JP2003224881A - Method for limiting communication charge in mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for limiting communication charge in a mobile communication terminal capable of facilitating management by discriminating limit of use by a speech time so as to limit a call as well as browsing of user information when the use limit is reached. <P>SOLUTION: When a call request (step 5) comes, a control section of a mobile communication terminal performs communication limit time calculation processing, and sets a result of calculated communication limit time as a speech limit time in the speech (step 6). The control section measures the speech time by using a timer incorporated in the mobile communication terminal at the start of the speech after that (step 7) and discriminates whether or not the measured speech time exceeds the speech limit time (step 8). When the measured speech time exceeds the speech limit time, the communication terminal forcibly terminates the speech (step 9). After the execution of the call termination, the communication terminal transmits to a dial lock state (step 10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a call origination restriction method in a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to a means for restricting a call charge by a user and suppressing unauthorized use by another person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of confirming a voice call charge in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, there is a method of confirming an approximate charge based on internal data of the mobile handheld terminal, a method of inquiring to a network through a call, etc. If you do not have a means to confirm or limit the communication charge "passively", the communication charge will be higher than you thought unless the user was aware of the communication charge. There are cases in which it ends up.

Further, when the mobile portable terminal is lost, the user of the mobile portable terminal cannot be selected and authenticated, and anyone can use the mobile portable terminal without restriction unless a communication suspension procedure is performed. There is a risk that communication charges will be inadvertently abused and abused.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-98244, the usage limit frequency of a mobile phone is stored in a usage limit storage unit of a removable ID chip, and when a call is started. Based on the call charge count signal sent from the public base station, the usage limit frequency stored in the usage limit storage unit is subtracted by the subtracting means, and when the usage limit frequency becomes "0", the call is prevented. By prohibiting the use of mobile phones by means or call interruption means,
There has been proposed a system that limits communication within a preset communication charge.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-289404, a mobile phone is provided with a use limit charge input receiving means for receiving the input of a use limit communication charge on the assumption that a personal identification number is input, and this use limit charge input When the usage limit communication charge accepted by the accepting means is stored in the storage unit and the cumulative amount of communication charges thereafter exceeds the usage limit communication charge stored in the storage unit, the communication to be charged thereafter There is proposed a technique for preventing overuse by prohibiting the use of the password and preventing the person other than the person who has set the personal identification number from changing the usage charge limit.

[0006]

According to the method of limiting the communication charge in the mobile communication terminal described in the above publication, when the call reaches the preset use limit frequency or use limit communication charge, if the call is in progress, the call is continued. Since the user can recognize that the usage limit has been reached by canceling the processing or prohibiting the charging target communication and prohibiting the call even if the call key is pressed, the mobile communication terminal The user can self-manage a call charge set in advance without being aware of the communication charge at the time of use.

If the password is not known, the usage charge limit cannot be changed, so even if the mobile portable terminal is lost, the damage is set even if the mobile portable terminal is illegally misused by another person. You can limit the amount within the limit.

However, in the technique proposed in the above publication, as the processing when the preset use limit frequency or the use limit amount is reached, the call is prohibited when the call key is pressed. In addition, if a call is in progress, the call is canceled or only the chargeable communication is prohibited, and the process of setting the dial lock state that disables all key operations other than the numeric keypad is not performed. Since it is not available, it is possible to browse the user information such as referencing the phone book. Therefore, even if the mobile mobile terminal cannot make a call when the mobile mobile terminal is lost, refer to the phone book stored there. User information such as may be used illegally.

In addition, in the technique proposed in the above publication, whether or not a call limit is exceeded in advance is used as a criterion for prohibiting a call, and the relationship between the use limit and the call time is set. However, if the call time for each call becomes long, the usage limit frequency or limit is unknowingly reached, resulting in an increase in communication charges.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to limit not only transmission restriction but also browsing of user information when the usage limit is reached in a mobile portable terminal in which the usage limit frequency or usage limit amount can be set. To provide the means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for facilitating management by converting the usage limit into a call time and managing it in a mobile portable terminal in which the usage limit frequency or usage limit amount can be set. To do.

[0012]

The communication charge limiting method of the present invention uses a "dial lock" function in a mobile communication terminal, and sets a <use communication charge limit amount> preset by a user as a threshold value. The present invention is characterized in that, when the accumulated communication charge stored in the mobile portable terminal exceeds this, the current communication call is forcibly disconnected and put into the "dial lock" state.

In this "dial lock" state, all key operations other than the ten-key pad are disabled, and not only calling restrictions but also browsing of user information such as telephone directory reference is restricted. Therefore, user information such as telephone directory reference is restricted. Unauthorized use of can be suppressed. To release the "dial lock" state,
The "Dial lock" function can be used as it is, and it can be unlocked by entering the password set in advance by the user.

