JP2005341002A - Mobile phone terminal, mobile phone utility charge management apparatus, and utility charge calculation system on mobile phone terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology of flexibly coping with diversified mobile phone utility charge systems and providing a utility charge confirming function available in the midway usage of a month with high accuracy and a charge trial calculation function on the basis of other charging systems to mobile phone users so as to increase the satisfaction of the mobile phone users. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile phone terminal is mounted with a charge calculation function for storing a charge calculation algorithm externally updatable, and a charge management center transmits an algorithm update notice to the mobile phone terminal when a charge course/pack/plan and a charge discount service applied to the mobile phone terminal are determined. The mobile phone terminal receiving the notice downloads a single or a plurality of algorithms for charge calculation from the charge management center to update the charge calculation algorithm having been installed on the terminal. The terminal on itself starts and completes a speech and communication and also starts and completes tabulation by the charge calculation function, uses the charge calculation algorithm at optional timing to calculate the charge and displays the result for comparison. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for calculating a usage fee on a mobile phone terminal.

There are currently two ways to check the usage fee for the current month when using a mobile phone terminal. One is a method of making an inquiry to the charge management center via communication. The other is, as described in Patent Document 1, a method of counting and checking in units of a certain period by a function unique to the mobile phone terminal without using communication.
JP 2002-27154 A

  In the confirmation method of the monthly usage charge of the mobile phone terminal, the method is to first contact the charge management center via communication. In most cases, this method can be confirmed from the first day of the month to the previous day or two days before. In addition, there is a problem that it is a charge before the usage fee course / pack / plan or discount service is applied. There is also a problem that a communication fee is incurred every time the usage fee is confirmed.

  In the other method described in Patent Document 1, the charge calculation function is a function specific to the mobile phone terminal. Alternatively, there is a problem that the usage fee to which the charge course / pack / plan or discount service is applied cannot be calculated.

  In recent years, mobile phone service usage charge courses / packs / plans and charge discount services have been increasing in diversity in mobile phone companies, and the above two methods can be used as a guideline for meaningful aggregation. The problem of disappearing has arisen.

  The present invention flexibly supports various charge courses / packs / plans and discount services prepared by mobile phone companies, and can accurately convey the user's own usage status to the actual mobile phone usage status. Improve satisfaction by comparing the results calculated with various price courses / packs / plans and price discount services and recommending the best price courses / packs / plans and price discount services to users. The purpose is to make it.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, charges can be calculated and displayed on a mobile phone terminal as follows. First, the charge management center (mobile phone charge management device) holds charge calculation algorithms according to mobile phone charge courses / packs / plans and charge discount services. When the applicable service for the current month is determined, An algorithm update notification is sent to the server. Next, the mobile phone terminal that has received the notification accesses the charge management center automatically or manually, downloads the charge calculation algorithm, and updates the charge calculation algorithm of the charge calculation function on the terminal. Further, the aggregation of the charge calculation function equipped with the updated algorithm is activated / terminated when the mobile phone terminal starts / ends communication or call. The activated fee calculation function calculates a combination of one or a plurality of usage fee courses / packs / plans and a fee discount service using one or a plurality of fee calculation algorithms, and stores the result. When the charge calculation function calculates multiple charge courses / packs / plans and charge discount services, the results are compared and displayed, and the charge course / pack / plan and discount service most suitable for the user are displayed. Recommendation to.

  According to the present invention, when a charge course / pack / plan or a charge discount service applied to a mobile phone terminal on a monthly basis is determined, a charge calculation algorithm update notification is sent to the mobile phone terminal by the charge management center. In response to this, the mobile phone terminal automatically or manually downloads the updated new charge calculation algorithm and other combinations of charge calculation algorithms from the charge management center to the storage means. Store. In addition, when a call / communication is performed at a mobile phone terminal, the total is performed. Depending on the user's instructions, the charge calculation algorithm is used to calculate and display the charge for the call / communication count result, so the amount closer to the actual charge is obtained by processing only on the mobile terminal side. In addition, since no data communication occurs at the time of charge confirmation, there is no additional communication charge.

