JP2001358855A - Electronic account settlement method via public line network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic account settlement method, capable of surely charging a caller who originates a call from a terminal for communication by each communication via a public line network. SOLUTION: In this electronic account settlement method for settling the charge of the communication performed between the terminals via a public network, the call is originated from radio telephony equipment 1 to an electronic account settlement device 2 and an electronic account settlement destination account is specified. Authentication is requested from the electronic account settlement device 2 to the credit card company electronic account settlement device 3 of the account, to perform electronic account settlement; the input of the telephone number of a call termination destination is requested from the electronic account settlement device 2 to the radio telephony equipment 1, when the authentication is performed, and the telephone 6 of the call termination destination is called from the electronic account settlement device 2, when the telephone number of the call termination destination is inputted. When the communication of the radio telephone equipment 1 and the telephone 6 of the call termination destination is ended, a communication charge is billed from the electronic account settlement device 2 to the credit card company electronic account settlement device 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal for performing communication via a public line network, and more particularly to a method for performing terminal settlement by electronic payment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication charge accounting system for wireless telephones such as a general telephone, a portable telephone, and a PHS, which can communicate via a public line network, only communicates at a charging center of a business operator on the public line network side. It is a billing system for centrally managing fees. In other words, when a caller communicates from a terminal via a public line network, a business on the public line network charges the terminal subscriber based on an identifier such as the telephone number of the terminal subscriber. A billing process is being performed.

[0003] In the wireless telephone device, a service using a prepaid card is also provided. In the prepaid card service, a communication fee is registered in advance on the mobile carrier side, and the communication fee is subtracted from the registered fee each time communication is performed.

[0004] Therefore, any of the above-mentioned systems has a drawback in that even if the caller who makes a call from a terminal via a public line network is not a terminal subscriber, a communication fee is charged to the terminal subscriber.

[0005] Therefore, various methods have been adopted in order to allow the caller who made the call to be charged a communication fee when a call is made by a user other than the terminal subscriber. For example, a wireless telephone device, a service control station, and a communication fee charging device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-126531 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a wireless telephone device showing an embodiment of a conventional example. The portable wireless telephone device 9 is an IC card 1
3, a card processing unit 11 having a function of reading and writing information recorded on the inserted IC card, and a caller type and an IC card number in the calling subaddress in the call setting message. Is automatically added, and the business entity that has received the call setting message performs a charging process based on the charge bearer type and the IC card number, thereby sorting charging destinations for communication from the same wireless telephone device. By determining the billing destination on the business side, the subscriber of the wireless telephone device does not have to pay the call charge when another person uses the service.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned prior art, an insertion slot for inserting an IC card into a wireless telephone device must be provided. Therefore, there is a problem that a wireless telephone device and a general telephone generally used at present do not have an IC card insertion slot, so that the terminal device must be replaced with a terminal device having an IC card insertion opening.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, a caller other than a terminal subscriber must own an IC card. Therefore, there is a problem that a caller who does not own an IC card cannot make a call unless the terminal subscriber or another caller who owns the IC card has to pay a communication fee.

In addition, since the above-described conventional accounting process is performed by designating an account of a bank or the like, there is a problem that it cannot be used if there is no balance in the account of the bank or the like.
Also, during the call, the billing process is performed so that the call fee is always subtracted from the account of the bank, etc., so if the account balance of the bank, etc. runs out during the call, the call will be terminated forcibly. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and it is possible to reliably charge a caller who has transmitted from a terminal via a public network a communication fee for each communication. The purpose is to provide an electronic payment method.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic payment method for performing payment of a terminal for communicating via a public line network. A person makes a call from the transmitting terminal to the electronic payment device, and designates an electronic payment destination account to the electronic payment device.

[0011] The caller who has made a connection request to perform communication,
The originating terminal once makes a call to the electronic settlement device, and designates an electronic settlement destination account to the electronic settlement device. Therefore, if necessary, the caller can specify an account or the like for settlement of the communication fee before performing communication. Thus, even if communication is performed using a terminal other than the terminal to which the caller has subscribed, the caller is charged for the communication fee.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, provided to solve the above-mentioned problem, the electronic settlement apparatus receives the designation of the electronic settlement account from the transmission terminal, and setstle the electronic settlement at the settlement destination. Make an account confirmation request to the device,
The settlement destination electronic device that has received the account confirmation request confirms the account and makes an input request for account confirmation password data for authenticating the electronic settlement device.

When an electronic payment destination account is designated by a sender, the electronic payment device requests confirmation of whether an account exists in the payment destination electronic payment device holding the electronic payment destination account. After confirming the account, the payment destination electronic payment device requests the sender to input account confirmation password data such as a password through the electronic payment device in order to confirm whether the sender is a contractor of the account. I do. Thus, even if the sender specifies an electronic payment destination account, the account is confirmed by the payment destination electronic payment device,
Since an input request for account confirmation password data such as a password is made, security is ensured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, provided by the present invention, the electronic payment device requests the originating terminal to input the account confirmation password data, and transmits the account confirmation password data from the transmission terminal. Upon receipt, the account confirmation password data is transmitted to the payment destination electronic device, and the payment destination electronic payment device performs an authentication determination upon receiving the account confirmation password data.

