JP2001352583A - Charging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging system with which the personal authentication of the user of an information display type portable telephone to receive the provision of a pay information service from a contents provider can be easily performed while keeping security. SOLUTION: The charging center 5 is for charging the user of an information display type portable telephone 1 in place of a contents provider 8 when the user receives the pay information service provided by that contents provider 8, and for the personal authentication of the user to receive the pay information service, this center utilizes an electronic mail function that the information display type portable telephone 1 of that user has.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing system for billing a user of an information display type mobile phone in place of a content provider when the user uses a pay information service provided by the content provider.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of information display type mobile phones, the number of information display type mobile phone users who access a content provider and receive paid content services is rapidly increasing.

For example, in a communication system of a certain mobile communication carrier, a user of an information display type mobile phone presses a web button to display a built-in web browser function to display various menus on a display screen. If you select "Internet connection" from the displayed items, the base station,
It is connected to a web mode center via a packet communication network.

[0004] The web mode center responds to the request of the user by providing information on general content providers on the Internet, information on general homepages,
It has a function of acquiring information on a mobile communication carrier and a content provider that provides pay content services, and providing information to a user of the information display type mobile phone.

[0005]

[0006] By the way, when providing pay contents, a charging system for charging the pay contents to the user is required. In the mobile telecommunications carrier's billing system, an exclusive contract is made with the content provider, the Web Mode Center and the content provider are connected by a dedicated line, and the paid content of the content provider is registered as a regular menu, and information is displayed. Charges for paid content purchased by owners of mobile phones are collected by mobile carriers on behalf of mobile phone carriers along with mobile phone usage fees, and are paid to content providers after deducting certain fees.

[0006] However, in the charging system of the mobile communication carrier, various restrictions are provided such as setting an upper limit on the fee of the pay content provided by the content provider, and the pay content provided by the content provider is provided as a regular menu. In order to be registered, it is necessary to clear various restrictions, and it is difficult for content providers who provide paid content to enter the information content market, which is a hindrance to economic activation of the information content market .

[0007] Therefore, a billing system for billing paid contents is considered. How to identify the user of the information display type mobile phone that purchased the paid contents, that is, how to perform personal authentication. The problem is how to do it.

In the case of a mobile telecommunications carrier billing system, the user's mobile phone number and the physical I
Since D is known in advance, it is easy to perform personal authentication, but it is not easy for a company other than the mobile communication business to perform personal authentication of the user of the information display type mobile phone.

[0009] Further, when charging for paid contents is performed using settlement means such as a credit card, a prepaid card, Web money, cyber cash, C check / I check, etc., secret information such as a personal identification number of a credit card of each individual. It is necessary to ensure security so that there is no leakage.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and easily performs personal authentication of a user of an information display type mobile phone which is provided with a pay information service by a content provider while ensuring security. It is an object of the present invention to provide a billing system capable of performing the above.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a content provider when a user of an information display type mobile phone receives a pay information service provided by the content provider. A billing system for billing the user instead of using the e-mail function of the information display type mobile phone of the user in order to perform personal authentication of the user who intends to receive the pay information service. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the first aspect, the content of the electronic mail includes a URL of a homepage on which the pay information service is provided and an ID for personal authentication. It is characterized by.

[0013] In a third aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the first aspect, a temporary ID for determining whether or not the user who intends to receive the provision of the pay information service has called. A web server for issuing the temporary ID through a packet communication network; and a CTI server for prompting the user to input the temporary ID through a telephone network. The temporary ID issued by the web server and the temporary ID input to the CTI server. And confirming whether or not the user is the user himself.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the first aspect, a temporary ID for determining whether or not the user who intends to receive the provision of the pay information service has called. A web server issued through a packet communication network, and a temporary ID issued by the web server
And prompting the user to input the temporary ID through the telephone network, and comparing the input temporary ID with the temporary ID stored in the database to determine whether the user is the user himself or herself. And a CTI server for confirming whether or not the CTI server is included.

[0015] The invention of claim 5 is the invention of claim 3 or claim 4.
3. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the CTI server prompts the user to input payment information through the telephone network.

[0016] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the fifth aspect, a payment server for performing a payment process based on the payment information is provided.

