JP2003318993A - Call system and call service method utilizing internet call mediation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conveniently make a call at a remarkably low rate by performing mutual speaking by making a server originate calls to a caller and a callee in accordance with a telephone call requested through the Internet. <P>SOLUTION: The call system is provided with a Web server for implementing a browsing function of an Internet site for performing speaking utilizing a call mediation, a network server in charge of management of smooth communications on the Internet, a call mediation server for mediating a call connection between the caller and the callee, a DB server for making into database and providing the remainder of the caller and total information, and a gateway for making a call possible by the telephone connection between the caller and the callee linked to prescribed communication networks, and the respective servers are linked compositely. <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 telephone calls, and more particularly, to enable a server to call back and call a caller and a callee by a callback in response to a telephone call requested through the Internet. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a call system and a call service method using an internet call intermediary, which enables convenient call at a low price.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A call back system uses the difference in international telephone charges between countries. When a user in a country with a high international call charges a business operator in a country with a low international call charge and hears a signal tone. This is a method in which when the telephone is hung up, the business operator traces the caller's number and makes a call to the caller, and further makes a call to the callee to connect the two calls. However, since this call back telephone system uses only ordinary telephones, it has problems such as inconvenience for users, billing problems for businesses, and government regulations of various countries.

In the case of using domestic long distance and international calls without using the call back function, in the case of a bespoke telecommunications carrier, the individual authentication number is given to the customer and the customer accesses the operator of the relevant company by telephone. You must enter the number, personal identification number, and recipient's phone number. For this purpose, there is a problem that it is necessary to purchase another expensive additional equipment for collectively inputting the business access number and the personal identification number.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to allow a server to call back by a server in response to a telephone call requested through the Internet. Another object of the present invention is to provide a technology relating to a call system and a call service method using Internet call intermediation, which enables convenient call at a low price by making a call to the called party to call each other.

For this purpose, various servers are grouped, a call request is received by linking the grouped servers and a caller as a client, and a call back function is used to mediate the voice call request. In addition, automatic call connection of the call mediation server, inquiry of call details, call fee overpayment, and member management of the Internet Web server are required.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a call system using Internet call intermediation according to the present invention requests a call using call intermediation at a computer of a caller who can access the Internet, A call system used to connect callers of a caller and a callee connected to a predetermined communication network, and a browsing function of an internet site for making a call using the call intermediation, which is connected to the internet. A web server for performing the above; a network server for managing the smooth communication of the Internet; a billing server for checking and calculating the overall charge by the call and charging; a call request of the caller A call intermediary server that mediates a telephone connection between the caller and the callee according to A DB (database) server which is connected to these servers and which provides a database of the remaining amount and general information of the caller; and a caller which is connected to the predetermined communication network by the mediation of the call mediation server And a gateway that enables communication by telephone connection between the callee and the called party, and each of the servers is configured to be connected in a complex manner.

Further, in the call service method using the Internet call mediation according to the present invention, the caller who intends to make a call determines whether or not the call is possible by accessing an Internet site that provides a call using the call mediation. A call authentication process of: a caller requesting a call by inputting the telephone numbers of the caller and the called party by a caller whose call authentication has been confirmed; a caller and a called party's phone entered in the above step A caller call back process for making a call by dialing back a number to the number; a call performing process for making a call by the caller and the callee and charging a call charge according to the call time; When the callee finishes the call, the call charge imposing process of notifying and paying the call charge is included.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A call system and a call service method using Internet call mediation according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a telephone call system using an internet call mediation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the call system using the Internet call mediation of the present embodiment connects a caller's computer 110 and a group server 120 via the Internet 100, which is a huge information network, and connects this group. Under the control of the server 120, the public telephone network 15
Caller's phone 160 and callee's phone 17 connected by 0
Calls between 0 are possible. In addition, the group server 120 of this embodiment includes a Web server 121, a network management server 122, and a billing server 1.
23, call mediation server 124, and DB server 125
And a gateway 126.

The Web server 121 of the group server 120 connected to the Internet 100 has a member management function, a sender information management function, and a callee telephone number book function.
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
er) and authentication function, electronic commerce function, call detail inquiry function, and various browsing functions related to the balance inquiry function and the like.

The network management server 122 executes management and responsible functions so that communication using the Internet or the like can be carried out smoothly. The billing server 123 starts billing together with confirmation of the remaining amount and call connection, and after the call ends,
Perform general confirmation and calculation of charges such as final charge and balance check.

[0012] The call intermediation server 124 connects the call of the caller and the callee, call billing, call breakdown, information provision, balance check, and shortage of balance of prepaid personal authentication number.
Perform the function of automatically refilling from the credit card registered by the member. Further, the DB server 125 is a server that makes a database of information related to the information movement state of each server that constitutes the group server 120, the member subscription state, the remaining amount of the caller, and the like.

