TWI592040B - Applicable to IoT billing system - Google Patents

Description

Accounting system for the Internet of Things

The present invention belongs to the technical field of the Internet of Things (IoT), and particularly relates to a charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, which can reasonably charge for the diversity of communication and wide application of the Internet of Things.

The emergence of the Internet has completely changed the way people live and communicate, and with the popularity of the Internet, people's understanding of new things is no longer limited to books, but through the Internet. network. In addition, in addition to the transmission of people and information, Human to Human can also communicate with each other on the Internet by jumping away from real life.

Further, various applications derived from the ever-evolving wireless network communication technology are constantly innovating, making wireless network communication technology used in various items in daily life. Once these items are connected to the Internet via a wireless network, people can easily use the computer or mobile phone to control the behavior of these items (Human to Machine, H2M); thus, even if people are not at home, they can use portable electronic devices. The product controls the opening/closing of air-conditioning, doors and windows, etc. in the home through the Internet.

However, the interaction between people and objects (H2M) is still exempt from "man-made control", so how to avoid artificial control between items and items (Machine to Machine, H2M) is able to communicate, calculate, control, and/or perform actions on its own, and it is the interest of scientists and scholars to continuously carry out research and development in this area. In view of this, the Internet of Things, which is built on the Internet, has emerged. This is an era-changing change. Former IBM CEO Louis V. Gerstner (Jr.) once put forward an important point: "The computing model changes every 15 years." Since this view is as accurate as Moore’s Law, people call it the fifteen-year cycle law. The content of the changes that occur during each cycle time can be understood by the following list (1).

The Internet of Things is a much larger network built on the Internet. Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of an IoT architecture. As shown in Figure 1, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) divides the IoT architecture into three blocks: M2M device domain 11', M2M network domain 12', and M2M. Application domain 13'. Among them, the M2M device area 11' is also called a sensing layer, such as the skin and facial features of the human body, and contains many devices with sensing, identification and communication capabilities to target the environment or specific objects. Perceive and monitor. For example, the various M2M devices (111'~115') shown in FIG. 1 may be RFID tags and readers, GPS devices, image processors, instant image monitoring devices, infrared sensors, gas sensors, pressure Sensors, etc., which use their sensing and monitoring capabilities to collect data, then integrate the data through mutual communication, and finally transfer the data to the M2M network area 12'.

The M2M network area 12', also known as the network layer, acts like a nerve in the human body structure and is responsible for transmitting the data collected by the sensing layer to the application area 13'. As shown in FIG. 1, the M2M network area 12' includes an M2M core network 121' and an M2M network standard service function 122'; wherein the M2M core network 121' can make full use of existing telecommunication networks, including fixed networks. And mobile networks (2G, 3G, or 4G LTE), especially the mobile network. The M2M network service capabilities 122' is a network common function for supporting M2M applications.

The M2M application area 13' includes an end user application (client application) 131' and an M2M service application (M2M application) 132'. The M2M service application 132' is installed in the M2M server and is built on the M2M network standard service function 122' by a plurality of M2M devices (111'~115') in the M2M device area 11'. Interact to provide services. In addition, the end user application 131' provides services to end users via the M2M service application 132' or directly interacting with multiple M2M devices (111'~115') in the M2M device area 11'.

In the application of the Internet of Things, different IoT devices connect to the Internet according to the different network technologies they use, such as Zigbee, WiFi, LAN, WiMAX, GSM, etc. It is conceivable that different wireless protocols May not be able to each other Communicate with each other. Therefore, at least one M2M gateway 123' will typically be included in the architecture of the Internet of Things to enable various types of wireless communication protocols to be interchanged. For example, the user located in the application area 13' can send a WiFi control packet to the M2M gateway 123' through the WiFi function of the mobile phone. When the M2M gateway 123' receives the WiFi control packet via the M2M network area 12'. After that, it is converted into a Zigbee control packet and then transmitted to a smart light, thereby controlling the on/off of the smart light.

Once more and more devices or devices can be added to the Internet of Things, the amount of data that needs to be transmitted will also increase, forming so-called "big data." To transmit such a large amount of data is a big challenge for bandwidth and network speed. Governments and telecom operators have long realized that the existing 4G network will not be able to cope with the huge data transmission needs of the Internet of Things era, so the 5G deployment has already begun. On the other hand, unlike traditional telecom operators, it only provides services such as voice call, data transmission and short message service (SMS) between people (H2H), and communication with the Internet of Things. With diversity and wide application, telecom operators must come up with corresponding solutions as early as possible. In particular, many services of the Internet of Things are not based on the number of calls and short messages.

