JP2002165036A - Phone connection system utilizing internet, phone connection management server, phone connection method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a phone connection system utilizing the Internet that can be utilized without the need for registration of a user in advance to a provider or the like for interconnecting a phone network and the Internet. SOLUTION: In the phone connection system utilizing the Internet 1 having a terminal 2 and a phone connection management server 4 that interconnects a phone network 3 to which the terminal 2 is connected and the Internet 1 to make phone connection between the terminals 2, the phone connection management server 4 is provided with a payment method confirmation section 6 that confirms how to pay the speech charge by a user of the terminal, a discrimination section 7 that discriminates whether or not the payment of the speech charge is possible by the payment method confirmed by the payment method confirmation section 6, a phone connection section 8 that connects the phone network 3 to the Internet 1 to make phone connection between the terminals 2 when the discrimination section 7 discriminates that the payment of the speech charge is possible, and a utility charge calculation section 9 that calculates the utility charge by the phone connection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone connection system, a telephone connection management server, and a recording medium using an Internet network, and more particularly, to a connection company (Internet service provider: hereinafter) for connecting a telephone network to the Internet network. The present invention relates to a telephone connection system, a telephone connection management server, and a recording medium using an Internet network that can be used without prior registration of a user to a provider or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of the Internet in recent years, telephone connection services using the Internet network have been provided. This telephone connection service has an advantage that a low-priced call service can be received regardless of the distance because an inexpensive Internet network is used instead of a general public telephone line as a communication line on the way. In addition, there is also a merit that a company that provides an Internet telephone service requires less initial investment than a conventional network.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the mechanism of the Internet telephone service. As shown in FIG. 7, a gateway server 51 owned by a provider connected to an Internet network 50 is connected to a public telephone network 53 connected to a subscriber telephone 52 and a UNI (User-Network Interface).
e: user / network interface).

[0004] The analog voice signal of the subscriber telephone 52 is digitized and compressed by the gateway server 51. When this is transmitted to the other party's access point through the Internet network 50, the other party performs the reverse process in the gateway server 51, that is, converts the digitized and compressed voice signal into analog voice and sends it to the public telephone network 53. This enables a call.

[0005] First, when the user dials the telephone number of the access point of the contracted provider from the telephone set 52, a voice guidance is played, and a prompt to input a user ID and a password by a push button is provided. When the user inputs these with push buttons, authentication as to whether or not the user has subscribed to the Internet telephone service is performed. After passing this authentication, dialing the telephone number of the other party makes it possible to connect to the telephone via the Internet network 50 and make a telephone call. As a modified example, there is also a system in which a telephone is connected by continuously dialing the telephone number of the other party after the telephone number of the access point of the provider.

[0006] Japanese Patent No. 3002667 discloses that
2. Description of the Related Art There is disclosed an Internet communication system employing a POI system, which is an interoffice interface. According to this Internet communication system, the exchanges are connected to each other and the exchange and the gateway server at the point code level which is the address of the exchange, so that the telephone can be connected smoothly as if it were a normal telephone.

[0007]

In a conventional telephone connection system using the Internet network, a user must be registered in advance with a provider or the like in order to use the system. Therefore, there is a problem that the system cannot be used unless the user is registered.

[0008] Further, for example, even if a fixed telephone at home is registered but a mobile telephone is not registered, there is a problem that the system cannot be used with the mobile telephone. Therefore, since it is necessary to register each fixed telephone and mobile telephone at home and pay each individual fee, it is troublesome, and there is a problem that the collection business of the business increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and utilizes an Internet network that can be used without registering a user in advance with a provider or the like that connects a telephone network to the Internet network. It is an object to provide a telephone connection system, a telephone connection management server, and a recording medium.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A telephone connection system using the Internet network according to the present invention is a telephone connection for connecting a terminal, a telephone network to which the terminal is connected, and the Internet network and making a telephone connection between the terminals. A telephone connection management server, the telephone connection management server comprising: a payment method confirmation unit for confirming a method of payment of a call charge by a user of the terminal; and Judgment means for judging whether or not it is possible, and a telephone connection for connecting the telephone network and the Internet network and making a telephone connection between terminals when it is judged that the call charge can be paid by the judgment means Means and means for calculating a usage charge by telephone connection.

