JP2002176517A - Communication device and its connecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device which can communicate without any origination restriction even when a communication charge reaches a previously set upper-limit communication charge. SOLUTION: An exchange which has multiple ports connected to a terminal or main wire and makes connections between the ports has a calculating means which calculates a communicable time from destination identification information and a communication charge received from the terminal, a connecting means which connects the ports, a time managing means which finds the remaining communicable time by monitoring the communication time of the terminal, and a reporting means which informs the terminal that the remaining communicable time reaches a specific time in such a case.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to communication devices such as terminals and exchanges, and more particularly to a technique for setting a line usage fee for each subscriber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent widespread use of the Internet, the communication time per person or once has been dramatically increased. However, in view of the communication situation, the communication fee, especially the communication fee of the access line, is actually high, so that an unexpected communication fee may be charged. Therefore, in the related art, there is a method of setting an upper limit of a communication fee per line for each subscriber. For example, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-162562, the upper limit of the call charge per line is registered in advance in the designated call charge storage unit for each subscriber. After the registration is completed, each time the subscriber makes a call thereafter, the call fee is calculated. When the call charge during a call reaches the upper limit of the communication charge registered in the designated call charge storage unit, the subscriber is notified by voice to that effect, and the call is disconnected and subsequent calls are restricted. is there.

[0003]

In the prior art,
When the call charge reaches the preset upper limit of the call charge, the transmission is restricted, so that in the event of an emergency (for example, contact with a hospital or family), uneasiness remains.

[0004] Further, in the prior art, since time management is not performed only by charge management, the subscriber cannot use the time effectively.

Further, in the prior art, since the upper limit of the communication charge per line is predetermined for each subscriber, it is not possible to flexibly cope with a case where it is difficult to predict the use time of the Internet or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of performing communication without restricting outgoing calls even if the communication fee reaches a preset upper limit communication fee.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that allows a subscriber to effectively use time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus which can flexibly cope with a case where it is difficult to predict the use time of the Internet or the like.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a communication device according to the present invention is a communication device having a plurality of ports connected to a terminal or an office line and performing connection between the ports. Calculating means for determining a communicable time from the destination identification information received from the terminal and a communication fee, connecting means for connecting the ports, and monitoring a communication time of the terminal to determine a communicable remaining time. It is characterized by having time management means and notifying means for notifying the terminal when the remaining communicable time reaches a predetermined time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the notifying means of the communication device of the present invention notifies the terminal of the communicable time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when a new communication fee is received from the terminal during communication, the calculating means of the communication device of the present invention obtains a communicable time from the communication fee and the destination identification information. The communication remaining time is changed to the communication possible time, and the notifying means notifies the terminal to that effect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus, comprising: input means for inputting destination identification information and a communication charge; and calculation means for calculating a communicable time from the destination identification information and the communication charge received from the input means. And time management means for monitoring the communication time to obtain a remaining communication time, and a display means for displaying when the remaining communication time reaches a predetermined time.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the display means displays the communicable time.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection method of a communication device having a plurality of ports connected to a terminal or a station line, and connecting between the ports. The method includes the steps of receiving destination identification information and a communication charge, obtaining a communicable time from the destination identification information and the communication charge, and connecting the ports.

A connection method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes a step of notifying the terminal of the communicable time.

In the connection method according to the present invention, the communication time of the terminal is monitored, and the remaining communication time is obtained by subtracting the communication time from the communication time. And when the remaining communicable time reaches a predetermined time, notifying the terminal to that effect.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection method of a communication device having a plurality of ports connected to a terminal or a station line and performing connection between the ports. Receiving the destination identification information and the communication charge; obtaining a communication available time from the destination identification information and the communication charge; notifying the communication available time to the terminal; and connecting the ports A step of monitoring the communication time of the terminal to obtain a remaining communication time; a step of notifying the terminal of the remaining communication time; and Notifying the terminal or disconnecting the connection between the ports.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the entire network to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, voice terminals (for example, telephone terminals) 100 and 102 and a data terminal (for example, a personal computer) 101 are an exchange 110 and a voice terminal 1.
03, 105 and the data terminal 104
Each is connected. In addition, exchange 110 and exchange 1
11 are mutually connected via a public network 120.