It is especially important that although the IoT's applicable devices are very diverse, most of the current IoT emphasizes the “connection” of the applicable devices, and the equipment vendors and manufacturers of the telecom operators or the Internet of Things do not. Establishing a complete and clear IoT business value will not give users a better experience and a user experience of the core functions of IoT-related devices. In addition to users' inability to obtain better IoT-related telecommunications services, it is worth noting that although telecom operators provide the basic network architecture required for the Internet of Things at this stage, telecom operators cannot obtain reasonable profits.

Therefore, as can be seen from the above description, the current Internet of Things still has problems such as network security, high network connection costs, and unclear business value, which has caused telecom operators and IoT device developers to understand the establishment of the Internet of Things. Commercial value, let alone propose an appropriate IoT billing mechanism. In view of this, the inventors of the present invention have made improvements and innovations in view of the above-mentioned conventional methods, and after years of painstaking research, finally succeeded in research and development of the charging system applicable to the Internet of Things of the present invention.

The main purpose of the present invention is to propose a charging system suitable for the Internet of Things for the existing Internet of Things architecture. In order to balance the surplus between the telecommunication operator and the Internet of Things service provider, the present invention adopts a new charging factor to increase the telecommunication operator and the object. Potential benefits for networked service providers.

Therefore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned primary object of the present invention, the inventor of the present invention proposes a charging system suitable for the Internet of Things, comprising: a basic factor database storing a plurality of predetermined basic charging factors; The charging model selection unit is configured with a plurality of charging models preset for the external terminal user to select at least one charging model; and a basic cost calculating unit for pre-in accordance with the basic factor database Setting the basic charging factors and the charging model selected by the terminal user to calculate a basic fee; a first additional charging factor database is configured to store a plurality of preset first additional charging factors for the terminal user to additionally select zero to four first additional charging factors; a first fee adjustment unit, configured to calculate the basic fee calculated by the basic fee calculation unit and the zero to four first additional charging factors selected by the terminal user, thereby further paying the terminal user The first fee adjustment procedure is performed for the fee payable, and an adjusted payable fee is obtained; a second additional charge factor database is used to store a plurality of preset second additional charge factors for external use. An operator additionally selects zero to two second additional charging factors; and a second cost adjusting unit for calculating the adjusted payable fee and the operator according to the first cost adjusting unit Selecting the zero to two second additional charging factors, and performing a second fee adjustment procedure on the adjusted payable fee, thereby obtaining a payment that the terminal user must pay Final fees payable.

11’‧‧‧M2M equipment area

12’‧‧‧M2M Internet Zone

13’‧‧‧M2M Application Area

121’‧‧‧M2M core network

122'‧‧‧M2M network standard service function

131’‧‧‧End User Application

132’‧‧‧M2M Service Application

111’‧‧‧M2M device

112’‧‧‧M2M device

113’‧‧‧M2M device

114’‧‧‧M2M device

115’‧‧‧M2M device

123’‧‧‧M2M gateway

11‧‧‧Basic Factor Database

12‧‧‧Charging model selection unit

13‧‧‧Basic cost calculation unit

14‧‧‧First Additional Billing Factor Database

15‧‧‧First Cost Adjustment Unit

16‧‧‧Second Additional Billing Factor Database

17‧‧‧Second cost adjustment unit

18‧‧‧Accounting unit

111‧‧‧Basic billing factor

121‧‧‧Charging model

141‧‧‧First additional charging factor

161‧‧‧Second additional charging factor

1

1 is an architectural diagram of a conventional Internet of Things; and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a charging system applicable to the Internet of Things.

In order to more clearly describe a billing system suitable for the Internet of Things proposed by the present invention, the following will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic structural diagram of a charging system applicable to the Internet of Things according to the present invention. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things proposed by the present invention can be implemented in the conventional Internet of Things architecture as shown in FIG. 1 by the addition of a new charging factor and the establishment of various charging models. In turn, the operator can propose a set of service fee collection standards according to the various service contents of the provided end user, which balances and enables the telecommunication operator and the Internet of Things service provider to obtain a reasonable profit therefrom. As shown in FIG. 2, the charging system applicable to the Internet of Things according to the present invention mainly includes: a basic factor database 11, a charging model selecting unit 12, a basic cost calculating unit 13, and a first additional charging factor. The database 14, a first cost adjustment unit 15, a second additional charge factor database 16, a second fee adjustment unit 17, and a billing unit 18.

