JP2003244345A - Communication charge discount system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new communication charge discount system. <P>SOLUTION: A transmitting side mobile owned by a user making a charge discount service providing contract calls an optional terminating side mobile specified in the contract, and when talking is started, a telephone charge to be applied to the terminating side mobile is discounted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication charge discount system and method for communication services.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a so-called outgoing call billing system is used as a billing system in communication services. In this outgoing call billing method, according to the call volume of the mobile device,
The charge amount for the user of this mobile device is determined.

By the way, various discount services have been introduced for this charge due to recent competition among communication carriers. As this service, for example, there is a method of discounting the charge amount for a user who makes a contract with a mobile device according to the call volume of the mobile device.

[0004]

However, how to determine the discount amount is focused only on the mobile device on the calling side, and its variations are limited.
In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a new communication fee discounting mechanism.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a relay device for relaying communication performed by a mobile device in a mobile communication network, and identification information for uniquely identifying the mobile device. , A communication information acquisition unit that acquires communication information including a communication history of communication performed by the mobile device from the relay device, and calculates a communication amount of communication performed by the mobile device as a receiving side based on the communication information. Then, the discount amount is calculated based on the result of the calculation, and the discount amount is calculated from the discount amount calculation unit that calculates the discount amount to be given to the user of the mobile device, and the communication charge for the communication performed by the mobile device as the calling side. There is provided a communication charge discount system, comprising: a charging unit that charges a result to a user of the mobile device.

Further, the present invention provides a step of relaying communication performed by a mobile device in a mobile communication network, identification information for uniquely identifying the mobile device, and a communication history of communication performed by the mobile device. A step of acquiring communication information including the calculated communication charge of communication performed by the mobile device as a receiving side based on the communication information, and a discount amount given to the user of the mobile device based on the calculation result. And a step of charging the user of the mobile device with the result of subtracting the discount amount from the communication charge related to the communication performed by the mobile device as a transmitting side. Provide a way.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First, an outline of a charge discount service in a call charge discount system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, a charge generated by a call made by a mobile device is called a call charge, and a charge charged to a contractor of the mobile device is called a charge amount.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concept of a charge discount service in the call charge discount system 1. In the call charge discount system 1, an operator who concludes a charge discount service contract with a telecommunications carrier who operates the mobile communication network 2 (service contractor A) and a call charge discount by this charge discount service. The recipient (service beneficiary B) is different. The service contractor A sends a user of a desired mobile device such as a friend or family to the service beneficiary B in advance.
Is registered in the mobile communication network 2. Then, when the service contractor A uses his own mobile device to make a call to the mobile device of the service beneficiary B registered in advance,
A discount amount determined according to the call time required for this call is given to the service beneficiary B. However, at this point, the service beneficiary B only obtains the right to receive the discount, and the call charge is not actually discounted. Then, when the service beneficiary B uses his or her mobile device to make a call to a desired call partner (this call partner does not need to be the service contractor A described above), the service beneficiary B has already received the call. Calls are made by discounting the given discount amount.

Finally, the above-mentioned charge discount service is represented by the equation (1). A = B-β (1) (However, the charge amount is A, the call charge is B, and the discount amount is β) As shown in Expression (1), the call charge discount system 1
Once the value of β is determined, the value of β does not change thereafter, no matter how many calls the service recipient B makes on the calling side. That is, the service beneficiary B can make a free call until communication is made to meet the determined discount amount β, but after using the discount amount β,
You will be able to call at regular rates without getting a discount. With the above-described mechanism, it is possible to encourage the user of the mobile device on the receiving side to use the mobile device.

Next, the configuration of the call charge discount system 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the call charge discount system 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the call charge discount system 1 includes a mobile communication network 2, a billing center 21, and mobile devices 3-1 to 3-n (n = natural number. Hereinafter, it is necessary to distinguish individual devices in particular. If not present, it is referred to as mobile unit 3).