Here, 03-AAA-AA shown in FIG.
AA, 03-BBBB-BBBB, and the like represent identification information (for example, a telephone number or the like) of a subscriber who owns each terminal. As will be described in detail later, the communication device of the present invention enables the setting of the upper limit communication charge of a call for each subscriber. Also, time management is made possible by converting the set upper limit communication fee into time. Further, even during communication, the once set upper limit communication fee can be changed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention. Here, a case where the exchange 110 is taken as an example of the communication device is shown.

In FIG. 2, switch 110 includes a switch 200 and a subscriber circuit 20 connected to switch 200.
1 to 203, the office line accommodation circuit 204, and the voice notification device 2
05, a data notification device 206, and a control unit 210. A voice terminal 100, a data terminal 101, and a voice terminal 102 are connected to the subscriber circuits 201 to 203, respectively. The line accommodating circuit 204 includes the public network 12.
0 (FIG. 1) are connected to office lines 207-209. Here, 211 to 216 shown in FIG. 2 represent ports. When the destination identification information is input from the calling terminal and a call is made, a call connection process is performed by the exchange, the ports are connected, and communication is possible between the calling terminal and the called terminal. State.

Communication data from the voice terminal 100 includes a subscriber circuit 201, a switch 200, a station line accommodation circuit 204,
It is transmitted to the public network 120 via any one of the office lines 207 to 209. Communication data from the data terminal 101 and communication data from the voice terminal 102 are similarly transmitted to the public network 120. The voice notification device 205 and the data notification device 206 are for notifying the subscriber that the communication fee during the communication of the subscriber has reached the upper limit communication fee. For example, the voice notification device 20
In the case of 5, the subscriber is notified through the switch 200, the subscriber circuit 201, and the voice terminal 100. In the case of the data notification device 206, the switch 200, the subscriber circuit 202, and the data terminal 101 are transmitted. The subscriber is informed of the change via this.

The control unit 210 includes a processor 220
, A program storage memory 221, and a billing table 22
2, a data storage memory 223, and a time management unit 224, and comprehensively controls the entire exchange 110. The program storage memory 221 stores a processing program executed by the processor 220 for setting and changing the upper limit communication charge of a call for each subscriber, and for connection of a call. Billing table 222
Is for determining the communication time per frequency (unit communication fee) corresponding to the destination identification information. The data storage memory 223 temporarily stores information indicating an upper limit communication charge specified by the subscriber. Time management unit 224
Monitors the communication time of the terminals 100 to 102 via the subscriber circuits 201 to 203, respectively.

As will be described in detail later, in the communication apparatus of the present invention, upon receiving the destination identification information, the upper limit communication fee, etc. from the terminal, the processor 220 makes the destination identification information and the upper limit communication fee designated by the subscriber, The communicable time is calculated from the table 222, and a call connection process is performed. Further, the time management unit 224 monitors the communication time of the terminal, and calculates the remaining communication time by subtracting the communication time from the communication possible time. Then, when the remaining communicable time reaches a predetermined time, the voice notification device 205 or the data notification device 206 notifies the subscriber to that effect, or the port is disconnected by the station line accommodation circuit 204 and the communication between the terminals is performed. Is disconnected. Further, in the communication device of the present invention, when a new upper limit communication fee is specified during communication from a subscriber who has specified the upper limit communication fee, the processor 220 calculates a recommunicable time from the communication fee or the like. , The remaining communicable time can be changed to the communicable time.

FIG. 3 is a table configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the data storage memory 213.