The Internet of Things combines a variety of end devices and facilities, including: mobile terminal devices embedded with various sensing components, industrial systems, building security systems, home smart devices, image processing systems, or intelligent video surveillance. System, etc. Therefore, a plurality of basic charging factors 111 can be set and stored in the basic factor database 11 in advance by the networking characteristics of these devices and facilities. As listed in Table (2), the plurality of basic charging factors 111 includes at least: a data transmission factor, a connection number factor, a data storage factor, and a network subscription factor.

Moreover, the present invention specifically designs the charging model selection unit 12, and a plurality of charging models 121 are preset in the charging model selection unit 12 for an external terminal user to select at least A billing model 121. Specifically, each of the charging models 121 includes the plurality of basic charging factors 111, and each charging model 121 is established according to different cost weight values of one of the basic charging factors 111; Each of the billing models 121 includes at least one of the basic billing factors 111 having a low cost weight value. As shown in the following table (3-1), the four charging models 121 are established based on the difference in the cost weight values of the basic charging factors 111.

Table (3-1)

It can be known from the above table (3-1) that when a basic charging factor 111 has a cost weight value lower than the cost weight value of the other basic charging factor 111, the basic charging factor 111 is indicated. The rates are relatively cheap. In this way, after the terminal user selects the data transmission factor-oriented charging model, the M2M device (device) has completed the single or multiple data transmission in the Internet of Things, and the telecom operator will The data transfer service provided to the user is charged at a relatively low rate.

Based on the communication diversity of the Internet of Things, the user can select the most suitable charging model 121 via the charging model selection unit 12. For example, assuming that the user's end device and facility is a real-time imaging processing device, a data transfer factor-oriented charging model 121 may be the best choice; The end equipment and facilities are a security surveillance device, and the data storage factor-oriented charging model 121 may be the best choice; further, the user's end equipment and facilities are used. Seismometers that monitor volcanic activity, a network subscription factor-oriented billing model 121 may be the best choice.

It is undeniable that different Internet of Things application services will be generated based on differences in people, events, time, place and things. It is conceivable that the four charging models 121 listed in Table (3-1) may not be sufficient. Therefore, the present invention further increases the following 11 billing models 121 for the user to select and arrange them in the following table (3-2), table (3-3), and table (3-4), respectively.

In this way, the basic cost calculation unit 13 in FIG. 2 can select the basic charging factor 111 preset in the basic factor database 11 and the charging model 121 selected by the terminal user. Calculate a basic fee.

Further, the above-described 15 types of charging models 121 can be simplified into the following table (3-5).

Obviously, the charging model 4 shown in the above table (3-5) shows the advantage of having the lowest rate; in this case, the operator (user) of the operator may concentrate on selecting the charging model 4 The billing model 121. As a result, the charging model 121 of the charging model 1 to the charging model 3 has no substantial meaning.

For the above reasons, the present invention is directed to the improvement of the billing model 121 of the above table (3-5). First, as shown in the following table (3-6), it is possible to design each billing model 121 to be associated with a model setting base fee, and it is necessary to have all the model setting base fees have significant cost differences from each other. So designed, the low-volume customer (user) applying the charging model 1 does not deliberately select the charging model 4 because the model setting fee of the charging model 4 is significantly higher than the charging model 1; For high-volume users, the design of the basic fee for such a model does not affect it.

It must be specifically stated that the four model basic setting fees set out in Table (3-6) are only used to illustrate the concept of the invention, and are not the actual application amount or rate. The actual model basic setup fee must be calculated by the operator based on the usage of the Internet of Things.

Another way is to adjust the base fee of each billing model 121 by weight. As shown in the following table (3-7), the charging model 1 is a data transmission factor-oriented charging model 121, and the charging model 2 is a data transmission factor and a connection number factor-oriented charging model. 121. The charging model 3 is a data transmission factor, a connection number factor, a data storage factor-oriented charging model 121, and the charging model 4 is a data transmission factor, a connection number factor, a data storage factor, and a network subscription factor. And the oriented billing model 121. Therefore, in order to prevent the data transfer factor-oriented client (user) of the applicable charging model 1 from deliberately selecting the charging model 4, the weighting ratio (50%) of the charging model 1 can be designed to be lower than that of the charging model 2 The weight ratio is (70), and the weight ratio (70%) of the charging model 2 is lower than the weighting ratio of the charging model 3 (75), and the weighting ratio (75%) of the charging model 3 is lower than the charging model. 4 weight ratio (80). So designed, the data transfer factor-oriented client (user) applicable to the charging model 1 does not deliberately select the charging model 4 because the rate of the model setting data transmission factor of the charging model 4 is significantly higher than Fee model 1; conversely, for multi-directed, high-volume users, billing model 4 would be the best choice.

