JP2002300324A - Resource state reflecting accounting method and its implementation system, and its processing program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology to enhance the utilizing efficiency of the network resource by providing a network resource at a low cost or with high quality depending on the utility state to users. SOLUTION: The resource state reflecting accounting method that charges reflecting a utility state of a network resource includes a step of always monitoring the state of the network resource so as to store the monitored result to a utility state database, a step of acquiring the state of the network resource designated by a user from the utility state database, a step of using the network resource selected depending on the acquired state of the network resource to conduct communication processing, and a step of applying accounting process to the communication processing using the network resource according to the fee structure in response to the selected state of the network resource.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a resource status reflecting and charging system for performing charging reflecting the usage status of a network resource, and more particularly to a network service provider which provides a user with the usage status of network resources on the Internet in real time. The present invention relates to a technology that is effective when applied to a resource status reflection charging system that applies a fee system according to the usage status of the network resources.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various communication processes using network resources, such as accessing a homepage on the Internet using network resources provided by a network service provider, have been performed. In the use of such network resources, billing is performed based on information set in advance, such as a time zone in which the network resources are used and various fee plans.

[0003]

In the above prior art,
Because charging is performed based on information set in advance, such as the time zone and price plan for using network resources, it is not possible to perform flexible charging based on real-time information indicating the status of network resources Was.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a technique capable of providing a user with inexpensive or high-quality network resources according to a use situation and improving the use efficiency of network resources. It is in.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a resource status reflecting and charging system for performing charging in which the usage status of a network resource is reflected, and performs a communication process and a charging process in accordance with the usage status of a network resource.

In the resource status reflection accounting system of the present invention, first, the status of network resources is constantly monitored and stored in the usage status database. When a user who intends to use network resources accesses the resource status display homepage site via the information communication terminal and requests browsing of network resource status,
The status of the network resource specified by the user is obtained from the usage status database and transmitted to the information communication terminal.

[0007] When the user refers to the status of the transmitted network resources, selects a network resource to be used in consideration of a fee system in the usage status, and instructs the information communication terminal to start a communication process, the information communication is started. The terminal performs a communication process using the selected network resource. When the communication process is completed, the charging process for the communication process is performed in a fee system according to the status of the selected network resource. In the billing process, the user can use a cheaper or higher-quality line in real time by performing processing such as setting a low price when the usage is low and setting a fee proportional to the usage as the usage increases. Thus, it is possible to cause the network service provider to have an ideal resource use situation.

As described above, according to the resource status reflecting / charging system of the present invention, communication processing and charging processing are performed according to the usage status of network resources. It can be provided to the user to improve the use efficiency of the network resources.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A resource status reflecting and charging system according to an embodiment for performing charging reflecting the use status of network resources will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a resource status reflection accounting system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the resource status display homepage site side device 2 of the present embodiment
Has a resource status transfer request processing unit 211 and a resource status transmission processing unit 212.

The resource status transfer request processing unit 211 requests the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 to transfer the status of the network resource specified by the acquisition request transmitted from the information communication terminal 3. The resource status transmission processing unit 212 is a processing unit that transmits the status of the network resource transferred from the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 to the information communication terminal 3.

A program for causing the resource status display homepage site side device 2 to function as the resource status transfer request processing unit 211 and the resource status transmission processing unit 212 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and stored on a magnetic disk or the like. After that, it is loaded into the memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program is C
A recording medium other than the D-ROM may be used. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

The information communication terminal 3 has a resource status request processing unit 311, a resource status acquisition processing unit 312, and a communication processing unit 313.

The resource status request processing section 311 is a processing section for transmitting a request for acquiring the status of the network resource to the resource status display homepage site side apparatus 2. The resource status acquisition processing unit 312 is a processing unit that obtains the status of the network resource transmitted from the resource status display homepage site device 2. Communication processing unit 31
Reference numeral 3 denotes a processing unit that performs a communication process using a network resource selected according to the status of the acquired network resource.

A program for causing the information communication terminal 3 to function as the resource status request processing unit 311, the resource status acquisition processing unit 312 and the communication processing unit 313 is a CD-RO.
After being recorded on a recording medium such as M and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is assumed to be loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

The usage status database system 5 has a resource management processing unit 511 and a line management processing unit 512.

The resource management processing unit 511 is a processing unit that constantly monitors the status of network resources and stores the status in the usage status database 501. Line management processing unit 5
A processing unit 12 sets a line using the network resource in the information communication terminal 3 when the condition of the network resource satisfies a predetermined condition.

