JP2002252627A - Charging system for circuit and packet, and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To calculate the most economical charge of Internet usage for users in case where the users get contents information by the Internet connection. SOLUTION: A personal computer 1 using a fixed telephone line or a mobile telephone 2 which can be connected to the Internet originates a telephone call and is connected to connection equipment 4 connected to the Internet via a circuit switching network 7. The connection equipment 4 supervises the connect time of the circuit switching network 7 side, the connected destination of the Internet network 6 side, and data packet quantity to the Internet network 6. After the personal computer 1 or the mobile telephone cuts off the telephone call, the connection equipment 4 calculates charge for the connect time and packet charge from a table stored beforehand based on the measured connect time and the packet quantity, and furthermore, calculates charge for the Internet connection and usage based on the calculated connect time charge and calculated packet charge, and sends the charge information to a charging center 5 of the communication carrier.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a line / packet charging method and method for calculating a communication charge and a data packet charge. The present invention relates to a line / packet charging method and method for calculating a packet charge when obtaining content information for a service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, the first is "the telephone company's line connection fee and the provider's connection fee are separately charged", and the second is "the provider uses the telephone company's line connection fee". There are three methods: a flat fee is charged only for the connection time while paying the charge, and a third method, "for mobile phones, either a charge based on the line connection time or a charge based on the amount of data packets".

[0003] In a current call in circuit switching, a service is realized that can automatically identify a communication carrier and set a cheap line. When connecting to the Internet using a provider, call time is reduced to 1
The mainstream plan is to allocate a charge based on the talk time used for each connection, and calculate a charge for using the Internet in monthly settlement.

A third telephone company (for example, NTT
In the case of using the Internet (in the case of using a site) as in the case of DOCOMO, packet charges per packet are allocated in advance, and the packet charges used on a monthly basis are calculated to charge the Internet. Is calculated.

[0005] That is, in the accounting method according to the prior art, there is a discount service, but only the accounting based on the connection time on the exchange side or the accounting based on the packet amount is used.

[0006]

However, according to the conventional charge settlement method based on call time, the charge based on call time is calculated regardless of the amount of packets, so that there is no choice for Internet users. However, there is a problem that a charge based on the talk time is added unconditionally just by connecting.

In the conventional fee settlement method based on the amount of packets, a packet fee is set irrespective of the connection time. Therefore, from the viewpoint of a telecommunications carrier, the charge is set higher in consideration of the connection time. There is a problem that it is necessary. Therefore, there is a problem that the Internet user ultimately uses the Internet under a higher fee setting.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to calculate the most inexpensive charging for a user when accessing the Internet from a telephone network (fixed network, portable telephone network, etc.) to obtain content information. is there.

It is another object of the present invention to automatically calculate a telephone line connection charge and a packet charge at the time of one connection, and to calculate the most inexpensive charge for the user accurately and quickly for each connection. To do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a first line / packet charging system according to the present invention is provided from a user device installed in a provider or a telephone company and subscribed to the Internet. A connection / packet charging method provided with a connection device for providing a connection service of a connection time according to a charging mode contracted in advance by the user before the connection and disconnection from the user device to the connection device. Calculating means for calculating a connection time charge corresponding to the connection time calculated by the calculation means and a packet charge corresponding to the packet amount calculated by the calculation means. And

A second line / packet charging method according to the present invention is a line / packet provided with a connection device for providing a connection service to the Internet from a contracted user device installed in a provider or a telephone company. A charging method, in which a storage means storing in advance a connection time charge corresponding to a connection time and a packet charge corresponding to a packet amount, and starting to count when the user's device sets a call to the connection device and disconnecting Timer means for calculating the connection time by stopping the time measurement when the time has elapsed, and calculating the amount of packets when the user device reads the content information from the Internet via the connection device during the measurement of the connection time. Calculating means, and when the user's device disconnects from the connection device, the storage means based on the connection time by the timing means. A charge calculating means for calculating a connection time charge from the storage means based on the amount of packets by the calculating means, and comparing the calculated connection time charge with the calculated packet charge. A charge calculating means for calculating a charge used on the Internet at the time of one connection to the apparatus.

Further, in the above-mentioned second line / packet charging method, the storage means stores in advance a pay packet charge corresponding to a packet amount for each pay connection destination and a free packet amount. Means for storing a free packet fee in advance, wherein said calculating means comprises:
Means for calculating a pay packet amount for each pay connection destination when reading pay content information from the Internet, and means for calculating a free packet amount when reading free content information; The charge calculating means includes means for calculating a pay packet charge from the storage means based on the calculated pay packet amount, and means for calculating a free packet charge from the storage means based on the calculated free packet amount. It is characterized by having.

Further, in the second line / packet charging method, if the connection time charge is equal to or less than the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge, the charge for one connection is set to the pay packet charge. Means for calculating the sum of the free packet charges, and if the connection time charge is not equal to or less than the sum of the free packet charges and the pay packet charges but is equal to or less than the free packet charges, the charge for one connection is a pay packet charge. Means for calculating the connection time fee, if the connection time fee is not less than the sum of the free packet fee and the pay packet fee and is not less than the free packet fee, 1
Means for calculating the connection time fee as charging at the time of connection.

