JP2003060673A - Charging method and system for packet communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging method and a charging system for the packet communication which enables the reasonable charging for both a user and a common carrier. SOLUTION: Probes 5, 8 extract required parameters p for charging from communication data and send them to a mediation server 10 which prepares a URL charging log, based on the parameters, adds subscriber information from subscribers DB 11 to the charging log and sends it as a URL charging log q to a URL log server 12. This server 12 gives charging tariffs to the log q and sends it to a bill publisher 40. The tariff is stepwise set so as to decrease every quantity of the transmission-reception data exceeds an arbitrary quantity of data. The publisher 40 multiplies the tariff by a charging data rate to obtain a billed amount and issues a bill.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packet communication charging method and system, and more particularly to a packet communication charging method and system suitable for distribution of rich contents (large capacity) such as moving images and music.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional charging for packet communication has employed a method and system proportional to the amount of data. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the horizontal axis represents the data amount (kB) and the vertical axis represents the packet charge (yen), the charging rate was in a proportional relationship with the data amount.

According to this charging method, for example, "e-mail" in a in the figure is about a few yen, "incoming melody" in b is about a dozen yen, "CMX" in c is about 80 yen, and 15 minutes in d. "Video" is about 250 yen, but "Movie" for about 1 minute costs about 1000 yen, and "Music content" for about 5 minutes for e costs about 10,000 yen. .

Further, in the conventional charging method, the communication data amount for a predetermined period, for example, one month is integrated, and the integrated data amount is applied to the charging rate shown in FIG.

[0005]

Therefore, when the conventional charging method is used, there is a problem in that communication of moving images and music contents having a large amount of data is charged at a high cost and the burden on the user is increased. Further, there is a problem in that the merit to the communication carrier is small if the gradient of the charging rate is simply reduced to be inexpensive.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional technique, an object of the present invention is to provide a packet communication charging method and system capable of rational charging both a mobile communication user and a communication carrier.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides one or a plurality of thresholds for communication data amount, and sets a charging tariff (rate) for each threshold and for each time zone. The first feature is that the charging tariff becomes smaller as the threshold becomes larger. According to this feature, the communication charge for communication with a large amount of data is greatly reduced as compared with the related art, and it contributes to the spread of communication of moving images and music contents with a large amount of data.

A second feature is that a charging tariff is added to each charge log. According to this feature, for a user who has a large amount of communication for each case (1 access), it greatly contributes to the reduction of the communication charge.

Further, the present invention is based on a means for extracting parameters required for accounting from communication data, an accounting table database in which an accounting type is set corresponding to a destination URL, and the extracted parameters. A billing log is generated, and when the URL of the billing log matches the destination URL of the billing table database, a means for adding the billing type to the billing log and a billing tariff depending on the communication data amount are displayed. A third feature is that the charging tariff table is reduced stepwise, the communication tariff is calculated using the charging tariff table, and the charging is performed according to the type of the charging. According to this feature, it is possible to provide a charging system for packet communication that reduces the communication charge for communication with a large amount of data.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a packet communication charge accounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A mobile body such as a mobile phone 1 is connected to an IWU2 for converting a protocol to PPP, and the IWU2 is an IWU2.
It is connected to the P system 20. IP system 20
Is a router 4 connected to the IWU 2, probes 5 and 8 for extracting parameters required for billing, an ESF server 6 for converting data such as a language, a router 7 connected to the Internet network, and a location server 9. , U
Mediation (me that creates and processes RL billing log
diation) server 10 and a subscriber database 11 including subscriber information.

The probes 5 and 8 are connected to the router 4 and the ESF.
Communication data passing between the servers 6 and between the router 4 and the location 9 is monitored, and a parameter p necessary for charging such as an IP address and the amount of data to be communicated is extracted.

The mediation server 10 creates a URL billing log based on the parameter p. In addition, the subscriber database 11 using the IP address as a user key
Then, necessary data, for example, subscriber information is read out, and the charging log is processed by combining the read-out data with the URL charging log.