A program for causing the usage status database system 5 to function as the resource management processing unit 511 and the line management processing unit 512 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into the memory. And executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

The network resource status transfer subsystem 6 has a resource status transfer processing unit 611. The resource status transfer processing unit 611 is a processing unit that reads the status of the network resource requested from the resource status display homepage site device 2 from the usage status database 501 and transfers the network resource status to the resource status display homepage site device 2.

A program for causing the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 to function as the resource status transfer processing unit 611 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. Shall be performed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

The charge system subsystem 10 is a charge processing unit 1
011. The billing processing unit 1011 is a processing unit that performs a billing process for communication processing using the network resource in a fee system according to the status of the network resource selected by the information communication terminal 3.

The charge system subsystem 10 is connected to the charge processor 1
The program to function as 011 is CD-RO
After being recorded on a recording medium such as M and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is assumed to be loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

In FIG. 1, the network service provider operating the network resource 4 transmits the resource status of the network resource 4 to the resource status display homepage site device 2, and the user transmits the resource status via the Internet 1 and the information communication terminal 3. The status display homepage site side device 2 is browsed. The information communication terminal 3 is, for example, a personal computer, and may be a personal computer having a VoIP telephone function.

The status of the network resource 4 is constantly monitored by the usage status database system 5 and stored in the usage status database 501. Further, the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 transfers the network resource status to the resource status display homepage site side device 2 via the usage status database system 5. The user browses the screen of the homepage from the information communication terminal 3, selects the resource according to the resource status, and uses the selected resource on the information communication terminal 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a system for using resources from a telephone according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the selected resource may be used from the telephone 8.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a browsing screen of the device 2 on the resource status display homepage site side showing the usage status of the network resources of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the network resources 4 are from a wide area network to a city network, and the wide area network has multiple routes (overseas route, back Japan route, Pacific route, Japan Sea route, etc.) ) Up to the line level, and under that, TS (Trans
There is a trunk line level between it Switch) and an LS (Local Switch) level as a local level, and the usage status and unit price of a communication path between TS and LS are displayed, respectively.

The resource status reflection charging system of this embodiment has a fee system for performing a charging process in accordance with the status of network resources. It is good also as what automatically sets a line when it becomes.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline in the case where the Internet 1 and the network resource 4 of the present embodiment are the same communication network. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the Internet 1 and the network resource 4 used when browsing the resource status display homepage site side device 2 may be the same information communication network 9.

In the following, a description will be given of a process of selecting a network resource 4 and performing communication processing in accordance with the status in the resource status reflection charging system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information communication terminal 3 of the present embodiment. In step 501, the resource status request processing unit 311 of the information communication terminal 3 checks whether or not the user has input an instruction for requesting the status of the network resource. If the instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step 502.

In step 502, the resource status display homepage site device 2 is accessed, and a request to obtain a network resource status display page for displaying the status of network resources is transmitted to the resource status display homepage site device 2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the resource status display homepage site side apparatus 2 of the present embodiment. In step 601, the resource status transfer request processing section 21 of the resource status display homepage site side apparatus 2
1 checks whether a request for obtaining a network resource status display page for displaying the status of a network resource has been received from the information communication terminal 3, and if a request for obtaining a network resource status display page has been received, Proceed to step 602. In step 602, the network resource status display page is read from a storage device such as a magnetic disk device and transmitted to the information communication terminal 3 that has issued the request.

In step 503, the resource status request processing section 311 of the information communication terminal 3 receives the network resource status display page transmitted from the resource status display homepage site device 2 and displays it on the display device.

At step 504, the user receives a selection of a network resource whose status is to be displayed from the menu of the displayed network resource status display page. In step 505, a network resource status provision request requesting the provision of the received network resource status is transmitted from the information communication terminal 3 to the resource status display homepage site side device 2.

At step 603, the resource status transfer request processing section 2 of the resource status display homepage site side apparatus 2
11 checks whether a network resource status provision request requesting provision of a network resource status has been received from the information communication terminal 3, and proceeds to step 604 if a network resource status provision request has been received.