It must be specifically stated that the four weight ratios contained in Table (3-7) are only used to illustrate the concept of the present invention and are not practical values. The actual weight ratio must be calculated by the operator based on the use of the Internet of Things.

In addition to setting the above four basic charging factors 111 and establishing the above-mentioned charging models 121, the present invention further depends on the communication and application of the Internet of Things. A plurality of first additional charging factors 141 are defined and stored in advance in the first additional charging factor database 14 as shown in FIG. 2. As summarized in Table (4) below, the plurality of first additional charging factors 141 includes at least: a network quality factor, a packet status factor, a network priority usage factor, and a network security level factor.

In this way, according to the first additional charging factor 141 additionally selected by the user and the basic fee calculated by the basic fee calculating unit 13, the first fee adjusting unit 15 can further perform the first charge to the user. The fee adjustment procedure, in turn, obtains an adjusted payable fee. For example, suppose the user selects the data transfer factor-oriented charging model 121 and additionally selects the network quality factor (QoS), which means that the user's terminal M2M device must be in a stable network service. Data transfer.

Of course, when the first fee adjustment unit 15 is executed, the first fee adjustment unit 15 considers the type of the charging model 121 selected by the user and the type of the first additional charging factor 141, and appropriately attaches it. Rate adjustment. For example, suppose The user selects the network quality factor (QoS) in the first additional charging factor 141. The first cost adjustment is for the data transmission factor and the connection number factor rate, and not for the data storage factor and the network subscription factor fee. rate.

In addition to considering the needs of the terminal user, the present invention simultaneously considers the requirements of the telecommunication operator and sets two second additional charging factors 161, and pre-stores the second additional charging factors 161 in FIG. The second additional charging factor database 16 is for the operator to additionally select zero to two second additional charging factors 161. As summarized in Table (5) below, the plurality of second additional charging factors 161 includes at least: a network roaming factor and a network congestion factor.

In this way, according to the second additional charging factor 161 additionally selected by the operator and the adjusted payable fee calculated by the first cost adjusting unit 15, the second cost adjusting unit 17 can further use the adjusted payable fee. A second fee adjustment procedure is performed to obtain a final payable fee for the end user. Finally, the billing unit 18 shown in FIG. 2 can issue a payable bill according to the final payable fee calculated according to the adjustment calculated by the second cost adjusting unit 17.

From the foregoing description, it can be known that when the fee adjustment is performed, the system calculates and adjusts the total cost based on the charging model 121 selected by the user. However, from the above table (3-5), table (3-6) and table (3-7), we further know that according to the data transmission factor, the connection number factor, the data storage factor, and the network The subscription factor is different from the usage amount, and the model fee for each charging model 121 is different. Therefore, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, the system must also take into account the charging model 121 when performing the second cost adjustment; further, according to the four basic charging factors 111 (data transmission factor) , connection number factor, data storage factor, and network subscription factor) and a plurality of first additional charging factors 141 (network quality factor, packet status factor, network priority usage factor, network security level factor) And the relationship of a plurality of second additional charging factors 161 (network congestion factor, network roaming factor), and the final billing fee is appropriately adjusted.

The relationship between the four basic charging factors 111 and the plurality of first additional charging factors 141 and the plurality of second additional charging factors 161 is organized in the following table (6). We can find through the following table (6) that the basic charging factor 111-data transmission factor and the connection number factor are almost related to each additional charging factor, which means that the first cost adjustment procedure is carried out. At the time of the second fee adjustment procedure, this relationship must be further considered to reasonably adjust the final billing costs to protect the operator's reasonable profits. Among them, the cost adjustment method may be to adjust the basic weight (down or down) of the model by using an additional rate; in addition, each data transmission (data transmission factor) may be charged according to the amount of the user. Additional charges per network connection (connection count factor), for example: an additional $5.