[0011] The telephone connection management server may include a settlement unit for adjusting the usage fee calculated by the usage fee calculation unit.

[0012] The telephone connection management server has a minimum call rate calculating means for calculating a minimum call rate based on a telephone number of a terminal of a partner who desires a call, and the determination means includes:
It may be determined whether or not the payment method can pay more than the minimum call charge calculated by the minimum call charge calculation means.

[0013] The telephone connection management server is connected to a financial institution collation system, and transmits the account number of a payment account of the financial institution, the password, and the information on the minimum call charge inputted from the terminal to the financial institution collation system. The financial institution verification system receives the transmitted information, performs personal verification based on the received information, and verifies whether the balance of the payment account is equal to or more than the minimum call charge. , Transmitting the collation result to the telephone connection management server,
The determination means of the telephone connection management server may be configured to receive the transmitted collation result and determine whether or not payment can be made by the payment method based on the received collation result.

[0014] The telephone connection management server is connected to a credit collation system, and transmits the card number of the credit card and the information of the minimum call charge inputted from the terminal to the credit collation system. Receiving the transmitted information, performing identity verification based on the information, collating whether or not the credit card usage limit is equal to or more than the minimum call charge, and comparing the collation result to the telephone connection management server. Transmitting, the determination means of the telephone connection management server may be configured to receive the transmitted collation result and determine whether or not the payment method can be used for payment based on the received collation result. Good.

[0015] The telephone connection management server sends a notification to the terminal that the call is not available to the terminal when the determination means determines that the call fee cannot be paid by the payment method. Is also good.

A telephone connection management server according to the present invention is used in the above-described telephone connection system.

A telephone connection method according to the present invention is a telephone connection method for connecting a telephone network to which a terminal is connected and an Internet network to establish a telephone connection between the terminals. And a step of determining whether or not the call fee can be paid by the confirmed payment method.If it is determined that the call fee can be paid, the telephone network and the Internet network are connected. It is characterized by comprising a step of connecting and making a telephone connection between terminals, and a step of calculating a usage fee for the telephone connection.

The method may further include a step of adjusting the calculated usage fee.

A step of calculating a minimum call rate based on the telephone number of the terminal of the other party who wants to make a call, and a step of determining whether or not the calculated minimum call rate can be paid by the payment method. May be provided.

[0020] The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium for recording a program for controlling a telephone connection management server for connecting a telephone network to which a terminal is connected and the Internet network and making a telephone connection between the terminals, A process of confirming a method of paying a call fee by a user of the terminal, a process of determining whether or not the call fee can be paid by the confirmed payment method, and determining that a call fee can be paid In this case, a program for causing a computer to execute a process of connecting a telephone network and an Internet network to establish a telephone connection between terminals and a process of calculating a usage fee for the telephone connection when the connection is made is recorded.

[0021] The recording medium of the present invention may store a program for causing a computer to execute a process of adjusting the calculated usage fee.

According to the recording medium of the present invention, a process for calculating a minimum call fee based on the telephone number of a terminal of a partner who desires a call, and whether or not the calculated minimum call fee can be paid by the payment method. A program for causing a computer to execute the process of determining whether or not to perform the determination may be recorded.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a telephone connection system using the Internet network of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a telephone connection management server.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a telephone connection system using the Internet 1 according to the present invention
And a telephone connection management server 4 that connects the telephone network 3 to which the terminal 2 is connected and the Internet network 1 and makes a telephone connection between the terminals 2.

The terminal 2 is, for example, a fixed telephone, a mobile telephone, a personal computer having a call function, a portable terminal device, or the like used by a user.

The telephone network 3 is, for example, a public telephone network. The Internet network 1 uses TCP / IP (Transmission Con
Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

The telephone connection management server 4 is an information processing apparatus such as a workstation server owned by a provider or the like that provides a telephone connection service.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the telephone connection management server 4 calculates a minimum call charge based on the telephone number of the terminal 2 of the other party who desires a call.
And a payment method confirming unit 6 for confirming a method of paying the call fee by the user of the terminal 2, and determining whether the call fee can be paid by the payment method confirmed by the payment method confirming unit 6. A determination unit 7 and a telephone network 3 when the determination unit 7 determines that the call charge can be paid;
A telephone connection unit 8 that connects the terminal 2 with the Internet network 1 to make a telephone connection, a usage fee calculation unit 9 that calculates a usage fee by telephone connection, and a usage fee calculated by the usage fee calculation unit 9. It has a settlement unit 10 for settlement and a notification unit 11 for notifying the terminal 2 of various messages by e-mail or the like.