The URL billing log q processed by the mediation server 10 is sent to the fee system 30. The charge system 30 is composed of a URL log server 12, a charge rate table 13, a charge table database 14, a kickback database 15, etc.
Charging tariff (rate) information and the like are added to the charging log q. The billing log r to which the billing tariff information is added is
The bill is issued to the bill issuing unit 40 of a mobile phone operator, and the bill issuing unit 40 collects money based on the billing log r.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the probe 5
And 8 operate between the user terminal and the Internet GW to acquire parameters required for charging. In the case of HTTP communication, the following parameters 1 to 3 are acquired. Here, the following connection destination URL and port number are parameters newly acquired by the present invention. Source and destination IP address Connection destination URL Communication start and end time Transmission and reception data amount Port number

Next, in the case of communication other than the HTTP communication (for example, HTTPS, IS-801 over TCP), the following parameters 1 to 3 are acquired. In the case of this communication, the connection destination URL cannot be detected. It should be noted that HTTP communication and communication other than HTTP communication can be identified by a port number. Source and destination IP address Communication start and end time Transmission and reception data amount Port number

When the parameter p is acquired by the probes 5 and 8 as described above, the process proceeds to steps S2 to S4, and the mediation server 10 determines whether the currently executed communication is HTTP communication. It is determined whether the communication is other than HTTP (excluding download communication) or download communication. In the case of HTTP communication, the process proceeds to step S5 and the method 1 described later
By this, a charging log per packet communication is generated. Similarly, in the case of communication other than HTTP (excluding download communication), the process proceeds to step S6 by the method 2 described below, and in the case of download communication, the process proceeds to step S7 by the method 3 described later to perform packet communication. A charge log is generated for each case (1 access).

(1) Method 1 (HTTP communication) In the case of HTTP communication, a charging log per packet communication is generated by the method shown in FIG. 3 (a), (b) or (c). To do. In the case of FIG. 3A, for example, the mobile phone 1
When the HTTP request (Request) is delivered from the ESF server 6 to the ESF server 6, the ESF server 6 sends an HTTP response (Reply).
Is sent back, and then a procedure such as outputting an Ack signal from the mobile phone 1 is executed. In this method 1, the charging log per packet communication (1 access) is sent to the next HTTP request ( Request period is t1.

If the next HTTP request is not made, as shown in FIG. 3B, when a certain time t2 (x seconds) elapses from the HTTP request, the communication of the HTTP request ends. And the packet communication 1 during the period t2.
It is a charge log per case.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), when TCP is closed, it is determined that the communication is terminated and one accounting log is set.

(2) Method 2 (communication other than HTTP (excluding download communication)) In the case of communication other than HTTP (excluding download communication), the connection destination URL cannot be detected. The amount of packets of the designated port number generated within a certain designated time is taken as one accounting log. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the HTTPS request (Req
uest), and when
S request, and are combined into one billing log. It should be noted that the HTTP request shown in the figure is one charging log according to the method 1.

(3) Method 3 (download communication) In the case of download communication, the HT of the same connection destination URL
TP requests are sent continuously. Therefore, for each user,
One charging log is generated with the same connection URL as one unit. For example, as shown in FIG.
One accounting log is generated with the HTTP request of RL ~ as one unit.

When one billing log is generated by steps S5 to S7, the mediation server 10 proceeds from step S8 to the subscriber database 11 for subscriber information for the source IP address of the billing log. That is, the IMSI (unique number for identifying the mobile device) and the course type (WAP course type) are read and added to the charging log. Thereby, for example, the charging log q having the content shown in FIG. 6 is generated.

In the billing log q, in the case of HTTPS, the character string "https" is displayed as IS801 over TC.
In the case of P, the character string "location" is described in the URL name. (Similar processing can be performed with other protocols.)

In step S9, the charging log q is the URL.
The data is sent to the log server 12 and the processing for dividing the charge type is performed. Specifically, it is determined whether the connection destination URL of the charging log q exists in the charging table database 14. Here, in the charging table database 14, as shown in FIG. 7, the kickback charging (part of the calling party charging), the called party charging and the fixed tariff, which are the types of charging, are URL (URL -ID, URL name) and stored in advance.