In FIG. 3, the data storage memory 223
Manages the above-mentioned communicable time for each subscriber, and stores information indicating a calling side identification information 301, a communication fee 302 specified by the subscriber, a communicable time 303, and an identifier 304. I do. Here, in the communication state, in the communication state, the communicable time calculated from the upper limit communication charge or the like is updated as the remaining communicable time, and when a predetermined time is reached, either a warning or a communication disconnection is issued. It is for running. In the present invention, which identifier 304 to use for warning or disconnection is used by the subscriber.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the processor 220 when a call is made from a terminal. Here, prior to the processing of the processor 220, the subscriber:
From the terminal, a special number (hereinafter referred to as a charge setting special number, a charge change special number (hereinafter referred to as, for example)), destination identification information, a communication charge, and an identifier representing a communication charge setting or change are input.
The charge setting special number is used to set a communication charge, and the charge change special number is used to change the once set communication charge. It is decided beforehand so that it can be done.

The processor 220 first checks whether the special number entered by the subscriber is a charge setting special number (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 401). When confirming that it is a price setting special number, the processor 220 checks whether the destination identification information is correctly input (S40).
2). For example, identification information that does not exist or the processor 220
If a character or the like that cannot be recognized is input, the processing becomes impossible. After confirming that the input identification information is correct, the processor 220 checks that the communication charge specified by the subscriber has been correctly input (S403). For example, if a character or the like that cannot be recognized by the processor 220 is input, the processing becomes impossible. After the above check, the processor 220 sets the identification information of the calling side, the communication charge specified by the subscriber, and the identifier in the identification information 301, the communication charge 302, and the identifier 304 of the data storage memory 223, respectively ( S404, S405, respectively
S406). Next, the processor 220 determines the destination identification information and the communication charge 30 set in the data storage memory 223.
2 and a charging table 222 for determining a communication time per frequency corresponding to the destination identification information.
03 is set to the calculation result (S407). After setting,
The processor 220 instructs the voice notification device 205 or the data notification device 206 to notify the terminal of the communicable time (S408). After the communication time is notified to the terminal by the voice notification device 205 or the data notification device 206, the processor 220 instructs the voice notification device 205 or the data notification device 206 to stop the notification (409). Further, the processor 220 instructs the station line accommodation circuit 204 to call the destination terminal (S410).
Thereafter, the call is connected by a response from the destination terminal, and communication starts.

If the special number checked in S401 is not a charge setting special number, the processor 220 checks whether it is a charge change special number (S408). When confirming that it is a charge change special number, the processor 220 checks that the communication charge specified by the subscriber has been correctly input (S409). For example, if a character or the like that cannot be recognized by the processor 220 is input, the processing becomes impossible. When it is confirmed that the communication fee has been correctly input, S404
Processing is passed to. If the special number input by the subscriber is not the charge change special number in S408, the processing cannot be performed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in which the time management section 224 provided in the control section 210 monitors the communication time of the terminal.

When communication between terminals starts, the time management unit 2
24 is the terminal 10 via the subscriber circuits 201-203.
The communication time of 0 to 102 is monitored (S501), and the communicable time 303 set in the data storage memory 223 is updated at regular intervals (for example, one second) (S50).
2). Here, the updated value is stored in the data storage memory 22.
It represents a value obtained by subtracting the communication time of the terminal from the communication available time set to 3, that is, the remaining communication available time. Next, the time management unit 224 determines the remaining communication time and the time management unit 2.
24 is compared with a preset value (for example, 5 minutes) (S503). If the remaining communication time is a predetermined value (5 minutes), the time management unit 224 sends the processor 2
20 (for example, notification by an interrupt signal) (S504), and the process returns to S501. If the remaining communication time is not a predetermined value (5 minutes), the time management unit 224 compares whether the remaining communication time is 0 minutes (S505). If the remaining communication time is 0 minutes, the time management unit 224 sets the data storage memory 22
It is checked whether the identifier 304 set to No. 3 is a warning or a disconnection (S506). If the identifier 304 is a warning, the time management unit 224 notifies the processor 220 of the fact (for example, a notification using an interrupt signal) (S5).
07). If the identifier 304 is disconnected, the processor 220 is notified of the fact (for example, a notification by an interrupt signal) (S508).

Next, the operation of the exchange 110 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, for example, the data terminal 101
(FIG. 1), a charge setting special number (for example, 0), destination identification information (093-EEE-EEEE), and a communication charge (300
When a circle and an identifier (warning) are input (S601), the processor 220 provided in the control unit 210 transmits the destination identification information (093-EEE-EEEE) and the communication fee (300).
Communication can be performed from the charging table 222 (FIG. 2) for determining the communication time (for example, one minute) per one frequency (for example, 10 yen) corresponding to the destination identification information (093-EEEE-EEEE). The time is calculated (30 minutes), and the identification information of the calling side (03-BBBB-BBBB, FIG. 1), the communication fee (300 yen), the identifier (warning), and the communicable time (30 minutes) are respectively obtained. Identification information 301, communication fee 302, identifier 30 of data storage memory 223 (FIG. 3)
4. The communication time 303 is set (S602).
The processor 220 also calculates the calculated communicable time (3
0 minute) to the data notification device 206 (S603). The instructed data notification device 206 notifies the data terminal 101 of the communicable time (30 minutes) (S604). By S604,
For example, it is displayed on the display screen of the data terminal 101 shown in FIG. After the notification, the processor 220 causes the data notification device 206 to stop the notification to the data terminal 101.
(S605), and also instructs the local line accommodating circuit 204 to call the destination (S606). By S605, the data notification device 206 stops notifying the data terminal 101 of the communicable time (30 minutes). Also, S60
In accordance with 6, the line accommodation circuit 204 calls the destination terminal 104. When detecting the response from the destination terminal 104 (S607), the office line accommodating circuit 204 notifies the subscriber circuit of the detection (S608). The subscriber's circuit detects that fact, and provides the control section 210 with that fact in the time management section 224.
(S609), and communication between the data terminal 101 and the data terminal 104 starts.

Thereafter, the time management unit 224 monitors the communication time of the data terminal 101 and
The communication available time 303 is updated (S610). When the remaining communication time becomes a value (for example, 5 minutes) preset in the time management unit 224, the processor 220
The data notification device 206 is instructed to notify the data terminal 101 of the remaining communication time (5 minutes) (S61).
1). Upon receiving the instruction, the data notification device 206 notifies the data terminal 101 of the remaining communicable time (5 minutes) (S6).
12). By S612, for example, it is displayed on the display screen of the data terminal 101 shown in FIG. 11 as "notice""remaining time is 5 minutes." After the notification, the processor 220 instructs the data notification device 206 to stop the notification of the remaining time (5 minutes) to the data terminal (S61).
3).

Next, the operation when notifying the data terminal 101 that the remaining communication time has reached 0 minutes after S613 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 7, when the remaining communication time becomes 0 minutes, the time management unit 224 of the control unit 210 refers to the identifier 304 of the data storage memory 223 (FIG. 3, S7).
01). When confirming that the identifier 304 is a warning, the time management unit 224 notifies the processor 220 of the confirmation (for example, notification by an interrupt signal). The processor 220 having received the notification instructs the data notification device 206 to warn the data terminal 101 (S702), and clears the corresponding area of the data storage memory 223 (S7).
03). In S703, the data notification device 206 warns the data terminal 101 (S704). By S704, for example, it is displayed on the display screen of the data terminal 101 shown in FIG. After the warning, the processor 220 returns to the data terminal 10
Then, the data notification device 206 is instructed to stop the warning to No. 1 (S705). When a warning is issued to the data terminal 101, the communication can be continued even if the communicable time (30 minutes) is exceeded.