From the above detailed description of the charging system applicable to the Internet of Things proposed by the present invention, it is believed that technicians familiar with network communication technologies and telecommunication operators can discover the diversity of network communication and applications based on the Internet of Things. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things provided by the present invention exhibits the following characteristics and effects in practical applications:

1. In the present invention, the inventors first define four basic charging factors 111, and based on the four basic charging factors 111, 15 charging models 121 are established. In this way, the end user can select the most appropriate base rate based on the network usage mode of his M2M device.

2. In addition, the present invention further defines four first additional charging factors 141 for the user to additionally select and two second additional charging factors 161 for the operator to additionally select. In this way, the telecommunication operator is able to select the basic rate and additional options according to the user. The additional services, in turn, adjust and calculate the amount of the account that the user should ultimately pay.

3. Therefore, through the technical means of 1 and 2 above, the charging system applicable to the Internet of Things proposed by the present invention can balance the surplus of the telecommunication operator and the Internet of Things service provider, thereby increasing the telecommunication operator and the Internet of Things service provider. Potential gains.

The detailed description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The patent scope of this case.

To sum up, this case is not only innovative in terms of technical thinking, but also has many of the above-mentioned functions that are not in the traditional methods of the past. It has fully complied with the statutory invention patent requirements of novelty and progressiveness, and applied for it according to law. Approved this invention patent application, in order to invent invention, to the sense of virtue.

11‧‧‧Basic Factor Database

12‧‧‧Charging model selection unit

13‧‧‧Basic cost calculation unit

14‧‧‧First Additional Billing Factor Database

15‧‧‧First Cost Adjustment Unit

16‧‧‧Second Additional Billing Factor Database

17‧‧‧Second cost adjustment unit

18‧‧‧Accounting unit

111‧‧‧Basic billing factor

121‧‧‧Charging model

141‧‧‧First additional charging factor

161‧‧‧Second additional charging factor

Claims (10)

A charging system suitable for the Internet of Things, comprising: a basic factor database for storing a plurality of predetermined basic charging factors; a charging model selecting unit, which is preset with a plurality of charging models For selecting an at least one billing model for an external terminal user; a basic fee calculating unit for selecting the billing amount according to the basic billing factor in the base factor database and the terminal user The model calculates a basic fee; a first additional charging factor database stores a plurality of preset first additional charging factors for the terminal user to additionally select zero to four first additional charging a first cost adjustment unit for performing the first charge to the terminal user according to the basic fee calculated by the basic fee calculation unit and the first additional charging factor selected by the terminal user One cost adjustment to obtain an adjusted payable fee; a second additional billing factor database is stored with a plurality of preset second attachments a charging factor for an operator to additionally select zero to two second additional charging factors; and a second cost adjusting unit for calculating the adjusted payable fee according to the first cost adjusting unit and The operator selects the zero to two second additional charging factors, and performs a second fee adjustment procedure on the adjusted payable fee to obtain a final payable fee for the terminal user. The billing system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, further comprising a billing unit for issuing an payable fee according to the final payable fee calculated according to the adjustment calculated by the second cost adjusting unit. single. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, wherein the basic charging factors include at least a data transmission factor, a connection number factor, a data storage factor, and a network subscription factor. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, wherein the basic charging factors are included in the charging models, and the charging models are charged according to one of the basic charging factors. The weight values are different, and the charging models include at least one basic charging factor with a low cost weight value. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 4, wherein one of the basic charging factors has a cost weight value lower than other basic ones of the basic charging factors. When the charging factor has a cost weight value, the rate indicating the basic charging factor whose cost weight value is low is cheaper than other basic charging factors. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, wherein the first additional charging factor includes at least a network quality factor, a packet status factor, a network priority usage factor, and a network security level factor. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, wherein the second additional charging factor includes at least a network roaming factor and a network congestion factor. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, wherein when the first cost adjustment unit executes the first fee adjustment procedure, the first fee adjustment unit is configured according to the basic charging factors The relevance of the first additional charging factor is appropriate to adjust the payable fee to the adjusted payable fee. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, wherein when the first cost adjustment unit executes the second fee adjustment procedure, the second fee adjustment unit is based on the basic charging factor The correlation of the second additional charging factors is used to calculate the final payable fee. The charging system applicable to the Internet of Things, as described in claim 1, wherein the charging models are all equipped with a model setting basic fee, and the model setting basic fee has a significant cost difference.