For example, if kickback charging (part of caller charging) is selected, kickback is flagged as 1, for example, while one-way charging is selected The billing is flagged as 1. Here, the kickback billing allows the content provider who has outsourced the business to pay the outsourcing fee according to the usage, and the receiving fee charges the recipient side (the content provider side or the corporation). Side) to charge the communication fee. All connection destination URLs that are not in the billing table database are regarded as billing logs for billing the sender.

When it is determined in step S9 that the caller charge or the kickback charge is determined, the process proceeds to step S11, and the charge log of the caller side charge or the kickback charge is accumulated for each IMSI. In step S12, a billing tariff is added to the billing log. In this process, the charging tariff (charging rate) according to the amount of transmitted / received data, which will be described later with reference to FIGS.
Prepare as 3 and use this.

In step S13, the charging log is the IMSI.
And, for each tariff, it is accumulated daily. Step S
In 14, the accumulated billing tariff is multiplied by the billing data charge, and the total bill is calculated. After that, the caller is billed.

Next, when it is determined in step S9 that the fixed rate billing (part of the caller billing) is made, the process proceeds to step S15, and thereafter, steps S16, S17 and S are performed.
14 processes are performed. In step S16, a fixed charging tariff (charging rate) for the amount of transmitted / received data as shown in FIG. 12 is prepared in advance as the charging rate table 13 and is used. Step S
Since the process of 17 is the same as that of step S12,
The description is omitted.

Next, if it is determined in step S9 that the call is charged to the called party, the process proceeds to step S21. In this case,
A URL-ID is given instead of the URL name of the billing log q in FIG. 6, and a billing type is given to the billing log. The U
The charging log to which the RL-ID and the charging type are added becomes as shown in FIG. 8A when the charging type is the incoming charge.

In the case of the kickback charging log, as shown in FIG. 7B, and in the case of the fixed rate charging log, as shown in FIG. 7C, U is substituted for the URL name of the charging log q.
RL-ID is given. On the other hand, since the sender charging log does not exist in the charging table database 14 (see FIG. 7), it becomes as shown in FIG.

In step S21, the billing log on the called party side is accumulated for each URL-ID. In step S22, the billing rate (tariff) table 13 is referred to and the billing is performed for each of the accumulated billing logs. Tariffs are added. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, a time zone flag and a tariff classification are provided in the charging log, and “charging tariff XA” and “charging tariff XB” are set in the tariff classification column. , "Charging Tariff XC" is registered. The details are shown in FIG.
This will be described later with reference to 0.

In step S23, the billing log r in which the billing tariff is registered is sent to the bill issuing unit 40 in FIG. 1, and the bill issuing unit 40 accumulates the billing logs r. Specifically, the billing log to which the billing tariff is added in step S22 is accumulated for each URL-ID and billing tariff, and the billing data charge is multiplied by the accumulated billing tariff, and the billing amount obtained by the multiplication is calculated. All of them are summed up to calculate the total billing amount for a predetermined period, for example, one month. In step S24, the act of charging the total billed amount to the called party is performed.

A specific example of the charging rate table 13 (see FIG. 1) will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). It should be noted that FIG. 11A shows a graph of a charging rate table, and FIG. 8B shows a charging tariff table database.

As shown in FIG. 10 (a), in the charging rate table 13, the horizontal axis indicates the communication data amount (kB) and the vertical axis indicates the charge (yen). According to the communication data amount, Moreover, the fee is set step by step according to the user use time zone. For example, as shown in the figure, using the time zones (courses X and Y) as parameters, the polygonal lines A, B, and
A charging tariff such as C is set. In the tariff tariff of the time zone X (course X), the tariff tariff XA having a large slope is used up to the first threshold value a of the communication data amount,
A billing tariff XB having a medium slope is used between a and b (where a <b), and a billing tariff XC having a small slope is used when the second threshold value is equal to or more than the second threshold value b. Therefore, when the communication data amount is a small amount equal to or less than the first threshold value a, the rate of increase in the communication data amount is large, and conversely, when the communication data amount is a large amount equal to or more than the second threshold value b, the rate of increasing the charge amount is small. .