[0017] The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 5 or claim 6.
In the charging system described in the above, after the user is confirmed and the payment information is confirmed by a payment institution, an electronic URL including a URL of a homepage on which the pay information service is provided and an ID for personal authentication is provided. A mail server that sends mail to the information display type mobile phone;

[0018] The invention of claim 8 is the invention of claims 3 to 6.
In the charging system according to any one of the above, the pay information service is provided only to a user of the information display type mobile phone who is registered as a member, and the web server is provided to the information display type mobile phone. The member registration screen is displayed through a packet communication network, and when the user's intention to register as a member is input on the member registration screen, a packet between the web server and the information display type mobile phone is displayed. Communication is switched to telephone line communication between the CTI server and the information display type mobile phone.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the eighth aspect, after the temporary ID is input to the CTI server, an intention of the user to confirm the registration is input on the member registration screen. A mail server that receives an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone when
The mail server acquires an e-mail address of the information display type mobile phone by receiving an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone, and stores the e-mail address.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the ninth aspect, when the e-mail server receives an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone, the e-mail address is sent to the e-mail address. Is transmitted by sending an e-mail including a URL of a homepage provided with the ID and an ID for personal authentication.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the billing system according to the tenth aspect, the server in which the homepage is constructed when the user accesses a homepage provided with the pay information service based on the URL. , The personal authentication ID is transferred to the web server, and the web server determines whether the user is a registered member.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the billing system according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, the pay information service is a user of the information display type mobile phone and is registered as a member. Is provided only to the user, the server managed by the content provider causes the information display type mobile phone to display a member check screen, and a request for the user's registration confirmation is input on the member check screen. A mail server that receives an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone when the e-mail server receives an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone. And if it is determined that the user is a registered member, the URL of the homepage on which the paid information service is provided and the ID for personal authentication are entered. And transmitting a non-email to the information display type cellular phone.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the billing system according to the twelfth aspect, the mail server is a registered member based on a sender mail address of an e-mail received from the information display type mobile phone. It is characterized by determining whether or not there is.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the billing system according to the second, seventh, tenth, twelfth, or thirteenth aspect, the personal authentication ID is valid for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times. It is characterized by being.

[0025]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a billing system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an information display type mobile phone, 2 is a web mode center, 3 is the Internet,
Reference numeral 4 denotes a telephone line network, and reference numeral 5 denotes a charging center as a charging system.

A user of the information display type mobile phone 1 can receive an information service from a content provider on a network by performing packet communication with the web mode center 2. Also, here
The telephone network 4 includes both a PDC or CDMA telephone network and a public telephone network provided by a mobile communication carrier (carrier of the information display type mobile phone 1).

The web mode center 2 is connected to a web server 7 of a content provider 6 having a contract with the mobile communication carrier. The fee for the paid information service provided by the content provider 6 is:
The mobile telecommunications carrier collects the content provider 6 together with the mobile phone call fee.

The Internet 3 includes a web server 9 of a content provider 8 that has not made an exclusive contract with a mobile communication carrier, or “IP SQUARE” in the present embodiment.
A charging center 5 is connected. The content provider 8 provides a paid information service on a homepage built on the web server 9.

The billing center 5 collects a fee for a pay information service provided by the content provider 8 on behalf of the content provider 8.
, A mail server 11, a CTI server 12, a settlement server 13, and a database 14. The settlement server 13 is a settlement center 1 as a settlement institution via a dedicated line.
5, a credit company (not shown), a CAFIS center, a financial institution computer center, and the like are connected to the settlement center 15 via a dedicated line.

Assuming that the user of the information display type mobile phone 1 accesses the web server 9 of the content provider 8 via the web mode center 2 and the Internet 3 (FIG. 2), the display 1a of the information display type mobile phone 1 is assumed.
Displays a screen as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the content name (site name) is displayed at the top of the screen, and each of the options of “member check”, “member registration”, “unsubscribe”, “read membership rules”, and “this site” Uses the "IP SQUARE" billing and settlement system. Is displayed.

Here, when the user moves the cursor to the portion of "IP SQUARE" and presses the enter button 1b (see FIG. 1), the description of "IP SQUARE", that is, the charging center 5,
Is displayed on the display 1
a.

In order for the user to receive the information providing service from the content provider 8, it is necessary to register as a member. "Member registration" is an option for performing the registration procedure, and "Release member" is a registration cancellation procedure. Is an option to do.