A first line / packet charging method according to the present invention provides a line / packet provided with a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet. A charging method, wherein the connection device calculates a connection time and a packet amount according to a charging mode contracted in advance by a user until the connection from the user device to the connection device is disconnected. A connection time fee corresponding to the calculated connection time and a packet fee corresponding to the calculated packet amount are calculated.

A second line / packet charging method according to the present invention provides a line / packet provided with a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet. In the charging method, the connection device prepares a table in which a connection time fee corresponding to a connection time and a packet fee corresponding to a packet amount are registered in advance in its own device, and the device of the user uses the connection device When the call is set, the connection time and the amount of packets are started to be monitored, and when the user device reads the content information from the Internet during the monitoring, the packet amount is calculated, and the user device is disconnected. In the case of, the connection time during connection is calculated, the connection time fee is calculated from the table based on the calculated connection time,
Calculating a packet charge from the table based on the calculated packet amount, and comparing the calculated connection time charge with the calculated packet charge to calculate a charge used on the Internet at one connection. And

A third line / packet charging method according to the present invention is a line provided with a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a user installed and contracted in a provider or a telephone company to an Internet site. A packet billing method, wherein the connection device has a first table in which a connection time charge corresponding to a connection time and a packet charge corresponding to a packet amount of a free site are registered in advance, and a packet charge amount of a pay site. A second table in which the registered packet charges are registered in advance is prepared in its own device, and when the device of the user sets a call to the connection device, the connection time is started to be monitored, and during the monitoring, the user is monitored. When the device reads content information from the Internet, the amount of free packets when accessing free sites and the And a packet quantity calculated, if the user of the device is disconnected, and calculate the connection time in connection,
Calculating a connection time fee from the first table based on the calculated connection time; calculating a free packet fee from the first table based on the calculated free packet amount;
A pay packet fee is calculated from the second table on the basis of the calculated pay packet amount, and one connection is performed based on the calculated connection time fee, the calculated free packet fee, and the calculated pay packet fee. It is characterized by calculating the charge used on the Internet.

Further, in the above third line / packet charging method, the connection device may charge as one connection charge if the connection time charge is equal to or less than the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge. Calculate the sum of the pay packet charge and the free packet charge, and if the connection time charge is not less than the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge and is equal to or less than the free packet charge, the charge for one connection is taken. Calculate the pay packet charge, and if the connection time charge is not less than the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge and is not less than the free packet charge, 1
It is characterized in that the connection time fee is calculated as a charge at the time of connection.

Further, according to a fourth line / packet charging method of the present invention, a line / packet provided with a connection device for providing a connection service to the Internet from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company. In the charging method, the connection device prepares, in its own device, a first table in which a packet fee corresponding to a packet amount of a free site is registered in advance, and the user device sets a call to the connection device. In the case where the connection time and the packet amount are monitored, if the user device reads the content information from the free site on the Internet within the preset time during the monitoring, the packet amount is regardless of the packet amount. Ignoring the calculation of the above, the user's device is not able to read the content from the free site after the preset time has passed during the monitoring. When a report is read, a packet amount is calculated, and a packet charge is calculated from the first table based on the calculated packet amount, thereby calculating a charge used on the Internet at one connection. I have.

Further, in the above-mentioned fourth line / packet charging method, the connection device prepares in its own device a second table in which a packet fee corresponding to the packet amount of the pay site is registered in advance, and the monitoring device performs the monitoring. At the time of accessing the paid site, the paid packet amount is calculated regardless of the preset time, and the packet fee is
It is characterized by including a charged packet fee calculated from the second table based on the calculated charged packet amount.

The fifth line / packet charging method according to the present invention is directed to a line / packet provided with a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet. A charging method, wherein the connection device prepares in its own device a first table in which a connection time fee corresponding to a connection time and a packet fee corresponding to a packet amount of a free site are registered in advance in the own device; Starts monitoring the amount of packets when the device sets a call to the connection device, and when the device of the user accesses the free site from the Internet within the range of the packet amount set in advance during the monitoring of the amount of packets. When the content information is read, the connection time calculation is ignored regardless of the packet amount, and the user is not monitored while monitoring the packet amount. If the device has read the content information from the Internet with a packet amount equal to or greater than a preset packet amount, it starts to monitor the connection time, and during the monitoring of the packet amount, the user's device has a packet amount greater than or equal to a preset packet amount. When the content information is read from, the amount of packets at the time of free site access is calculated, and when the user device is disconnected, the connection time during connection is calculated, and the second connection time is calculated based on the calculated connection time. Calculate the connection time charge from the first table, calculate the packet charge from the first table based on the calculated packet amount, and combine the calculated connection time charge and the calculated packet charge in the Internet for one connection. It is characterized in that it is calculated as the charge used in.