Next, an operation for changing the set communication fee after S613 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 8, for example, the data terminal 101
, Charge change special number (for example, 1), communication charge (300
When a circle and an identifier (disconnection) are input (S801), the processor 220 provided in the control unit 210 transmits the destination identification information (093-EEE-EEEE) and the communication charge (30).
0 yen) and destination identification information (093-EEE-EEEE)
The communication time after the change is calculated from the charging table for determining the communication time per frequency corresponding to (for example,
30 minutes), caller identification information (03-BBBB-BBB)
B), the communication charge (300 yen), the identifier (disconnection), and the communicable time (30 minutes) after the change are respectively identified by the identification information 301, the communication charge 302, the identifier 304, and the communicable time of the data storage memory 223. 303 (S80)
2). Further, the processor 220 instructs the data notification device 206 to notify the data terminal 101 of the change (S803). The instructed data notification device 206
The data terminal 101 is notified of the change (S80
4). By S804, for example, “change” and “communicable time are 30 minutes.” Are displayed on the display screen of the data terminal 101 shown in FIG. After the change notification, the processor 220 instructs the data notification device 206 to stop the notification to the data terminal 101 (S805). S
805, the data notification device 206
Stop notification of change to 01.

After that, the time management unit 224 monitors the communication time of the data terminal 101 and
The communication available time 303 is updated (S806). When the remaining communication time becomes a value (for example, 5 minutes) preset in the time management unit 224, the processor 220
The data notification device 206 is instructed to notify the data terminal 101 of the remaining communication time (5 minutes) (S80).
7). Upon receiving the instruction, the data notification device 206 notifies the data terminal 101 of the remaining communication time (5 minutes) (S8).
08). By S808, as described above, the message is displayed on the display screen of the data terminal 101 shown in FIG. After the notification, the processor 220 instructs the data notification device 206 to stop the notification of the remaining time (5 minutes) to the data terminal (S
809).

Although FIG. 8 shows an example in which the communicable time is extended, the remaining communicable time (5 minutes) is notified (S612, FIG. 6), and the subscriber himself stops the communication. In this case (for example, when the power of the data terminal 101 is turned off), the information input in S601 can be held by using, for example, the nonvolatile data storage memory 223. In this case, the next time the subscriber performs communication, the remaining communication time (5 minutes) can be used as the communication time without specifying the communication fee.

Next, the operation when the remaining communication time becomes 0 minutes after S809 and the communication is disconnected will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 9, when the remaining communicable time reaches 0 minutes, the time management section 224 sends the data to the data storage memory 213.
Is referenced (S901). Time management unit 2
24 confirms that the identifier 304 is disconnected,
This is notified to the processor 220 (for example, notification by an interrupt signal). Processor 220 notified
Instructs the office line accommodation circuit 204 to disconnect the communication (S902), and clears the corresponding area of the data storage memory 223 (S903). The office line accommodation circuit 204
The connection to the switch 200 is disconnected (S904), and the subscriber circuit 202 is notified that the disconnection has been completed (S90).
5). With the above operation, the communication between the terminal 101 and the terminal 104 is disconnected. 6 to 13, data communication is described as an example. However, in the case of voice communication, the data terminal 101 and the data notification device 206 shown in FIG. And can be similarly described. However, S604
Each notification in (FIG. 6), S612, S804 (FIG. 8), and S808 is notified to the subscriber by voice via the voice terminal 100.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention. Here, a case is shown in which the terminals 100 to 105 are taken as examples of the communication device.

In FIG. 14, terminals 100 to 105
The terminal unit 1401 includes an input unit 1400 for inputting destination identification information, an upper limit communication fee, an identifier, and the like. The input unit 1400 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a dial, and the like. The terminal body 1401 is an input unit 1
An input interface unit 1410 which is an interface with the control unit 400, a control unit 1411, an output interface unit 1412 which is an interface with the exchange, a notifying unit 1413 which performs a notification process of the above-described communicable time,
A display unit 1414 for displaying a communicable time and the like. Here, the control unit 1411 performs the function of the time management unit 224 included in the control unit 210 illustrated in FIG.
Except for the function of the control unit 420, the control unit 210 has the same function.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the upper limit communication charge of the call is set for each subscriber and the time is notified to the subscriber has been described, but the upper limit communication time of the call is set for each subscriber. The communication fee may be notified to the subscriber.

