JP2001338260A - Device and method for managing fees charged, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage charged fee information, so as to change the items of details on fee to be outputted or totalization method, in correspondence with the purpose of utilization or the like. SOLUTION: Charged fee items to be outputted to information on the details on fee are classified and defined in a hierarchical structure by a classification table storage means 2, and in a charge information storage means 3, concerning a charged fee item corresponding to the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure, the charge information of fees is stored. In a details-on-fee preparing means 6, when preparing the information on the details on fee, charged fee items starting from the higher order of the hierarchical structure to a prescribed position designated by an output level designating means 4 are outputted onto the information on the details on fee.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing fee management device and a billing fee management method for managing billing information of fees generated by purchasing a plurality of articles and using services and creating detailed billing information obtained by summing the information. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Billing fee management for managing billing fees incurred by purchasing goods and using services and issuing a bill statement is performed in all industries. For example, a receipt issued at a register of a retail store, a billing slip of a manufacturer or a wholesaler, a bill for a communication service to a user by a telecommunications carrier, a notification of a user's card use by a credit card company, etc. are considered. Many of these bills are classified and described in the order entered in the register, the date of purchase of goods, and the date of use of the service.

[0003]

As described above, since the billing statement is used by many people in various industries, the description on the billing statement depends on the purpose of use and the user who receives the statement. The required items and classification methods are various. For example, the contents of the specification may be classified by rough items depending on the user and the usage status, or the detailed items may need to be described. But conventionally,
There are few examples in which easy-to-read fee statements, etc., in which information that is really necessary for users are described, are output, and it is not possible to flexibly change the description contents of the specifications according to the purpose and the characteristics of the items. Was.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a billing fee management device that manages billing fee information so that the items of billing details to be output and the counting method can be changed according to the purpose of use and the like. The purpose is to provide.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a billing fee management method for managing billing fee information so that the items of the billing details to be output and the counting method can be changed according to the purpose of use. .

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention manages billing information of fees generated by purchasing a plurality of articles, using services, etc., and creates detailed billing information obtained by totalizing the information. In the billing charge management device, the billing items output to the billing detail information are classified according to a hierarchical structure, and the output level indicating the fineness of the classification of the billing items at the time of outputting to the billing detail information is changed to the hierarchical structure. Classification table storage means for storing a classification table defined step by step in each of the layers from the top, and billing information input means for inputting the billing information for the billing items corresponding to the terminal layer of the hierarchical structure Claim information storage means for accumulating and storing the respective claim information, output level designating means for designating the output level, and A charge database storing means for storing a charge database in which charges are stored for each of the charge items, and referring to the charge database to aggregate the charge information, and based on the specified output level, There is provided a billing fee management device comprising: a billing item from a top to a predetermined hierarchy; and billing detail creation means for creating the billing detail information describing the billing description corresponding thereto.

In such a billing charge management device, the billing charge items to be output to the billing detail information are classified in a hierarchical structure by the classification table, and the billing information storage means stores the billing charge items corresponding to the last layer of the hierarchical structure. Charge billing information is accumulated and stored. At the time of generating the charge detail information, the charge detail creation means outputs the charge charge items from the upper level of the hierarchical structure to a predetermined position designated as the output level to the charge detail information, so that the charge charge items to be output are output. It is possible to change the fineness of the classification, and it is possible to output the detailed billing information that has been appropriately aggregated according to the purpose of browsing and the characteristics of the billing fee item.

Further, according to the present invention, billing information of a fee generated by purchasing a plurality of articles or using a service is managed.
In the billing fee management method for creating the billing detail information in which these are aggregated, the billing items output to the billing detail information are classified according to a hierarchical structure, and the classification of the billing items at the time of outputting to the billing detail information is performed. A classification table in which output levels indicating fineness are defined step by step from the top of the hierarchical structure to the respective layers is stored, and the billing information on the billing items corresponding to the terminal layer of the hierarchical structure is stored. A charge database in which a charge is stored for each charge item corresponding to the last layer of the hierarchical structure, and the charge information is totaled by referring to the charge database And, based on the specified output level, the billing items from the top of the hierarchical structure to a predetermined hierarchy and the billing description corresponding thereto are described. Wherein the charge management method characterized by creating a gold detailed information is provided.

In such a billing charge management method, billing charge items to be output to the detailed billing information by the classification table are classified in a hierarchical structure and defined in the classification table, and the billing charge items corresponding to the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure are defined. The billing information of the fee is accumulated and stored. At the time of creating the billing detail information, the billing billing items from the upper level of the hierarchical structure to the predetermined position designated as the output level are output to the billing detail information, so that the classification of the billing billing items to be output is fine. Can be changed, and it is possible to output the detailed billing information that is appropriately aggregated according to the purpose of browsing and the characteristics of the billing fee item.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the billing fee management device of the present invention.

The billing fee management device 1 manages billing information of fees caused by the purchase of goods, the use of services, and the like, and creates fee detail information in which these are totaled. The fee detail information includes a billing fee item that is a name or a classification name of a purchased product or a used service, and a billing amount calculated for each item. The billing fee management device 1 changes the fineness of the classification of the billing fee items to be output to the billing statement information as necessary, and enables the output of the appropriate billing statement. For this purpose, the billing fee items to be output to the billing detail information are classified in a hierarchical structure, and the inputted billing information is stored in association with the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure. Then, at the time of outputting the detailed bill information, the detailed billing items to be output are output to the detailed billing information from the upper position of the hierarchy to the designated position, thereby changing the fineness of the classification of the outputted detailed billing items.