Further, when it is determined in step S9 that the data is the kickback charging storage data, step S2
5, and then proceeds to steps S26, S27 and S28. The processing in steps S26 and S27 is the same as in step S2.
Since it is the same as 2 and S23, the description is omitted. In step S28, as the kickback charging storage data,
It is stored in the kickback DB 15.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a user such as a callee or a caller can perform communication or download of a moving image or music content having a large amount of data without paying a large amount of money.

Although the charging tariff of FIG. 10 is configured to switch the rate of increase in charge at two places where the communication data amount is the first and second threshold values a and b, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course. Further, the polygonal lines A, B and C may be curved instead of being straight lines.

[0040]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the charging tariff is reduced as the communication data amount of the charging rate increases, and the charge is calculated for each charging log. Therefore, even if a user such as a caller or a callee communicates a large amount of data, the burden of communication charges can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes possible to provide a charging method suitable for communication of moving images and music contents having a large amount of data. Further, it becomes possible to promote communication of contents having a large amount of data.

Further, according to the present invention, since the communication fee is reduced even for kickback charging, it is possible to contribute to the promotion of the business of the content provider entrusted with the business.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of charging log generation of HTTP communication.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of charging log generation for communication other than HTTP (excluding download communication).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of charging log generation for download communication.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a charging log.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a billing table database.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a charging log.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an incoming call charge log to which a charge tariff is added.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a billing rate table.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a caller side charging log to which a charging tariff is added.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a charging rate table for fixed rate charging.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional charging rate table.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... mobile phone, 5,8 ... probe, 10 ... mediation server, 11 ... subscriber database, 12 ...
..CRL log server, 13 ... Billing rate table, 1
4 ... Billing table database, 20 ... IP system, 30 ... Fee system, 40 ... Invoice issuing unit.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5K025 AA08 BB07 EE09 HH06                 5K030 GA20 HA08 HB08 HB21 HC01                       HD10 JA10 JT03 KA06 KA07                       LD17 LE07 MA04 MB09 MC08

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A communication data amount is provided with one or a plurality of thresholds, and a charging tariff (rate) is set for each threshold and for each time zone. The larger the threshold, the smaller the charging tariff. A packet communication billing method characterized in that. 2. The packet communication charging method according to claim 1, wherein a charging tariff is added to each charge log. 3. The charging method for packet communication according to claim 2, wherein in the case of HTTP communication, after the HTTP request is delivered, until the next HTTP request is made, or HTTP.
A charging method for packet communication, wherein one of the charging logs is set until a predetermined time elapses after the request is delivered. 4. The charging method for packet communication according to claim 2, wherein in the case of download communication, the HT of the same connection destination URL is used.
A charging method for packet communication, characterized in that a TP request is one of the charging logs. 5. A billing type is set in advance corresponding to a URL name, a billing log including a connection destination URL name is generated from actual communication, and when the two URL names match, the billing log is generated. A charging method for packet communication, wherein the charging type is added to a charging log. 6. The packet communication billing method according to claim 5, wherein the billing type is at least one of sender billing, called billing, fixed rate billing, and kickback billing. How to charge for packet communication. 7. The charging method for packet communication according to claim 2, wherein a charging log provided with a charging tariff is accumulated for each charging tariff, the accumulated charging tariff is multiplied by a charging data charge, and the obtained charge multiplication is calculated. A billing method for packet communication, characterized in that the billing amount is calculated by adding all billing amounts. 8. A means for extracting a parameter required for charging from communication data, a charging table database in which a charging type is set corresponding to a destination URL, and a charging log is generated based on the extracted parameter. If the URL of the billing log matches the destination URL of the billing table database, means for adding the billing type to the billing log and the billing tariff is reduced stepwise according to the amount of communication data. A charging tariff table for performing communication charge calculation using the charging tariff table,
A billing system for packet communication, wherein billing is made according to the type of billing.