JP2003309672A - Internet connection equipment and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a call incoming person accounting for radio Internet connection while avoiding influence on others to the utmost. <P>SOLUTION: This Internet connection equipment 1 receives a site access connection request of a user which is generated from a portable telephone terminal 4, via a mobile network 3, starts measurement of the quantity of packets, and discriminates call originating person accounting and call incoming person accounting. Based on the result, a self gateway operation or an operation command of gateway of another common carrier (MVNO) is issued, and connection with the objective site (A to D) is performed via an IP network 5. Based on the measurement of the quantity of packets, an accounting transaction to the call originating person is formed, or replacing process of the accounting to another enterprising man is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an internet connection device suitable for charging a service provider in an instant message from a mobile phone terminal, and a program therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a service on the Internet is used by using the Internet connection function of a mobile phone terminal having a built-in web browser, the packet communication charge usually required at that time is the sender of the service use request. The service user will pay. However, in order for the service provider side to expand the business by providing the original service, there are cases where it is desired to increase the number of users even if the service provider side pays the packet fee to the above wireless Internet connection user. To this end, a new callee billing mechanism for wireless Internet connection, which is equivalent to toll-free dialing of fixed telephones, is required.

[0003]

Although this function can be realized by modifying the current mobile operator billing system, it is difficult in terms of cost and labor to newly incorporate the logic for this function. is there. Further, in order to distinguish the caller side charge and the callee side charge, for example, a URL (Uni
form resource locator) may be used, but its management becomes complicated, and if a new protocol is defined at the protocol level and it is used, the environment of various sites on the network must be changed. I will have to do it. Therefore, it is necessary to realize the billing for the called party for the wireless Internet connection in a form that avoids the influence on others as much as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a SIM (Subscriber) is added to a mobile phone terminal.
Identity Module) and UIM (User)
An Internet connection device that implements an IC card such as an Identity Module) to connect to a network operator that charges the service provider side, and realizes the callee charging for wireless Internet connection while avoiding the influence on others as much as possible. , And its program.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a mobile phone terminal and a site server which are Internet connection devices connected via a mobile network and an IP network, respectively. The site access connection request from the user is received from the mobile phone, the packet amount measurement is started, and the caller charge and the callee charge are discriminated. Based on the discrimination result, the own gateway operation or other business Internet connection for issuing a gateway operation instruction for a caller and creating a billing transaction for the sender based on the measurement of the packet amount, or for changing the billing for the other carrier based on the packet measurement amount Means, are provided.

According to the present invention, the first internet connection means discriminates between the caller charge and the callee charge, and based on the measurement of the packet amount, creates a charge transaction to the caller or to another business operator. It is possible to provide the Internet connection device that realizes the billing for the called party for the wireless Internet connection while avoiding the influence on others as much as possible by performing the charge replacement process. In addition, "another carrier" is an M that provides a service by partially borrowing its communication equipment from a mobile phone company that conducts a first-class communication business.
VNO (Mobile Virtual Network)
k Operator).

Further, in the present invention, the caller billing,
Other than the callee billing, the IC mounted on the mobile phone terminal
The feature is that it is determined by the user ID recorded on the card.

According to the present invention, the user distributes by the operator, for example, by distinguishing between the caller charge and the callee charge according to the user ID recorded in the IC card mounted on the mobile phone terminal. By mounting the UIM card on the mobile phone terminal, it becomes possible to use the wireless Internet connection function using the operator who specializes in the callee billing.

Further, in the present invention, when the incoming call charge is determined, the gateway operation for the site access by the user is performed, the packet amount used for the user to access the site is measured, and Second internet connection means for generating a billing transaction corresponding to the measured packet amount.

According to the present invention, the second internet connection means measures the packet amount used for the user to access the site when the incoming call billing is determined, and the billing corresponding to the measured packet amount. By generating a transaction, it is possible to realize billing for the called party and provide convenience to the user.

Further, in the present invention, the second internet connection means is installed and operated by the other business operator.

According to the present invention, the MVNO functions and operates as an operator exclusively for incoming call charging, thereby increasing the usage fee of the wireless connection Internet connection function and expanding the new income source of the mobile operator. Further, the cost for implementing the billing for the called party can be suppressed to the maximum, and the increase in the operational cost can be prevented.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides
The mobile phone terminal and the site server are internet connection programs used in internet connection devices connected via a mobile network and an IP network, respectively, and receive a site access connection request from a user from the mobile phone. Along with starting the measurement of the packet amount, a step of discriminating whether the caller is charged or the callee is charged, and based on the result of the determination, an own gateway operation or an operation instruction of another operator's gateway is issued, and the packet Creating a billing transaction to the sender based on the measurement of the amount, or performing a process of changing the billing to the other carrier based on the packet measurement amount.

According to the present invention, by causing the computer to execute the above-mentioned Internet connection program, it is possible to realize the callee billing for wireless Internet connection while avoiding the influence on others as much as possible.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram cited for explaining a form of a communication infrastructure in which an internet connection device of the present invention is used. In FIG. 1, 1
Is a real mobile operator (MRNO: Mobile)
MRNO server equipment installed and operated by the eReal Network Operator), which is connected to the user's mobile phone terminal 4 via the mobile network 3 and
IP (Internet Prot) such as the Internet
ocol) Each site (A to D) via network 5
Is connected to the site server 6. 2 is a virtual mobile operator (MVNO: Mobile Virtu)
MVNO server equipment installed and operated by al Network Operator, which is a mobile phone device 4 of the user via the mobile network 3 and an IP (Internet Protocol) such as the Internet.
l) Connected to the site server 6 of each site (A to D) via the network 5.

The mobile phone terminal 4 is equipped with an IC card called UIM used here for a third generation mobile phone, is distributed to each contract mobile operator (MRNO, MVNO), and is recorded in the UIM. The contract operator is identified by the ID.

The configuration of the MRNO server equipment 1 in the MRNO is shown in FIG. 2, and the MVNO server equipment 2 in the MVNO is shown.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the above. Here, only the blocks (the first connecting means and the second connecting means, respectively) related to the connection of the site server 6 to the sites (A to D) are extracted and shown. Figure 2 shows MRN in MRNO
It is the block diagram which expanded and showed the internal structure of O server equipment 1, and MRNO server equipment 1 in MRNO.
Is a communication interface unit 21, 22, a packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 23, and a gateway device discriminating unit 24.
And the gateway device unit 25.

The communication interface units 21 and 22 are parts that interface with the mobile network 3 and the IP network, respectively. In particular, since the communication interface unit 22 is connected to the Internet here, TCP / IP (Transport Control) is used.
l Protocol / Internet Proto
col) shall be implemented. The packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 23 has a function of measuring the packet communication amount and the call charge to generate a billing transaction for the user and notifying the billing processing unit (not shown). , Mounted on the mobile phone device 4, for example, U
It has a function of determining whether the MRNO server equipment 1 uses its own gateway or the gateway of the MVNO server equipment 2 according to the user ID recorded in the ID or the designated gateway device ID. The gateway device unit 25 has a function of connecting the mobile network 3 and the IP network 5 such as the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the MVNO server equipment 2 in the MVNO in a functionally developed manner. The MVNO server equipment 2 in the MVNO includes the communication interface units 31 and 32 and the gateway device unit 33.
And a packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 34 and a called party charging dedicated device unit 35.

The communication interface units 31 and 32 are units that interface with the mobile network 3 and the IP network, respectively. In particular, since the communication interface unit 32 is connected to the Internet here, TCP / IP (Transport Control) is used.
l Protocol / Internet Proto
col) shall be implemented. The gateway device unit 33 has a function of connecting the mobile network 3 and the IP network 5 such as the Internet. The packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 34 measures the packet amount and call charge used when the MVNO contractor accesses the site, generates a billing transaction for the user, and notifies the billing processing unit (not shown). With the function to do. In order to carry out the called party charging for each site, the called party charging dedicated device section 35 has a function of generating a charging transaction for each contract site based on the data measured by the packet information amount / call charge measuring section 34 for each user. To have.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams quoted for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and show the respective operations in the MRNO server equipment 1 and the MVNO server equipment 2. 3 and 4 specifically show a processing procedure of the Internet connection program of the present invention. Hereinafter, FIG. 4 and FIG.
The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, first, the user determines that the MVNO
It is assumed that a request for access to the site A is issued by operating the mobile phone terminal 4 mounted with the UIM card distributed by. This request is sent via the mobile network 3 to the M
MRNO server equipment 1 received by RNO server equipment 1
Activates the packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 23. The activated packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 23 starts measuring the packet communication amount used by the user (S4).
1). On the other hand, as a result of checking the user ID (S42), the gateway device determination unit 24 determines that the user has MRNO.
If the customer is the contractor of the server equipment 1, the gateway device section 25 of the server equipment 1 is operated as a gateway for the site A access (S43). Then, a billing transaction is generated based on the packet communication amount by the packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 22 and the billing process is performed (S4).
4).

In the gateway device discriminating section 24, M
MVNO, not RNO (MRNO server equipment 1)
When it is determined that the contractor is the (MVNO server equipment 2), a gateway operation instruction for connecting to the site A is issued by using the gateway device unit 33 in the MVNO server equipment 2 (S35). Further, the charging processing unit (not shown) performs processing for switching to the MVNO (MVNO server facility 2) based on the packet information amount / bucket communication amount previously measured by the call charge measuring unit 23 according to the called party charging process ( S36).

In FIG. 5, M instructed to charge the called party
The VNO server equipment 2 sends a user's site A access request from the MRNO server equipment 2 to the communication interface unit 31.
The gateway device unit 33 performs gateway operation for site A access and connects to the site server 6 of the site A via the communication interface unit 32 and the IP network 5 (S51). Further, the packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 34 starts measuring the packet communication amount and call charge used when the user accesses the site A (S52). Then, the called party billing-dedicated device unit 35 performs billing processing by generating a billing transaction corresponding to the packet communication amount and the call charge measured by the packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 34 to the business operator of the site A. (S53).