The billing fee management device 1 classifies the billing items output in the billing detail information according to a hierarchical structure.
Classification table storage means 2 for storing a classification table in which the output level indicating the fineness of the classification of the billing item when outputting to the billing detail information is defined in each layer from the top of the hierarchical structure, Billing information storage means 3 for storing and storing billing information generated by the claimant, output level designating means 4 for designating the output level of billing items to be output as billing detail information, and corresponds to the terminal hierarchy in the hierarchical structure. A charge database storage means 5 for storing a charge database in which the unit price of the charge to be charged is stored for each charge item, and billing information is totalized with reference to the charge database, and a hierarchical structure is formed based on the specified output level. A charge detail creation means 6 for creating charge detail information describing charge billing items from the upper part of the list up to a predetermined hierarchy and a charge detail corresponding thereto; Thus constructed.

The bill detail information created by the bill detail creating means 6 is notified to the demandee, for example, by being printed and output as a bill billing statement or displayed on a display device on a screen. In this specification, it is very difficult to understand the reason why the billing has occurred simply by listing them in chronological order or the like. Therefore, items are provided and classified for each of these types. For example, when a product is purchased, first, an item based on the store name is provided for each purchased store, an item based on the purchased product name is provided below each item, and a fee is displayed for this item. Also,
When a purchased product is sold as a set of a plurality of products, a set name item may be provided below the store name item, and an item for each product name may be provided below this. The billing fee management device 1 defines billing items, which are items for classification output in the billing detail information, in a hierarchical structure in the classification table. Further, the billing item which is the minimum unit for billing like the above-mentioned product name is assigned to the end of the hierarchical structure. Therefore, the billing information stored and stored in the billing information storage means 3 is information on the billing items assigned to the end of the hierarchical structure.

Further, in the above-described specification example, it is not always necessary to display details of all the purchased product names in this specification. For example, there may be a case where charges are totaled for each purchased store. possible. In the billing charge management device 1, by classifying the billing items into a hierarchical structure, the fineness of the billing items to be output in the billing detail information can be specified by specifying up to which layer from the top of the hierarchical structure to output. It can be changed.
For this purpose, the details of the billing items to be output are defined stepwise as output levels, and this numerical value is set in all layers in order from the top layer of the hierarchical structure. The output level is set for each billing item in the classification table. When the charge detail information is output, the billing items up to a predetermined hierarchy are automatically output to the charge detail information in order from the top of the hierarchical structure by specifying the output level. In addition, for the items at each end of the hierarchical structure in the output billing items, the billing charges included in the hierarchy and below are always calculated, and the calculated fees are output.

As described above, the classification table in which the billing items classified in hierarchies and the output levels of the respective hierarchies are defined in advance by the billing person who is the manager of the billing fee management device 1. It is defined and stored by the billing information storage means 3. In addition, the fee for the fee billing item defined in the end hierarchy of the hierarchical structure in the classification table, that is, the fee for the billing item corresponding to the billing information of the fee is stored in a database and stored in the fee database storage unit 5.

[0016] When goods are purchased or services are used by the chargeee, billing information for billing the goods is sequentially input and stored by the billing information storage means 3. Further, the output level designating means 4 designates the output level of the billing item to be outputted in the billing detail information, for example, by the biller or the billee. The charge detail creation means 6 totalizes the charge charges from the charge information stored in the charge information storage means 3 with reference to a charge database. At this time, based on the specified output level, the billing items defined in the classification table are output according to a hierarchical structure, the billing is calculated according to the outputted billing items, and described in the billing detail information. . The bill detail information is output as a bill bill by a display device or a printing device, for example.

This billing fee management device 1 can be applied to, for example, a register device installed in a store or the like.
In this case, the detailed bill information is output, for example, as a receipt. The billing information input by an input device such as a numeric keypad is temporarily stored, and after the input is completed, a calculation for payment is performed. At this time, referring to the classification table and the fee database stored by the storage means such as a semiconductor memory provided in the register, the fee detail information is created and output from the printing device.

The billing fee management device 1 may be used for billing information management using a credit card.
In this case, for example, billing information is input from a credit card authentication terminal device installed in a store or the like, and the billing fee management device 1 receives this via a network. The billing fee management device 1 is realized, for example, as a computer device. The received billing information includes identification information for identifying a credit card user, that is, a billee, and the billing information storage means 3 accumulates and stores billing information for each billee based on the identification information. The charge detail creation means 6 calculates the charge to be charged by referring to the charge database from the charge information accumulated for a certain period of time, for example, and creates the charge detail information according to the classification table and the designated output level. The created fee detail information is displayed on, for example, a display device. Alternatively, the charge statement information may be posted on an Internet homepage or transmitted to the requestee as an e-mail.