Further, in the fifth line / packet charging method, the connection device prepares in its own device a second table in which a packet charge corresponding to the packet amount of the pay site is registered beforehand, and At the time of pay site access during the monitoring of the amount, the pay packet amount is calculated irrespective of the previously set packet amount, and the packet fee is calculated from the second table based on the calculated pay packet amount. It is characterized by including a paid packet fee.

[0022]

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, information (telephone call,
Circuit switching network 7 including a fixed telephone network or a mobile telephone network, which is a communication network for exchanging data and the like, and the Internet (Web connected based on TCP / IP protocol).
(Including a server), a personal computer 1 using a fixed telephone network, a mobile phone 2 capable of connecting to the Internet, a circuit switching network 7 and the Internet network 6 to provide a connection service to the Internet. It comprises a connection device 4 and a billing center 5 of a communication carrier (referred to as a telephone company or a provider). In addition,
The connection device 4 in this case is a provider (ISP: Int
ernet Service Provider)
Indicates a connection device (server) in a provider providing an Internet service or a connection device (server) provided by a telephone company (for example, NTT DOCOMO's i-mode service).

The personal computer 1 performs a program operation by a processor (not shown). That is, the Internet user starts up a browser (software for connecting to the Internet) in the personal computer 1 and connects to the connection device 4 which is a connection server of the provider contracted by the user through dial-up IP connection. Connect to a site (Web server) by inputting a URL on the screen. In this case, any information processing device (including a mobile terminal or the like) that starts a browser other than the personal computer 1 and connects to the Internet may be used.

The mobile phone 2 performs a program operation by a processor (not shown). That is, the user starts the browser inside the mobile phone 2 and reads the menu screen by connecting to the connection device 4 managed by the contracted telephone company, and reads the menu screen by selecting from the menu screen. Connects to sites that provide services.

Referring to FIG. 2, the connection device 4 of FIG.
A control unit 41 that operates under program control by a processor (not shown), a clock unit 42 that measures time, and a storage unit 43 that is a nonvolatile readable and writable memory.
And a storage unit 44, which is a readable and writable memory.
And a user information database 45 in which personal information of contracted users is registered.

The storage unit 43 stores a general charge table 431 in which charge information relating to connection with a free site (Web server) is registered in advance, and a charge site (Web server).
And a special charge table 432 in which charge information relating to connection with the server) is registered in advance.

The storage unit 44 includes a charge management table 441 that can monitor the connection time and the amount of packets since the connection to the connection device 4 and manages charges.

The user information database 45 includes personal information (eg, contractor name, telephone number, address, billing mode, user ID, password, etc.) of a contracted user.
Note that the charging mode (charge plan for one connection) includes a normal mode (a mode in which the cheaper of the connection time charge and the packet amount charge is automatically selected) and a connection time mode (a connection time of one connection). Until a certain time, free of charge regardless of the packet amount, if it exceeds it, the subsequent charge is calculated only with the packet charge) and packet amount mode (up to a certain amount of bytes, the connection time is free regardless of the call charge, If it exceeds bytes, the subsequent fee is calculated only with the packet fee). Note that the packet amount in the present invention includes the number of bytes of content information read as data in a packet.

Referring to FIG. 6, the general charge table 431 of the storage unit 43 includes areas of a charge (yen), a call time (second), and a packet amount (byte), and corresponds to the call time or the packet amount. Shows the correspondence between charges. The setting of the price for the talk time and the packet amount is shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), the call time and the packet time are set so as to be proportional.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the special charge table 432 of the storage unit 43, the IP address of a site (Web server) that supports pay content information managed by a provider (or a telephone company) is registered. The correspondence relationship between charges (bytes) and packet amounts (bytes) is shown for each connection destination (IP address).

Referring to FIG. 8, fee management table 44
1 is managed for each connection source telephone number, the connection source telephone number, the start time when a call is set, the end time when the call is disconnected, the connection time from the start time to the end time, The connection fee for the connection time, the pay-destination IP address when connected to the paid Web server, the packet amount (byte) indicating the packet amount transferred by the connection device 4 to the connection source, and the packet fee for the packet amount Including each area. It should be noted that the packet amount is calculated based on the paid site (W
At the time of (web server) connection, it is counted each time it is used in the area of the fee management table 441 corresponding to the paying connection destination IP address, and when only the free site (Web server) connection is used, it is applicable without the paying connection destination IP address. The charge management table 441 is counted each time it is used in the area. The connection charge and the packet charge are calculated by the control unit 41 when the connection is cut off.

An Internet user makes an Internet connection from a personal computer 1 using a fixed telephone network or a mobile telephone 2 that can connect to the Internet, and a circuit switching network 7.
To the connection device 4 via. The connection device 4 monitors the connection time on the circuit switching side with which the Internet user is communicating, the connection destination on the Internet side, and the amount of data packets according to the charge mode contracted in advance by the Internet user. The Internet user terminates the use, disconnects the telephone line network from the personal computer 1 or the mobile phone 2, and receives the disconnection signal from the circuit switching network 7. The connection device 4 monitors the connection time and data packet for each connection destination. Calculate the optimal fee from the quantity information. The charge calculation uses the general charge table 431 and the special charge table 432 registered in the storage unit 43 based on the charge management table 441 of the storage unit 44 provided for monitoring by the control unit 41 of the connection device 4. In this way, an optimal fee is calculated. After that, the control unit 41 of the connection device 4 sends the calculated billing fee to the Internet user and the fee information of the charged content connection packet billing to the billing center 5 of the communication carrier.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as a charge calculation operation in the connection device 4, "a charge plan for automatically selecting the cheaper of the connection time charge and the packet amount charge. However, in the case of pay content, the packet amount is charged. A description will be given of a case where a charge plan of “(charging mode = normal mode)” is set.

The user starts the browser of the personal computer 1 and
When a connection connection request is made to the connection device 4 of the access point of the provider through the circuit switching network 7 by call setting through dial-up IP connection, the control unit 41 of the connection device 4
Confirms whether or not the user is a registered user in the user information database 45, assigns an IP address to the personal computer 1, and stores a charge management table 441 in the storage unit 44.
In the connection source telephone number area, the telephone number of the personal computer 1, which is the caller, the charging mode area registered in the user information database, and the connection source IP address area, the IP address assigned to the personal computer 1. To
In the start time area, the time read from the clock unit 42 at the time of connection is registered, and the personal computer 1 is connected. That is, the control unit 41 sets the charge management table 441
To monitor the connection time and the packet (steps S10 and S11 in FIG. 3).

After connecting to the connection device 4, the user wants to access the UR of the Internet from the screen of the personal computer 1.
L (Uniform Resource Locato
By setting r), the personal computer 1 transmits the URL information to the connection device 4. The control unit 41 of the connection device 4 that has received the URL information from the personal computer 1 accesses a DNS server (not shown) connected to the connection device 4 based on the URL information (domain name), and thereby determines the connection destination. Find the IP address. When the control unit 41 obtains the IP address from the DNS server, the control unit 41 searches whether or not the same IP address is registered in the special charge table 432 of the storage unit 43 to determine whether or not the site is a pay site (Web server). . If registered, the control unit 41 determines that the access is a pay site access, and detects the I address detected in the pay connection destination IP address area of the charge management table 441 of the storage unit 44.
While registering the P address, it accesses a Web server (paid site) specified by the IP address, and establishes a communication path between the personal computer 1 and the Web server. Step S
In 22, when the information is not registered in the special charge table 432, the control unit 41 accesses the Web server specified by the IP address as it is, and establishes a communication path with the Web server. That is, the control unit 41 performs a relay operation between the personal computer 1 and the Web server regardless of whether the charge is free (steps S10, S21 to S21 in FIG. 3).
24).

After connecting to the pay-destination Web server and requesting content information from the screen of the personal computer 1 to the pay-destination Web server, the pay-destination Web
It will be transferred in P packets. Then, when an IP packet addressed to the personal computer 1 enters the connection device 4 from the Web connected to the Internet network 6, the control unit 41 of the connection device 4 makes a determination based on the destination and source IP addresses.
A search is made as to whether the source IP address is registered in the pay connection destination IP address area of the fee management table 441. If registered, the control unit 41 adds the packet amount of the received content (the number of bytes of the content information) to the value of the packet amount area corresponding to the IP address of the Web server in the fee management table 441, and Is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (steps S51, S52, S58, S57 in FIG. 5).

In step S52, if the IP address has not been registered, the control unit 41 determines that the received packet is free, and further checks the charging mode registered in the fee management table 441. In this case, since the charging mode is the normal mode, the control unit 41 adds the packet amount of the received content (the number of bytes of the content information) to the value of the packet amount area corresponding to the connection source telephone number in the fee management table 441. Then, the content information from the Web server is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (steps S52, S53, S56, S57 in FIG. 5).

When the user disconnects the Internet from the personal computer 1 by ending the browser, the personal computer 1 performs a call disconnection process on the connection device 4 via the circuit switching network 7. Then, the control unit 4 of the connection device 4
1 reads the current time from the clock unit 42, registers the read time in the end time area of the fee management table 441, and disconnects the call (cancels the communication path related to the personal computer 1). That is, the control unit 41 ends the monitoring of the packet amount and the connection time to the personal computer 1. After the call disconnection, the control unit 41 stores the connection time on the circuit switching side in the storage unit 4.
Based on the third general charge table 431, the charge for the disconnected telephone number (PC 1) is calculated. After performing the charge adding process, the control unit 41 clears data corresponding to the disconnected connection source telephone number from the charge management table 441 (steps S31, S32, and S3 in FIG. 3).
4).

That is, the detailed operation of step S32 will be described. After disconnecting the call, the control unit 41 calculates the connection time by subtracting the end time from the start time of the corresponding personal computer 1 in the charge management table 441. Is registered in the connection time area of the charge management table 441. Further, the control unit 41 uses the general billing table 431 based on the connection time.
The connection time charge (referred to as charge A) is calculated from the above and registered in the connection time charge area (A in FIG. 8) of the charge management table 441. Further, the control unit 41 controls the charge management table 441
Is calculated from the special charge table 432 based on the packet amount for each pay connection destination (pay content) registered in the charge management table 441, and the packet charge area of the charge management table 441 (see FIG. Register in B).
Further, the control unit 41 calculates a packet charge (referred to as charge C) from the general charge table 431 based on the packet amount of the general connection destination other than the special connection destination, and calculates the charge management table 441.
(C in FIG. 8) (steps S321 to S323 in FIG. 4).

Further, the control unit 41 controls the charge management table 4
The charging mode registered in 41 is confirmed. In this case, the billing mode is the normal mode (none),
The control unit 41 compares the calculated charges A, B, and C with the data packet charge B +
When the charge of C is low, it is determined that the packet charge is cheaper, and the charge is transmitted to the charge center 5 in order to charge the charge of packet charge B + C. When the charge A in the connection time is lower than the charge B + C of the data packet charging, the control unit 41
The charge A in the connection time is compared with the data packet charge B in the special connection destination. If the charge A in the connection time is high, the charge A in the connection time is determined to be cheaper and the charge A is charged. It is transmitted to the charging center 5. If the data packet charge B of the special connection destination is higher than the charge A at connection time,
The control unit 41 transmits the data packet fee B of the special connection destination to the billing center 5 in accordance with the above-mentioned "However, the packet amount of the pay content is charged" (steps S324 to S324 in FIG. 4). S327, S33
0).

Next, as a charge operation in the connection device,
The case where the charging mode is the connection time mode will be described.
In this case, the operation until the user starts the browser from the personal computer 1 and connects to the connection device 4 (step S1 in FIG. 3)
0, S11, and steps S10, S10 in FIG.
21 to S24) are the same as those in the case where the billing mode is the normal mode, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the description will be started from the point of connection to the Web server.

After connecting to the pay-destination Web server and requesting content information from the screen of the personal computer 1 to the pay-destination Web server, the pay-destination Web
It will be transferred in P packets. Then, when an IP packet addressed to the personal computer 1 enters the connection device 4 from the Web connected to the Internet network 6, the control unit 41 of the connection device 4 makes a determination based on the destination and source IP addresses.
A search is made as to whether the source IP address is registered in the pay connection destination IP address area of the fee management table 441. If registered, the control unit 41 adds the packet amount of the received content (the number of bytes of the content information) to the value of the packet amount area corresponding to the IP address of the Web server in the fee management table 441, and Is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (steps S51, S52, S58, S57 in FIG. 5).

In step S52, if the IP address is not registered, the control unit 41 determines that the received packet is free, and further checks the charging mode registered in the fee management table 441. In this case, since the billing mode is the connection time mode, the control unit 41 reads the time of the clock unit 42 and starts the start time of the charge management table 441 (the requesting personal computer 1) from the read time.
The value obtained by subtracting the area corresponding to the IP address of
It is checked whether it is "for example, 600 seconds (note that the time up to the fee of 100 yen is free, and 100 yen may be converted from the general fee table 431 into seconds)" or less. If it is equal to or less than T, it is determined that the user has not used the prescribed time, and the content information from the Web server is transmitted to the personal computer 1 without counting the received packets (steps S52, S53, S54). , S55, S57).

In step S55, if it is not less than T, the control unit 41 determines that the user has used the specified time and sets the value in the packet amount area corresponding to the connection source telephone number in the charge management table 441. The packet amount of received content (the number of bytes of content information) is added, and
The content information from the server b is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (steps S55, S56, S57 in FIG. 5).

When the user disconnects the Internet from the personal computer 1 by ending the browser, the personal computer 1 performs a call disconnection process on the connection device 4 via the circuit switching network 7. Then, the control unit 4 of the connection device 4
1 reads the current time from the clock unit 42, registers the read time in the end time area of the fee management table 441, and disconnects the call (cancels the communication path related to the personal computer 1). That is, the control unit 41 ends the monitoring of the packet amount and the connection time to the personal computer 1. After the call disconnection, the control unit 41 stores the connection time on the circuit switching side in the storage unit 4.
Based on the third general charge table 431, the charge for the disconnected telephone number (PC 1) is calculated. After performing the charge adding process, the control unit 41 clears data corresponding to the disconnected connection source telephone number from the charge management table 441 (steps S31, S32, and S3 in FIG. 3).
4).

That is, the detailed operation of step S32 will be described. After disconnecting the call, the control unit 41 calculates the connection time by subtracting the end time from the start time of the corresponding personal computer 1 in the charge management table 441. Is registered in the connection time area of the charge management table 441. Further, the control unit 41 uses the general billing table 431 based on the connection time.
The connection time charge (referred to as charge A) is calculated from the above and registered in the connection time charge area (A in FIG. 8) of the charge management table 441. Further, the control unit 41 controls the charge management table 441
Is calculated from the special charge table 432 based on the packet amount for each pay connection destination (pay content) registered in the charge management table 441, and the packet charge area of the charge management table 441 (see FIG. Register in B).
Further, the control unit 41 calculates a packet charge (referred to as charge C) from the general charge table 431 based on the packet amount of the general connection destination other than the special connection destination, and calculates the charge management table 441.
(C in FIG. 8) (steps S321 to S323 in FIG. 4).

Further, the control unit 41 controls the charge management table 4
The charging mode registered in 41 is confirmed. In this case, since the charging mode is the connection time mode, the control unit 4
1 is transmitted to the charging center 5 in order to charge a fee for the packet charging B + C (steps S324 and S324 in FIG. 4).
328).

Next, as a charge operation in the connection device,
The case where the charging mode is the packet amount mode will be described. In this case, the operation from when the user starts the browser from the personal computer 1 and connects to the connection device 4 (the call setting operations in steps S10 and S11 in FIG. 3 and the step S1 in FIG. 3)
0, S21 to S24) are the same as those in the case where the charging mode is the normal mode, and the description is omitted.
The description starts from the point where the server is connected to the server b.

After connecting to the pay-destination Web server and requesting content information from the screen of the personal computer 1 to the pay-destination Web server, the pay-destination Web
It will be transferred in P packets. Then, when an IP packet addressed to the personal computer 1 enters the connection device 4 from the Web connected to the Internet network 6, the control unit 41 of the connection device 4 makes a determination based on the destination and source IP addresses.
A search is made as to whether the source IP address is registered in the pay connection destination IP address area of the fee management table 441. If registered, the control unit 41 adds the packet amount of the received content (the number of bytes of the content information) to the value of the packet amount area corresponding to the IP address of the Web server in the fee management table 441, and Is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (steps S51, S52, S58, S57 in FIG. 5).

In step S52, if the IP address is not registered, the control unit 41 determines that the received packet is free, and further checks the charging mode registered in the fee management table 441. In this case, since the charging mode is the packet amount mode, the control unit 41
The value obtained by adding the packet amount (free column: R in FIG. 8) of the fee management table 441, which is the received packet, to the packet received from the Internet network 6 is P “for example, 12
80 bytes (note that the packet amount up to 100 yen is free and 100 yen may be converted to bytes from the general charge table 431). If P or less, it is determined that the user is not using the prescribed packet amount, the received packet amount is added to the value of the packet area corresponding to the connection source telephone number in the charge management table 441, and the Web server Is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (steps S52, S53, S59, S59 in FIG. 5).
60, S56, S57).

In step S60, if it is not equal to or less than P, the control unit 41 determines that the user has used the prescribed packet amount, and places a clock in the start time area corresponding to the connection source telephone number in the charge management table 441. The time read from the unit 442 is registered (the time is re-registered to monitor the time), and the content information from the Web server is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (steps S60, S61, and S61 in FIG. 5).
S57).

When the user disconnects the browser from the personal computer 1 to close the Internet, the personal computer 1 performs a call disconnection process on the connection device 4 via the circuit switching network 7. Then, the control unit 4 of the connection device 4
1 reads the current time from the clock unit 42, registers the read time in the end time area of the fee management table 441, and disconnects the call (cancels the communication path related to the personal computer 1). That is, the control unit 41 ends the monitoring of the packet amount and the connection time to the personal computer 1. After the call disconnection, the control unit 41 stores the connection time on the circuit switching side in the storage unit 4.
Based on the third general charge table 431, the charge for the disconnected telephone number (PC 1) is calculated. After performing the charge adding process, the control unit 41 clears data corresponding to the disconnected connection source telephone number from the charge management table 441 (steps S31, S32, and S3 in FIG. 3).
4).

More specifically, the detailed operation of step S32 will be described. After disconnecting the call, the control unit 41 calculates the connection time by subtracting the end time from the start time of the corresponding personal computer 1 in the charge management table 441. Is registered in the connection time area of the charge management table 441. Further, the control unit 41 uses the general billing table 431 based on the connection time.
The connection time charge (referred to as charge A) is calculated from the above and registered in the connection time charge area (A in FIG. 8) of the charge management table 441. Further, the control unit 41 controls the charge management table 441
Is calculated from the special charge table 432 based on the packet amount for each pay connection destination (pay content) registered in the charge management table 441, and the packet charge area of the charge management table 441 (see FIG. Register in B).
Further, the control unit 41 calculates a packet charge (referred to as charge C) from the general charge table 431 based on the packet amount of the general connection destination other than the special connection destination, and calculates the charge management table 441.
(C in FIG. 8) (steps S321 to S323 in FIG. 4).

Further, the control unit 41 controls the charge management table 4
The charging mode registered in 41 is confirmed. In this case, since the charging mode is the connection time mode, the control unit 4
1 is transmitted to the charging center 5 in order to charge a fee for packet charging A + B (steps S324 and S324 in FIG. 4).
329).

In the above-described embodiment, only the billing of the Internet user has been described.
By connecting to an advertising site such as a company, it is apparent that a service of charging a fee to an advertisement presenter (for example, judging access to a pay site and requesting the advertisement presenter for the calculated packet fee B) can be considered. In addition, it is apparent that it is considered that it is possible to calculate a charge such as setting a charge for one minute of talk time free (for example, setting a charge mode to a connection time mode and using it) by connecting to an advertisement site. is there.

In the above description of the operation, the personal computer 1
Has been described, but since the operation of the mobile phone 2 is the same, the description is omitted. However, in this case, the connecting device 4
Is a server managed by the telephone company.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the above-described first embodiment, the charge calculation based on the comparison between the circuit switching and the packet amount charging has been described.
In the case where the address is shifted to a universal address instead of a private address, for example, packet communication can be realized by a charging calculation method such as circuit switching. For example, by monitoring the time stamp of a packet and determining that the connection between data packets is a different connection when the interval between the data packets is a certain time, by regarding the data packet within the certain time as one line connection,
Charges can be made during the pseudo call time.

That is, the second embodiment of the present invention
It has the same configuration as FIGS. 1 and 2 referred to in the first embodiment, and differs from the first embodiment in that the personal computer 1 or the mobile phone in the first embodiment connects to the Internet by dial-up IP connection. The difference is that the Internet is directly connected via the connection device 4 by the assigned IP address. Therefore, the control unit 41 of the connection device 4 does not need to assign an IP address to the personal computer 1 when connecting to the Internet from the personal computer 1 or the mobile phone 2. In this case, a connection is made to a server managed by a telephone company), and a Web server having content information is accessed. That is, the control unit 41
Means that the operation of step S21 in FIG. 3 is eliminated. The other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Note that the connection time charge mentioned above means that, when the connection is made to the connection device 4 in the provider, the connection time is charged to the connection device 4 even if it includes the telephone connection charge of the telephone company and the connection charge to the connection device 4. It is clear from the configuration of the general fee table 431 that the present invention can be applied to the case where only the connection fee is used or to whichever case. Also, the connection device 4 in the telephone company
The connection fee in the case of connecting to the Internet includes the telephone connection fee of the telephone company and the connection fee to the connection device 4.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, the connection device for connecting the circuit switching side and the Internet side is optimized based on the charge calculated based on the connection time and the charge calculated based on the packet amount at the time of one connection. Since the most suitable fee is calculated, the user can calculate the cheapest fee.

Further, according to the present invention, an optimum charge is calculated for a connection device for connecting the circuit switching side and the Internet based on the charge calculated based on the connection time and the charge calculated based on the packet amount. (1) There is an effect that the charge calculation can be performed accurately and promptly for each connection.

Further, according to the present invention, at the time of accessing a pay site on the Internet, the amount of packets for each pay site is calculated, so that there is an effect that the packet charge can be settled for each pay site.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration inside the connection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the control unit of FIG. 2 receives information from a circuit switching network.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a detailed process of a fee adding process in step S32 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the control unit of FIG. 2 receives an IP packet from the Internet.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a general fee table stored in a storage unit 43 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a special fee table stored in a storage unit 43 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fee management table stored in a storage unit 44 of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2 Mobile telephone 4 Connection device 5 Charging center 6 Internet network 7 Circuit switching network 41 Control unit 42 Clock unit 43,44 Storage unit 431 General charge table 432 Special charge table 441 Charge management table