In step 604, the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 requests the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 to transfer the status of the network resource specified by the network resource status provision request transmitted from the information communication terminal 3.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 of this embodiment. In step 701, the resource status transfer processing unit 611 of the network resource status transfer subsystem 6
Checks whether a transfer request for the status of the network resource has been received from the resource status display homepage site-side device 2, and proceeds to step 702 if the transfer request has been received. In step 702, the status of the requested network resource is read from the usage status database 501.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the usage status database 501 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the usage status database 501 according to the present embodiment stores the usage rate of the band and the unit price of the usage fee at the usage rate as a result of constantly monitoring the status of the network resource.

In step 703, the status of the network resource read from the usage status database 501 is transferred to the resource status display homepage site side device 2.

In step 605, the resource status transmission processing section 212 of the resource status display homepage site side apparatus 2
Checks whether the status of the requested network resource has been received from the network resource status transfer subsystem 6, and proceeds to step 606 if the status of the network resource has been received.

In step 606, the received network resource status is set in the network resource status display page for displaying the status of the network resource, and transmitted to the information communication terminal 3.

In step 506, the resource status acquisition processing unit 312 of the information communication terminal 3 checks whether the requested network resource status has been received from the resource status display homepage site device 2 and receives the network resource status. Step 50 if yes
Then, at step 507, the status of the received network resource is displayed on the display device as shown in FIG.

In step 508, the communication processing unit 313 of the information communication terminal 3 checks whether or not the user has input an instruction to perform a communication process using the network resource in which the status is displayed. If yes, go to step 509.

In step 509, a request for setting a line using the network resource in which the status is displayed is transmitted to the usage status database system 5, and in step 51,
At 0, communication processing using the line set by the setting request is performed. When the communication processing of step 510 is completed, the process proceeds to step 511, where the set line disconnection request is transmitted to the usage status database system 5, and the communication processing ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the resource management processing of this embodiment. In step 901, the resource management processing unit 511 of the usage status database system 5 checks whether or not a request for setting or disconnecting a line using the network resource selected after the status display has been received from the information communication terminal 3. If the setting request has been received, the process proceeds to step 902,
If the disconnection request has been received, the process proceeds to step 904.

In step 902, the line management processing unit 512
Sets the line specified by the setting request between the information communication terminal 3 and its communication partner. In step 903, reads the unit price of the line for which the setting request has been made from the usage status database 501, and In response to a request from the communication terminal 3, the start of use of the line is notified to the fee system subsystem 10 together with the unit price of the line.

In step 904, the line management processor 51
2 disconnects the line between the information communication terminal 3 designated by the disconnection request and the communication partner, and in step 905,
The charge system subsystem 10 notifies that the use of the line set between the information communication terminal 3 and the communication partner has been completed.
Notify to Further, the amount of data transmitted and received between the information communication terminal 3 and the communication partner may be monitored by the usage status database system 5, and the data amount may be notified to the fee system subsystem 10 in step 905.

In step 906, the resource management processing section
The usage rate of the set or disconnected network resource 4 is recalculated, and the usage rate value in the usage status database 501 is updated.

In step 907, the updated usage rate is compared with a predetermined usage rate. If the updated usage rate is equal to or higher than the predetermined usage rate, the flow advances to step 908. If the updated usage rate is smaller than the predetermined usage rate, the process proceeds to step 909.

In step 908, a normal unit price proportional to the use time and data amount of the line is set in the use state database 501. In step 909, a value lower than the normal price is set in the use state database 50.
Set to 1.

As described above, in the usage status database system 5 of the present embodiment, the line is set by receiving the request from the information communication terminal 3. When the condition of the network resource satisfies a predetermined condition, such as satisfying the unit price condition specified by the information communication terminal 3, the line using the network resource is transmitted by the line management processing unit 512.
May be performed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the fee system subsystem 10 of this embodiment. In step 1001, the charging processing unit 1 of the fee system subsystem 10
011 checks whether or not a notification indicating the line setting or disconnection between the information communication terminal 3 and the communication partner has been received from the usage status database system 5, and if the line setting notification has been received, Proceeds to step 1002, and if the line disconnection notification has been received, proceeds to step 1003.

In step 1002, in addition to the identification information for identifying the user of the information communication terminal 3 who has requested the line setting, information such as the date and time when the line was set, and the like,
The unit price of the line transmitted from the use status database system 5 together with the line setting notification is stored as charge information in a storage device such as a magnetic disk device of the charge system subsystem 10.

In step 1003, the time of use of the line calculated from the stored date and time of the line setting and the date and time of the line disconnection notification, the amount of transmitted / received data transmitted from the use status database system 5, Using the stored unit price of the line, the usage fee of the line is calculated. In step 1004, the user of the information communication terminal 3 is charged based on the calculated usage fee for the communication process using the network resource.

