JP2003248782A - Metered rate charge processing method and system, and metered rate charge processing program and computer- readable recording medium storing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a usage-based charge processing method and system capable of changing service use contract information on a real-time basis in response to changes in the user's use of the service and of appropriately carrying out the charging process in response to the change in the contents. <P>SOLUTION: Change history information on service use contract information is acquired from a contract management unit 2 by a contract information management function unit 5 for registration in and management by a control information table 9, and user's service use history information is collected from a service providing unit 3 by a service use history information collection function unit 6 for registration in and management by a service use history information file 8. Change history information corresponding to uncharged service use history information in the service use history information file 8 is acquired from the contract information table 9 and charging is made for uncharged service use history information based on the changed history information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is a pay-per-use method of charging a user for using a service via a user terminal in accordance with a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal. The present invention relates to a billing processing method and apparatus, a pay-per-use billing program, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in various services of a pay-as-you-go system, such as a telephone, which charges according to the call volume and distance, the charge rate is conventionally fixed to a value set at the time of service contract. After the service contract, the user does not change the charge qualification parameter which is a contract attribute for determining the charge rate. That is, conventionally, the user cannot change the charging qualitative parameter, which is a contract attribute, in real time according to the usage status of the service.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the future,
In various services deployed on a computer network such as the Internet, for example, a user who has a basic service use contract with a service provider who has a service use contract with a low quality and an inexpensive billing rate is, for example, a high-speed data communication. It is an optimal compression method that is wider than the contracted usage band based on the charging qualitative parameter that is a contract attribute that determines the charging rate such as the usage band and compression method when using services such as There may be cases where you want to use the service by changing it to real-time content each time you use the service, but with the conventional pay-as-you-go method, the contract attribute that determines the charging rate in real time each time you use the service is It is said that it is not possible to change and to charge according to this change There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above,
The purpose is to enable a user to change the contract information of the service use in real time according to the service use situation, and to appropriately perform the charging process according to the contents of the change. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a pay-per-use processing program, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 uses a user terminal in response to a change in real-time service use contract information of the user via the user terminal. Is a pay-as-you-go billing method that charges the usage of the service by a user who has changed the service usage contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal, and changes date and time information and user identification information, together with change history information. Is registered and managed in the contract information table, the service usage history information of the user is acquired through the user terminal, and registered and managed in the service usage history information file together with the usage date information and the user identification information. Of the service usage history information registered and managed in the file, the change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information is The summary is to obtain from the contract information table based on the user identification information managed together with the money service use history information, and to charge the uncharged service use history information based on the acquired change history information and use date and time information. To do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the service use contract information is registered and managed as change history information in the contract information table, and the service use history information of the user is registered and managed in the service use history information file. The change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file is acquired from the contract information table based on the usage date and time information, and the uncharged service usage history information is charged based on the change history information and the usage date and time information. Therefore, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can also appropriately perform the billing process on the changed contract information.

The present invention according to claim 2 charges the use of the service by the user through the user terminal in accordance with the change of the user's real-time service use contract information through the user terminal. Is a pay-as-you-go billing processing method that receives service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal and acquires change history information of service usage contract information from a contract management device that manages it as change history information. Registered and managed in the contract information table together with the change date information and the user identification information, and obtains the service use history information of the user from the service providing device that provides the service to the user through the user terminal, and uses the date and time information and the use. It is registered and managed in the service usage history information file together with the person identification information, and registered and managed in the service usage history information file. The change history information corresponding to the unbilled service usage history information in the service usage history information is obtained from the contract information table based on the usage date / time information and the user identification information managed together with the unbilled service usage history information. The gist is to charge the uncharged service usage history information based on the acquired change history information.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the service use contract information change history information is acquired from the contract management apparatus and registered and managed in the contract information table, and the service providing apparatus uses the service use history information of the user. To obtain and manage the registration history in the service usage history information file, obtain the change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file from the contract information table, and based on this change history information, the uncharged service Since the usage history information is charged, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can properly perform the charging process even for the changed contract information. it can.

Further, the present invention according to claim 3 charges for the use of the service by the user through the user terminal in accordance with the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A method of performing a pay-per-use billing process, which obtains service usage history information of a user including at least a charging qualitative parameter that is a contract attribute that determines a charging rate in the service usage contract information, and determines the charging qualitative parameter and the usage date and time. Information and user identification information are registered and managed in a service usage history information file, and the uncharged service usage history information is charged for the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file. The gist is to perform based on the charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the information.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, service usage history information including a charge qualification parameter is acquired, registered and managed in the service usage history information file, and the uncharged service usage history in the service usage history information file is acquired. Since the information is charged based on the charge qualification parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and this change is made. In addition to the fact that the billing process can be appropriately performed on the contract information as well, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to register and manage the change history information of the billing qualitative parameter in the contract information table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a fee is charged for the use of the service by the user through the user terminal according to the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A method of pay-per-use accounting, in which a service providing device that provides a service to a user via a user terminal receives service use contract information changed in real time from the user terminal and manages it as change history information. Of the change history information from the contract management device, at least a charging qualitative parameter which is a contract attribute that determines the charging rate is acquired, and this charging qualitative parameter is included in the service usage history information of the user, and the service providing device performs the charging. The service usage history information of the user including the qualitative parameter is acquired, and the charge qualitative parameter, the use date / time information and The service usage history information file is registered and managed together with the user identification information, and the uncharged service usage history information is charged along with the uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file. The gist is to perform it based on the charging qualitative parameters that are registered and managed.