The telephone connection management server 4 is connected to a financial institution collating system 12 held by a financial institution such as a bank, and receives the account number, password, and minimum call charge of the financial institution's payment account input from the terminal 2. The information is transmitted to the financial institution matching system 12.

The financial institution collation system 12 receives the transmitted information, performs identity verification based on the received information, and verifies whether the balance of the payment account is equal to or greater than the minimum call charge. The result is transmitted to the telephone connection management server 4.

The telephone connection management server 4 is connected to a credit collation system 13 held by a credit company or the like, and transmits the credit card number and the minimum call charge information input from the terminal 2 to the credit collation system 13. I do.

The credit collation system 13 receives the transmitted information, performs identity verification based on the information, and verifies whether or not the credit card usage limit is equal to or higher than the minimum call charge. Is transmitted to the telephone connection management server 4.

The judging unit 7 of the telephone connection management server 4 receives the collation result transmitted from the financial institution collation system 12 or the credit collation system 13 and determines whether or not the payment can be made by the payment method based on the received collation result. Is determined.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a telephone connection method using the Internet 1 according to the present invention.

First, the user connects to the provider using the terminal 2 (step A1), and accesses the telephone connection system (step A2).

Next, the user uses the terminal 2 to enter the telephone number of the party to which the user wants to talk (step A3). Based on this input, the minimum call charge calculation unit 5 of the telephone connection management server 4 analyzes the telephone number of the called party and calculates the minimum call charge required as the call charge (step A4).

Next, the payment method confirmation unit 6 confirms (registers) the payment method (step A5). Payment methods include (1) a method of debiting from an account of a financial institution registered in advance with the provider (steps A6 and A8),
(2) A method of inputting a bank account number and a password at the time of use and debiting from a predetermined financial institution account (step A)
6, A10), (3) Payment method using a credit card registered in advance with the provider (steps A7, A
9), (4) A method of inputting a credit number at the time of use and paying with a credit card (steps A7, A1)
1). In addition, you may enable it to select the payment method other than the above.

If the payment method is a method of withdrawing from the account of the financial institution, the collation by the financial institution collation system 12 is performed (step A12), and if the payment method is a credit card, the collation by the credit collation system 13 is performed. (Step A13).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the collation processing by the financial institution collation system 12.

First, the telephone connection management server 4 sets an account number, a password and a minimum call charge (step B).
1) The information is transmitted to the financial institution collating system 12 held by the financial institution (step B2).

The financial institution collation system 12 receives the information sent from the telephone connection management server 4 (step B).
3), the account number and the password are collated to determine whether or not the user is a valid user (step B4). If it is determined that the user is valid, the minimum call rate is compared with the balance of the account to determine whether or not the balance is equal to or higher than the minimum call rate (step B5). If the account balance is equal to or higher than the minimum call charge, the verification result is OK (step B6), and if the account is not a valid user or the account balance is less than the minimum call charge, the verification result is NG (step B7). ), And transmits the collation result to the telephone connection management server 4 (step B8). The telephone connection management server 4 receives the transmitted collation result (step B9).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the collation processing by the credit collation system 13.

First, the telephone connection management server 4 sets a credit card number and a minimum call charge (step C).
1) The information is transmitted to the credit collation system 13 owned by a credit card company or the like (step C).
2).

The credit collation system 13 receives the information sent from the telephone connection management server 4 (step C).
3) The credit card number is verified to verify the identity of the user (step C4). If the user is recognized as a valid user, the minimum call rate is compared with the usage limit to determine whether or not the credit card usage limit is equal to or greater than the minimum call rate (step C5). If the credit card usage limit is equal to or higher than the minimum call charge, the verification result is OK (step C6). If the credit card is not a valid user or the credit card usage limit is less than the minimum call charge, verification is performed. As a result NG (Step C
7), and transmits the collation result to the telephone connection management server 4 (step C8). The telephone connection management server 4 receives the transmitted collation result (step C9).