Further, a management server installed in a communication company providing a service for use in managing billing information of a service of a pay-as-you-go system according to a usage fee, such as that performed in a communication service or the like. In the above, it is also possible to receive usage information indicating a usage time, a usage communication amount, and the like from a service user via a network, manage the usage amount, and create detailed billing information according to the usage amount.

Next, an embodiment of the billing fee management device 1 of the present invention will be specifically described. FIG. 2 shows a main configuration example of a register device to which the present invention is applied. The register device 20 is installed, for example, in a store that sells articles,
It is a device to settle the fee and issue a receipt. The register device 20 includes a keyboard 21 for inputting billing information and an output level, a display 22 for displaying the input information, a billing information storage unit 23a for temporarily storing billing information, and items to be described in the billing information to be output. An output level setting unit 23b for setting an output level, a receipt information creating unit 23c for creating information described in a receipt from accumulated billing information, and a fee for calculating a fee corresponding to a billing item described in the receipt. An information control device 23 having a processing function as a calculation unit 23d, and a storage device 24 for storing a classification table 24a and a charge database 24b
And a printer 25 that prints and outputs the detailed charge information.

At the time of charge settlement, for example, a product code for identifying a product to be sold and the number of the product are input from the keyboard 21. The keyboard 21 has numeric keys for inputting a fee, a product code, and the like, and keys capable of directly inputting other processes. This input may be performed by reading a barcode attached to the product using a barcode reader (not shown). The billing information composed of the entered product code and the number thereof is temporarily stored and stored in the billing information storage unit 23a until the input of all the purchased products is completed. This storage is performed by, for example, a volatile semiconductor memory or the like. When the input of the billing information is completed, information to be described in the receipt is created in the receipt information creating unit 23c from the stored billing information. The calculation of the fee described in the receipt is performed by the fee calculating unit 23d, and the calculated fee is sent to the receipt information creating unit 23c.

Here, the creation of a receipt will be described in detail. The receipt output by the register device 20 does not simply list the items indicating the product name and the amount thereof in the order of input on the keyboard 21, but uses items other than the product name according to the type and characteristics of the product. Described in the state classified. For this purpose, various items described in the receipt are classified and defined in a hierarchical structure by the classification table 24a.

The following description is based on the assumption that the register device 20 is used in a sushi restaurant. FIG. 3 shows an example of the classification table 24a in the register device 20. FIG. 4 conceptually shows the classification of items by the classification table 24a.

The classification table 24a shown in FIG. 3 includes a classification code 241 assigned to each item, a parent hierarchy code 242 indicating the classification code of the parent hierarchy of this item, and the fineness of the item described in the receipt. A description level 243 to be specified and an item name 244 which is the name of each item are defined. The classification code 241 is uniquely assigned to each layer of the hierarchical structure. The parent hierarchy code 242 indicates the classification code 241 defined in the parent hierarchy, and defines the hierarchical structure. For example, in the classification table 24a in FIG. 3, the parent hierarchy code 242 is "100" in the hierarchy where the classification code 241 is "110", and the parent hierarchy code is "100" in the hierarchy where the classification code 241 is "111". 242
Is “110”. The three hierarchies whose classification codes 241 are “100”, “110”, and “111” are the hierarchies 41, 42, and 43 shown in FIG. Similarly, in the classification table 24a, the classification code 241 is "112".
, The parent layer code 242 is “110”, which correspond to the layers 44 and 42 in FIG. 4, respectively. Thus, in the classification table 24a, the classification code 2
By setting 41 and the parent hierarchy code 242, a hierarchical relationship is defined. This hierarchical relationship is based on the item name 244
Are defined so that the parent hierarchy is a higher-level concept in classification indicating the type and characteristics of the child hierarchy. Further, among these hierarchies, the item name 244 of the terminal hierarchy having no child hierarchy is
This is the target item of the billing information input by the keyboard 21.

The description level 243 defined in the classification table 24a is a numerical value defined to specify the fineness of the classification of the items described in the receipt. Here, FIG. 5 shows a description example of a receipt when the designation of the description level 243 is “3”, and FIG. 6 shows a description example of a receipt when the designation of the description level 243 is “2”. Description level 243
Will be described.

The receipt 50 shown in FIG. 5 includes an item name description section 51 indicating the name of the menu having the meal and the classified items,
It is composed of a unit price description section 52 showing the unit price of each menu, a quantity description section 53 showing the quantity of each menu, and a price description section 54 showing the amount calculated by the unit price and the quantity, the total amount, and the like. Is done. The name described in the product name description section 51 is the item name 244 defined in the classification table 24a. Also, the numerical value described in the quantity description section 53 is temporarily stored in the billing information storage section 23a, and the receipt information creation section 2
3c is described from the billing information sent. In the price description section 54, the total price calculated by the unit price description section 52 and the quantity description section 53 is described. The unit price description section 52
The description format in the receipt 50, such as the "subtotal" column described in the quantity description section 53 or the product name description section 51, is not necessarily limited to this. Also, the receipt 60 shown in FIG.
Is composed of a product name description section 61 and a price description section 62.

Item name entry 51 in receipt 50 of FIG.
Then, the description level 243 in the classification table 24a is "1".
, The description name 243 is “2”, the item name 244 is “course”, “nigiri (single item)”, “drink”, and the description level 243 is “3”. 244, that is, "pine"
"Toro", "How much", and "Sake" are described. Also, in the item name description section 61 in the receipt 60 of FIG. 6, the item name 244 whose description level 243 is “1”, that is, “today's meal”, the item name 244 whose description level 243 is “2”, That is, "course", "nigiri (single item)", and "drink" are described.

In the receipt 50 in which the item name 244 whose description level 243 is defined as "1", "2" or "3" in the classification table 24a is described and the designation of the description level 243 is "3", A description level 243 in which only the item names 244 whose 243 are defined as “1” and “2” are described.
In comparison with the receipt 60 whose designation is “2”, items up to the lower layer of the hierarchical structure are described and classified in detail. Thus, in the classification table 24a, in order to specify the fineness of the classification of the items described in the output receipt,
The description level 243 is defined by a numerical value. When the receipt is output, by specifying the numerical value of the description level 243, the item names 244 up to the numerical value at which the description level 243 is specified are described in the receipt. This description level 2
The designation of 43 is input, for example, by the operator of the register device 20 using the keyboard 21, and is performed in the output level setting unit 23b. The specification of the description level 243 at the time of receipt output is, for example, usually set to a constant value, and the designation is changed according to the request of the recipient of the receipt, or the manager of the store where the register device 20 is installed. But,
It may be changed as necessary when a receipt is output for sales management after the store is closed.

Such a classification table 24a is stored in the storage device 24 in advance. At the same time, a charge corresponding to an item input as billing information, that is, a charge corresponding to the lowest classification code 241 in the hierarchical structure defined by the classification table 24a is stored in the charge database 24.
b is stored in the storage device 24. Note that the content defined in the classification table 24a is not limited to this, and for example, settings related to a description format such as a sort order when describing in a receipt may be defined. The contents of the classification table 24a and the charge database 24b are as follows.
It can be arbitrarily changed and added. In the classification table 24a, for example, the item name 244 is changed in accordance with a change or addition of a product to be sold. Alternatively, it is also possible to set a new hierarchy at an arbitrary position in the hierarchy structure with the addition of a product, and define a classification code 241, a parent hierarchy code 242, a description level 243, an item name 244, and the like for each. is there. Furthermore, a plurality of classification tables 24a having different settings may be stored and selectable when a receipt is created. This makes it possible, for example, to output sales slips classified by different methods for sales management by the store manager.

The fee calculating unit 23d calculates the fee by referring to the fee database 24b in accordance with the items described in the receipt in the receipt information creating unit 23c. Further, calculation processing necessary for describing receipts, such as calculation of consumption tax and calculation of change amount from input information of payment amount from the keyboard 21, is also performed. These calculations are sequentially sent to the receipt information creation unit 23c, and are assigned to the amount writing unit of the receipt. The receipt information created in this manner is printed and output by the printer 25.

In the above-described register device 20, each processing function in the information control device 23 includes a processor using a semiconductor or the like, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random).
Access memory) is realized by an individual or integrated integrated circuit or the like. The storage device 24 is a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk.

Next, FIG. 7 shows an operation flow of receipt output in the register device 20. In the input standby state, when billing information including the classification code 241 and the quantity is input from the keyboard 21 (S701), the amount corresponding to this billing information is displayed on the display 22 as needed, and the inputted billing information is displayed as billing information. It is temporarily stored in the storage unit 23a (S702). When there is no instruction input to terminate the input of the billing information (S703), the input of the billing information (S703)
701) and storage (S702) are repeated, all inputs are completed, and an instruction to end the input is input (S70).
3) When the specification of the description level of the item described in the receipt to be further output is input (S704), the stored billing information is sent to the receipt information creating unit 23c (S70).
5) The receipt information creation process is started. Note that the description level may be specified in advance or as needed.

The receipt information creating section 23c sets an item name 244 to be described on the receipt based on the input classification code 241 and the specified description level with reference to the classification table 24a (S706). As a result, the items that need to be input are determined, and the information on these items and the quantity is sent to the fee calculating unit 23d, and the fee calculating unit 23d refers to the fee database 24b to calculate the fee for this item (S707). ). When it is determined whether or not there are more items to be described (S708), the charge calculation is repeatedly performed. When the total amount to be charged is calculated by calculating all the items or calculating the consumption tax (S708), the total amount is calculated. It is displayed on the display 22 and waits for the input of the payment amount. When the fee is paid by the purchaser, the amount paid at this time is input from the keyboard 21 (S
709), the change amount is calculated by the charge calculation unit 23d (S710), sent to the receipt information creation unit 23c, and the change amount is displayed on the display 22. As a result, all of the fee information necessary for the description is read into the receipt information creating unit 23c, and the creation of the receipt information, which is the data of the output receipt, is completed (S71).
1). This receipt information is sent to the printer 25, printed and output as a receipt (S712).

Next, a case where the billing fee management device of the present invention is used in a billing management system by a communication service provider will be described. FIG. 8 shows an outline of a billing management system of a communication carrier to which the present invention is applied.

The billing management system 80 includes a billing management server 81 and an Internet connection server 82 operated by a communication service provider, and user terminals 83 and 84 installed on the user side of the communication service. . These are computer devices each having an information processing unit such as a CPU, a storage device, and an interface for connecting to a network such as a public telephone line 85.
The communication carrier is a provider that provides an Internet connection service, and the Internet connection server 82 is connected to the Internet 86. The user accesses the Internet connection server 82 via the public telephone line 85 from the user terminal 83 or 84, and transmits and receives data to and from the Internet 86. Since there are usually many users of the Internet connection service, the user terminals 83 and 84 are not actually limited to these two.

On the other hand, the telecommunications carrier manages billing of the usage fee for the user in the charging management server 81. Therefore, the present invention is applicable to the charging management server 81. The charging management server 81 is the Internet connection server 8
2 is connected by a dedicated line such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and receives usage information such as the usage time and the amount of communication data used by the user of the Internet connection service, and manages a charge to be charged to the user. The billing statement information is notified to the user and the credit card company that performs the billing service by mailing the statement.

Note that the charge management server 81 and the Internet connection server 82 may be the same device. next,
FIG. 9 shows an example of a main device configuration of the charging management server 81 by a communication carrier to which the present invention is applied.

The charging management server 81 is connected to the Internet connection server 82 or a printer (not shown) to transmit and receive data, and a transmission / reception interface 811 for performing various data setting and storage processing, charge calculation processing, and the like. This is a computer device including an information control device 812 including a processor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and a storage device 813 that stores various data and is a non-volatile storage unit such as a hard disk. The information control device 812 includes billing information 811a generated by using the service and service usage information 811b.
Storage unit 812a for accumulating and storing information, and output level designation information 8 for designating an output level of an item in charge detail information 811d and usage detail information 811e.
An output level setting unit 812b for setting 11c, usage specification information 811d for notifying usage service, usage time, and the like;
And a fee calculation unit 812d for calculating fee information described in the fee detail information 811e, which creates fee detail information 811e for notifying a fee generated thereby. These processes are actually described as programs and stored in the storage device 813.
It is realized by being executed by a processor. Further, the storage device 813 includes a user database 813a storing user information, accumulated information 813b storing billing information 811a and usage amount information 811b, and items described in usage specification information 811d and fee specification information 811e. A classification table 813c defined in a hierarchical structure for
Charge database 813d for charge information to be charged
Is stored.

The user information stored in the user database 813a is, for example, credit card authentication information of the user who uses the Internet connection service. Each user is given a user code, and the billing information 8
11a and usage amount information 811b. This user information is set when a service contract is made with the user. From the Internet connection server 82, billing information of a fee that is generated periodically or at a specific time according to a contract for the use of the service of the user, and a usage amount related to the service of the pay-as-you-go system based on the usage time of the service and the amount of data used. Information 811b is transmitted and input from the transmission / reception interface 811. These are stored and stored in the storage device 813 for each user code as storage information 813b by the processing of the storage processing unit 812a. The accumulated information 813b is totaled at regular intervals, for example, one month, and accumulated in the storage device 813. The accumulated information 813b within this time is used for output such as printing of a usage statement or a bill statement. Specified information creation unit 812 accordingly
c, the detailed information creation processing is performed according to the output level specified by the output level specifying unit 812b, and the usage detailed information 811d and the charge detailed information 811e are performed.
Is created. In addition, the billing information 811a, which is periodically generated during the above-mentioned fixed period, may be automatically stored in the accumulated information 813b by the processing of the accumulation processing unit 812a.

By the way, in the specification information creation unit 812c,
According to the designation of the output level and the definition in the classification table 813c, information on the output items of the charge detail information 811e is created. In addition, according to the configuration of the output items, the fee calculation unit 812d refers to the fee database 813d to calculate the fee.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the classification table 813c in the charge management server 81. In the following description, it is assumed that the detailed bill information 811e is printed and output from a printer as a bill.

In the classification table 813c of FIG. 10, the output item code 101 for classifying the items described in the billing specification is shown.
, An item name 102 that is an item name to be described, a sort number 103 indicating the order of description, an indentation level 104 that specifies an indentation amount from the beginning of the line when the item name 102 is described, An output level 105 indicating the fineness of the item classification is defined. This classification table 813
In c, similarly to the classification table 24a in the register device 20, the items described in the billing specification are defined using a hierarchical structure according to the types and characteristics of the items. This hierarchical structure is defined by the sort number 103 and the indent level 104.

The sort number 103 means that the larger the numerical value is, the later the item name 102 is described. In addition, when describing the item name 102, the indent level 104 defines the amount of space provided from the beginning of the line for the item name 102 of a lower concept of each item in order to clearly indicate the classification. The larger the size, the larger the indentation. That is, if the numerical value of the indentation level 104 is the same, the depth of the hierarchy of this item is equal.

For example, the item name 102 is “service pack” item 100 a and the “communication usage fee” item 100.
Focusing on b, the sort number 103 defined for the item 100b is larger than the sort number 103 of the item 100a,
And it is the closest number, indent level 10
Similarly, since item 4 is also a numerical value larger by one, it is defined that item 100b is a small hierarchy of item 100a. That is, the name "communication usage fee" is a name of a lower concept indicating the contents of the "service pack". Similarly, item name 103 is item 1 of “Basic communication charge”.
00c is defined as a small hierarchy of the item of “communication usage fee”. Further, the item 100d of the "communication usage fee" has the same numerical value as the indent level 104 as compared with the item 100c of the "basic communication fee".
3 is one larger. Therefore, item 100d is equivalent to item 10
Although it is a small hierarchy of 0b, it will be described in the line next to the item 100c. Further, the item 100a whose item name 102 is "service pack" and the item 100e whose item name is "ancillary service" have the same indentation level 104.
According to the definition of the sort number 103, the item 100e will be described later.

The classification table 81 defined as above
3C shows a description example of the billing specification output using 3c. 11 shows a billing statement when the designation of the output level 105 is “4”, and FIG. 12 shows the billing statement when the designation of the output level 105 is “2”.
Shows the billing statement in the case of.

The billing statement 110 in FIG.
02 is described, and a billing amount describing unit 112 is described in which the amount calculated according to the item is described. Since the setting of the output level 105 is “4”, the output level 105 is set in the classification table 813c.
Are described in item names 102 to 4. Similarly, the billing statement 120 in FIG. 12 includes an item description section 121 and a billing amount description section 122. Since the output level 105 is set to “2”, the output level 105 in the classification table 813c is 1 to 1. 2 describes the item name 102 defined. Furthermore, a subtotal may be described for each category of each item, and charges within this category may be calculated and described. Also, for example, in the case of discounting the fee, the reason etc. shall be described as a not-shown note,
This note also defines the output level 105 like other items, and may be set at the time of specification creation, or the level at which the note is described may be separately defined and set. The designation of the output level 105 at the time of outputting the billing statements 110 and 120 is input and set as the output level designation information 811c at the time of, for example, a service contract or the outputting of the billing statements 110 and 120. The specification is changed according to the request of the requester of the request or the receiver of the billing statement. As a result, it is possible to create the billing statements 110 and 120 that are classified for the purpose of browsing.

The classification table 813c as described above is stored in the storage device 813 in advance. The item name 102 described in the billing specification is determined by the specification information creation unit 812c based on the specification of the classification table 813c and the output level 105. Also, the information of the determined billing statement item is sent to the fee calculation unit 812d, and the amount required for the description is calculated with reference to the fee database 813d. In the charge database 813d, the classification table 81
The output item code 101 defined in the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure defined in 3c and the fee information corresponding thereto are stored. In the charge calculation, the accumulated information 813b
Charge information 811a including the output item code 101 stored and stored in the charge database 81 is used as identification information.
Charge information is extracted from 3d. In the fee database 813d, the fee for the pay-as-you-go service,
For example, charge information in a unit use time or a unit communication data amount is stored. In the charge calculation, the unit charge recorded in the charge database 813d is extracted from the accumulated information 813b in which the output item code 101 and the use amount information 811b including the service use time or the use communication data amount are accumulated for a certain period.

The amount calculated by the charge calculating unit 812d is sequentially sent to the detailed information creating unit 812c, and the contents of the bill are determined. When individual amounts, subtotals, consumption taxes, and the like are calculated for the items, and finally the total amount is calculated, the total amount is output as the detailed billing information 811e in which these are described, printed by the printer, and the billing statement is output. , Mailed to the user. Alternatively, the charge detail information 811e is output as text data or a predetermined graphic data file, and is transmitted by e-mail to the user terminal 8.
3 or 84. Also, for example, these data are posted on a homepage created by a communication carrier in the Internet connection server 82, and this homepage is accessed from the user terminals 83 and 84,
The browsing may be made possible by inputting a password or the like.

Further, the usage amount information 8 stored and stored in the storage information 813b and input to the specification information creating unit 812c.
11b, usage specification information 811d describing only details such as usage date and time, usage data amount, and the like may be created. In this case, similarly to the detailed charge information 811e, it is possible to define the items to be described in the classification table 813c and specify the output level 105 to output. For example, the use time and the detailed use time are defined at different output levels 105 as the described items, and when the detailed use history is necessary, the output is output until the use time, and when the detailed use history is not necessary, the use time is output only. It is possible.
Such usage statement information 811d is also included in the charge statement information 81.
It is possible to output in the same form as 1e.

Next, FIG. 13 shows the billing information 811a and the usage information 81 within a certain period in the charging management server 81.
1b shows an operation flow of an accumulation process of 1b. A user terminal 83 or 84 of a user who has made a contract to use the communication service.
, Billing information 811a including the user information and the classification code 81 of the item generated by the contract is transmitted. In addition, the usage code 811b such as the classification code 81 and usage time or usage data amount of the pay-as-you-go service is transmitted. These are received by the transmission / reception interface 811 of the accounting management server 81 (S131), and are stored in the storage device 813 as storage information 813b by the processing of the storage processing unit 812a (S132). At this time,
For example, if it is not a predetermined tally date such as every month, the billing information 811a and the usage information 811b are received (S1).
31) and the storage (S132) process are continued, and at the stage when the counting date is reached (S133), the accumulated information 81 within the period is obtained.
3b are collectively processed as follows for output items corresponding to the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure defined in the classification table 813c.