As a result, when the accumulated communication charges exceed the <use communication charge limit amount> set in advance by the user, the user is automatically placed in the “dial lock” state, so that the user can set the communication charge limit. It can be recognized and self-management of communication charges can be performed.
Further, even when the mobile communication terminal is lost, the limit amount for illegal use can be suppressed to the <use communication charge limit amount> set in advance by the user.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone to which the present invention is applied.
, A transmission / reception circuit unit 2, amplifiers 3 and 5, a speaker 4 as a receiver, and a microphone 6 as a transmitter.
The control unit 10 controls the operation of the mobile communication terminal, the memory unit 11 that stores various kinds of information, the key input unit 12, the display unit 13, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method of setting <use communication charge limit amount> preset by the user in the mobile communication terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
4 is a flow chart showing a call origination restriction operation in this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a call time limit calculation operation in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a normal call end operation in this embodiment. Below, Figure 1
The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 2, the user selects the setting of <use communication charge limit amount> from the menu screen displayed on the display unit 13 of the mobile communication terminal (step 1), and the key input unit 1
The password and <the amount of communication charge limit used> are input from 2 (step 2). If the password entered by the key and the password set in advance in the mobile communication terminal match, the control unit 11 stores the input <use communication charge limit amount> information in the memory unit 11 <use communication charge limit amount>. Save in section (A). (Step 3). Further, when the <use communication charge limit amount> is set, <cumulative call charge> in the <cumulative call charge> storage unit (B) of the memory unit 11 is cleared (step 4). Each time you make a call thereafter, add the communication charge from this point as the base point.
I do.

When there is a call origination request (step 5), the control unit 11 performs a communication time limit calculation process (details will be described with reference to FIG. 4) as shown in FIG. 3, and displays the calculated communication time limit result. It is set as a call time limit within the call (step 6). After that, when the call starts, the call time is measured by a timer built in the mobile communication terminal (step 7), and it is determined whether the measured call time exceeds the call time limit (step 8). When the measured call time exceeds the call time limit, the call is forcibly ended (step 9). After the termination of the call, the state shifts to the dial lock state (step 10).

In the communication time limit calculation processing in step 6, as shown in FIG. 4, the usage communication charge limit amount which is set in advance and stored in the <use communication charge limit amount> storage unit (A), and FIG. The total call charges accumulated in the normal end call flow shown in <Call total> and the total call charges stored in the storage unit (B) are acquired (step 11), and then the calculated value is used to calculate. Call time limit = (communication charge limit-cumulative call charge)
/ Calculate the call time limit based on the unit call charge (step 12).

Further, in the call origination restriction operation flow of FIG. 3, if the call ends normally without reaching the call control time, as shown in FIG. Cumulative call charges> Memory (B)
Added to the accumulated call charges stored in (Step 1
3) After updating the <total call charge> storage unit (B) with the added value, the call is ended.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the dial lock releasing operation of the portable terminal dial-locked in this embodiment. This dial lock release method is realized by diverting existing functions. That is, the user inputs the password from the key input unit (step 14), compares the input password value with the password value previously set by the user (step 15), and when both match. The dial lock is released (step 16).

According to the above-described embodiment, when the total communication charge exceeds the <use communication charge limit amount> preset by the user, the “dial lock” state is automatically set.
Since the user can recognize the communication charge limit, the communication charge can be self-managed. Further, since the call time limit for each call is calculated and managed by the call time, the management is easy. If the mobile communication terminal is lost and is used illegally, the amount will be kept below the <use communication charge limit amount> set by the user in advance and refer to the phone book stored in the mobile mobile terminal. It is possible to restrict the unauthorized use of user information such as.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a call origination restriction operation in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, when the call time exceeds the call time limit during the call, the call is forcibly ended, but since the user is not presented with the remaining time information for communication,
Calls may be unexpectedly disconnected.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user presets a value of, for example, "3 minutes" as the unit call time, and sets the remaining communication time at the start of the call or during the call as the unit call. It is characterized in that a means for notifying the user that the remaining communication time is equal to or less than the unit call time (3 minutes) is provided by comparing with the time.

The unit talk time is not limited to "3 minutes", and any time can be selected, and the setting is made as shown in FIG.
This can be set at the same time as the setting of <Usage limit for available communication charge> shown in. Then, the set unit call time is stored in a predetermined storage unit of the memory 11.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7. Since the call time limit calculation flow and the normal call flow in this embodiment are the same as those in the above embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4), detailed description thereof will be omitted.

If there is an outgoing call request (step 21),
The control unit 11 performs the communication allowable time limit calculation process as shown in FIG. 3, and sets the calculated communication allowable time limit result as the call time limit within the call (step 22).
Next, this call limit time is compared with the set unit call time (step 23).
The calculated allowable communication time limit is displayed on the display unit 13 by blinking or the like (step 24). With this display, the user can confirm whether the call time limit is equal to or longer than the unit call time.

Then, when the call starts, the call time is measured by a timer built in the mobile communication terminal (step 2).
5). Then, by dividing this measured time by the unit call time, it is determined whether the measured time matches an integral multiple of the unit call time (step 26), and when they match, a predetermined electronic sound or the like is generated to make the unit call. The user is informed of the elapsed time information for each time (step 27). This notification sound makes it easy to grasp the call duration, and thus makes it easy to manage the call duration for each call.