Finally, the gateway 126 uses the VolP
(Voice over Internet Protocol), that is, a function of compressing a voice signal and transferring it as data via a packet-based network using IP is executed. The main advantage of these IP and Internet telephony technologies is that the existing IP networks are used as they are to realize integrated telephone services, so that telephone users can use the Internet and Intranet environments at a lower cost than existing international calls. It is to be able to receive the provision of suburban and international telephone services.

Each of the servers 121 to 125 and the gateway 1 constituting the group server 120 as described above.
The detailed operation status of 26 will be described later.

2 and 3 are flow charts for explaining a call service method using Internet call mediation according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a telephone call page of an Internet site in this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the call breakdown list in the present embodiment.

A call service method using call mediation according to the present embodiment includes a call authentication process, a call request process, and a call request process.
Caller call-back process, call execution process, and call charge imposition process.

First, the call authentication process is a process in which a caller who intends to make a call accesses an Internet site that provides a call using the call mediation and determines whether the call is possible, and is related to the call authentication. Membership,
This is a concept that includes changing user information.

In this process, the caller who wants to receive the passage service first accesses the Internet site of this embodiment as shown in FIG. 4 (S201).
The Internet site of the present invention can be designed to have various forms and functions according to the designer's intention. Here, the concept of a call using call mediation will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 4 for explaining the present embodiment, the telephone calling page in the present embodiment is roughly divided into an upper end frame 301, a menu frame 302, and a content frame 303. This homepage is intended by the homepage designer, and the design can be changed as described above.

In the upper end frame 301 of the phone call page according to the present embodiment, a company logo, a guide or an advertising phrase is displayed, and if necessary, a sub-menu for navigation of each home page is located. To be done.

In the menu frame 302, menus such as log-in, member subscription, and member information change are set. Members (callers) who want to use the call service of the present invention by using this login part
After entering his ID and password, click the Finish button to request call authentication.

In response to this login, the Web server 12
1 determines whether or not the call authentication is possible (S202). At this time, if the caller is not yet subscribed, the member subscription procedure is performed (S202 '). The information is changed (S202 ″). In this process, the information of the sender and the contents of the change for joining the member are transmitted to the DB server 125 of the group server 120.

After accessing such an Internet site, the sender determines whether to join the membership or change the personal information (S202). Enter the password to log in (S203).

The login process of the caller is transmitted to the Web server 121, and the Web server 121 transmits the matters of the logged-in caller to the billing server 123, and the billing server 123 confirms the balance of the caller. Then, the availability of the call is checked and the Web server 121 is notified. Further, the call management process is terminated by notifying the network management server 122 and the call mediation server 124 of the related contents to enable the call of the caller (S204). Also, this authentication process can be performed by giving an individual authentication number to each individual, issuing a prepaid card for telephone charges, and confirming the individual authentication number to perform the authentication process.

As shown in FIG. 4, at the upper end of the content frame 303 of the phone call page, a menu for making a phone call, a phone number list, a call breakdown, and a call charge reserve are provided. , This menu can be added or changed as needed.

The present invention also provides a callback (call bac
Since the call is performed by the function k), the content frame 303 is provided with respective input fields for inputting the caller number and the callee number as shown in the figure. Therefore, in order to make a call by call mediation, the telephone numbers of the caller and the callee are input, and the call is completed by clicking the input completion button, or the personal telephone number list stored in advance in the DB server is stored. Select the callee's phone number from the list and try the call. In the present invention, it is also possible to make a mutual call between the caller and the callee who live in their own country. In this case,
If you take the national setting first,
It will be easier to use without entering the national code.

Next to the call authentication process, the caller whose call authentication has been confirmed performs a call request process of requesting a call by inputting the telephone numbers of the caller and the callee. In this call request process, as shown in the content frame 303 of FIG. 4, when the caller inputs the telephone numbers of the caller and the callee and clicks the input completion button (S205), the caller and the callee input Is stored in the DB server 125 via the Web server 121, and the process is completed.

Next, a caller call back process is performed in which the input caller and callee telephone numbers are dialed back to enable a call. The call mediation server 124, which has received the notification of the call request from the caller in this process, notifies the gateway 126 of the caller's telephone number (S20).
6). The gateway 126 makes a call to the caller according to the notified telephone number (S207). When a response signal is sent from the caller telephone 160 after a while, the gateway 126 calls the callee. Call (S
208).

Next, the gateway 126 connects the voice signals of the caller and the callee, and a call execution process is performed to enable a call between the caller and the callee.
6 continuously checks whether or not the call can be continued. At this stage, the gateway 126 sends a call connection signal to the call intermediary server 124, and the call intermediary server 124 further notifies the billing server 123 to perform the billing procedure until the end of the call (S209).