As described above, in the information communication system according to the present embodiment, the user sets the network resource fee system at a low price when the usage status is small, and sets a fee in proportion to the traffic as the usage volume increases, so that the user can obtain the lowest communication cost. It is possible to receive a low-cost public communication service by selecting a line, and it is possible for a network service provider to make an ideal resource use situation.

As described above, according to the resource status reflecting / charging system of the present embodiment, communication processing and charging processing are performed in accordance with the usage status of network resources. It is possible to provide resources to users and improve the utilization efficiency of network resources.

[0057]

According to the information communication system using the Internet of the present invention, the user can select the most advantageous network resources in real time, and the network resource fee system is reduced when the usage status is low, and the traffic increases as the usage increases. By setting the charge in proportion to, it is possible to direct the network service provider to an ideal resource use situation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a resource status reflection accounting system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a system that uses resources from the telephone according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a browsing screen of a resource status display homepage site-side device 2 indicating a usage status of a network resource according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline when the Internet 1 and a network resource 4 of the present embodiment are the same communication network.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information communication terminal 3 of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the resource status display homepage site side device 2 of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the network resource status transfer subsystem 6 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage status database 501 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a resource management process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a fee system subsystem 10 of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Internet, 2 ... Resource status display homepage site side apparatus, 3 ... Information communication terminal, 4 ... Network resource, 5 ... Usage status database system, 6 ... Network resource status transfer subsystem, 10 ... Charge system subsystem, 501 ... Usage database, 2
11: Resource status transfer request processing unit, 212: Resource status transmission processing unit, 311: Resource status request processing unit, 3
12: resource status acquisition processing unit, 313: communication processing unit,
511: Resource management processing unit, 512: Line management processing unit, 611: Resource status transfer processing unit, 1011: Billing processing unit, 8: Telephone, 9: Information communication network.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A resource status reflection charging method for performing charging that reflects the usage status of a network resource, wherein the status of the network resource is constantly monitored and stored in a usage status database, and the status of the network resource specified by a user is provided. Acquiring from a usage status database, performing communication processing using a network resource selected according to the status of the obtained network resource, and performing a charge process according to the status of the selected network resource. Performing a charging process for a communication process using a network resource. 2. The resource status reflection according to claim 1, further comprising the step of setting a line using the network resource in the information communication terminal when the status of the network resource satisfies a predetermined condition. Billing method. 3. A resource status reflecting / charging system for performing charging that reflects the usage status of a network resource, comprising: a resource management processing unit that constantly monitors the status of the network resource and stores the status in a usage status database; A resource status acquisition processing unit that obtains a resource status from a usage status database, a communication processing unit that performs communication processing using a network resource selected according to the obtained network resource status, and the selected network resource A charge processing unit for performing a charging process for a communication process using the network resource in a charging system according to the status. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a line management processing unit configured to set a line using the network resource to the information communication terminal when a condition of the network resource satisfies a predetermined condition. Resource status reflection billing system. 5. A program for causing a computer to function as a resource status reflection charging system that performs charging reflecting the usage status of a network resource, wherein the resource management processing unit constantly monitors the status of the network resource and stores the status in a usage status database. A resource status acquisition processing unit that obtains a status of a network resource specified by a user from a usage status database, and a communication processing unit that performs communication processing using a network resource selected according to the status of the obtained network resource. A program that causes a computer to function as a billing processing unit that performs billing processing for communication processing using the network resource in a billing system according to the status of the selected network resource. 6. The computer according to claim 5, wherein when the status of the network resource satisfies a predetermined condition, the computer functions as a line management processing unit for setting a line using the network resource in the information communication terminal. The described program. 7. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for causing a computer to function as a resource status reflection charging system that performs charging that reflects the usage status of network resources, and constantly monitors and uses the status of network resources. A resource management processing unit for storing in the status database, a resource status acquisition processing unit for obtaining the status of the network resource specified by the user from the usage status database, and a network resource selected according to the status of the obtained network resource. A computer that functions as a communication processing unit that performs communication processing using the network resource and a charging processing unit that performs charging processing for communication processing that uses the network resource in a fee structure according to the status of the selected network resource. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by recording a program. 8. A program for causing a computer to function as a line management processing unit for setting a line using the network resource in an information communication terminal when a condition of the network resource satisfies a predetermined condition. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 7, wherein: