JP2007053431A - Mobile communication network, communication method thereof and database - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile communication network, enabling a single mobile terminal to utilize a plurality telephone numbers for transmission and capable of avoiding the nonconformities that depend on misoperations by user, without having to add extra functions to the mobile terminal, and to provide a communication method and a database apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile communication network 10 is provided with a database 18. The database 18 stores a physical telephone number T1, a logic telephone number T2, and a telephone number T3 of a transmission permissible destination. Upon receiving transmission from a mobile terminal 12a, a subscriber step exchange 14a searches the database 18. Then, the exchange 14a determines whether a destination telephone number X1 for the transmission matches the destination telephone number registered in the transmission permissible telephone number T3. If there is a match, the exchange 14a allows this transmission to arrive at the destination telephone number X1 (mobile terminal 12b) as transmission due to the logic telephone number T2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication network that accommodates mobile terminals, a communication method thereof, and a database, and more particularly, to a mobile communication network for providing a service capable of using a plurality of telephone numbers in one mobile terminal, and the communication thereof It relates to a method and a database.

  Conventionally, a single telephone number is assigned to a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone. For example, when the mobile phone numbers are used separately for private use and business use, the user has to prepare the mobile phone separately for each application. Therefore, the user has been contracted with a plurality of mobile phones, and has been forced to carry around them.

  For example, it is assumed that separate mobile phones are prepared for private use and business use. In this case, it is assumed that the charge destination for the call from the private mobile phone is the individual user, and that the call from the business mobile phone is the company where the user works. In this case, there is no problem if the mobile phone is properly used according to each application. However, for example, if a call is accidentally made from a private mobile phone to a company contact, the charge for the call should be billed to the company because it is originally for business use. However, the charge for the transmission is charged to the individual user according to the above rules. In this case, the user may request the company to return the fee, but the procedure is very troublesome, and some users give up the request.

  Furthermore, when a call is made from a mobile phone that does not match the application due to an emergency measure such as a user's operation mistake or failure, the following inconvenience occurs. Of course, even if the mobile phone is different, as long as there is a destination telephone number, the call itself can be made. However, recent telephones, particularly mobile telephones, sometimes operate a mode for rejecting incoming calls from other than registered telephone numbers in response to a prank call or the like. Here, for example, it is assumed that a private mobile phone has failed and a business mobile phone calls a friend's mobile phone. On the other hand, it is assumed that the telephone number of the user, that is, the telephone number of the private cellular phone is registered in the friend's cellular phone, but the telephone number of the business cellular phone is not registered. In such a case, if the incoming call rejection mode is activated in the friend's mobile phone, the outgoing call from the business mobile phone is rejected.

  Therefore, various techniques for making it possible to use a plurality of telephone numbers with a single mobile phone have been proposed in order to solve the above problems. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a plurality of different telephone numbers (for personal use and business use) are registered in one mobile phone, and charging is individually made for outgoing calls from each telephone number. The mobile phone of Patent Document 2 has a common display, antenna, handset, etc., and a receiving / transmitting device is provided for each phone number so that a single mobile phone can use a plurality of phone numbers. Patent Document 3 discloses an automobile telephone device in which a plurality of telephone numbers are registered with respect to one mobile station apparatus, and a desired telephone number can be selected from these telephone numbers to make a call. With the above technology, the conventional inconvenience of having to contract a plurality of mobile phones individually and carry them around is solved.

JP 2003-189013 A (paragraphs [0024] [0025] [0030] [0031] [FIG. 2]) JP 2002-111810 A (paragraph [0006] [FIG. 1]) JP-A-5-284103 (paragraphs [0020] [0023] [0063] [FIG. 1] to [FIG. 3])

  However, any of the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 must add some functions to the mobile phone side. Specifically, telephone number information must be written in a memory in a mobile phone (Patent Documents 1 to 3), or a different receiving / transmitting device must be provided for each telephone number (Patent Document 2). As a result, there is a concern that the cost of the mobile phone will increase. Furthermore, when the above-described multi-phone number service is applied to a mobile phone that is already used, the mobile phone must be collected, and the user and the mobile phone company are forced to take considerable time.

  Furthermore, the selection of the calling telephone number in the mobile phone disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 is performed as follows. For example, a predetermined outgoing telephone number is selected by a user operation from the outgoing telephone number list displayed on the display. That is, the selection accuracy of the calling telephone number in the mobile phones disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 depends on the operation accuracy of the user as in the case of having a plurality of mobile phones described above. Therefore, the mobile phones disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 do not solve any inconvenience caused by an operation error of the user, for example, inconvenience charged to a billing party other than the original billing party.

  The present invention enables a mobile terminal to use a plurality of telephone numbers without adding extra functions to the mobile terminal, and avoids inconveniences that depend on user operation errors. An object is to provide a communication network, a communication method, and a database.

The mobile communication network of the present invention is a mobile communication network that accommodates mobile terminals,
Storage means for associating and storing a logical telephone number different from a physical telephone number fixedly assigned to the mobile terminal, and a call-permitted destination telephone number permitted to call using the logical telephone number;
When a call is made from the mobile terminal to a predetermined destination telephone number, it is determined whether or not the destination telephone number matches the call-permitted destination telephone number stored in the storage unit, and the destination telephone number is An exchange means for causing the destination telephone number to receive an incoming call as a call by the logical telephone number when the call is permitted to be made to the destination telephone number;
Is provided.

  In this case, when the destination telephone number received from the mobile terminal does not coincide with the call-permitted destination telephone number, the exchange means causes the outgoing call to be received at the destination telephone number as a call by the physical telephone number. May be.

  In addition, the exchange unit may charge different billing destinations for a telephone charge related to the transmission of the physical telephone number and a telephone charge related to the transmission of the logical telephone number.

  Further, the exchange means sets the billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the physical telephone number as the individual owner of the mobile terminal, and sets the billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the logical telephone number as the owner of the mobile terminal. Employers who enter into employment contracts.

The communication method of the present invention is a communication method in a mobile communication network that accommodates mobile terminals,
The mobile communication network receives the destination telephone number from the mobile terminal when a call is made to the predetermined destination telephone number from the mobile terminal;
Determining whether or not the received destination telephone number matches a call-permitted destination telephone number that is permitted to make a call with a logical telephone number different from a physical telephone number fixedly given to the mobile terminal;
If the destination telephone number matches the call-permitted destination telephone number, the call is received at the destination telephone number as a call by the logical telephone number.

  In this case, when the destination telephone number received from the mobile terminal does not match the outgoing call destination telephone number, the mobile communication network causes the outgoing call to be sent to the destination telephone number as a call by the physical telephone number. Also good.

  In addition, the mobile communication network may charge different billing destinations for a telephone charge for calling the physical telephone number and a telephone charge for calling the logical telephone number.

  In addition, the mobile communication network has the mobile terminal charged for calling the physical telephone number as the individual owner of the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal charged for the telephone charge related to calling the logical telephone number. Employers who enter into employment contracts with employers.

The database of the present invention is a database provided in a mobile communication network that accommodates mobile terminals, and is referred to by an exchange or the like,
A logical telephone number different from a physical telephone number fixedly assigned to the mobile terminal and a call-permitted destination telephone number that is permitted to make a call using the logical telephone number are stored in association with each other.

  The present invention comprises storage means for associating and storing a logical telephone number that is different from a physical telephone number and a destination telephone number that is permitted to call using this logical telephone number. Furthermore, the present invention comprises an exchange means for receiving a destination telephone number related to a call with a logical telephone number when the destination telephone number received from the mobile terminal is a predetermined destination telephone number. With these configurations, a plurality of outgoing telephone numbers (that is, physical telephone numbers and logical telephone numbers) can be used by one mobile terminal. Therefore, the user is freed from the inconvenience of contracting a plurality of mobile terminals and carrying them.

  Further, both the storage means and the exchange means are configured on the mobile communication network side. Therefore, it is not necessary to add a function to the mobile terminal when providing a service using a plurality of telephone numbers with one mobile terminal. Therefore, the cost of the mobile terminal can be reduced, and the trouble of collecting the mobile terminal can be saved.

  In addition, in the present invention, the selection as to whether or not the calling telephone number is a logical telephone number is automatically made by comparing the destination telephone number received from the mobile terminal with a predetermined destination telephone number. Since the selection of the destination telephone number in the mobile terminal itself is a manual operation, there is a slight possibility that an operation error will occur, but the possibility is usually very low. Therefore, the possibility of inconvenience due to an operation error is extremely low as compared with the case where a plurality of mobile terminals are possessed or when a calling telephone number is selected by a key operation or the like in one mobile terminal.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a control block diagram of a mobile communication network 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile communication network 10 basically comprises a subscriber level switch 14a, 14b (switching means) that accommodates mobile terminals 12a, 12b, a relay level switch 16, and a database 18 (storage means). .

  The mobile terminals 12a and 12b are known terminal devices such as mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). The mobile terminals 12a and 12b basically include functions necessary for a call, that is, an antenna, a radio unit, a transmission / reception unit, an operation unit, a display unit, a power supply unit, and the like. In addition, the mobile terminals 12a and 12b and the subscriber level switches 14a and 14b are connected via a base station and a base station control device (both not shown).

  The database 18 stores subscriber information T0 of the mobile terminals 12a and 12b. The subscriber information T0 is composed of a physical telephone number T1, a logical telephone number T2, and a call permitted destination telephone number T3.

  The physical telephone number T1 is a telephone number that is fixedly (physically) assigned to the mobile terminals 12a and 12b, and usually cannot be changed or deleted. The physical telephone number T1 is also stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like in the mobile terminal 14, and is sent from the mobile terminals 12a and 12b to the subscriber level switches 14a and 14b when making a call.

  Unlike the physical telephone number T1, the logical telephone number T2 is a telephone number that can be arbitrarily changed, added, or deleted. The logical telephone number T2 is only required to exist in the database 18, and it is not necessary to be installed in the portable terminals 12a and 12b unlike the physical telephone number T1. In addition, registration of the logical telephone number T2 to the database 18 is assumed to be as follows. For example, a case where a user offers a telephone company the start of a service for using a plurality of telephone numbers and a predetermined contract is established between the two can be cited.

  The outgoing call destination telephone number T3 defines a destination telephone number that is permitted to make a call with the logical telephone number T2. It should be noted that the transmission-permitted destination telephone number T3 only needs to exist in the database 18 like the logical telephone number T2, and need not be installed in the mobile terminals 12a and 12b. Note that registration of the outgoing call destination telephone number T3 to the database 18 is the same as in the case of the logical telephone number T2. The number of permitted call destination telephone numbers T3 is not limited to one, and a plurality of numbers can be defined.

  When the subscriber floor exchanges 14a and 14b receive a call from the mobile terminals 12a and 12b, they search the database 18. Then, it is determined whether or not the destination telephone number related to the transmission matches the destination telephone number registered in the transmission allowable destination telephone number T3. If they match, the subscriber-level switches 14a and 14b execute a connection process in which the telephone terminal having the destination telephone number related to the outgoing call is received with the logical telephone number T2. The detailed operation of the subscriber floor switches 14a and 14b will be described later.

  The mobile communication network 10 of the present embodiment is basically configured as described above. Next, the operation (communication method) of the mobile communication network 10 will be described in detail below using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Prior to the processing shown in FIG. 3, the preprocessing shown in FIG. 2 is executed. First, the user of the mobile terminals 12a and 12b makes an application for a service using a plurality of telephone numbers with a single telephone company (step S1). The telephone company that has accepted the above application gives the user a logical telephone number T2 (step S2). The user who is given the logical telephone number T2 determines a call-permitted destination telephone number T3 that allows a call with this logical telephone number T2. Next, the user registers the assigned logical telephone number T2 and the determined outgoing call destination telephone number T3 in the subscriber information T0 of the database 18 in association with the physical telephone number T1 (step S3). Note that the process of step S3 is not necessarily performed by the user. For example, the telephone company may store the permitted call destination telephone number T3 notified from the user for a predetermined period, and register both in the database 18 when the logical telephone number T2 is determined.

  The process shown in FIG. 3 will be described. As a premise of the following description, in FIG. 1, a mobile terminal that is a transmission source, that is, a mobile terminal that uses a plurality of telephone numbers in one unit is a mobile terminal 12a, and a mobile terminal that is a destination is a mobile terminal 12b. In this case, the destination telephone number of the mobile terminal 12b is set to X1.

  First, the mobile terminal 12a that is a call originator sends a call to the mobile terminal 12b that is a call recipient (step S10). Specifically, the mobile terminal 12a transmits the physical telephone number T1 for identifying itself and the destination telephone number X1 of the mobile terminal 12b to the subscriber floor switch 14a.