First, the usage amount information 811b accumulated in one month in the accumulated information 813b is read from the storage device 813 to the detailed information creation unit 812c, and stored in the fee database 813d in the unit time or the unit transmission / reception data amount. The charge calculation unit 812d with reference to the charge per unit
Is calculated by the processing of (S134). The amount calculated here is the display amount for the finest item name when outputting it as the fee detail information 811e, for example, the item name 102 of “communication usage-based fee” in the classification table 813c shown in FIG. Next, the billing information 811a accumulated for one month in the accumulated information 813b is read out from the storage device 813 to the detailed information creating unit 812c, and the fee database 81
The charge for the fixed charge is calculated with reference to the unit charge for each item name at the end stored in 3d (S1).
35). The calculated amount is, for example, the item name 10 of “basic communication usage fee” in the classification table 813c.
2 is the amount displayed. Further, at the time of contract of the communication service or any time thereafter, additional items generated by the service provider's convenience and stored in the accumulated information 813b, for example, the item name "Internet service A" in the classification table 813c or "service subscription fee" And the like for the item names 102 such as are calculated (S13).
6). The output items and the calculated charges by the above charge calculation / aggregation processing are stored in the storage information 813b of the storage device 813 as monthly billing information (S137). In addition, without performing the charge calculation / aggregation process (S134 to 136),
Monthly billing information 811a and usage information 811b
Is stored as it is as accumulated information 813b,
The aggregation process (S134 to S136) may be performed in the output process of the charge detail information 811e described below.

Next, FIG. 14 shows an operation flow of the output processing of the charge detail information 811e in the charge management server 81. Note that the following output processing is performed as necessary, for example, when the charge statement information 811e is printed out so as to send the charge statement to the user of the communication service every predetermined date.

When an instruction to start the output process is input from an input device (not shown) or automatically, first, the above-mentioned monthly billing information is read out from the accumulated information 813b of the storage device 813 to the specification preparing section 812c. (S141), the output level 10 specified at the same time, or specified at the time of contract or at an arbitrary time and stored in the storage device 813.
5 is read by the specification information creating unit 812c (S14).
2). The specification information creation unit 812c sets the item name 102 to be output to the charge specification information 811e and the description form from the read monthly billing information and the specified value of the output level 105 with reference to the classification table 813c. (S14
3). As a result, the items that need to be described are determined, and the charge information about the terminal tier such as the fixed charge and the pay-per-use charge based on the charge calculation / aggregation is read out to the charge calculation unit 812d,
The charge calculation unit 812d calculates the charge for each item to be output with reference to the charge database 813d (S1).
44). When it is determined whether there are any more items to be described (S145), the charge calculation is repeatedly performed and sent to the detailed information creation unit 812c to determine the described amount. The calculation is performed for all the output items, and after calculating the consumption tax and the like, the total amount to be charged is calculated, and the detailed information creation unit 81
When sent to 2c, the creation of the fee detail information 811e is completed (S146). The billing statement information 811e is sent to the printer 814, printed and output as a billing statement (S147), mailed to the user, and notified of the billing content.

Note that the created charge detail information 811e
Through the public telephone line 85 and the Internet 86
In some cases, the information is sent to a card company server operated by a credit card company that performs billing, but the present invention can also be applied to charge management in the card company server. In this card company server, billing information such as a store name code, a product code, and a quantity thereof is received from credit card authentication terminals installed in a plurality of stores that sell goods, in addition to the detailed billing information 811e from the communication service provider. To receive. That is, the store name code and the product code are defined in the classification table, and are classified and described in the output billing statement as necessary.

The processing contents of the charge management apparatus 1 can be described in a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by executing this program on a computer, the above processing is realized on the computer. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device and a semiconductor memory. When distributing to the market,
The program is stored and distributed in a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or stored in a storage device of a computer connected via a network, and transferred to another computer through the network. You can also. When the program is executed by the computer, the program is stored in a hard disk device or the like in the computer, and is loaded into the main memory and executed.

[0056]

As described above, in the billing charge management device of the present invention, the billing charge items to be output to the billing detail information are classified in a hierarchical structure by the classification table, and the billing information storage means is arranged at the last hierarchical level of the hierarchical structure. The billing information of the billing for the billing fee item corresponding to is stored and stored.
When the charge detail information is created, the charge detail information is output by causing the charge detail information to output the charge charge items from the upper level of the hierarchical structure to a predetermined position designated as the output level. It is possible to change the fineness of the classification, and it is possible to output the detailed billing information that is appropriately aggregated according to the purpose of browsing and the characteristics of the billing fee item.