Next, it is judged whether or not the measured time exceeds the call time limit (step 28). If not, it is further judged whether the difference between the call time limit and the measured time matches the unit call time. Then, (step 29), when they match, a predetermined electronic sound or the like is generated to notify the user that the remaining call time is within the unit call time (step 3).
0).

In step 28, the call is forcibly ended when the measured time exceeds the call time limit (step 31). After the termination of the call, the state shifts to the dial lock state (step 32).

In the present embodiment, step 2
3, 24 and steps 26, 27 and steps 29, 3
0 does not necessarily need to include all, and may be used alone or in combination of any two as necessary.

[0032]

According to the present invention, when the limit amount set in advance is reached, the user can recognize that the limit amount has been reached by being forcibly disconnected and being in the dial lock state during a call. , It is easy for users to recognize that they have reached the preset limit without being aware of the communication charges, and it is easy to manage the call charges, and even if the mobile mobile terminal is lost, it can be misused. The limit can be limited and the browsing of user information can be limited.

Further, since the present invention manages the usage limit of the mobile communication terminal by converting it into the call time, it is possible to easily determine the timing of forced disconnection.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a mobile communication terminal to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a use communication charge limit value setting operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a call origination restriction operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a call time limit calculation operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a normal call termination operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a dial lock releasing operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a call origination restriction operation in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 antenna 2 Transmit / receive circuit 3,5 amplifier 4 speakers 6 microphone 10 Control unit 11 Memory section 12 Key input section 13 Display

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5K025 AA08 BB03 DD06 FF27 GG30                       JJ02                 5K027 AA11 FF21 HH00 HH11 HH13                 5K067 AA29 BB04 DD29 EE02 EE16                       FF04 FF23 FF25 GG22

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A mobile communication terminal subject to a communication charge, wherein when the accumulated communication charge reaches the set use charge limit, the mobile communication terminal is activated when a user sets a use charge limit set in advance. A method for restricting use of a mobile communication terminal, which is characterized by setting a dial lock state. 2. The use restriction of the mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the accumulated communication charge starts the accumulated communication charge process starting from a time point when the user sets the limit amount of the communication charge. Method. 3. The accumulated communication charge is updated by a value obtained by adding the charge notified from the network for the call end message to the accumulated communication charge immediately before the call each time the call ends. The method of restricting use of a mobile communication terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein. 4. The determination as to whether or not the total communication charge has reached the usage charge limit is made by a calculation formula at the time of starting transmission, "communication allowable time limit = (usage charge limit-cumulative communication charge) / The communication permissible time limit is calculated according to "call unit charge", the call time is measured during a call, and the call is terminated forcibly when the call time exceeds the communication permissible time limit. 4. A method of restricting use of a mobile communication terminal according to any one of 3 above. 5. The mobile terminal compares the calculated allowable communication time limit with a unit call time preset by a user, and when the calculated allowable communication time limit is smaller than the unit call time, the mobile terminal. 5. The method for restricting use of a mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein a display indicating that the communication permissible time limit is equal to or shorter than the unit call time is displayed on the display unit. 6. When the difference between the communication allowable time limit and the measured call time matches the unit call time,
The method of limiting use of a mobile communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein a predetermined dial tone is generated to notify the user that the remaining call time has reached the unit call time. 7. Each time the call time measured by the timer matches an integer multiple of the unit call time, a predetermined dial tone is generated to notify the user of the elapse of the call time. 7. The method of restricting use of a mobile communication terminal according to claim 5 or 6. 8. A mobile communication terminal, which requires a communication charge, has a use charge limit setting means capable of setting a use charge limit in advance, and a point of time when a user sets the use charge limit for each call. A communication charge accumulating means for accumulating communication charges, a call time limit calculating means for calculating a communication allowable time limit based on the usage charge limit and the accumulated communication charges at the start of transmission, and a means for measuring the call time A call limit time determining means for comparing the communication allowance time limit with the call time limit to determine whether the call time has reached the communication allowance limit time, and the call limit time determining means for determining the call time limit. Means for putting the mobile communication terminal into a dial lock state while forcibly ending the call upon receiving a determination signal indicating that the communication allowable time limit has been reached. And a mobile communication terminal. 9. The communication charge accumulating means comprises means for adding the charge notified from the network to the call end message each time the call ends to the call charge accumulated just before the call. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the mobile communication terminal comprises: 10. The call limit time determining means calculates the communication allowance time limit according to a formula "communication allowance limit time = (the usage charge limit amount-the communication charge total) / call unit charge" at the start of transmission. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising: 11. A call time unit setting means capable of setting an arbitrary call time as a call time unit, and the calculated allowable communication time limit is smaller than the call time unit set by the call time unit setting means. 11. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 9, further comprising means for displaying on the display unit of the mobile terminal that the communication allowable time limit is equal to or less than the call time unit. 12. A predetermined dial tone is generated when a difference between the communication permissible time limit and the call duration during the measurement coincides with the unit call duration, and the remaining call duration for the user is defined as the call duration unit. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 11, further comprising means for notifying that it has become. 13. A means for generating a predetermined dial tone and informing a user of the elapse of the call time each time the call time during the measurement coincides with an integer multiple of the unit call time. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 11 or 12.