[0015] The sender transmits account confirmation password data such as a password to the payment destination electronic payment device from the transmission terminal via the electronic payment device. The settlement destination electronic payment device that has received the account confirmation password data confirms whether the sender is a contractor of the account. Therefore, when the payment destination electronic payment device authenticates that the sender is not a contractor of the account based on the account confirmation password data input by the sender, electronic payment is not performed from the payment destination account specified by the sender.

The invention according to claim 4, which is provided to solve the problem, wherein the settlement-destination electronic settlement apparatus transmits an electronic settlement authentication permission to the electronic settlement apparatus based on the result of the authentication judgment, and Upon receiving the electronic payment authentication permission transmitted from the payment destination electronic payment device, requests the connection request destination terminal information from the transmission terminal, and upon receiving the connection request destination information from the transmission terminal, performs the connection. 4. The electronic settlement method via a public line network according to claim 1, wherein connection is made to a request destination terminal.

When the settlement destination electronic settlement device can confirm that the sender is the account contractor from the account confirmation password data,
Electronic payment is permitted, and an electronic payment permission is transmitted to the electronic payment device. The electronic settlement apparatus that has received the electronic settlement permission requests the originating terminal to input information of the connection request destination terminal, such as a telephone number. The electronic payment device that has received the information of the connection request destination terminal from the calling terminal connects to the connection request destination terminal via a public line network. Therefore, the connection from the originating terminal to the connection request destination terminal is performed via the electronic payment device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic settlement apparatus, wherein the electronic settlement apparatus monitors a communication state while communication is being performed between the originating terminal and the connection request destination terminal. It is characterized by the following.

When the communication between the originating terminal and the connection request destination terminal is established, the electronic settlement apparatus monitors the communication status while the communication is being performed. Therefore, by monitoring the communication status by the electronic settlement apparatus, it is possible to obtain information necessary for calculating a communication fee, such as a communication time, a disconnection of a communication connection, and the like, and to charge for each communication.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic settlement apparatus, wherein the electronic settlement apparatus communicates with the settlement destination electronic settlement apparatus when the connection between the originating terminal and the connection request destination terminal is disconnected. The fee is charged.

When the electronic payment apparatus, which has monitored the communication status between the calling terminal and the connection request destination terminal, recognizes that the communication between the calling terminal and the connection request destination terminal has been disconnected, the communication time and the communication time of the connection request destination terminal are determined. The communication fee is calculated from the information, and the communication fee is charged to the settlement destination electronic payment device. As a result, a caller other than the terminal subscriber caller who made the call via the public line can settle the communication fee for the communication for each communication.

[0022] The invention according to claim 7 provided to solve the above-mentioned problem is characterized in that communication between the originating terminal and the electronic settlement apparatus is performed by information that can be digitized.

[0023] Communication between the originating terminal and the electronic settlement device can be carried out using information that can be digitized. Therefore, since it can be performed with digitizable information such as characters and images, it can be widely applied.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electronic settlement method via a public line network according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an electronic settlement method via a public line network according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an electronic settlement method via a public line network according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic settlement apparatus 2 performs billing for each telephone call with a wireless telephone apparatus 1, a credit card company electronic settlement apparatus 3, and a financial institution Payment device 4, mobile network 5, and destination telephone number (PST)
N) 6 and a charging center 7 of the mobile operator.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an electronic payment method via a public network according to the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of an embodiment of the electronic payment method via the public network according to the present invention. The caller makes a call from the wireless telephone device 1 to the electronic payment device 2 (1-1). The electronic settlement apparatus 2 requests an electronic settlement destination from the wireless telephone apparatus (2-1).

The originator notifies the electronic payment destination from the wireless telephone device 1 (1-2), and confirms that the electronic payment device 2 designated as the electronic payment destination is the electronic payment destination registered in advance. The electronic payment device 2 issues an authentication request to the credit card company electronic payment device 3. In this example, description will be continued assuming that the electronic payment destination is a credit card company registered in advance (2-2). The credit card company electronic payment device 3 that has received the authentication request from the electronic payment device 2 confirms whether the caller of the wireless telephone device 1 is a contractor of the account (3-1). Request a number (3-2).

The electronic payment device 2 receives the password request from the credit card company electronic payment device 3 and requests the wireless telephone device 1 to input a password (2-3). The caller of the wireless telephone device 1 notifies the personal identification number to the electronic payment device 2 (1-3), and the electronic payment device 2 notifies the personal identification number to the credit card company electronic payment device 3 (2-4). The credit card company electronic settlement device 3 confirms the password (3-3), and when it is confirmed that the account is a contractor, permits the electronic settlement (3-4).