The mobile communication network 2 includes a plurality of exchanges 20-1.
.About.20-m (m = natural number; hereinafter, referred to as a switch 20 unless it is necessary to distinguish individual devices). Each exchange 20 controls exchange processing of communication lines inside the mobile communication network 2, and a plurality of base stations (not shown) communicating with the mobile exchange 3 are connected. Exchange 20
Upon receiving an outgoing call from the mobile device 3 on the calling side (hereinafter, called the mobile device 3-1 on the calling side) via the base station, the mobile device on the called side is operated by operating a switching mechanism (not shown). 3 (hereinafter, called mobile unit 3-2) is established.

The information indicating the contents processed by each exchange 20 is supplied from the exchanges to the billing center 21 as call information for performing billing processing described later. This call information includes the telephone number of the calling mobile unit 3-1 (hereinafter called the calling telephone number), the telephone number of the called mobile unit 3-2 (hereinafter called the called telephone number), and these calling numbers. Side mobile device 3-1
And the date and time when the call was started between the called mobile unit 3-2 and the call time.

The charging center 21 calculates a call charge, a discount amount and a charge amount for the mobile device 3 based on the call information supplied from the exchange 20. The configuration of the charging center 21 and the discount amount calculation method thereof will be described below. Further, in the following description, as a specific calculation method of the discount amount, communication is performed by the calling side mobile device 3-1 so that the receiving side mobile device 3-2 takes more than 3 minutes (or 5 minutes). In this case, 10 yen is accumulated every 3 minutes (or 5 minutes) of the excess time, and the accumulated total is used as the final discount amount.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the charging center 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the billing center 21 includes a call charge database server (hereinafter, the database server is referred to as a DB.
210) and the service recipient DBS211
And the called party call charge DBS212 and the discount amount DBS21
3 and a discount amount reduction system 214.

The call charge DBS 210 identifies the call time based on the communication information supplied from the exchange 20, and calculates the call charge based on this. And the call charge DB
In S210, the call duration and the call charge are stored in association with the calling party telephone number included in the communication information. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the originating side mobile device 3-1 corresponding to the originating side telephone number “090111111111” is the receiving side telephone number “09022”.
Perform communication for "10 minutes" on "July 1st" with the receiving side mobile device 3-2 corresponding to "222222",
As a result, the call charge of "30 yen" is generated. Similarly, in FIG. 3, the originating mobile device 3-1 displays “July 2
It indicates that a call charge of "50 yen" was incurred for the "16 minutes" call made on "Sunday".

Next, the service beneficiary DBS 211 has the receiving side mobile unit 3-pre-registered by the service contractor.
2 and information about the service beneficiary are stored in advance. That is, the service beneficiary DBS 211 determines the called party's telephone number of the called party's mobile device 3-2 and the called party's mobile device 3-2.
The name of the service beneficiary B who concludes the usage contract and the group company name of the communication business company that concludes the communication service contract with the service beneficiary B are stored. A group company is, for example, a subordinate organization of a telecommunications carrier, which is divided into regions such as the Hokkaido region and the Kanto region. A user can use the mobile device 3 by concluding a communication service contract with a certain group company. This group company charges the user of the mobile device 3. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the user “B” of the incoming mobile device 3-2 corresponding to the telephone number “090222222222” has signed a communication service contract with the group company “X”. It means that the company "B" charges the call charge.

Next, the called party call charge DBS 212 receives the call time and call charge obtained from the stored contents of the call charge DBS 210 and the called party mobile unit 3 which is to be held by the service beneficiary B and is obtained from the service beneficiary DBS 211. −
The second incoming call number and the second incoming call number are stored in association with each other. That is,
The receiving side call charge DBS212 is the call charge DBS210.
As described above, instead of storing the call time and the call charge related to the communication of all mobile devices 3, the call time and the call charge related to the communication addressed to the service beneficiary B are stored. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the called party's telephone number is “09022222222”.
2 ”is the call charge DBS 210 and the service recipient D
It is stored in both BS211. Therefore, the called party telephone number "09022" is stored in the called party call charge DBS212.
222222 ", the corresponding" July 1st "call time" 10 minutes "and call charge" 30 yen ", and" July 2nd "
The call time "16 minutes" of "day" and the call charge "50 yen" are stored in association with each other.