As described above, according to the present invention, by using the UIM or the like for the mobile phone terminal, the service provider side is connected to the network operator who charges the service provider side, and for the wireless Internet connection while avoiding the influence on others as much as possible. It realizes the billing for the called party. Specifically, a site access connection request issued by the user from the mobile phone terminal 4 is received via the mobile network 3 to start measuring the packet communication amount, and to distinguish between caller charging and callee charging. Based on the result of the determination, the own gateway operation or the operation instruction of the gateway of the other operator (MVNO) is issued to connect with the target site server 6 to the sites A to D via the IP network 5. ,
Based on the previous measurement of the packet communication amount, a billing transaction to the sender is created, or based on the packet measurement amount, the process of changing the billing to another carrier is performed.

The communication interface units 21 and 22, the packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 23, the gateway device discriminating unit 24, the gateway device unit 25 shown in FIG. 2, and the communication interface unit 31 shown in FIG. Three
2. The programs for realizing the functions of the gateway device unit 33, the packet information amount / call charge measuring unit 34, and the called party charging dedicated device unit 35 are recorded in computer-readable recording media, respectively. The Internet connection device of the present invention is constructed by causing a computer to read the program recorded in the recording medium, and the computer sequentially reads and executes the program. The computer system mentioned here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

The "computer system" is a WW.
If the W system is used, the homepage providing environment (or display environment) is also included. The "computer-readable recording medium" means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-
A portable medium such as a ROM or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" means a volatile memory (R) inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.
(AM), which holds the program for a certain period of time.

Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system in which the program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be a program for realizing some of the functions described above. further,
It may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and a design etc. within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also possible. included.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, SI
At the M or UIM level, by operating an operator specializing in billing on the called side as a mobile operator, it is possible to create a billing transaction for this operator specializing in billing on the called side. By inserting the SIM or UIM distributed by the operator into a mobile phone possessing the operator, the user side can use the wireless Internet connection using the operator dedicated to the callee charging. The operator dedicated to the called party charging is a so-called M
It is possible to operate as a VNO. As a result, the called party billing increases the usage fee of the mobile Internet connection function and improves the convenience of the user. Also,
It will increase sales of service providers and new revenue sources of mobile operators. Further, it is possible to minimize the cost for realizing the billing for the called party and prevent an increase in operational cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram cited for explaining a form of a communication infrastructure in which an internet connection device of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional expansion of the internal configuration of the MRNO server facility of the MRNO shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the MVNO server equipment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... MRNO server equipment, 2 ... MVNO server equipment, 3
… Mobile network, 4… Mobile phone terminal, 5… IP
Network, 6 ... Site server, 21 (22, 31,
32) ... communication interface section, 23 (34) ... packet information amount / call charge measuring section, 24 ... gateway device discriminating section, 25 (33) ... gateway apparatus section, 35 ... recipient charging apparatus section, A (B, C, D) ... Site

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04M 15/00 H04M 15/00 G (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Naoi 3-3 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Stock company F term in NTT DATA (reference) 5K025 AA07 BB07 CC07 DD06 EE08 EE17 FF17 FF23 GG10 JJ02 5K030 HA08 HB08 HC01 HC09 HD03 HD05 JT09 MB09 5K051 AA09 BB02 CC07 DD15 FF03 HH15 HH27 521101 KK02 5K101NNKK02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mobile phone terminal and a site server are Internet connection devices connected via a mobile network and an IP network, respectively, and receive a site access connection request from a user from the mobile phone terminal, While starting the measurement of the packet amount, distinguishing between the caller charging and the callee charging, and issuing a gateway operation of its own or a gateway operation of another carrier based on the determination result, An internet connection device, comprising: a first internet connection means for performing a billing transaction to a sender based on measurement, or a process for changing billing to the other carrier based on the packet measurement amount. 2. The internet connection device according to claim 1, wherein the caller billing and the callee billing are distinguished by a user ID recorded in an IC card mounted on the mobile phone. . 3. The packet used to access the site by the user by executing a gateway operation for the site access by the user when the incoming charge is determined by the first internet connection means. The internet connection device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: second internet connection means for measuring a volume and generating a billing transaction corresponding to the measured packet volume. 4. The internet connection device according to claim 3, wherein the other business operator installs and operates the second internet connection means. 5. A mobile phone terminal and a site server are Internet connection programs used for Internet connection devices connected via a mobile network and an IP network, respectively, and a site operated by a user from the mobile phone terminal. A step of receiving an access connection request and starting measurement of the packet amount, and discriminating between caller billing and callee billing, based on the discrimination result, own gateway operation, or gateway operation of another operator Issuing an instruction and creating a billing transaction to the sender based on the measurement of the packet amount, or changing the billing transaction to the other business operator based on the packet measurement amount; program.