When the telephone call between the caller and the callee is completed, a call charge imposing process for notifying and paying the call charge is performed. That is, when the call ends, the gateway 1
26 notifies the call end signal to the billing server 123 and the call mediation server 124, respectively (S210). The billing server 123 transmits the billing details to the Web server 121,
It is deducted from the balance stored in the DB server 125, and then the billing and settlement details are confirmed and the caller is notified (S211). The caller confirms the notified balance and the breakdown of the settlement and transmits it to the Web server 121.
The eb server 121 ends by notifying the DB server 125 of the settlement details, and thereby ends the call charge imposition process (S212).

After that, the group server 120 asks the caller whether or not to make a repeat call, and at the time of a call, the group server 120 first shifts to a step of determining whether or not the call can be authenticated for call authentication (S202), and ends when not calling (S213). .

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a call breakdown list, which is one of various submenus in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, regarding the call details stored in the DB server 125, when the caller accesses the Internet site and clicks the call details in the menu of the content frame 303, the corresponding day (week, month, etc.)
The call breakdown of is shown in detail. Further, this call breakdown display form can be selected and viewed according to the preference of the caller (user) who has accessed the relevant Internet site, and a more detailed breakdown regarding related contents can also be selected and viewed. In addition to the above-mentioned call breakdown, according to the present invention, the database of the contents related to the design of the Internet home page registered in the group server 120 allows various menus such as a telephone directory and a call charge reserve. Can be displayed.

Further, in the present invention, it is possible to use a credit card, charge charging by cash payment, use of electronic money, and the like. Further, a general telephone network, the Internet, or the like can be used as a telephone network connecting the caller and the callee.

Further, in the present invention, various design of the Internet site of the present invention and modification of the database due to it can be made, and more convenient fee payment means can be used. Various modifications can be implemented within the range.

[0035]

According to the present invention, the caller and the callee can use the callback function to make domestic and international calls at a low charge. It is possible to provide a technology that can provide a more economical and high-quality call intermediary service.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a telephone call system using Internet call mediation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a call service method using Internet call mediation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a call service method using Internet call mediation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a telephone call page of an internet site in a call service method using internet call mediation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a call breakdown list in a call service method using Internet call mediation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Internet 110 sender's computer 120 group servers 121 Web server 122 Network Management Server 123 Billing server 124 Call mediation server 125 DB server 126 gateway 150 public telephone network 160 Caller phone 170 Callee

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A caller using a call intermediary is requested by a computer of a caller who can access the Internet,
A calling system used to connect callers of a caller and a callee connected to a predetermined communication network, the browsing function of an Internet site connected to the Internet to perform a call using the call intermediary. A web server for performing the above; a network server for managing the smooth communication of the Internet; a billing server for checking and calculating the overall charge by the call and charging; a call request of the caller According to the above, a call intermediary server that mediates a telephone connection between the caller and the callee; a DB (database) that is connected to these servers and provides a balance of the caller and general information in a database. A server; between a caller and a callee connected to the predetermined communication network by mediation of the call mediation server A call system using Internet call intermediation, characterized in that the servers are configured to be connected in a complex manner, including a gateway that enables a call by connecting telephones between them. 2. The telephone system uses a general telephone network as the predetermined communication network.
A call system using the described Internet call mediation. 3. The call system using Internet call intermediary according to claim 1, wherein the call system uses the Internet as the predetermined communication network. 4. The gateway is a VoIP (Voice)
The call system using the Internet call intermediary according to claim 1, wherein the call system has an over Internet Protocol) function. 5. The call system using Internet call intermediary according to claim 1, wherein the database of the DB server includes a personal telephone number list input by a user in advance. 6. A call service method using Internet call intermediary, wherein a caller who makes a call accesses an Internet site providing a call using the call intermediary to judge whether the call is possible or not. Authentication process; caller process in which the caller whose call authentication has been confirmed requests the call by inputting the phone numbers of the caller and the callee; the caller and callee's phone numbers entered in the process Caller call back process for making a call by making a call back dialing; Call execution process for making a call charge by the caller and the callee according to the call time; Caller and callee When the call ends, the call service using the Internet call intermediary characterized by including a call charge imposition process of notifying and paying the call charge Method. 7. The call using Internet call intermediary according to claim 6, wherein the call authentication process assigns a personal authentication number to each user who uses the call and confirms the personal authentication number. Service method. 8. The internet call intermediary according to claim 6, wherein in the call requesting process, the callee is requested by selecting a telephone number of the called party from a list of personal telephone numbers stored in advance. Call service method using.