The electronic payment device 2 that has received the electronic payment permission from the credit card company electronic payment device 3 notifies the sender of the wireless telephone device 1 that the electronic payment has been permitted, and requests the destination telephone number. (2-5). Wireless telephone device 1
(1-4), and the electronic settlement apparatus 2 calls the destination telephone number (2-6). In this example, a description will be given assuming that a call can be received to the destination telephone (PSTN) 6 via the mobile network 5 (4-1).

A call is established between the caller of the wireless telephone device 1 and the PSTN 6 (1-5, 2-7, 4-2). At this time, the electronic settlement apparatus 2 monitors the call. When the call is completed, the caller of the wireless telephone device 1 and the destination telephone (PST)
N) Cut the 6 side (1-6, 2-8, 4-3). The electronic payment device 2 calculates the communication fee from the information of the call time and the destination, and charges the communication fee to the credit card company electronic payment device 3 (2-9). The credit card company electronic payment device 3 pays the fee. (3-
5). At this time, it is necessary to set in advance so that a call from the electronic settlement apparatus 2 is not charged so that charging is not performed at the charging center 7 on the mobile network side.

In the above-described embodiment, the electronic payment destination designated by the sender is a credit card company electronic payment device 3
However, electronic settlement can be performed by the financial institution electronic settlement device 4 as well. Further, an electronic payment device of each company may be used.

In FIG. 1, for ease of explanation, the wireless telephone device 1, the credit card company electronic settlement device 3, the electronic settlement device 4 of a financial institution, and the like are limited, but in actuality, they are connected via a public line network. The wireless telephone device 1 can make electronic payments from the electronic payment device 2 to the plurality of credit card company electronic payment devices 3 and the plurality of financial institution electronic payment devices 4.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the electronic settlement method is assumed in the case where a call is made by a user other than the terminal subscriber from the wireless telephone device 1. The sender can specify the electronic payment destination.

Communication between the wireless telephone device 1 and the electronic settlement device 3 can be performed by voice or character information.

In the wireless telephone device 1 capable of viewing an image and having an Internet connection function, Internet shopping is performed on the Internet, and the credit card company electronic settlement device 3 or the financial institution electronic settlement device 4 communicates with the price as it is. Electronic payment of fees is also possible.

The authentication method required from the credit card company electronic payment device 3 or the financial institution electronic payment device 4 to the wireless telephone device 1 can be performed by voice authentication or fingerprint authentication in addition to input of a PIN by a push sound. is there.

[0036]

As described above, the electronic payment method via the public line network according to the present invention allows a caller to specify an electronic payment destination for a communication fee. This allows the caller to pay the communication fee for the communication, regardless of which terminal is used to make the call, and to pay for the call from any ordinary telephone or any wireless telephone device such as a public telephone. Communication can be performed. In addition, since the caller can specify the electronic payment destination of the communication fee, it is no longer necessary for an individual to have a plurality of wireless telephone devices for use purposes such as for business use and personal use, as in the related art.

[0037]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram in an embodiment of an electronic settlement method via a public line network according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of an embodiment of an electronic settlement method via a public line network according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. 1. Wireless telephone device Electronic payment device 3. Credit card company electronic payment device 4. 4. Financial institution electronic payment device Mobile network 6. 6. Incoming Telephone (PSTN) Billing center

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electronic payment method for paying a fee of a terminal communicating via a public line network, wherein a caller makes a call from a calling terminal to an electronic payment device at the time of a connection request, and the electronic payment device sends the electronic payment destination to the electronic payment device. An electronic settlement method via a public network, wherein an account is designated. 2. The electronic settlement device, upon receiving the designation of the electronic settlement account from the transmitting terminal, makes an account confirmation request to a settlement destination electronic settlement device that holds the electronic settlement account, and receives the account confirmation request. 2. The electronic settlement method via a public line network according to claim 1, wherein the settlement destination electronic device confirms the account and requests input of account confirmation password data for authenticating the electronic settlement device. 3. The electronic payment device requests the originating terminal to input the account confirmation password data, and upon receiving the account confirmation password data from the transmission terminal, transmits the account confirmation password data to the settlement destination electronic device. 3. The electronic settlement method via a public line network according to claim 1, wherein the settlement destination electronic settlement device performs an authentication judgment upon receiving the account confirmation password data. 4. The settlement electronic payment device transmits an electronic settlement authentication permission to the electronic settlement device based on the result of the authentication determination, and the electronic settlement device transmits the electronic settlement authentication transmitted from the settlement electronic settlement device. 2. A connection request terminal is requested from the calling terminal when receiving permission, and the connection request terminal is connected when receiving information on the connection request terminal from the calling terminal. An electronic settlement method via a public line network according to claim 2 or claim 3. 5. The public line according to claim 1, wherein said electronic settlement apparatus monitors a communication state while communication is being performed between said originating terminal and said connection requesting terminal. Electronic payment method via the network. 6. The electronic settlement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the connection between the originating terminal and the connection request destination terminal is disconnected, a communication fee is charged to the settlement destination electronic settlement apparatus.
6. An electronic settlement method via a public line network according to claim 5. 7. The electronic settlement method via a public line network according to claim 1, wherein communication between said originating terminal and said electronic settlement apparatus is performed by information that can be digitized.