The determination unit 7 of the telephone connection management server 4 includes a financial institution collation system 12 and a credit collation system 13
It is determined whether or not the user can pay by the payment method based on the collation result received from (step A14).

If the determination unit 7 determines that payment is possible, the telephone connection unit 9 performs a telephone connection process (step A15), and if it determines that payment is not possible, the notification unit 11 Notifies the terminal 2 of the user that use is impossible (step A16).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a telephone connection process for connecting the telephone network 3 and the Internet network 1.

First, the telephone connection section 8 sets the telephone number of the other party (step D1) and makes a connection request to the telephone network 3 (step D2).

The telephone network 3 receives the connection request from the telephone connection management server 4 (step D3), performs connection processing based on the telephone number, and checks whether the connection processing is completed (step D4). In the case of connection completion, connection result OK
(Step D5), and if the connection is not completed, the connection result is NG (step D6), and the connection result is transmitted to the telephone connection management server 4 (step D7).

The telephone connection management server 4 receives the connection result from the telephone network 3 (step D8). If the received result indicates that the connection is OK (step D9), the telephone connection management server 4 enters a communication state (step D11). If the received result is a connection NG, the notification unit 11 notifies the user 2 of the reason by e-mail or the like (step D10).

When the call is completed, the telephone network 3 transmits the disconnection result and the communication time to the telephone connection management server 4 (step D).
12), the telephone connection management server 4 receives the disconnection result and the communication time (step D13). The usage fee calculation unit 9 calculates a usage fee based on the received communication time (step D14), and the settlement unit 10 performs a settlement process using a bank account or a credit card (step D15). Further, the notifying unit 11 notifies the user of the communication time and the usage amount by e-mail or the like (step D16).

According to the present invention, since it can be used without registering a user in advance to a provider or the like that connects the telephone network 3 and the Internet network 1, if the environment allows connection to the Internet network 1, A service as a virtual public telephone that can be used by anyone can be provided. In addition, it is possible to use an international call that requires registration of the terminal 2 in advance without registration.

In addition, since it is not necessary to register for each fixed telephone and mobile phone at home and pay a separate fee as in the prior art, the convenience is high and the fee is settled for each use. Collection operations are simplified.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, another embodiment of the present invention has a recording medium 14 on which a management server control program for causing a computer to execute the operation of the telephone connection management server 4 described above is recorded. The recording medium 14 may be a magnetic disk, a CD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or another recording medium.

The management server control program is stored in the recording medium 1
4 is read into the computer of the telephone connection management server 4 to control the operation of the computer and execute the above-described processing for telephone connection.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made within the scope of the technical matters described in the claims. For example, the telephone connection management server 4 calculates a talkable time based on the balance of the payment account of the financial institution, the credit card usage limit, and the telephone number of the other party, transmits the information to the telephone network 3, and The network 3 may be configured to forcibly stop the call when the communicable time elapses.

[0057]

According to the present invention, since it can be used without registering a user in advance to a provider for connecting the telephone network to the Internet network, anyone in an environment where the Internet can be connected can be used. However, a service as a virtual public telephone that can be used can be provided. In addition, the terminal can be used without registering an international call that requires terminal registration in advance.

Further, since it is not necessary to register for each fixed telephone and mobile telephone at home and pay the fee individually as in the conventional case, the convenience is high, and the fee is settled for each use. Collection operations are simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a telephone connection system using the Internet network of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a telephone connection management server.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a telephone connection method using the Internet network according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a collation process performed by the financial institution collation system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a matching process performed by the credit matching system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a telephone connection process for connecting a telephone network to the Internet network.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a mechanism of the Internet telephone service.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Internet network 2: Terminal 3: Telephone network 4: Telephone connection management server 5: Minimum call charge calculation unit 6: Payment method confirmation unit 7: Judgment unit 8: Telephone connection unit 9: Usage charge calculation unit 10: Settlement unit 11 : Notification unit 12: Financial institution collation system 13: Credit collation system 14: Recording medium