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A line / packet charging system including a connection device for providing a connection service from a contracted user device installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet. Calculating means for calculating a connection time and a packet amount in accordance with a charging mode contracted in advance by a user before connecting to and disconnecting from the connection device; and a connection time fee corresponding to the connection time calculated by the calculation means, and A calculating unit for calculating a packet fee corresponding to the packet amount calculated by the calculating unit. 2. A line / packet charging system including a connection device for providing a connection service from a contracted user device installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet, wherein the connection time corresponds to the connection time. Calculating the connection time by storing in advance a charge and a packet charge corresponding to the packet amount, and by starting timekeeping when the user device sets up a call to the connection device and stopping timekeeping when disconnecting. Timing means; calculating means for calculating a packet amount when the user device reads content information from the Internet via the connection device during the measurement of the connection time; and When the device is disconnected, the connection time fee is calculated from the storage means based on the connection time by the time counting means, and the packet is calculated by the calculation means. Charge calculating means for calculating a packet charge from the storage means based on the packet amount, and comparing the calculated connection time charge with the calculated packet charge to use the Internet on one connection to the connection device. A charge calculating means for calculating a charged charge. 3. The storage means has means for storing in advance a pay packet charge corresponding to the packet amount for each pay connection destination, and means for storing in advance a free packet charge corresponding to the free packet amount. The calculating means calculates a pay packet amount for each pay connection when the pay content information is read from the Internet, and calculates a free packet amount when the free content information is read. Means, wherein the charge calculating means calculates a pay packet charge from the storage means based on the calculated pay packet amount, and a free packet charge from the storage means based on the calculated free packet amount. 2. A line / packet charging system according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. A means for calculating the sum of the pay packet charge and the free packet charge as a charge for one connection if the connection time charge is equal to or less than the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge, If the connection time charge is not less than the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge and is not more than the free packet charge, means for calculating a pay packet charge as a charge for one connection; and If it is not less than or equal to the sum of the free packet fee and the paid packet fee and not less than the free packet fee,
4. The line / packet charging method according to claim 3, further comprising: means for calculating the connection time charge as charging for one connection. 5. A line / packet charging method including a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet. From the user's device to connecting to the connection device and disconnecting, the connection time and the packet amount were calculated in accordance with the charging mode contracted in advance by the user, and the connection time fee corresponding to the calculated connection time and the calculation were calculated. A line / packet charging method comprising calculating a packet charge corresponding to a packet amount. 6. A line / packet charging method including a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet, wherein the connection device has a connection time. Prepare a table in which the connection time charge corresponding to the communication time and the packet charge corresponding to the packet amount are registered in advance in the own device, and determine the connection time and the packet amount when the user device sets a call to the connection device. Start monitoring, calculate the amount of packets when the user's device reads the content information from the Internet during the monitoring, and calculate the connection time during the connection when the user's device is disconnected, A connection time fee is calculated from the table based on the calculated connection time, and a packet fee is calculated from the table based on the calculated packet amount. A line / packet charging method comprising calculating a charge used on the Internet for one connection by comparing the calculated connection time charge with the calculated packet charge. 7. A line / packet billing method comprising a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company to a site on the Internet, wherein the connection device comprises: A first table in which a connection time charge corresponding to the connection time and a packet charge corresponding to the free site packet amount are registered in advance, and a second table in which the packet charge corresponding to the pay site packet amount is registered in advance. Prepared in its own device, start monitoring the connection time when the user's device has set up a call to the connection device, if the user's device reads content information from the Internet during the monitoring Calculates the amount of free packets when accessing free sites and the amount of paid packets when accessing paid sites, and disconnects the user device. In this case, the connection time during connection is calculated, the connection time fee is calculated from the first table based on the calculated connection time, and the free time is calculated from the first table based on the calculated free packet amount. Calculate the packet charge, calculate the pay packet charge from the second table based on the calculated pay packet amount, and calculate the calculated connection time charge, the calculated free packet charge, and the calculated pay packet charge. A line / packet billing method characterized by calculating a bill used on the Internet at the time of one connection. 8. The connection device, if the connection time charge is equal to or less than the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge, as a charge for one connection, the sum of the pay packet charge and the free packet charge. If the connection time charge is not less than or equal to the sum of the free packet charge and the pay packet charge and is equal to or less than the free packet charge, the charge for one connection is calculated as the charge for one connection. If not less than or equal to the sum of the free packet fee and the paid packet fee and not less than the free packet fee,
8. The line / packet charging method according to claim 7, wherein the connection time charge is calculated as charging for one connection. 9. A line / packet charging method comprising a connection device for providing a connection service from a device of a contracted user installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet, wherein the connection device is a free site. A first table in which a packet charge corresponding to the packet amount is registered in advance in its own device, and when the device of the user sets a call to the connection device, the connection time and the packet amount are started to be monitored, If the device of the user reads the content information from the free site on the Internet within the time set in advance during the monitoring, the calculation of the packet amount is ignored regardless of the packet amount, and the setting is performed in advance during the monitoring. If the user device reads the content information from the free site after the specified time has elapsed, the packet amount is calculated, and By calculating the packet charge from the first table based on the calculated packet amount, 1
A line / packet charging method comprising calculating a charge used on the Internet at the time of connection. 10. The connection device according to claim 2, wherein a packet charge corresponding to a packet amount of the pay site is registered in advance.
Is prepared in its own device, and at the time of accessing the pay site under monitoring, the pay packet amount is calculated regardless of the preset time, and the packet charge is based on the calculated pay packet amount. 10. The line / packet charging method according to claim 9, further comprising a pay packet fee calculated from said second table. 11. A line / packet charging method including a connection device for providing a connection service from a contracted user device installed in a provider or a telephone company to the Internet, wherein the connection device has a connection time. A first table in which a connection time charge corresponding to the connection time and a packet charge corresponding to the packet amount of the free site are registered in advance in its own device, and when the user device sets a call to the connection device, If the user device reads content information at the time of accessing a free site from the Internet within the range of the packet amount set in advance while monitoring the packet amount, regardless of the packet amount, Ignore the calculation of the connection time, and during the monitoring of the packet volume, the user's device must wait before the packet volume exceeds the preset packet volume. When the content information is read from the Internet, the connection time starts to be monitored, and when the user device reads the content information from the Internet in excess of the preset packet amount during the monitoring of the packet amount, Calculate the amount of packets at the time of free site access, calculate the connection time during connection when the user's device is disconnected, and calculate the connection time fee from the first table based on the calculated connection time Calculating a packet charge from the first table based on the calculated packet amount, and calculating the calculated connection time charge and the calculated packet charge as charges used on the Internet during one connection. Characteristic line / packet charging method. 12. The connection device according to claim 2, wherein a packet charge corresponding to a packet amount of the pay site is registered in advance in the second device.
Is prepared in the own device, and at the time of pay site access while monitoring the packet amount, the pay packet amount is calculated regardless of the previously set packet amount. 12. The line / packet charging method according to claim 11, further comprising a charged packet fee calculated from the second table based on a packet amount.