According to the present invention of claim 4, the service use history information including the charge qualitative parameter is acquired from the service providing device, and is registered and managed in the service use history information file together with the charge qualitative parameter to obtain the service use history. In order to charge the uncharged service use history information in the information file based on the charge qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service use history information,
The user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can properly perform the charging process for the changed contract information as well as the charging qualitative parameter There is an advantage that it is not necessary to register and manage the change history information in the contract information table.

The present invention according to claim 5 charges a fee for the use of the service by the user through the user terminal in accordance with the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A change history information acquisition unit for acquiring service usage contract information to be changed in real time from a user terminal as change history information, and the acquired change history information for changing date and time information and a user. A contract information table for registration and management together with the identification information, a service usage history information acquisition unit for acquiring service usage history information of the user via the user terminal,
A service usage history information file for registering and managing the acquired service usage history information together with usage date information and user identification information, and a non-billed service usage history of the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file. Corresponding change history information acquisition means for acquiring change history information corresponding to the information from the contract information table based on the user identification information managed together with the uncharged service use history information, and the acquired change history information and use date / time information Based on the above, there is a charging means for charging the uncharged service use history information.

In the present invention according to claim 5, the service use contract information is registered and managed as change history information in the contract information table, and the service use history information of the user is registered and managed in the service use history information file, The change history information corresponding to the uncharged service use history information in the service use history information file is acquired from the contract information table based on the user identification information, and the uncharged service use history information is acquired based on the change history information and the use date / time information. Since the charging is performed, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can also appropriately perform the charging process for the changed contract information.

Furthermore, the present invention according to claim 6 charges for the use of the service by the user via the user terminal in accordance with the change of the user's real-time service use contract information via the user terminal. A usage-based billing processing device that accepts service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal and manages the service usage contract information as change history information. A history information acquisition unit, a contract information table for registering and managing the acquired change history information together with change date and time information and user identification information, and a service providing device that provides a service to the user via the user terminal. Service usage history information acquisition means for acquiring service usage history information and usage date / time information for the acquired service usage history information And the service usage history information file registered and managed together with the user identification information, and the change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file. Corresponding change history information acquisition means for acquiring from the contract information table based on the use date / time information and user identification information managed together with the service use history information, and charging for the uncharged service use history information based on the acquired change history information The gist is to have a charging means for performing.

According to the present invention of claim 6, the change history information of the service use contract information is acquired from the contract management apparatus and registered and managed in the contract information table, and the service providing history information of the user is acquired from the service providing apparatus. To obtain and manage the registration history in the service usage history information file, obtain the change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file from the contract information table, and based on this change history information, the uncharged service Since the usage history information is charged, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can properly perform the charging process even for the changed contract information. it can.

The present invention according to claim 7 charges the use of the service by the user through the user terminal according to the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A service usage history information acquisition unit for acquiring service usage history information of a user including at least a charging qualitative parameter, which is a contract attribute for determining a charging rate, of the service usage contract information. The service usage history information file for registering and managing the acquired service usage history information together with the qualitative parameters, usage date and time information, and user identification information, and the service usage history information registered and managed in this service usage history information file, not charged Registration and management of charges for service usage history information together with the uncharged service usage history information Is the gist that it has a charging means for performing on the basis of the accounting qualitative parameters are.

According to the present invention of claim 7, the service use history information including the charge qualification parameter is acquired, registered and managed in the service use history information file, and the uncharged service use history in the service use history information file is acquired. Since the information is charged based on the charge qualification parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and this change is made. In addition to the fact that the billing process can be appropriately performed on the contract information as well, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to register and manage the change history information of the billing qualitative parameter in the contract information table.

Further, the present invention according to claim 8 charges the use of the service by the user through the user terminal in accordance with the change of the user's real-time service use contract information through the user terminal. In a service providing device for providing a service to a user via a user terminal, the service usage contract information is changed in real time from the user terminal and managed as change history information. Of the change history information from the contract management device that is present, at least the charge qualification parameter that is the contract attribute that determines the charge rate is acquired, and the service use history information of the user including this charge qualification parameter is provided to the service providing device. The service usage history information acquisition means to be acquired from A service usage history information file that is registered and managed together with date and time information and user identification information, and charges for uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in this service usage history information file The gist is to have a charging means for performing charging based on a charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with history information.