In addition, in the call charge DBS 212 on the called side,
In addition to the above data, the discount amount determined by each call time is also associated and stored. In the example shown in the figure, the called party's telephone number is "090222222222".
It is indicated that the discounted amount of "10 yen" can be enjoyed by the communication of the receiving side mobile device 3-2 corresponding to "1" on the "1st of July" for the communication time of "10 minutes". Similarly, in FIG. 3, the call time “16” made by the called mobile device 3-2 on “July 2”
It is shown that the discount amount "10 yen" can be enjoyed by the communication of "minute".

Next, in the discount amount DBS 213, based on the contents stored in the incoming call charge DBS 212 and the service beneficiary DBS 211, for the incoming mobile unit 3-2 in a predetermined period (here, one month). The cumulative total of the discount amounts is stored. In the discount DBS 213, the called party's telephone number of the called party's mobile device 3-2, the name of the service beneficiary B who concludes the usage contract of the called party's mobile station 3-2, and the called party's mobile machine 3-2 The name of the group company that charges the call charge and the discount amount for the receiving side mobile device 3-2 are stored in association with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the called-side mobile unit 3 corresponding to the called-side telephone number “090222222222”
-2 is given a discount amount of "20 yen" by communication performed by the terminating mobile device 3-2 within one month, and Group X company signs a contract for using the terminating mobile device 3-2. It is shown that a charge is made for “B”.

The discount amount reduction system 214 is a discount amount DB.
Based on the stored contents of S213, each called side mobile device 3-2
The cumulative total of the discount amounts for is stored in a file divided for each group company. Each group company subtracts the accumulated discount amount, which can be grasped by referring to the file corresponding to itself, from the monthly call charge charged to each receiving side mobile device 3-2 to obtain the mobile device 3 concerned. -2 can be charged to the service beneficiary B who concludes the use contract.

Next, the operation of the call charge discount system 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, a person who owns the mobile device 3 becomes a service contractor A when he concludes a charge discount service providing contract with a telecommunications carrier. At this time, the service contractor A concludes a contract for a discount service for the mobile device 3 held by a desired person such as a family member, and registers necessary information in the charging center 21. The information registered by the service contractor A is stored in the service beneficiary DBS211.

After the contract of the charge discount service is concluded, the calling side mobile device 3-1 held by the service contractor A becomes the calling side, and communication is performed with the called side mobile device 3-2 held by the service beneficiary B. Then, the communication information is transmitted from the exchange 20 corresponding to the area in which the originating mobile device 3-1 is accommodated to the call charge DBS 210 of the billing center 21. The call charge DBS 210, which has obtained this communication information, calculates the call time and the call charge to be charged to the calling side mobile device 3-1 and corresponds this to the calling side telephone number, that is, the telephone number of the calling side mobile device 3-1. Attach and memorize.

By the way, the incoming call charge DBS212
Compares the stored contents of the call charge DBS 210 with the stored contents of the service beneficiary DBS 211 at a predetermined time interval, and determines whether the originating mobile device 3-1 is communicating with the terminating mobile device 3-2. To determine. Here, if the originating mobile unit 3
When -1 is the calling side and communication is being performed with the receiving-side mobile device 3-2, the receiving-side call charge DBS 212 discounts from the charge amount for the receiving-side mobile device 3-2 based on the call time of the communication. Calculate the amount to be paid. Then, the called-side call charge DBS212, with respect to the discount amount DBS213,
Notify the discount amount to the mobile device 3-2 on the called side. The discount amount DBS 213 accumulates the discount amount for each of the plurality of incoming-side mobile devices 3-2.

The total amount of discounts accumulated by the discount DBS 213 for each of the plurality of mobile terminals 3-2 on the receiving side is transmitted to the discount refund system 214 at a predetermined time on a predetermined day of each month. When the data indicating the discount amount to the receiving side mobile device 3-2 is received from the discount amount DBS 213, the discount amount reduction system 2
14 charges the user of the receiving-side mobile device 3-2 with the received discount amount subtracted from the call charge of the receiving-side mobile device 3-2 as the charging amount.

As described above, in the call charge discount system 1 of the present embodiment, the communication resulting from the calling mobile unit 3-1 calling the called mobile unit 3-2 is calculated from the call charge. Is determined based on the amount of incoming calls of the mobile device 3-2 on the receiving side, that is, the communication time. Therefore, the service beneficiary B can easily estimate how much the call charge discount will be.