Further, when the user selects "Read Membership Agreement" with the cursor and presses the enter button 1b, a screen on which the membership agreement is described by a link is displayed on the display 1a, while "Check Membership" is displayed. Is an option for a user who has already registered as a member to receive an information providing service from the content provider 8.

Now, if the user has not received membership registration,
If "member registration" is selected in FIG. 3, a page provided by the web server 10 is displayed on the display 1a by a link (FIG. 4). At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, a content name and a fee are displayed at the top of the screen of the display 1a, and a temporary ID including a description and a four-digit number is displayed as shown in FIG. This temporary ID is generated by the web server 10 so as not to overlap with the already issued temporary ID, and is registered in the database 14 (FIG. 6).

When the user clicks on “member registration” in FIG. 5 after writing down the temporary ID, etc.
A call is made from the information display type mobile phone 1 to the CTI server 12 by the to tag function, and switching from packet communication to voice communication is performed. At this time, the CTI server 12 acquires the telephone number of the information display type mobile phone 1 by the DID function and registers this in the database 14 (FIG. 7).

Information display type mobile phone 1 and CTI server 12
When the line is connected to the CTI server 12, the CTI server 12 makes a voice response as shown in FIG. 8, for example. In FIG. 8, in step 1 (referred to as “S.1” in FIG. 8; the same applies hereinafter), the user is prompted to input a temporary ID, and in response to this, the temporary ID is input by a DTMF signal. It is determined whether the input temporary ID is registered in the database 14 as being issued (step 2).
That is, the CTI server 12 checks the input temporary ID against the temporary ID registered in the database 14,
It is determined whether the user is a registration applicant.

If it is determined in the previous step that the temporary ID has been registered, the CTI server 12
Is stored in the database 14 in association with the telephone number of the information display type mobile phone 1 previously obtained (step 3), and the user is prompted to input a credit card number as payment information and an expiration date of the credit card (step 3). 4 to step 7). If it is determined that the input temporary ID is not registered in the database 14,
The TI server 12 gives a voice reply to that effect and disconnects the line (step 11).

When the user inputs the credit card number and the expiration date of the credit card by the DTMF signal in step 5 and step 7, the CTI server 12 stores the payment information in the database 14 (step 8) and setstle the payment server. Then, the settlement center 15 is inquired about the credit information of the user via 13 (step 9, FIG. 9). When the authentication by the settlement center 15 is obtained, a voice message as shown in step 10 is played to disconnect the line (step 11). On the other hand, if the authentication by the settlement center 15 is not obtained, the CT
The I server 12 cuts off the line by giving a voice reply to that effect and that the registration procedure is necessary again (step 11).

When the voice communication with the CTI server 12 is completed, the display 1a of the information display type mobile phone 1 is shown in FIG.
Is displayed again. In order for the user to perform the registration work performed so far, it is necessary to click “confirm registration” on this screen.

When the "registration confirmation" is clicked, an electronic mail is transmitted from the information display type mobile phone 1 to the mail server 11 by a tag (for example, mailto in CompactHTML) (FIG. 10). This email is
As shown in (1), it has only the mail address and subject of the transmission destination and is used for registration confirmation and personal authentication, so its contents are empty. Where "seq" in the subject
And "did" are information determined by the CTI server 12 at the time of member registration described above, "seq" is a four-digit number treated as a temporary ID, and "did" is an information display type acquired by the CTI server 12. This is the telephone number of the mobile phone 1.

The mail server 11 is an information display type mobile phone 1
When you receive an email from, the information in the subject ("se
q) and "did") to the database 14 as to whether or not the message is transmitted by a user who has been registered properly.
When the registration is confirmed, the transmission address of the mail (that is, the e-mail address of the information display type mobile phone 1) is stored in the database 14 in association with the registered information, and a reply mail is transmitted to the transmission address. (FIG. 12). By this reply mail, the user of the information display type mobile phone 1 is notified that the membership registration procedure has been completed as shown in FIG. 13, the URL of the homepage provided with the information service by the content provider 8, and the information thereof. “Uid” and “oid” for receiving the service are notified. Here, “uid” is an ID for identifying the user, and “oid” is when the information display type mobile phone 1 receives a reply mail (or when the mail server 11 sends a reply mail). Is a one-time ID that is valid only for a few minutes from the beginning. The “one-time ID” is an ID for personal authentication that is valid only once when the user of the information display type mobile phone 1 receives the information providing service on the above homepage.
It is.

The user who has completed the member registration procedure may access the above homepage at a later date. However, if the user clicks the URL shown in FIG. It is possible to access the homepage constructed on the web server 9 without going through personal authentication by e-mail. On the top page of this home page, a CGI for authenticating the above “uid” and “oid” is embedded in advance, and the web server 9 determines whether “uid” and “oid” are legitimate by the CGI. An inquiry is made to the database 14 of the charging center 5 to determine whether or not the authentication is successful, and the information service is provided to the user of the information display type mobile phone 1 only when the authentication of “uid” and “oid” is successful (FIG. 14).

On the other hand, when the user accesses the homepage after the time when the one-time ID in FIG. 13 is valid, it is necessary to select “member check” on the screen in FIG. By selecting the “member check”, the information display type mobile phone 1 to the mail server 1 of the billing center 5 are selected.
A mail for personal authentication as shown in FIG. 15 is transmitted to FIG. 15 (FIG. 16), and the mail server 11 which has received the mail determines whether the user is registered in the database 14 based on the sending address of the mail. Is determined. When the registration is confirmed, a reply mail is transmitted to the transmission address. By this reply email,
For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the user of the information display type mobile phone 1 is notified that the member registration has been confirmed, the URL of the homepage to which the information service is provided by the content provider 8, and the URL for receiving the information service. “Uid” and “oid” are notified. The “uid” and “oid” mean an ID (user ID) for specifying the user and a one-time ID valid for only a few minutes as in the case of FIG. 13 (however, the one-time ID here is It is composed of a character string different from the one-time ID in the case of FIG. 13), and the user clicks on the URL of this e-mail to provide an information service on the homepage constructed on the web server 9. Can receive.
Note that “cid” in the subject in FIG. 15 indicates a unique ID assigned to the pay content by the content provider 8 by the charging center 5.

The usage fee of the information service provided by the content provider 8 is described in the web server 10.
And the database 14 manages sales for each user,
The payment server 13 requests the credit company for payment at regular intervals based on the payment information stored in the database 14. In addition, when the CTI server 12 prompts the user to input debit card information as payment information and performs payment using a debit card, the payment request may be made to the corresponding financial institution every time the pay information service is used.

According to the billing center according to the present embodiment, the registration of the settlement information is performed not by using the Internet but by using the telephone line, and after the registration, the settlement information is exchanged with the user. Since no exchange is performed, high security related to secret leakage can be obtained.

Further, since the electronic mail function of the information display type mobile phone is used for personal authentication of the user, personal authentication is performed not only from the software side of the ID but also from the hardware side of the terminal device, and the authentication accuracy is improved. It can be very high.

[0047] In this manner, the high reliability regarding the settlement is easily ensured, so that it is possible to realize a content provider's billing service that does not have an exclusive contract with the mobile communication carrier.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the one-time ID is valid only once, but may be valid a plurality of times, or a predetermined number of files can be downloaded. It may be acceptable. Further, a prepaid billing method for performing a settlement process without waiting for use of the service may be adopted.

[0049]

The billing system according to the present invention is configured as described above, so that the personal authentication of the user of the information display type mobile phone which is provided with the pay information service by the content provider can be performed while ensuring security. There is an effect that it can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a billing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a user of an information display type mobile phone accesses a web server of a content provider.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display display of the information display type mobile phone in the case of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a user of the information display type mobile phone accesses a web server of a billing center.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display display of the information display type mobile phone in the case of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a web server of a charging center indicates a temporary ID to an information display type mobile phone and registers the temporary ID in a database.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which communication between the information display type mobile phone and the charging center is switched from packet communication by the web server to voice communication by the CTI server.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of a charging center during voice communication.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a manner in which a CTI server of a charging center performs credit confirmation on payment information input from an information display type mobile phone.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an electronic mail is transmitted from the information display type mobile phone to the mail server of the billing center at the time of registration confirmation.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of the e-mail in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the mail server of the charging center that has received the e-mail in FIG. 10 returns the e-mail to the information display type mobile phone.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of the e-mail in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the user of the information display type mobile phone who has completed the registration procedure accesses the web server of the content provider.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of an e-mail transmitted from an information display type mobile phone to a mail server of a billing center when a registered user accesses a web server of a content provider.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of personal authentication when a registered user accesses a web server of a content provider.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of an e-mail returned from the mail server of the charging center that has received the e-mail to the information display type mobile phone in FIG. 16;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information display type mobile phone 2 Web mode center 3 Internet 4 Telephone network 5 Billing center (billing system) 8 Content provider 9 Web server (server in which homepage is constructed, server managed by content provider) 10 Web server 11 Mail Server 12 CTI server 13 Payment server 14 Database 15 Payment center (payment institution)

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5K015 AA06 AB00 AB01 AD01 AD04 AE01 GA07 5K067 AA29 BB04 CC04 CC10 DD17 DD51 EE16 FF04 KK13 KK15 5K101 KK02 KK16 LL02 LL12 NN18 NN48 PP03 PP04

Claims (14)

[Claims] When a user of an information display type mobile phone receives a pay information service provided by a content provider, the charging system charges the user on behalf of the content provider. A billing system characterized in that an electronic mail function of an information display type mobile phone of the user is used for personal authentication of a user who is to receive the information. 2. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the content of the electronic mail includes a URL of a homepage on which the pay information service is provided and an ID for personal authentication. 3. A web server for issuing a temporary ID through a packet communication network for determining whether or not the user who intends to receive the provision of the pay information service has called, and a telephone call to the user. A CTI server for prompting the input of the temporary ID through a network, and the temporary ID issued by the web server and the CTI server.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user is compared with a temporary ID input to a server to determine whether the user is the user himself or herself.
The charging system according to 1. 4. A web server for issuing, through a packet communication network, a temporary ID for determining whether or not a user who intends to receive the provision of the pay information service has made a call; A database storing the temporary ID, and prompting the user to input the temporary ID via a telephone network, comparing the input temporary ID with the temporary ID stored in the database, and comparing the temporary ID with the user. 2. The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a CTI server for confirming whether or not the user is the principal. 5. The charging system according to claim 3, wherein the CTI server prompts the user to input payment information through the telephone line network. 6. The charging system according to claim 5, further comprising a payment server for performing a payment process based on the payment information. 7. After confirmation of the user and confirmation of the settlement information by a settlement institution, an e-mail including a URL of a homepage on which the pay information service is provided and an ID for personal authentication is transmitted. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a mail server for transmitting the information display type mobile phone.
Or the billing system according to claim 6. 8. The pay information service is provided only to users of the information display type mobile phone who are registered as members, and the web server is provided with the information display type mobile phone for the member registration. A screen is displayed through a packet communication network, and when the user's intention to register as a member is input on the member registration screen, packet communication between the web server and the information display type mobile phone is performed by the CTI server and the CTI server. 7. The charging system according to claim 3, wherein the system is switched to telephone line communication with an information display type mobile phone. 9. An electronic mail is received from the information display type mobile phone when the user's intention to confirm registration is input on the member registration screen after the temporary ID is input to the CTI server. A mail server, wherein the mail server acquires an e-mail address of the information display type mobile phone by receiving an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone, and stores the e-mail address. The charging system according to claim 8. 10. The mail server, upon receiving an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone, sends a URL of a homepage on which the pay information service is provided to the e-mail address and an ID for personal authentication. 10. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the electronic mail is transmitted. 11. When the user accesses a homepage on which the pay information service is provided based on the URL, the personal authentication ID is transferred from the server on which the homepage is constructed to the web server. The charging system according to claim 10, wherein the web server determines whether the user is a registered member. 12. The pay information service is provided only to a user of the information display type mobile phone who is registered as a member, and the server managed by the content provider is a member for the information display type mobile phone. A mail server for displaying a check screen, receiving an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone when a request for registration confirmation of the user is input on the member check screen, By receiving an e-mail from the information display type mobile phone, it is determined whether or not the user is a registered member, and when it is determined that the user is a registered member, a homepage on which the paid information service is provided UR
The charging system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein an electronic mail including an L and an ID for personal authentication is transmitted to the information display type mobile phone. 13. The mail server according to claim 12, wherein the mail server determines whether the user is a registered member based on a sender mail address of an electronic mail received from the information display type mobile phone. The charging system according to 1. 14. The charging system according to claim 2, wherein said personal authentication ID is valid for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times. .