According to the present invention of claim 8, the service use history information including the charge qualitative parameter is acquired from the service providing apparatus, and is registered and managed in the service use history information file together with the charge qualitative parameter. In order to charge the uncharged service use history information in the information file based on the charge qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service use history information,
The user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can properly perform the charging process for the changed contract information as well as the charging qualitative parameter There is an advantage that it is not necessary to register and manage the change history information in the contract information table.

Furthermore, the present invention according to claim 9 charges for the use of the service by the user via the user terminal according to the change of the user's real-time service use contract information via the user terminal. Is a pay-as-you-go billing program that acquires service usage contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal, registers and manages it in the contract information table as change history information together with the change date and time information and user identification information. Service usage history information obtained by acquiring service usage history information of a user via a terminal, managing the usage date and time information and user identification information in a service usage history information file, and managing registration in the service usage history information file. Change history information corresponding to the unpaid service usage history information is referred to as the unpaid service usage history information. Based on the user identification information managed to get from the contract information table, and summarized in that for charging for the unbilled service usage history information based on the acquired change history information and usage date and time information.

In the present invention according to claim 9, the service use contract information is registered and managed as change history information in the contract information table, and the service use history information of the user is registered and managed in the service use history information file, The change history information corresponding to the uncharged service use history information in the service use history information file is acquired from the contract information table based on the use date and time information report, and the uncharged service use history information is obtained based on the change history information and the use date and time information. Since the charging is performed, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can also appropriately perform the charging process for the changed contract information.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a fee is charged for the use of the service by the user via the user terminal according to the change of the user's real-time service use contract information via the user terminal. It is a pay-as-you-go billing program that receives service usage contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal and manages it as change history information. Obtains the change history information of the service usage contract information from the contract management device and changes the date and time. Information and user identification information are registered and managed in the contract information table, and the service usage history information of the user is acquired from the service providing device that provides the service to the user through the user terminal, and the date and time of use and the user identification It is registered and managed in the service usage history information file together with the information, and registered and managed in the service usage history information file. The change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information is acquired from the contract information table based on the usage date / time information and the user identification information managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. The gist is to charge the uncharged service usage history information based on the acquired change history information.

According to the present invention of claim 10, the service use contract information change history information is acquired from the contract management apparatus and registered and managed in the contract information table, and the service providing apparatus uses the service use history information of the user. To obtain and manage the registration history in the service usage history information file, obtain the change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file from the contract information table, and based on this change history information, the uncharged service Since the usage history information is charged, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and can properly perform the charging process even for the changed contract information. it can.

Further, the present invention according to claim 11 charges the use of the service by the user via the user terminal in accordance with the change of the user's real-time service use contract information via the user terminal. Is a pay-per-use billing processing program that obtains the service usage history information of the user including at least the charging qualitative parameter that is the contract attribute that determines the charging rate in the service usage contract information, Register and manage in the service usage history information file together with information and user identification information,
Of the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file, charging for uncharged service usage history information is performed based on a charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. To do.

According to the present invention of claim 11, service use history information including a charge qualification parameter is acquired,
The user manages registration in the service usage history information file and charges the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file based on the charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. In addition to being able to change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, it is possible to perform accurate billing processing for the changed contract information as well as change history information of the charge qualitative parameters. There is an advantage that there is no need to manage the registration in the contract information table.

Further, the present invention according to claim 12 charges the use of the service by the user via the user terminal in accordance with the change of the user's real-time service use contract information via the user terminal. Is a pay-as-you-go program that provides services to users via user terminals, accepts service usage contract information that is changed in real time from user terminals, and manages it as change history information. Of the change history information from the contract management device that is present, at least a charge qualitative parameter that is a contract attribute that determines the charge rate is acquired, and this charge qualitative parameter is included in the service use history information of the user, The service usage history information of the user including the charge qualitative parameter is acquired, and the charge qualitative parameter is used. The service usage history information file is registered and managed together with time information and user identification information, and the uncharged service usage history information is charged for the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file. The gist is to perform based on the charge qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the history information.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the service use history information including the charge qualification parameter is acquired from the service providing device, and is registered and managed in the service use history information file together with the charge qualitative parameter. Since the charging for the uncharged service usage history information in the information file is performed based on the charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information, the user changes the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service. In addition to being able to perform the charging process accurately for the changed contract information, there is no need to register and manage the change history information of the charging qualitative parameter in the contract information table. There is.

The present invention according to claim 13 charges the use of the service by the user through the user terminal in accordance with the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A computer-readable recording medium in which a pay-per-use processing program is recorded, which acquires service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal, and a contract information table as change history information together with change date and time information and user identification information. To manage the service usage history information of the user via the user terminal, and manage the registration in the service usage history information file together with the usage date information and the user identification information, and manage the registration in the service usage history information file. Change history information corresponding to unpaid service usage history information in the service usage history information Is acquired from the contract information table based on the user identification information managed together with the uncharged service use history information, and the non-charged service use history information is charged based on the acquired change history information and use date / time information. The gist is to record the billing processing program in a computer-readable recording medium.