  In addition, by downloading and storing charge calculation algorithms other than charge courses / packs / plans and charge discount services applied to mobile phone terminals, simultaneous calculation using multiple algorithms is performed, and the results are compared and displayed. Therefore, it is possible to recommend a fee course / pack / plan and a fee discount service, each of which has the least amount of payment depending on the usage form of each mobile phone user.

  Further, in the present invention, since it is the mobile phone terminal itself that actually calculates the usage fee at the time of the middle of the month, the convenience of the mobile phone terminal user is improved without increasing the load on the fee management center. I can do things.

  Hereinafter, one mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 101 denotes a charge management center (specifically, a computer serving as a server) that manages mobile phone usage charges and algorithm groups for calculating the charges. Reference numeral 103 denotes a mobile phone terminal with a charge calculation function handled by the user. Reference numerals 104, 105, and 106 denote general telephones, mobile phones, networks, and the like, which are calls and communication destinations of the mobile phone terminal 103.

  The charge management center 101 manages a charge calculation algorithm group 107 corresponding to various charge courses / packs / plans and charge discount services. In addition, the charge management center 101 applies a charge calculation algorithm to the mobile phone terminal 103 when the applicable charge course / pack / plan and the charge discount service for the mobile phone terminal 103 are confirmed. An update notification 102 is transmitted.

  Upon receiving the charge calculation algorithm update notification 102, the mobile phone terminal 103 automatically or manually accesses the charge management center 101, and the charge course / pack / plan and charge applied to the mobile phone terminal 103. The charge calculation algorithm 107 corresponding to the discount service and the charge calculation algorithm 107 for other charge courses / packs / plans and discount services are downloaded according to the request of the mobile phone user, and the charge calculation on the mobile phone terminal 103 is calculated. Update the charge calculation algorithm included in the function.

  The mobile phone terminal 103 activates a charge calculation function on the terminal 103 at the start of a call / communication to the general phone 104, the mobile phone 105, the network 106, and the like, and starts counting call / communication records. Then, when the call / communication to the general telephone 104, the mobile phone 105, the network 106, etc. is terminated, the charge calculation function is terminated, and the aggregation of the call / communication record is terminated. The mobile phone terminal 103 can calculate and display the result of the calculation using a charge calculation algorithm at any time, and at the same time, use a charge calculation algorithm corresponding to another charge charge course / pack / plan and charge discount service. By calculating, the result is compared and displayed, and the most suitable usage fee course / pack / plan and fee discount service are recommended to the mobile phone terminal user.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the charge management center 101 and the mobile phone terminal 103 in this system. The fee management center 101 sends and updates an algorithm update notification 102 to the mobile phone terminal 103 and controls an algorithm update notification control unit 201 that controls algorithm update communication. And.

  The algorithm update notification control unit 201 transmits the algorithm update notification 102 to the mobile phone terminal 103 when the charge course / pack / plan and the discount service to be applied to the mobile phone terminal 103 are determined. The mobile phone terminal 103 that has received the algorithm update notification 102 accesses the charge management center 101 manually or automatically, and the charge course / pack / plan applied to the own terminal 103 via the algorithm update notification control unit 201. The fee calculation algorithm 107 corresponding to the discount service and the other fee calculation algorithm 107 according to the user's request are downloaded, and the fee calculation algorithm included in the fee calculation function of the own terminal 103 is updated.

  FIG. 3A shows an example of a user management table held and managed by the charge management center 101. The user management table includes, for each user ID for identifying each user, a mobile phone number, contract details (for example, contract details such as a contract with a family, a corporate contract, etc.), an applicable fee course, an applied fee discount Stores information such as service and call / communication records.

  3B and 3C show an example of a charge calculation algorithm management table held and managed by the charge management center 101. FIG. In FIG. 3B, a charge calculation algorithm to be applied at the time of charge calculation is stored for each charge course (or charge pack / plan). In FIG. 3C, a charge calculation algorithm to be applied at the time of charge calculation is stored for each charge discount service. The fee calculation algorithm is specifically a program for calculating a fee. For example, if the discount service G is applied to a certain user in the fee course A, when performing fee calculation, the user's call / communication record (for example, the call time and the number of communication packets) is recorded. By executing the fee calculation algorithm ALG-A01 as an argument, the fee in the course A is obtained, and further, the fee discounted by the discount service G is obtained by executing the fee calculation algorithm ALG-G01 using the result as an argument.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the mobile phone terminal 103 with the configuration shown in FIG. First, when the mobile phone terminal 103 receives the charge calculation algorithm update notification 102 from the charge management center 101 (step 401) or the user manually gives an algorithm update instruction (step 402), Connection is made to the charge management center 101 (step 403). Then, it is checked whether there is a fee calculation algorithm to be updated (step 404), and if there is, it is downloaded (step 405). Further, it is checked whether there is another charge calculation algorithm desired by the user (step 406), and if there is, it is downloaded (step 407). Thereafter, the connection with the charge management center 101 is disconnected (step 408), and it is checked whether or not one or more algorithms have been downloaded (step 409). Update (step 410).

  In step 404, the charge calculation algorithm of the charge course applied to the mobile phone terminal 103 and the discount service (which charge calculation algorithm is currently held in each mobile phone terminal is managed by the charge management center side. And the charge calculation algorithm that is currently used for the charge calculation of the charge course and discount service (that is, those registered in the tables of FIGS. 3B and 3C) ) And the process proceeds to step 405 if it has been updated.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing components for realizing the charge calculation function on the mobile phone terminal 103 in this system. As shown in FIG. 5, this function includes a charge calculation control unit 501 for controlling charge calculation, a charge calculation unit 502 for actually calculating charges, and a charge system information management unit 504 for charge calculation. A plurality of charge calculation algorithm groups 503, an algorithm update control unit 505 for updating the charge calculation algorithm group 503 from the outside, a call / communication record total information management unit 506 for managing information that is the basis of charge calculation, A call / communication record totaling control unit 507 for controlling the call / communication record total information management unit 506 is provided.

  Upon receiving the algorithm update notification 102, the algorithm update control unit 505 accesses the fee management center 101 automatically or manually, and downloads one or more fee calculation algorithms 107. The algorithm update control unit 505 replaces the downloaded fee calculation algorithm 107 with the existing fee calculation algorithm 503. The call / communication record totaling control unit 507 is activated / terminated at the start / end timing of the call / communication of the mobile phone terminal 103, and records the call / communication record in the call / communication record information management unit 506. The charge calculation control unit 501 is activated at an arbitrary timing by the mobile phone user, and gives a calculation instruction to the charge calculation unit 502. Upon receiving the calculation instruction, the charge calculation unit 502 calculates a use charge by using one or a plurality of charge calculation algorithms 503 and a charge system information management unit 504 included therein.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a call / communication record totaling process performed by each unit shown in the block diagram of FIG. First, the mobile phone terminal 103 activates a charge calculation function before starting a call / communication to the outside, and starts counting (step 601). Then, communication / communication is started (step 602). Thereafter, the call / communication is terminated (step 603), and the calculation of the charge calculation function is also terminated (step 604).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of fee calculation processing by each unit shown in the block diagram of FIG. First, when the user instructs to start the charge calculation (step 701), the charge is calculated by one charge calculation algorithm stored in the mobile phone terminal 103 for the call / communication count result, and the result is stored. (Step 702). Next, it is confirmed whether there is another charge calculation algorithm (step 703). If there is, another algorithm is calculated and the result is stored (step 702). This process is repeated, and when there is no other algorithm, a plurality of stored calculation results are called up, ranked (step 704), and displayed on the mobile phone terminal 103 (step 705).

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the screen of the mobile phone terminal 103 for displaying the calculation result by the charge calculation function 801. Reference numerals 802, 803 and 804 are screen display examples of charges calculated by the charge calculation function 801 on the mobile phone terminal 103. One or a plurality of calculation results calculated by the charge calculation function 801 are displayed as screens 802, 803, 804, etc. on the mobile phone terminal 103, and are based on the currently applied charge course / pack / plan and discount service. The calculation results 802 and the calculation results 803 and 804 based on other charge courses / packs / plans and discount services are ranked. The numbers in parentheses displayed after the course * indicate the rank. This clearly indicates the charge course / pack / plan with the least amount of payment to the mobile phone user. In FIG. 8, the display example of the calculation result by the currently applied charge course / pack / plan is the screen 802, but the lowest payment fee is the other charge course / pack / plan displayed on the screen 803 and the discount. It is shown that it is the calculation result by the service.

System configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention Configuration diagram showing the relationship between the charge management center and mobile phone terminals in this system The flowchart which showed an example of the flow of the process in the block diagram shown in FIG. Block diagram showing the charge calculation function on the mobile phone terminal in this system The flowchart which showed an example of the flow of the call record totalization process in the block diagram of FIG. The flowchart which showed an example of the flow of a charge calculation process in the block diagram of FIG. Flow chart showing the processing procedure for redisplaying the lesion data on the screen Relationship diagram showing the relationship between the charge calculation function and the screen on the mobile phone terminal to display it

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Charge management center, 102 ... Algorithm update notification, 103 ... Mobile phone terminal with charge calculation function, 104 ... General telephone, 105 ... Mobile phone, 106 ... Network, 107 ... Charge calculation algorithm, 201 ... Algorithm update notification control unit, 202 ... Charge calculation algorithm management unit, 501 ... Charge calculation control unit, 502 ... Charge calculation unit, 503 ... Charge calculation algorithm, 504 ... Charge system information management unit, 505 ... Algorithm update control unit, 506 ... Call / communication record total information Management unit 507 ... Call / communication record totaling control unit 801 ... Charge calculation function 802 ... Example of calculation result display on mobile phone terminal, 803 ... Example of calculation result display on mobile phone terminal, 804 ... Calculation result table on mobile phone terminal Example.

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing one or more charge calculation algorithms that can be updated externally;
A tally means for tallying calls and communication records;
In accordance with an instruction from a user, a calculation unit that calculates a usage fee using one or more fee calculation algorithms stored in the storage unit, with respect to the aggregation result;
And means for displaying the usage fee calculated by the calculation means in association with the display of the usage fee course / pack / plan and the fee discount service corresponding to each fee calculation algorithm used for the calculation. Mobile phone terminal. A mobile phone usage charge management device for managing a charge calculation algorithm in the mobile phone terminal according to claim 1,
A charge calculation algorithm storage means for storing a charge calculation algorithm for each charge course / pack / plan and a charge calculation algorithm for each charge discount service;
Means for transmitting an update notification of the charge calculation algorithm to the mobile phone terminal;
When there is a connection request from the mobile phone terminal automatically upon receipt of the update notification or by a manual instruction of a user of the mobile phone terminal, the mobile phone terminal is connected to the mobile phone terminal. It is determined whether or not the stored charge calculation algorithm should be updated, and when it is determined that it should be updated, a new charge calculation algorithm is transmitted to the mobile phone and stored. A mobile phone usage charge management device characterized by the above. In the mobile phone usage charge management device according to claim 2,
A mobile phone usage charge management apparatus, further comprising means for transmitting and storing another charge calculation algorithm manually instructed by a user of the mobile phone terminal to the mobile phone. A mobile phone terminal usage charge calculation system for calculating charges on a mobile phone terminal,
A mobile phone terminal and a mobile phone usage charge management device;
The mobile phone terminal
Storage means for storing one or more charge calculation algorithms that can be updated from the mobile phone charge management device;
A tally means for tallying calls and communication records;
In accordance with an instruction from a user, a calculation unit that calculates a usage fee using one or more fee calculation algorithms stored in the storage unit, with respect to the aggregation result;
Means for displaying the usage fee calculated by the calculation means in association with the display of the usage fee course / pack / plan and the fee discount service corresponding to each fee calculation algorithm used for the calculation,
The mobile phone usage fee management device includes:
A charge calculation algorithm storage means for storing a charge calculation algorithm for each charge course / pack / plan and a charge calculation algorithm for each charge discount service;
Means for transmitting an update notification of the charge calculation algorithm to the mobile phone terminal;
When there is a connection request from the mobile phone terminal automatically upon receiving the update notification or by a manual instruction of a user of the mobile phone terminal, the mobile phone terminal is connected to the mobile phone terminal. Means for determining whether or not the stored fee calculation algorithm is to be updated, and if it is determined that it should be updated, means for transmitting a new fee calculation algorithm to the mobile phone and storing it in the storage means When,
A mobile phone usage charge management system comprising: means for transmitting another charge calculation algorithm manually instructed by a user of the mobile phone terminal to the mobile phone and storing it in the storage means thereof.

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