[0048]

As described above, claims 1 and 4,
According to the inventions described in 6 and 9, since the upper limit communication charge of the call can be set for each subscriber, not only communication can be performed without restricting outgoing calls, but also the subscriber becomes cost-conscious. Become like

According to the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth aspects of the present invention, the time can be notified to the subscriber by time management, so that the subscriber is conscious of time. , Time can be used effectively.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the communication fee once set can be changed during communication, so that the subscriber can respond flexibly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration 1 of an entire network to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a network configuration diagram showing an example.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a table configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration of a data storage memory.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by a processor 220 when a call is made from a terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in which a time management unit included in a control unit monitors a communication time of a terminal.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the exchange.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the exchange.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the exchange.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the exchange.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the data terminal.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the data terminal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the data terminal.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the data terminal.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the communication device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 102, 103, 105 ... voice terminal, 101,
104: data terminal, 110, 111: exchange, 120
... Public network, 200 ... Switch, 201, 202, 203
... subscriber circuit, 204 ... office line accommodation circuit, 205 ... voice notification device, 206 ... data notification device, 207, 208, 2
09: office line, 210: control unit, 211, 212, 21
3, 214, 215, 216 ... I / O ports, 220 ...
Processor, 221 ... program storage memory, 222 ...
Billing table 223 Data storage memory 224 Time management unit 1400 Input unit 1401 Terminal body 1
410: input interface unit, 1411: control unit, 1
412: output interface unit, 1413: notification unit, 1
414 display unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き The continuation of the front page F term (reference) 5K025 BB03 CC01 DD10 EE09 FF17 HH07 JJ03

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A communication device having a plurality of ports connected to a terminal or an office line, and connecting between the ports, wherein the communication time is determined based on destination identification information received from the terminal and a communication charge. Calculating means for obtaining, connecting means for connecting the ports, time managing means for monitoring the communication time of the terminal to obtain the remaining communication time, and when the remaining communication time becomes a predetermined time, And a notifying unit for notifying the terminal of the fact. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said notifying means notifies said terminal of said communicable time. 3. When a new communication charge is received from the terminal during communication, the calculating means obtains a communicable time from the communication charge and the destination identification information, and calculates the remaining communicable time in the communication. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication time is changed to a possible time, and the notification unit notifies the terminal to that effect. 4. An input means for inputting destination identification information and a communication charge, a calculating means for calculating a communication available time from the destination identification information received from the input means and a communication charge, A communication device, comprising: a time management unit for obtaining a remaining time; and a display unit for displaying when a communicable remaining time reaches a predetermined time. 5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein said display means displays said communicable time. 6. A connection method for a communication device having a plurality of ports connected to a terminal or an office line and performing connection between the ports, comprising: receiving destination identification information and a communication charge from the terminal. A connection method comprising: obtaining a communicable time from the destination identification information and the communication charge; and connecting the ports. 7. The connection method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of notifying said terminal of said communicable time. 8. A step of monitoring a communication time of the terminal, and obtaining a remaining communication time by subtracting the communication time from the communication time, wherein the remaining communication time is a predetermined time. 7. The connection method according to claim 6, further comprising: notifying the terminal to that effect. 9. A connection method for a communication device having a plurality of ports connected to a terminal or an office line, and connecting between the ports, comprising: receiving destination identification information and a communication charge from the terminal. Obtaining a communicable time from the destination identification information and the communication charge; notifying the terminal of the communicable time to the terminal; connecting the ports; and monitoring a communication time of the terminal. Determining the remaining communication available time, and notifying the terminal of the remaining communication available time, and when the remaining communication available time runs out, notifies the terminal to that effect, or between the ports. Disconnecting the connection.