In the present invention according to claim 13, the service use contract information is registered and managed in the contract information table as change history information, and the user's service use history information is registered and managed in the service use history information file, The change history information corresponding to the uncharged service use history information in the service use history information file is acquired from the contract information table based on the user identification information, and the uncharged service use history information is acquired based on the change history information and the use date / time information. Since the pay-per-use billing processing program for billing is recorded in the recording medium, it is possible to enhance the distribution of the program by using the recording medium.

Further, the present invention according to claim 14 bills for the use of the service by the user through the user terminal in accordance with the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A computer-readable recording medium that records a pay-as-you-go billing processing program that receives service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal and manages it as change history information. User's service usage history information is obtained from a service providing device that acquires information modification history information, registers and manages it in a contract information table together with modification date and time information and user identification information, and provides services to users via user terminals. To obtain and manage the date and time information and user identification information in the service usage history information file. Of the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file, change history information corresponding to uncharged service usage history information is used together with the usage date / time information and user identification managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. The summary is that a pay-per-use processing program that is acquired from the contract information table based on the information and that charges the uncharged service usage history information based on the acquired change history information is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium.

In the present invention according to claim 14, the change history information of the service use contract information is acquired from the contract management device, registered and managed in the contract information table, and the service use history information of the user is acquired from the service providing device. To obtain and manage the registration history in the service usage history information file, obtain the change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file from the contract information table, and based on this change history information, the uncharged service Since the pay-per-use billing program for billing the usage history information is recorded in the recording medium, it is possible to enhance the distribution of the program by using the recording medium.

Furthermore, the present invention according to claim 15 charges the use of the service by the user through the user terminal according to the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A computer-readable recording medium recording a pay-as-you-go processing program for executing the service usage history information of a user including at least a charging qualitative parameter which is a contract attribute for determining a charging rate in the service usage contract information. Unaccounted service usage history information of the service usage history information acquired and registered and managed in the service usage history information file together with the charge qualitative parameter, usage date and time information and user identification information. The section for which the charge for the service is registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information And gist recording a pay-per program carried out on the basis of the qualitative parameters in a computer readable recording medium.

According to the present invention of claim 15, service use history information including a charge qualification parameter is acquired,
A pay-per-use processing program that registers and manages in the service usage history information file and charges the uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file based on the charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. Since it is recorded on the recording medium,
The recording medium can be used to improve its distribution.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a fee is charged for the use of the service by the user via the user terminal according to the change of the real-time service use contract information of the user via the user terminal. A computer-readable recording medium in which a pay-per-use processing program is recorded, which accepts service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal in a service providing device that provides a service to the user through the user terminal. In the change history information, which is managed as the change history information, at least the charge qualification parameter, which is the contract attribute that determines the charge rate, is acquired from the change history information, and this charge qualification parameter is used as the service usage history information of the user. The service usage history information of the user including the charge qualitative parameter from the service providing device. Of the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file together with the charge qualitative parameter, usage date and time information and user identification information. It is a gist to record a pay-per-use charge processing program on a computer-readable recording medium for charging information based on a charge qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service use history information.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the service use history information including the charge qualitative parameter is acquired from the service providing device, registered and managed in the service use history information file together with the charge qualitative parameter, and the service use history is recorded. Since the pay-per-use service processing history information in the information file is charged on the recording medium based on the charge qualification parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information, the recording medium is recorded. It can be used to enhance its distribution.

[0037]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including a charging server to which a pay-per-use charging processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when a user makes a contract for service use, the user terminal 1 sends a contract order related to the use of the service to the contract management apparatus 2 via a network (not shown), and the service is provided. While concluding a contract regarding usage, the user has contract information in real time each time the service is used from the user terminal 1, in particular, a contract attribute that determines the charging rate, such as a charging qualitative parameter such as a bandwidth used in the streaming service or a compression method. The contract management device 2 receives the change in the service use contract information from the user terminal 1 accordingly. Further, this may be managed as change history information together with change date / time information and user identification information. Further, such a service use contract of the user in the contract management device 2 and a change in the service use contract information are sequentially notified to the billing server 4 as a contract order and change history information, and the service is provided to the user as necessary. The service providing device 3 provided to the device is also notified appropriately.

When using the service, the user accesses the service providing device 3 from the user terminal 1 via the network (not shown) to notify the use of the service, and receives the service from the service providing device 3. ,
The service is used in the user terminal 1. The service providing device 3 manages the service use history information of the service provided to the user terminal 1 together with the use date / time information and the user identification information.

In the use of this service, the user terminal 1 is configured so that the service use contract information including the contract qualifying parameters such as the used bandwidth and the compression method, which are contract attributes for determining the charge rate, are suitable for use of the service. In each case, the service is appropriately changed in real time each time the service is used. The changed service use contract information is transmitted from the user terminal 1 so as to be notified to the contract management device 2, and the service use information is also transmitted as necessary. At the same time, it is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the service providing device 3.