Here, for example, it is possible to determine the charge amount by multiplying the call charge by the discount rate. However, in this case, as the call volume of the mobile device increases, the discount amount for the call charge also increases. On the other hand, in the charge discount service of the present embodiment, the receiving side mobile device 3
Once the discount amount is determined according to the incoming call amount of -2, thereafter, the charge discount amount becomes constant irrespective of the calling amount of the call made by the discount service beneficiary. That is, an upper limit is set for the discount amount. As a result, telecommunications carriers do not need to reduce call revenue more than necessary. That is, the discount service provided by the call charge discount system 1 provides a service with an upper limit on the discount charge.

The call charge discount system and method of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment,
Various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. <Modification 1> In the above embodiment, a voice call is described as an example. However, when data communication is performed in the mobile communication network 2, a charge discount is made based on the data communication amount. May be. Even in data communication, it is the exchange that relays the communication performed by the mobile device, so the charge discount amount is determined based on the communication volume relayed by this exchange. For example, when exchanging e-mail by packet communication, the communication carrier can specify the sender and the receiver of the e-mail, and can know the data amount of the e-mail. Therefore, the communication carrier can also discount the communication charge based on information such as the number of incoming mails and the amount of data.

<Modification 2> In the above embodiment,
As a specific example of the discount service, when the calling side mobile device 3-1 makes a call and the receiving side mobile device 3-2 performs communication for more than 3 minutes (or 5 minutes), the excess time is 3 minutes. The description has been given in the mode of determining the discount amount by accumulating 10 yen every (or 5 minutes), but the specific calculation method of the discount amount is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to make a change such as accumulating 5 yen every 1 minute of the excess time to determine the discount amount. In short, the call charge discount system and method can determine the call charge based on the incoming call amount of the called mobile device for the communication as a result of the calling mobile device calling the called mobile device. Any specific amount may be used as long as it is an aspect.

<Modification 3> In the above embodiment,
In the billing center 21 installed on the mobile communication network 2,
Although the description has been given by taking as an example the mode in which the call charge, the discount amount, and the charge amount are calculated, the functions provided in the charge center 21 may be distributed and arranged on a network other than the mobile communication network 2. Absent. In short, the call charge discount system and method can determine the call charge based on the incoming call amount of the called mobile device for the communication as a result of the calling mobile device calling the called mobile device. Any form may be used as long as it is an aspect.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a new discount method for the amount charged to the user of the mobile device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a concept of a charge discount service in a call charge discount system 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a call charge discount system 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a charging center 21.

[Explanation of symbols]

20-1 to 20-m ... Exchange, 210 ... Call charge database server, 211 ... Service beneficiary database server, 212 ... Call side call charge database server, 2
13 ... Discount amount database server, 3 ... Mobile device.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Azusa Motohashi             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo (72) Inventor Kazuya Fukuda             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo (72) Inventor Seiji Kaku             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo (72) Inventor Takuo Okumura             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo F term (reference) 5K025 BB02 CC07 DD06 EE23 FF14                       FF22 GG01 GG24                 5K067 AA29 BB02 DD17 DD57 EE02                       EE10 EE16 HH21 HH23

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication information including a relay device for relaying communication performed by a mobile device in a mobile communication network, identification information for uniquely identifying the mobile device, and communication history of communication performed by the mobile device. And a communication information acquisition unit that acquires from the relay device, calculates the communication amount of communication performed by the mobile device as a receiving side based on the communication information, and informs the user of the mobile device based on the result of the calculation. A discount amount calculation unit that calculates the discount amount to be given, and a charging unit that charges the user of the mobile device with the result of subtracting the discount amount from the communication charge related to the communication performed by the mobile device as the calling side A communication charge discount system that is characterized by 2. Communication information including a step of relaying communication performed by a mobile device in a mobile communication network, identification information for uniquely identifying the mobile device, and communication history of communication performed by the mobile device. And a step of calculating a communication charge for communication performed by the mobile device as a receiving side based on the communication information, and calculating a discount amount to be given to a user of the mobile device based on a result of the calculation. And a step of charging the user of the mobile device with the result of subtracting the discount amount from the communication charge related to the communication performed by the mobile device as the calling side.