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5K025 AA05 BB06 CC01 EE18 EE24 FF17 FF26 GG04 GG28 HH17 JJ02 JJ10 JJ12 5K030 GA08 HA01 HA08 HB01 HB08 HC02 HD03 HD09 JA11 KA04 KA05 LB02 5K051 AA09 BB01 NN01 5

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A telephone connection system using an Internet network, comprising: a terminal; and a telephone connection management server for connecting a telephone network to which the terminal is connected to the Internet and making a telephone connection between the terminals. The connection management server determines a payment method confirming means for confirming a method of paying the call charge by the user of the terminal, and determines whether or not the call charge can be paid by the payment method confirmed by the payment method confirming means. Determining means, a telephone connection means for connecting the telephone network and the Internet network and making a telephone connection between the terminals when it is determined that the call fee can be paid by the determining means, and A telephone connection system using the Internet network, comprising: a usage fee calculation unit for calculating. 2. The telephone connection system using the Internet network according to claim 1, wherein said telephone connection management server includes a settlement unit for adjusting the usage fee calculated by said usage fee calculation unit. 3. The telephone connection management server further comprises a minimum call rate calculating means for calculating a minimum call rate based on a telephone number of a terminal of a partner who desires a call, and wherein the determining means calculates the minimum call rate. The telephone connection system using the Internet network according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the minimum call charge calculated by the means can be paid by the payment method. 4. The financial institution collation system is connected to a financial institution collation system, and the information of the account number of the payment account of the financial institution, the personal identification number and the minimum call charge inputted from the terminal is inputted to the financial institution collation system. The financial institution verification system receives the transmitted information, performs personal verification based on the received information, and determines whether the balance of the payment account is equal to or greater than the minimum call charge. Collating, transmitting the collation result to the telephone connection management server, the judging means of the telephone connection management server can receive the transmitted collation result, and pay by the payment method based on the received collation result. 4. The telephone connection system using the Internet network according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether or not the telephone connection is established. 5. The telephone connection management server is connected to a credit collation system, and transmits the credit card number and the minimum call charge information input from the terminal to the credit collation system. Receiving the transmitted information and performing identity verification based on the information,
Checking whether the credit card usage limit is equal to or more than the minimum call charge, transmitting a check result to the telephone connection management server, the determining means of the telephone connection management server determines the transmitted check result The telephone connection system using the Internet network according to claim 3 or 4, wherein whether or not payment can be made by the payment method is determined based on the received collation result. 6. The telephone connection management server sends a notice to the terminal to the effect that use is not possible, when the determination means determines that the call method cannot be paid by the payment method. A telephone connection system using the Internet network according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. A telephone connection management server used in a telephone connection system using the Internet network according to claim 1. 8. A telephone connection method for connecting a telephone network to which a terminal is connected and an Internet network to establish a telephone connection between terminals, the method comprising: confirming a method of paying a call charge by a user of said terminal; A step of determining whether the call fee can be paid by the confirmed payment method; and, if it is determined that the call fee can be paid, connecting the telephone network and the Internet network to each other, and A telephone connection method, comprising: performing a telephone connection; and calculating a usage fee for the telephone connection. 9. A telephone connection method comprising the step of adjusting the calculated usage fee. 10. A step of calculating a minimum call charge based on a telephone number of a terminal of a partner who desires a call, and determining whether or not the calculated minimum call charge can be paid by the payment method. The telephone connection method according to claim 8, further comprising: 11. A recording medium storing a program for controlling a telephone connection management server for connecting a telephone network to which a terminal is connected and an Internet network and making a telephone connection between the terminals, wherein a user of the terminal is provided. A process of confirming the method of payment of the call fee according to the above, a process of determining whether or not the payment of the call fee is possible by the confirmed payment method, and a process of determining whether the payment of the call fee is possible. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process of connecting a telephone between terminals by connecting a network and an Internet network, and a process of calculating a usage fee by the telephone connection. 12. The recording medium according to claim 11, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute the process of adjusting the calculated usage fee is recorded. 13. A process for calculating a minimum call rate based on the telephone number of a terminal of a partner who desires a call, and determining whether or not the calculated minimum call rate can be paid by the payment method. The recording medium according to claim 11, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute the processing is recorded.