The billing server 4 changes the acquired service use contract information as change history information by the contract information management function unit 5 which acquires the service use contract information of the user notified from the contract management apparatus 2 and its change information. The contract information table 9 that is registered and managed together with the date and time information and the user identifier that is the user identification information, and the service usage history information of the service of the user managed in the service providing apparatus 3 are collected together with the usage date and time information and the user identification information. A service usage history information collection function unit 6, a service usage history information file 8 for registering and managing the collected service usage history information together with usage date information and a user identifier which is user identification information, and a contract attribute for determining a charging rate, for example. Charged qualitative parameters such as bandwidth and compression method Tariff table 10 that contains the rate, service usage history information that has been registered and managed in the service usage history information file 8, change history information that has been registered management to contract information table 9, tariff table 10
A charge calculation function unit 7 for calculating a charge for service usage history information based on a charge rate corresponding to a charge qualitative parameter stored in, and a charge information file 11 for storing the charge calculation result as charge charge information. Has been done.

The service use history information file 8
Manages registration of the service use history information collected from the service providing apparatus 3 by the service use history information collection function unit 6 together with the use date / time information and the user identifier. Specifically, as shown in the figure, the user identifier and the service use start time are shown. In addition to registering and managing service usage end time, service usage amount, etc., registration and management of contract qualification parameters such as used bandwidth, compression method, etc., which are contract attributes for determining the charging rate as necessary, are also managed as shown in the figure. However, in the present embodiment, registration management is not required. The service use history information file 8 is configured as shown in Table 1 below as an example. In addition, in Table 1, it is shown that the charge qualitative parameter is also registered and managed as the service use history information in the service use history information file 8, but the charge qualitative parameter is registered in the contract information table 9 in the present embodiment. Since it is managed, it is not necessary to be registered and managed in the service use history information file 8 in this embodiment as described above.

[0042]

[Table 1] Further, the contract information table 9 registers and manages the service use contract information acquired from the contract management device 2 by the contract information management function unit 5 as the change history information together with the change date / time information and the user identifier. A user identifier, a service type, and contract attributes for determining a charging rate, such as a used qualification parameter, a charging qualitative parameter such as a compression method, a service contract start time, and a service contract end time, are registered and managed. The contract information table 9 is configured as shown in Table 2 below as an example.

[0043]

[Table 2] Further, the tariff table 10 stores the charging rate corresponding to the charging qualitative parameters such as the used bandwidth and the compression method which are contract attributes for determining the charging rate. Specifically, as shown in Table 3 below. Is composed of.

[0044]

[Table 3] Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When the contract management device 2 receives a real-time contract change request from the user via the user terminal 1, the contract management device 2 notifies the charging server 4 of the change of the contract information. The billing server 4 receives the contract information change notification from the contract management apparatus 2 at the contract information management function unit 5, registers it as change history information in the contract information table 9 together with the change date / time information and the user identifier, and updates the contract information table 9 with the latest information. Update to the contract status of.

When the user uses the service from the user terminal 1, the service providing device 3 generates service use history information and manages it together with the use date and time and the user identifier. The service use history information collection function unit 6 of the billing server 4 collects service use history information from the service providing apparatus 3 as appropriate, and registers and manages the service use history information file 8 together with the use date / time information and the user identifier.

The charge calculation function section 7 records one record of uncharged service usage history information from the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file 8.
It is acquired together with the usage date / time information and the user identifier. The contract information table 9 stores the usage date / time information of the acquired uncharged service usage history information and the change history information corresponding to the user identifier, in particular, the charging qualitative parameters such as used bandwidth and compression method, which are contract attributes for determining the charging rate.
To get from.

The charge calculation function unit 7 refers to the tariff table 10 based on the charge qualitative parameter in the acquired change history information, and acquires the charge rate corresponding to the charge qualitative parameter. For example, if the used bandwidth is 1 Mbps and the compression bandwidth is MPEG1 among the acquired charge qualitative parameters, the charge rate is 10 yen per 3 minutes as shown in Table 3.

Next, the charge calculation function unit 7 calculates the service usage amount from the service usage start date and time and the service usage end date and time of the uncharged service usage history information, or calculates the service usage history information file 8 already. Then, the registered service usage amount is acquired, and this service usage amount is multiplied by the charging rate acquired from the tariff table 10 to calculate the service usage fee. Then, the service usage fee calculated in this way is stored in the billing information file 11 as billing information for billing together with the user identifier and the service usage amount.

Next, a pay-per-use accounting method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the above-described first embodiment, the contract history management function unit 5 also acquires from the contract management apparatus 2 the change history information of the charge qualitative parameters such as the used bandwidth and the compression method, which are the contract attributes for determining the charge rate. However, in the second embodiment, these charge qualitative parameters are registered and managed as change history information in the contract information table 9, and the service usage history information collected by the service usage history information collection function unit 6 from the service providing apparatus 3 is used as the charge qualification parameter. It is designed to be included in and collected.

That is, in this embodiment, when the contract management device 2 receives the service usage contract information changed in real time from the user terminal 1 and manages it as the change history information, at least the charge of the change history information is charged. The service providing device 3 is notified of the charge qualitative parameter which is the contract attribute for determining the rate. Then, the service providing device 3 manages the charge qualification parameter notified from the contract management device 2 together with the use date / time information and the user identifier by including the service use history information of the user.

Then, when the service use history information collection function unit 6 of the billing server 4 collects the service use history information from the service providing apparatus 3, it also collects the charge qualification parameters included in the service use history information. Thus, the charging qualification parameters and the service use history information collected together in this way are registered and managed in the service use history information file 8 together with the use date / time information and the user identifier.

The charge calculation function section 7 records one record of uncharged service usage history information from the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file 8.
It is acquired together with the charge qualitative parameter, the use date / time information and the user identifier. This acquired charge qualitative parameter,
For example, the tariff table 10 is referred to based on the charge qualitative parameter such as the used band and the compression method, and the charge rate corresponding to the charge qualitative parameter is acquired. For example, the bandwidth used for this charging qualitative parameter is 1 Mbps,
If the compression band is MPEG1, as shown in Table 3, the charging rate is 10 yen per 3 minutes.

Next, the charge calculation function unit 7 calculates the service usage amount from the service usage start date and time and the service usage end date and time of the uncharged service usage history information, or calculates the service usage history information file 8 already. Then, the registered service usage amount is acquired, and this service usage amount is multiplied by the charging rate acquired from the tariff table 10 to calculate the service usage fee. Then, the service usage fee calculated in this way is stored in the billing information file 11 as billing information for billing together with the user identifier and the service usage amount.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the service usage history information from the service providing apparatus 3 includes the charge qualification parameter, the change history information of the charge qualification parameter is contracted as in the first embodiment. Information table 9
There is an advantage that there is no need to manage registration in.

Next, with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates the operations of both the embodiments described above in a mixed manner,
The operation of the charge calculation function unit 7 will be described.

First, the charge calculation function unit 7 obtains one record of uncharged service usage history information from the service usage history information file 8 together with usage date / time information and a user identifier (step S1). The charge qualification parameter 1 such as the used bandwidth and the compression method, which is the contract attribute for determining the charge rate, is acquired from the contract information table 9 using the use date and time information of the acquired uncharged service use history information and the user identifier as keys ( Step S2).

Then, the charge calculation function unit 7 determines a certain rule (for example, the value of the charge qualification parameter at the service use start time) based on the service use start and end times and the charge qualification parameter history information included in the service use history information. ), The value of the charge qualification parameter 1 to be applied to the pay-per-use charge for the service use period is determined (this processing corresponds to the first embodiment) (step S3).

Next, the charge calculation function unit 7 acquires the value of the charge qualification parameter 2 from the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file 8 (this processing corresponds to the second embodiment). (Step S)
4).

As described above, when the values of the charging qualification parameters 1 and 2 are acquired, the tariff table 10 is referred to based on the values of the charging qualification parameters 1 and 2, and the charging rate corresponding to these charging qualification parameters is determined. Yes (step S5). Then, the service usage fee is calculated from the billing rate and the service usage amount included in the service usage history information (step S6), and the calculation result is stored in the billing information file 11 as billing information for billing (step S7).

It should be noted that the processing procedure of the pay-per-use processing method of the above embodiment is recorded as a program in a recording medium such as a CD or FD, and this recording medium is incorporated into a computer system or a program recorded in the recording medium. It is of course possible to function as a pay-per-use processing device for carrying out the pay-per-use accounting method by downloading to a computer system via a communication line or installing from a recording medium and operating the computer system with the program. Therefore, by using such a recording medium, it is possible to enhance the distribution.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Registers and manages service usage contract information as change history information in the contract information table, manages user service usage history information in the service usage history information file, and handles uncharged service usage history information in the service usage history information file. The change history information to be obtained is obtained from the contract information table based on the use date / time information and the user identification information, and the uncharged service use history information is charged based on the change history information. The contract information can be changed in real time, and the billing process can be appropriately performed on the changed contract information.

Further, according to the present invention, the service use history information including the charge qualification parameter is acquired, registered and managed in the service use history information file, and the uncharged service use history information in the service use history information file is charged. Since it is performed based on the charge qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information, the user can change the contract information in real time according to the usage status of the service, and the changed contract information can be changed. In addition to the fact that the charging process can be performed accurately, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to register and manage the charging history parameter change history information in the contract information table.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including a charging server to which a pay-per-use charging processing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart in which the operations of the first and second embodiments of the system shown in FIG. 1 are mixed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 user terminal 2 Contract management device 3 Service providing devices 4 Billing server 5 Contract Information Management Function Department 6 Service usage history information collection function section 7 Charge calculation function section 8 Service usage history information file 9 contract information table 10 tariff tables 11 Billing information file

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shinya Takada             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Ken Kanijima             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Tomoyasu Sato             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A pay-as-you-go processing method for charging a user's use of a service via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal. , The service use contract information that is changed in real time is acquired from the user terminal, registered and managed in the contract information table as the change history information together with the change date and time information and the user identification information, and the user's service use via the user terminal The history information is acquired and registered and managed in the service usage history information file together with the usage date and time information and the user identification information. In the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file, the uncharged service usage history information is recorded. The corresponding change history information is changed to the user identification information managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. Based on the contract information table, and charges the uncharged service usage history information based on the acquired change history information and usage date / time information. 2. A pay-as-you-go billing method for billing a user's use of a service via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service use contract information of the user via the user terminal. , The service use contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal is received and managed as the change history information. The change history information of the service use contract information is acquired from the contract management device and the change date and time information and the user identification information are acquired. A service use history information file that stores the user's service use history information from the service providing device that manages registration in the contract information table and provides the service to the user through the user terminal, together with the use date / time information and the user identification information. The service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file The change history information corresponding to the uncharged service usage history information is acquired from the contract information table based on the usage date / time information and the user identification information managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. Based on the uncharged service use history information, a pay-as-you-go processing method. 3. A pay-per-use processing method for charging a service usage by a user via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal. Of the service use contract information, the service use history information of the user including at least the charge qualitative parameter which is the contract attribute for determining the charge rate is acquired, and the service is used together with the charge qualitative parameter, the use date / time information and the user identification information. A charge qualification that is registered and managed in the history information file, and the charge for the uncharged service use history information among the service use history information registered and managed in the service use history information file is registered and managed together with the uncharged service use history information. A pay-per-use processing method, which is performed based on parameters. 4. A pay-as-you-go billing method for billing a user's use of a service via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service use contract information of the user via the user terminal. Change history information from a contract management device that receives service usage contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal and manages it as change history information in a service providing device that provides a service to the user via the user terminal Among these, at least a charging qualitative parameter which is a contract attribute for determining the charging rate is acquired, the charging qualitative parameter is included in the service usage history information of the user, and the user including the charging qualitative parameter from the service providing device. Service usage history information is obtained, along with the charge qualification parameters, usage date and time information, and user identification information A service usage history information file is registered and managed, and among the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file, charges for uncharged service usage history information are registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. A pay-as-you-go billing method characterized in that it is performed based on a billing qualitative parameter. 5. A pay-as-you-go billing processing device for billing for the use of a service by a user through a user terminal according to a change in real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. , A change history information acquisition means for acquiring service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal as change history information, and a contract information table for registering and managing the acquired change history information together with change date and time information and user identification information And a service usage history information acquisition means for acquiring service usage history information of the user via the user terminal, and service usage history information for registering and managing the acquired service usage history information together with usage date information and user identification information. File and service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file. A change history information acquisition means for acquiring change history information corresponding to uncharged service usage history information from the contract information table based on user identification information managed together with the uncharged service usage history information, and the acquired changes. A pay-per-use billing processing device, comprising: billing means for billing the unbilled service usage history information based on history information and usage date and time information. 6. A pay-as-you-go billing processing device for billing for use of a service by a user through a user terminal according to a change in real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. A change history information acquisition unit that receives service use contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal and manages the service use contract information as change history information, and acquires the change history information of the service use contract information from the contract management apparatus. A contract information table that registers and manages change history information together with change date and time information and user identification information, and service usage that acquires user service usage history information from a service providing device that provides services to users via user terminals The history information acquisition means and the acquired service usage history information are used as usage date information and user identification information. A service usage history information file to be registered and managed, and change history information corresponding to uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file is managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. Corresponding change history information acquisition means for acquiring from the contract information table based on the used date and time information and user identification information, and charging means for charging the uncharged service usage history information based on the acquired change history information. A pay-as-you-go billing device. 7. A pay-as-you-go billing processing device for billing for the use of a service by a user via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service use contract information of the user via the user terminal. Of the service usage contract information, a service usage history information acquisition unit that acquires service usage history information of the user including at least a charging qualitative parameter that is a contract attribute that determines a charging rate, and the acquired service usage history information. The service usage history information file that is registered and managed together with the charge qualification parameter, usage date and time information, and user identification information, and the charge for the uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in this service usage history information file A charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. A meter-based billing processing device, comprising: a billing unit based on a meter. 8. A pay-as-you-go billing processing device for billing for use of a service by a user through a user terminal according to a change in real-time service use contract information of the user through the user terminal. Change history information from a contract management device that receives service usage contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal and manages it as change history information in a service providing device that provides a service to the user via the user terminal Service acquisition history information acquisition means for acquiring at least a charging qualitative parameter, which is a contract attribute for determining a charging rate, and acquiring service usage history information of a user including this charging qualitative parameter from a service providing apparatus. The acquired service usage history information is used as the charge qualification parameter, usage date / time information, and user identification information. A service usage history information file to be registered and managed together with, and charges for uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in this service usage history information file are registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. And a charging means for performing charging based on an existing charging qualitative parameter. 