Further, in the billing charge management method of the present invention, the billing charge items to be output to the bill detail information by the classification table are classified in a hierarchical structure and defined in the classification table, and the billing fee corresponding to the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure is defined. Charge information of the fee for the item is accumulated and stored. At the time of creating the billing detail information, the billing billing items from the upper level of the hierarchical structure to the predetermined position designated as the output level are output to the billing detail information, so that the classification of the billing billing items to be output is fine. Can be changed, and it is possible to output the detailed billing information that is appropriately aggregated according to the purpose of browsing and the characteristics of the billing fee item.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a billing fee management device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a main device configuration of a register device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a classification table in the register device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing classification of items by a classification table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a description example of a receipt when the description level is “3”.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a description example of a receipt when the description level is “2”.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation flow of receipt output in the register device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of a billing management system of a communication carrier;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main device configuration of a charging management server by a communication carrier to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a classification table in a charging management server.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a description example of a billing specification when an output level is designated as “4”;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a description example of a billing specification when an output level is designated as “2”;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of a process of accumulating billing information and usage amount information within a fixed period in a charging management server.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of a process of outputting fee detail information in a charging management server.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Charge charge management device, 2 ... Classification table storage means, 3 ... Charge information storage means, 4 ... Output level designation means, 5 ... Charge database storage means, 6 ... Charge statement creation means, 20 ... ... Register device, 21 ... Keyboard, 22 ... Display, 23 ... Information control device, 2
4 Storage device 25 Printer 80 Billing management system 81 Billing management server 82 Internet connection server 83 84 User terminal 85
... Public telephone line, 86 ... Internet, 811 ...
Transmission / reception interface, 812 ... information control device, 81
3. Storage device

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E042 AA01 BA07 CA07 CB02 CC09 CD02 CE03 CE04 EA01 5B049 AA02 BB11 CC05 CC36 DD05 EE00 EE05 FF02 FF03 GG01 9A001 BB02 BB03 CC08 GG01 HH23 JJ14 JJ25 JJ57 KK57 KK57 KK57

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A billing charge management device that manages billing information of charges caused by the purchase of a plurality of articles, use of a service, and the like, and creates billing detail information in which the billing information is aggregated. A classification table in which billing items are classified according to a hierarchical structure and an output level indicating the fineness of the classification of the billing items when outputting to the billing detail information is defined step by step from the top of the hierarchical structure to each of the layers. Classification table storage means for storing; billing information storage means for storing and storing the billing information for the billing items corresponding to the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure; output level designating means for designating the output level; Charge database storage means for storing a charge database in which charges are stored for each of the charge items corresponding to the terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure The billing information is totaled by referring to the billing database, and based on the specified output level, billing items from the top of the hierarchical structure to a predetermined tier and billing items corresponding thereto are described. A billing fee management device, comprising: billing fee creation means for creating billing fee information. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the charge detail creation means creates the charge detail information for each demandee based on identification information included in the billing information and identifying a demandee. Item 7. The billing fee management device according to Item 1. 3. The billing fee management device according to claim 1, wherein the billing detail creation unit creates the billing detail information collectively for the billing information within a predetermined period. 4. The classification table storage means stores a plurality of the classification tables different in the method of classifying the charge item and the definition of the output level, and the output level designation means can select the classification table. The billing fee management device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A tier to which an optional charge item is added can be added to the tier structure defined in the classification table by item addition information input together with the claim information. Item 7. The billing fee management device according to Item 1. 6. The charge management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charge information is received via a network. 7. The charge management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge information is input from a credit card authentication terminal. 8. The billing information storage means stores usage amount information on a pay-as-you-go service according to the usage amount,
2. The billing fee management device according to claim 1, wherein the fee detail creating unit calculates a fee to be charged based on the usage amount information and fee information stored in the fee database. 9. The charge management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the usage amount information is received via a network. 10. The charge management device according to claim 1, wherein the charge specification information is displayed by a display device. 11. The charge management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge specification information is output by a printing device. 12. The charge management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge specification information is transmitted via a network. 13. The charge management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge specification information is displayed on an Internet homepage. 14. The charge management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge specification information is output as an electronic mail. 15. A billing fee management method for managing billing information of fees generated by purchasing a plurality of articles or using a service, and creating billing detail information in which the billing information is aggregated. A classification table in which billing items are classified according to a hierarchical structure and an output level indicating the fineness of the classification of the billing items when outputting to the billing detail information is defined step by step from the top of the hierarchical structure to each of the layers. Storing and storing the billing information about the billing item corresponding to the terminal tier of the hierarchical structure; specifying the output level; the charging item corresponding to the terminal tier of the hierarchical structure Storing a charge database in which charges are stored for each, summing up the billing information with reference to the charge database, and based on the specified output level From the top of the serial hierarchy and billing items to a predetermined hierarchy, said creating a billing history information for billing history describing corresponding thereto, wherein the charge management method, characterized in that. 16. A computer-readable recording medium storing a charge management program for managing charge information of charges generated by the purchase of a plurality of articles, use of services, and the like, and creating charge detailed information obtained by summing the charge information. The billing items output to the billing detail information are classified according to a hierarchical structure, and the output level indicating the fineness of the classification of the billing items at the time of outputting to the billing detail information is output from the top of the hierarchical structure to each of the hierarchies. Classification table storage means for storing a classification table defined step by step, billing information storage means for accumulating and storing the billing information for the billing item corresponding to the last layer of the hierarchical structure, and specifying the output level An output level designating means, a charge in which a charge is stored for each charge item corresponding to a terminal hierarchy of the hierarchical structure. Charge database storage means for storing a database, the charge information is totaled by referring to the charge database, and charge items from the upper part of the hierarchical structure to a predetermined tier based on the specified output level; A computer-readable recording medium recording a charge management program, wherein the computer functions as charge specification creation means for creating the charge specification information describing the corresponding charge specification.