  The subscriber level switch 14a receives the physical telephone number T1 and the destination telephone number X1 from the mobile terminal 12a (step S11). The subscriber level switch 14a checks whether the subscriber information T0 having the received physical telephone number T1, that is, the subscriber information T0 of the mobile terminal 12a exists in the database 18. When the subscriber floor exchange 14a finds the subscriber information T0 of the mobile terminal 12a in the database 18, the subscriber floor exchange 14a extracts the permitted call destination number T3 from the subscriber information T0 (step S12). The subscriber floor switch 14a determines whether or not the destination telephone number X1 received from the mobile terminal 12 matches the call permitted destination number T3 (step S13).

  When the destination telephone number X1 coincides with the transmission allowable destination number T3, the outgoing telephone number of the mobile terminal 12a to the mobile terminal 12b is set as the logical telephone number T2 (step S14). On the other hand, if the destination telephone number X1 does not match the outgoing call destination number T3, the outgoing telephone number of the mobile terminal 12a to the mobile terminal 12b is set as the physical telephone number T1 (step S15).

  The subscriber floor switch 14a connects the mobile terminal 12a and the mobile terminal 12b (step S16), and the outgoing call from the mobile terminal 12a arrives at the mobile terminal 12b. The mobile terminal 12b that has received a call from the mobile terminal 12a displays the caller telephone number on its display unit (step S17). In this case, the physical telephone number T1 or the logical telephone number T2 is displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal 12b. Thereafter, when the mobile terminal 12a and the mobile terminal 12b enter a call state, the subscriber-level switch 14a performs billing processing (step S18). In this case, the subscriber level switch 14a performs billing processing for each caller telephone number (physical telephone number T1, logical telephone number T2). For example, the billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the physical telephone number T1 is the individual owner of the mobile terminal 12a. The billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the logical telephone number T2 may be an employer who concludes an employment contract with the owner of the mobile terminal 12a.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the logical telephone number T2 different from the physical telephone number T1 is stored in the database 18 in association with the call-permitted destination telephone number T3 that is allowed to make a call. . Further, the subscriber-level switch 14a, 14b compares the destination telephone number X1 related to the outgoing call from the mobile terminals 12a, 12b and the allowable outgoing telephone number T3 so that the incoming call is made with the logical telephone number T2 only if they match. did. With the above configuration, a plurality of telephone numbers (physical telephone number T1 and logical telephone number T2) can be used by one mobile terminal 12a, 12b. For example, one mobile terminal 12a, 12b can be used separately for private use and business use. Therefore, the user is freed from the inconvenience of contracting each of the mobile terminals 12a and 12b and carrying them.

  Further, the configuration (database 18 and subscriber-level switch 14a, 14b) for using a plurality of outgoing telephone numbers by one unit is the configuration on the mobile communication network 10 side. That is, it is not necessary to add functions to the mobile terminals 12a and 12b when implementing the service. Therefore, the cost of the mobile terminals 12a and 12b can be reduced, and the trouble of collecting the mobile terminals 12a and 12b can be saved.

  In addition, the selection of the physical telephone number T1 and the logical telephone number T2 in the present embodiment is automatically determined depending on whether or not the destination telephone number X1 matches the outgoing call destination telephone number T3. The selection of the destination telephone number X1 is based on the user's operation. However, in the first place, if the destination telephone number X1 is selected incorrectly, an erroneous call is made. Therefore, the selection of the destination telephone number X1 is careful and the possibility of mistakes is extremely low. Therefore, the present embodiment is extremely likely to suffer from inconvenience due to an operation error compared to the case of having a plurality of mobile terminals or selecting a calling telephone number by a key operation or the like in one mobile terminal. Low.

  Further, the logical telephone number T2 registered in the database 18 can be arbitrarily changed, added or deleted, unlike the physical telephone number T1 which cannot be changed or deleted. For example, when mischievous telephone calls frequently occur for a predetermined logical telephone number T2, the user requests the telephone company or the like to delete the logical telephone number T2. In this case, the logical telephone number T2 itself cannot be used, but other logical telephone numbers T2 and physical telephone numbers T1 can be used continuously.