9. A pay-per-use processing program for charging a service usage by a user via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal. , The service use contract information that is changed in real time is acquired from the user terminal, registered and managed in the contract information table as the change history information together with the change date and time information and the user identification information, and the user's service use via the user terminal The history information is acquired and registered and managed in the service usage history information file together with the usage date and time information and the user identification information. In the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file, the uncharged service usage history information is recorded. User identification for which the corresponding change history information is managed together with the uncharged service usage history information A pay-as-you-go billing program that is acquired from a contract information table based on information, and charges the uncharged service usage history information based on the acquired change history information and usage date and time information. 10. A pay-per-use processing program for charging a service usage by a user via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal. , The service use contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal is received and managed as the change history information. The change history information of the service use contract information is acquired from the contract management device and the change date and time information and the user identification information are acquired. A service use history information file that stores the user's service use history information from the service providing device that manages registration in the contract information table and provides the service to the user through the user terminal, together with the use date / time information and the user identification information. The service usage history registered and managed in the service usage history information file Of the information, the change history information corresponding to the uncharged service use history information is acquired from the contract information table based on the use date / time information and the user identification information managed together with the uncharged service use history information, and the acquired change history A pay-per-use processing program for charging the uncharged service use history information based on information. 11. A pay-as-you-go processing program that charges a user's use of a service via a user terminal according to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal. Of the service use contract information, the service use history information of the user including at least the charge qualitative parameter which is the contract attribute for determining the charge rate is acquired, and the service is used together with the charge qualitative parameter, the use date / time information and the user identification information. A charge qualification that is registered and managed in the history information file, and the charge for the uncharged service use history information among the service use history information registered and managed in the service use history information file is registered and managed together with the uncharged service use history information. A pay-as-you-go billing program that is performed based on parameters. 12. A pay-per-use processing program, which charges a fee for use of a service by a user through a user terminal according to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user through the user terminal. Change history information from a contract management device that receives service usage contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal and manages it as change history information in a service providing device that provides a service to the user via the user terminal Among these, at least a charging qualitative parameter which is a contract attribute for determining the charging rate is acquired, the charging qualitative parameter is included in the service usage history information of the user, and the user including the charging qualitative parameter from the service providing device. Service usage history information is obtained, and billing qualitative parameters, usage date / time information, and user identification information Both are registered and managed in the service usage history information file, and the charges for the uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file are registered and managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. A pay-as-you-go billing program characterized in that it is performed based on existing billing qualitative parameters. 13. A pay-per-use processing program for charging a service usage by a user via a user terminal in accordance with a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal is recorded. It is a computer-readable recording medium that acquires service usage contract information that is changed in real time from the user terminal and registers and manages it in the contract information table as change history information along with the change date and time information and user identification information. Service usage history information of a user via a terminal is acquired, registered and managed in a service usage history information file together with usage date information and user identification information, and service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file. Change history information corresponding to the usage history information of the unpaid service out of the unpaid service A pay-per-use amount characterized in that it is acquired from the contract information table based on the user identification information managed together with the usage history information, and the uncharged service usage history information is charged based on the acquired change history information and usage date / time information. A computer-readable recording medium recording a billing processing program. 14. A pay-per-use processing program for charging a user's use of a service via a user terminal in response to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal is recorded. A computer-readable recording medium that receives service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal and acquires change history information of service usage contract information from a contract management device that manages it as change history information. Registered and managed in the contract information table together with the change date information and the user identification information, and obtains the service use history information of the user from the service providing device that provides the service to the user through the user terminal, and uses the date and time information and the use. The service use history information file is registered and managed together with the person identification information. Change history information corresponding to uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in the file, and contract information based on usage date and time information and user identification information managed together with the uncharged service usage history information. A computer-readable recording medium having a pay-per-use processing program recorded therein, which is charged from the table and charges the uncharged service use history information based on the acquired change history information. 15. A pay-per-use processing program for charging a user's use of a service via a user terminal in response to a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal is recorded. It is a computer-readable recording medium and acquires service usage history information of a user including at least a charging qualification parameter that is a contract attribute that determines a charging rate in the service usage contract information. Information and user identification information are registered and managed in a service usage history information file, and charges for uncharged service usage history information among the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file are charged. Based on the charging qualitative parameters registered and managed with information Computer readable recording medium recording a usage-based charging processing program characterized and. 16. A pay-per-use processing program for charging a service usage by a user via the user terminal in accordance with a change in real-time service usage contract information of the user via the user terminal is recorded. A computer-readable recording medium that accepts service usage contract information that is changed in real time from a user terminal and manages it as change history information in a service providing device that provides a service to the user through the user terminal. Of the change history information from the contract management device that is present, at least the charge qualification parameter that is the contract attribute that determines the charge rate is acquired, and this charge qualification parameter is included in the service use history information of the user, The service usage history information of the user including the charge qualitative parameter is acquired, and the charge qualitative parameter is acquired. The service usage history information file is registered and managed together with the meter, the usage date / time information, and the user identification information, and the unutilized service usage history information of the service usage history information registered and managed in the service usage history information file is not charged. A computer-readable recording medium on which a pay-per-use accounting program is recorded, which is performed based on a charging qualitative parameter registered and managed together with charging service usage history information.