JP2846016B2 - Cheapest line selection method in network control system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a line selection method in a network control method,
More specifically, in so-called personal computer communication, word processing communication, and NES (trade name) communication, the line of the cheapest telecommunications carrier, that is, the lowest line (LCR: Least Cost Rou)
tine).

[Prior Art] FIG. 5 shows a layout of word processing communication.
An interface 2 is attached to the word processor 1, and the interface 2 is connected to an NTT line via a modem (MODEM) 3. Here, reference numeral 4 in FIG. 5 denotes a telephone combined with the word processor 1, reference numeral 5 denotes an AC adapter, and reference numeral 6 denotes a modular outlet.
Conventionally, word processing communication, personal computer communication, and NES communication as shown in FIG. 5 have all been performed within the NTT telephone line network.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as a result of the liberalization of the telephone line business in September 1987, lines of a plurality of telecommunications carriers have become available. Here, there is a difference in communication cost among the lines of the plurality of telecommunications carriers based on a communication area, a communication distance, a communication point, and various other factors. And
There has been a demand for users of personal computer communication, word processing communication, and NES communication to communicate using a line with the lowest possible communication cost (the cheapest line).

However, every time PC communication, word processing communication or NES communication is performed, the communication area, communication distance, communication point,
Investigating various other factors and selecting the cheapest line requires a great deal of labor and time, which is practically impossible for ordinary users. In addition, a technology for automatically selecting the cheapest line has not been developed, and it has heretofore been impossible to respond to a request for selecting the cheapest line.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems of the conventional technology, and has as its object to provide a technology capable of automatically selecting the cheapest line for each communication in personal computer communication, word processing communication, and NES communication. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] The cheapest line selection method in the network control method of the present invention is a communication line of a telecommunications carrier and various communication means on the user side connected to the communication line via a modem. This is applied in a network control system that automatically sends dial numbers between the user and the line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier, even if a user's dial number sending request is referred to a pre-stored charge table. And a control means for automatically sending a dial number by adding a necessary access number, and storing a communication control program for selecting a line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and the charge table. The storage means is built in the main body of the modem (MODEM).

Further, the cheapest line selection method in the network control method of the present invention is a method for selecting a dial number between a communication line of a telecommunications carrier and various communication means on the user side connected to the communication line via a modem. Applied in the network control system that performs automatic calling, in response to a user's dial number calling request, refer to a pre-stored charge table, select the cheapest telecommunications carrier's line, and enter the required access number , And a communication control program for selecting a line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and a storage means for storing the charge table are provided by a modem (MODEM ) Is an external storage medium.

The communication control program for selecting the line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and the storage means for storing the charge table are built in the main body of various communication means on the user side, or are stored on the user side. It may be an external storage medium of the communication means.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, in response to a user's dial number transmission request, a line of the cheapest telecommunications carrier is selected by referring to a pre-stored charge table, A control unit that automatically sends out dial numbers with the necessary access numbers is added, so that every time users of PC communication, word processing communication, and NES communication use such communication methods, the lowest cost is automatically set. The line is selected. As a result, automatic selection of the cheapest line, which was impossible with the conventional technology, is achieved, and it is possible to respond to the request of the user. According to the present invention, the communication control program for selecting the line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and the storage means for storing the charge table are built in the main body of the modem (MODEM), or Since it is an external storage medium of a modem (MODEM), it is very easy to apply the method of the present invention to various existing communication means.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, a personal computer 10 is used as communication means on the user side. Then, a communication control program for selecting the line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and a floppy disk or storage means 12 storing the charge table, and a predetermined program which is built in the main body of the personal computer 10 and described later according to the program and the table. And control means 14 for performing the above processing.

The personal computer 10 is connected to an intelligent MODEM (modulator / demodulator) 18 via a line or a bus 16. Inside the intelligent MODEM 18, the DTE interface unit 20, command interpreter unit 22, MODEM unit 24, NCU unit
26 are connected to each other via a line, and the NCU unit 26 is connected to an NTT line 30.

