the like, and even microenterprises and individuals can easily use each user information simply by registering it in the first database. It becomes possible.

(2) By calculating and outputting the charge for the source terminal based on the log information stored in the second database, the communication charge of the user of the source terminal can be calculated even when the payment is not made. The user of the source terminal can refer to and manage the communication fee at any time.

(3) The configuration in which the authentication is automatically performed based on the caller number notified from the caller terminal connected to the public network allows the user to authenticate with the caller terminal without inputting an authentication code or the like. The communication fee can be further reduced by eliminating the trouble of input and the like at the time of authentication and the communication time involved in this authentication procedure.

(4) By transmitting a call to the second communication network via a communication network selected from the communication networks according to the time of the transmission command or the telephone number of the destination terminal, the source terminal to the destination terminal According to the transmission time or the telephone number of the destination terminal, a communication network with the lowest communication fee can be selected and transmitted, and the communication fee can be further reduced.

(5) When an outgoing call is made using the telephone number associated with the abbreviated number and a communication state cannot be established, an e-mail is sent to the destination terminal using the e-mail address associated with the abbreviated number. By transmitting the message, the message can be left at the destination terminal, and it is possible to easily contact the destination even if the communication state cannot be established.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the communication system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing an operation mode of the communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a communication procedure by the communication system in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of telephone directory data registered in the user information DB of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a communication procedure by a communication system in a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication fee discount system using a mobile phone connection adapter device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 communication system 2 public network 2a telephone 3 mobile telephone network 3a mobile 4 communication server (COMS) 4a, 4b interface 5 terminal adapter (TA) 6 relay mobile 7 adapter device 8 user information database (user information DB) 9 management server (MS) 10) Log information database (log information DB) 11 Center management server (CMS) 12 Communication network 12a Router 13a, 13b Communication network 14 Account server (AS) 14a Management database (management DB) 14b Output device 15 User registration terminal 16a Internet 16b Packet communication network 17 Mail server 21 Authentication means 22 Authorization means 23 Transmission means 24 Billing means A, B Area center C Central management center X, Y Public network

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein the source terminal connected to the first communication network sends the second terminal to the destination terminal connected to the second communication network.
A communication system for transmitting a call via a relay terminal connected to the communication network of claim 1, wherein the first database stores user information for authenticating access by the transmission source terminal via the first communication network. Authentication means for inquiring the first database in response to an access request from the source terminal to perform authentication, receiving means for receiving a transmission command from the source terminal to the destination terminal, Originating means for originating a call from the relay terminal to the destination terminal based on the second communication network to establish a communication state between the source terminal and the destination terminal, and a log indicating the communication state A communication system comprising: a second database for storing information. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising charging means for calculating and outputting a charge for said source terminal based on log information accumulated in said second database. 3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication network is a public communication network, and said second communication network is a mobile telephone network.
Or the communication system according to 2. 4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein said authentication means automatically performs authentication based on a caller number notified from said caller terminal. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the source terminal connected to the first communication network sends the second terminal to the destination terminal connected to the second communication network.
A communication method using a communication system for transmitting via a relay terminal connected to a communication network of the communication system, wherein the communication system responds to an access request from the transmission source terminal via the first communication network. A first step of inquiring and authenticating a first database storing user information, a second step in which the communication system receives a transmission instruction from the source terminal to a destination terminal, the communication system receiving the transmission instruction A third step of establishing a communication state between the source terminal and the destination terminal by making a call from the relay terminal to the destination terminal via the second communication network based on A fourth step of storing log information indicating the communication state in a second database. 6. The communication system further comprises means for connecting to the second communication network via another communication network, wherein the third step includes the time of the transmission command or the transmission of the transmission command. 6. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein a call is transmitted to said second communication network via a communication network selected from said communication networks according to a telephone number of a destination terminal. 7. The first database includes, as user information, a telephone number and an e-mail address of the destination terminal and an abbreviated number associated with the telephone number and the e-mail address. The second step is to receive the outgoing call command by the abbreviated number, and the third step is to make a call to the destination terminal using a telephone number associated with the abbreviated number and to establish the communication state. 7. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein an electronic mail is transmitted to the destination terminal using an electronic mail address associated with the abbreviated number.