  In the above embodiment, one logical telephone number T2 has been described. However, the number is not limited to one and may be plural. In that case, the area of the subscriber information T0 in the database 18 may be increased with the addition of the logical telephone number T2. In addition, when there are a plurality of logical telephone numbers T2, the call-permitted destination telephone number T3 may be provided uniquely for each logical telephone number T2, or may be common among the logical telephone numbers T2.

  In addition, incoming calls to the physical telephone number T1 and the logical telephone number T2 are arbitrary as in the case of a telephone having one normal telephone number. That is, all incoming calls may be validated, or only specific incoming calls may be rejected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the destination mobile terminal 12b has been described as a mobile terminal accommodated in a subscriber floor switch 14b different from the originating mobile terminal 12a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the called-side mobile terminal 12b may be accommodated in the same subscriber floor switch 14a as that of the calling side.

  In the above embodiment, the destination telephone terminal is a mobile terminal, but it may be a fixed telephone connected to a wired network.

  In addition, although it has already been described that the logical telephone number T2 is not limited to one and may be plural, the use thereof is not particularly limited. For example, all of the plurality of logical telephone numbers T2 may be used for business, or business and private may be mixed. Furthermore, you may use for uses other than a business and private.

  In addition, in step S3 of FIG. 2, it has been described that the call permitted destination telephone number T3 is determined by the user, but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, a company that is obliged to settle a predetermined telephone fee as a public expense may be determined.

It is a control block diagram of the mobile communication network of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the pre-process performed before performing the process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the communication operation procedure of the mobile communication network shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile communication network 12a, 12b Mobile terminal 14a, 14b Subscriber hierarchical switch 18 Database T0 Subscriber information T1 Physical telephone number T2 Logical telephone number T3 Outgoing destination telephone number

Claims (9)

A mobile communication network accommodating mobile terminals,
Storage means for associating and storing a logical telephone number different from a physical telephone number fixedly assigned to the mobile terminal, and a call-permitted destination telephone number permitted to call using the logical telephone number;
When a call is made from the mobile terminal to a predetermined destination telephone number, it is determined whether or not the destination telephone number matches the call-permitted destination telephone number stored in the storage unit, and the destination telephone number is An exchange means for causing the destination telephone number to receive an incoming call as a call by the logical telephone number when the call is permitted to be made to the destination telephone number;
A mobile communication network comprising:   When the destination telephone number received from the mobile terminal does not match the call-permitted destination telephone number, the exchange means causes the call to be sent to the destination telephone number as a call by the physical telephone number. The mobile communication network according to claim 1.   3. The mobile communication according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exchange means charges a separate telephone account for a telephone charge for calling the physical telephone number and a telephone charge for calling the logical telephone number. network.   The exchange means sets the billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the physical telephone number as the individual owner of the mobile terminal, and employs the billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the logical telephone number as the owner of the mobile terminal. 4. The mobile communication network according to claim 3, wherein the mobile communication network is an employer that concludes a contract. A communication method in a mobile communication network that accommodates mobile terminals,
The mobile communication network receives the destination telephone number from the mobile terminal when a call is made to the predetermined destination telephone number from the mobile terminal;
Determining whether or not the received destination telephone number matches a call-permitted destination telephone number that is permitted to make a call with a logical telephone number different from a physical telephone number fixedly given to the mobile terminal;
When the destination telephone number matches the call-permitted destination telephone number, the communication is characterized in that the outgoing call is received by the destination telephone number as a call by the logical telephone number.   The mobile communication network, when the destination telephone number received from the mobile terminal does not match the outgoing call destination telephone number, causes the outgoing call to be received at the destination telephone number as a call by the physical telephone number. The communication method according to claim 5.   7. The communication according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the mobile communication network charges different billing destinations for a telephone charge for calling the physical telephone number and a telephone charge for calling the logical telephone number. Method.   In the mobile communication network, the billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the physical telephone number is the owner of the mobile terminal, and the billing destination of the telephone charge related to the transmission of the logical telephone number is the owner of the mobile terminal. 8. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the communication method is an employer who concludes an employment contract. A database provided in a mobile communication network accommodating mobile terminals and referred to by an exchange or the like,
A database characterized in that a logical telephone number different from a physical telephone number fixedly assigned to the mobile terminal and a call-permitted destination telephone number permitted to make a call using the logical telephone number are stored in association with each other.

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