The NTT line 30 can be connected to a line of a telecommunications carrier other than NTT at a POI (Point of Interface) 32. For simplicity of illustration, in FIG.
(Dotted line) and only the applicant's line 36 (solid line) are shown.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the process of selecting the cheapest line (LCR) by the communication control program stored in the storage means 12. When the user wants to start the personal computer communication, first, a call request (indicated by the symbol C in FIG. 1) is input to the personal computer 10 (step S1), and the character string of the dial number is extracted (step S2). Then, the user's terminal information file is read (step S3). Then, a line to be connected with the POI is selected (step S4),
The data of the charge table stored in the storage means 12 is called (step S5).

Next, referring to the data called in step S5,
It is determined whether the line selected in step S4 is an LCR (step S6). For example, if the NTT line is selected in step S4, the applicant's line is LCR when the originating location is Atsugi and the originating location is Osaka (Tachikawa
(Fee after opening Gifu POI and Sakai POI), step S6 is No. In this case, returning to step S4, another line is selected.

If, for example, the transmission place is Atsugi and the transmission place is Osaka, and if the applicant's line, that is, LCR, is selected in step S4, step S6 becomes Yes. Then, an automatic transmission command is generated so as to be connected to the LCR at the POI (step S7). After that, from PC 10 to line or bus
16 to the intelligent MODEM 18 (1st
(Figure S), requesting transmission from NCU 26 (step S
8) Then, it is connected to the NTT line 30 (FIG. 1) (step S9). The signal sent to the NTT line 30 is the selected LCR
Because it includes a command to connect to POI32, it is connected to LCP.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the communication control program for selecting the line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and the charge table are stored in the floppy disk 12 and provided in the control means 14 built in the main body of the personal computer 10. In the second embodiment, the IC card 40 is provided in the command interpreter unit 22 of the intelligent MODEM 18. Other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and thus the details are omitted.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the first and second embodiments, the present invention is applied to personal computer communication. In the third embodiment, the present invention is applied to NES communication. The NES 50 is connected to the NTT line 30 via a line or a bus 52 and a communication cartridge 54, and a communication control program for selecting the line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and the charge table are provided as an IC card 56. It is provided in the communication cartridge 54. Then, the LCR is selected in the POI 32 by the same processing as in the first embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, personal computer communication,
In word processing communication and NES communication, the line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier, that is, LCR can be selected. Therefore, a user using these communication methods can always use the cheapest line, so that the communication cost can be significantly reduced. And since the selection of LCR is performed automatically, the labor of line selection is insignificant,
It can be completely ignored. In addition, the labor required to modify the hardware required to apply the method of the present invention is extremely small.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing procedure flow in the first embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining an outline of word processing communication. 1 ... word processor, 10 ... personal computer, 12, 40, 56 ... storage means, 14 ... control means, 30 ... NTT line to POI, 32 ...
… POI, 34, 36 …… Telecommunication carrier lines connectable by POI

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-290350 (JP, A) JP-A-1-206766 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04M 1/26-1/57 H04M 15/00-15/38 H04M 11/00-11/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] The present invention is applied to a network control system for automatically transmitting a dial number between a communication line of a telecommunications carrier and various communication means on a user side connected to the communication line via a modem. In response to a user's request for dial number transmission, control is performed by referring to a pre-stored charge table, selecting the cheapest line of the telecommunications carrier, adding a necessary access number, and automatically transmitting the dial number. A communication control program for selecting a line of an inexpensive telecommunications carrier and storage means for storing the charge table are incorporated in a main body of the modem. The cheapest line selection method in the control method. 2. A network control system for automatically transmitting dial numbers between a communication line of a telecommunications carrier and various user communication means connected to the communication line via a modem. In response to a user's request for dial number transmission, control is performed by referring to a pre-stored charge table, selecting the cheapest line of the telecommunications carrier, adding a necessary access number, and automatically transmitting the dial number. A communication control program for selecting a line of the least expensive telecommunications carrier and a storage means for storing the charge table are external storage media of the modem. The cheapest line selection method in the system.